Abstract: An adjustable depth of drive apparatus is provided for use on a fastener driving tool including a nosepiece defining a fastener passageway, and a driver blade reciprocating in the passageway for driving fasteners sequentially fed from a magazine into a workpiece. The depth of drive apparatus includes a depth of drive adjustment element being reciprocally movable relative to an end of the nosepiece, the depth of drive adjustment element defining a nosepiece chamber dimensioned for receiving the nosepiece and including a driver blade stop configured for receiving an end of the driver blade to terminate vertical driving motion of the driver blade.

Abstract: An adjustable depth of drive apparatus is provided for use on a fastener driving tool including a nosepiece defining a fastener passageway, and a driver blade reciprocating in the passageway for driving fasteners sequentially fed from a magazine into a workpiece. The depth of drive apparatus includes a workpiece contact element being reciprocally movable relative to an end of the nosepiece, the workpiece contact element defining a nosepiece chamber dimensioned for receiving the nosepiece and including a driver blade stop configured for receiving an end of the driver blade to terminate vertical driving motion of the driver blade.

Abstract: A variable volume metering chamber and valve assembly for a combustion-powered tool includes a housing defining a metering chamber having an internal volume and including an inlet and an outlet, and a plunger configured for reciprocal movement relative to the chamber for adjusting the internal volume of the metering chamber. The plunger is preferably adjustable by the user to alter the volume of fuel retained in the metering chamber. In the housing, a first valve controls control fluid flow through the inlet, a second valve controls fluid flow through the outlet, and an actuator assembly, connected to the valves, is sequentially operable from a first position, in which the first valve is open and the second valve is closed, to a second position, in which the first and second valves are both closed, and a third position, in which the first valve is closed and the second valve is open.

Abstract: A fuel cell adapter system for a combustion tool which includes a housing enclosing a fuel metering valve. The fuel cell is provided with an adapter having a generally cylindrical nozzle and an enlarged base configured for engagement upon the fuel cell. The nozzle has a lobed free end and defines a passageway. A frangible membrane is provided for blocking the passageway. The latch is disposed in the housing for releasably securing the adapter in fluid communication with the fuel metering valve. The latch includes a latch body having at least one locking tang movable between a closed position and an open position, and a release member for moving the locking tang to release the engagement with the adapter and permitting withdrawal of said fuel cell from said tool. A modified latch receives the adapter of the fuel cell in a push-and-twist motion to retain it in position.

Abstract: A constant volume metering chamber and valve assembly for use with a pressurized fluid supply containing a fluid is described for use in a power fastening tool. The assembly includes a first spring-biased valve and a second spring-biased valve. There is a metering chamber having an inlet and an outlet, so that the first spring-biased valve controls the inlet and the second spring-biased valve controls the outlet. An actuator assembly operates causes the first and second spring-biased valves to move in either a first valve sequence or a second valve sequence. The first valve sequence includes engaging the first spring-biased valve with the inlet, preventing flow of the fluid from the fluid supply into the metering chamber, followed by disengaging the second spring-biased valve from the outlet, allowing flow of the fluid from the metering chamber.

Abstract: A fuel cell adapter system for a combustion tool which includes a housing enclosing a fuel metering valve. The fuel cell is provided with an adapter having a generally cylindrical nozzle and a base configured for engagement upon the fuel cell. The nozzle has a free end and defines a passageway. A frangible membrane is provided for blocking the passageway. The adapter also has a gripping formation that is configured for engagement with a latch, so that the adapter is accommodated in the housing in fluid communication with the fuel metering valve. The latch is disposed in the housing for releasably securing the adapter in fluid communication with the fuel metering valve. The latch includes a latch body having at least one locking tang movable between a closed position and an open position, and a release member for moving the locking tang to release said engagement with the adapter and permitting withdrawal of said fuel cell from said tool.

Abstract: A fuel cell adapter system for a combustion tool which includes a housing enclosing a fuel metering valve. The fuel cell is provided with an adapter having a generally cylindrical nozzle and a base configured for engagement upon the fuel cell. The nozzle has a free end and defines a passageway. A frangible membrane is provided for blocking the passageway. The adapter also has a gripping formation that is configured for engagement with a latch, so that the adapter is accommodated in the housing in fluid communication with the fuel metering valve. The latch is disposed in the housing for releasably securing the adapter in fluid communication with the fuel metering valve. The latch includes a latch body having at least one locking tang movable between a closed position and an open position, and a release member for moving the locking tang to release said engagement with the adapter and permitting withdrawal of said fuel cell from said tool.

Abstract: A constant volume metering chamber and valve assembly for use with a pressurized fluid supply containing a fluid is described for use in a power fastening tool. The assembly includes a first spring-biased valve and a second spring-biased valve. There is a metering chamber having an inlet and an outlet, so that the first spring-biased valve controls the inlet and the second spring-biased valve controls the outlet. An actuator assembly operates causes the first and second spring-biased valves to move in either a first valve sequence or a second valve sequence. The first valve sequence includes engaging the first spring-biased valve with the inlet, preventing flow of the fluid from the fluid supply into the metering chamber, followed by disengaging the second spring-biased valve from the outlet, allowing flow of the fluid from the metering chamber.

