Powder actuated tool

Claim 2

A powder actuated tool comprising: a housing including a rearward breech portion and a forward barrel portion; a breechblock carried by said breech portion; a barrel cradled by said barrel portion when said barrel is in a first position in substantial alignment with said breechblock; said barrel being pivotally engaged by the barrel portion of said housing at a location toward the muzzle end of said barrel so that the breech end of said barrel can be upraised away from said breechblock into a loading position; a captive piston longitudinally slidable within said barrel and movable in response to explosion of a power load for driving a fastener element into a workpiece at the muzzle end of said barrel; and a piston retractor slidably carried by said barrel, said retractor including a member extending into said barrel for engaging said piston and a handle portion which is manually engageable for moving said piston retractor and said piston to a firing position toward the breech end of said barrel.

Claim 3

The tool according to claim 1 wherein said barrel is provided with a longitudinal slot ending short of the breech and muzzle ends of said barrel, and wherein said member for engaging said piston extends through said longitudinal slot in said barrel for engaging the head of said piston at the muzzle end thereof.

Claim 4

The tool according to claim 2 wherein the head of the piston is provided with an ejector extending from the breech end of the head.

Claim 5

The tool according to claim 2 wherein said barrel portion of the housing is channel-shaped and open upwardly, said slot in said barrel being located on the lower side of said barrel toward said barrel portion of the housing.

Claim 6

The tool according to claim 1 including a power plug received in the breech end of said barrel for receiving a power load cartridge, with the breechblock being movable rearwardly within said breech portion of said housing from an uncocked to a fully cocked or triggerable position, and wherein the barrel, in addition to being pivotally engaged by the barrel portion of said housing, is also slidable with respect to the barrel portion of said housing into full engagement with said breechblock and is further rearwardly slidable for urging said breechblock into a cocked position in response to pressure of the muzzle end of the barrel against a workpiece.

Claim 7

The tool according to claim 5 wherein said captive piston includes a head provided with an ejector extending from the breech end of said head for ejectiNg a cartridge from the power plug when said piston retractor moves the captive piston to the firing position.

Claim 8

The tool according to claim 5 including a substantially horizontal pin member carried by said barrel portion of said housing at said location toward the muzzle end of said barrel, said pin member being positioned at the lower side of said barrel, and a matching slot in the underside of said barrel through which said pin member extends, said last mentioned slot having