Abstract: A variable volume metering chamber and valve assembly for a combustion-powered tool includes a housing defining a metering chamber having an internal volume and including an inlet and an outlet, and a plunger configured for reciprocal movement relative to the chamber for adjusting the internal volume of the metering chamber. The plunger is preferably adjustable by the user to alter the volume of fuel retained in the metering chamber. In the housing, a first valve controls control fluid flow through the inlet, a second valve controls fluid flow through the outlet, and an actuator assembly, connected to the valves, is sequentially operable from a first position, in which the first valve is open and the second valve is closed, to a second position, in which the first and second valves are both closed, and a third position, in which the first valve is closed and the second valve is open.

Abstract: A fuel cell adapter system for a combustion tool which includes a housing enclosing a fuel metering valve. The fuel cell is provided with an adapter having a generally cylindrical nozzle and a base configured for engagement upon the fuel cell. The nozzle has a free end and defines a passageway. A frangible membrane is provided for blocking the passageway. The adapter also has a gripping formation that is configured for engagement with a latch, so that the adapter is accommodated in the housing in fluid communication with the fuel metering valve. The latch is disposed in the housing for releasably securing the adapter in fluid communication with the fuel metering valve. The latch includes a latch body having at least one locking tang movable between a closed position and an open position, and a release member for moving the locking tang to release said engagement with the adapter and permitting withdrawal of said fuel cell from said tool.

Abstract: A fuel cell adapter system for a combustion tool which includes a housing enclosing a fuel metering valve. The fuel cell is provided with an adapter having a generally cylindrical nozzle and an enlarged base configured for engagement upon the fuel cell. The nozzle has a lobed free end and defines a passageway. A frangible membrane is provided for blocking the passageway. The latch is disposed in the housing for releasably securing the adapter in fluid communication with the fuel metering valve. The latch includes a latch body having at least one locking tang movable between a closed position and an open position, and a release member for moving the locking tang to release said engagement with the adapter and permitting withdrawal of said fuel cell from said tool. A modified latch receives the adapter of the fuel cell in a push-and-twist motion to retain it in position.

Abstract: A combustion powered tool for driving fasteners having a housing to house a main chamber. Within the main chamber is a power source having a combustion end and a lower end enclosed in the main chamber. A rod is driven by the combustion end of the power source. A device is provided for feeding fasteners sequentially for engagement with the rod. A nosepiece has a tool end, a workpiece end opposite the tool end, and depends from the lower end of the power source. The nosepiece is configured for receiving the rod from the lower end of the power source and for guiding the rod toward a workpiece. A workpiece-contacting element is slidably mounted on the nosepiece. Also provided is a protective shield for protecting the nosepiece and the workpiece-contacting element. The shield is constructed and arranged to define a cavity between the nosepiece and the shield, and is tapered from an upper end to a lower end.

Abstract: A combustion powered tool has a self-contained internal combustion power source constructed and arranged for creating a combustion for driving a driver blade to impact a fastener and drive it into a workpiece. The tool includes a housing constructed and arranged to enclose the power source, a combustion chamber defined at an upper end of the housing and a cylinder disposed be in fluid communication with the combustion chamber. A valve member is disposed to periodically close the combustion chamber. A piston is associated with the driver blade and is configured for reciprocal movement within the cylinder between a start position and a driving position. Also included on the tool is a nosepiece having a workpiece contact element configured for contacting a workpiece. The workpiece contact element is movable relative to the nosepiece, and upon such contact, the movement of the workpiece contact clement causes the valve member to close the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A combustion powered tool for driving fasteners including a housing with a main chamber. Within the main chamber is a power source having a combustion end and a lower end. The combustion end of the power source drives a rod. Fasteners are sequentially fed to the rod for driving engagement with the rod. Depending from the lower end of the power source is a nosepiece having a tool end, and a workpiece end opposite the tool end. The nosepiece is configured for receiving the rod and for guiding the rod to a workpiece. To protect the nosepiece, a protective shield envelops the nosepiece.

Abstract: A combustion powered tool having a self-contained internal combustion power source constructed and arranged for creating a combustion for driving a driver blade to impact a fastener and drive it into a work piece includes a housing constructed and arranged to enclose the power source, a combustion chamber defined at an upper end of the housing, a cylinder disposed in the housing to be in fluid communication with the combustion chamber, a piston associated with the driver blade and configured for reciprocal movement within the cylinder between a start position located at a first end of cylinder and a driving position located at a second end of the cylinder, a gas control device for periodically opening the combustion chamber to atmosphere, and a delay apparatus connected to the gas control device for delaying the opening of the combustion chamber until the piston returns to the start position after driving the fastener.

Abstract: A magazine for a nail-driving tool, which may be pneumatically powered or combustion-powered, is arranged to store a plurality of plural nail strips in side-by-side relationship. A spring-biased mechanism is used to bias the stored strips toward a side rail. Being movable along a frame between an advanced position and a retracted position, a feeding member in the retracted position engages the shank of an endmost nail of the stored strip nearest to the side rail. A negator spring mechanism biasing the feeding member toward the advanced position includes a leaf spring arranged to be longitudinally pulled between the nail heads of the stored ship nearest to the side rail and the nail heads of the next strip when the feeding member is moved from the advanced position into the retracted position.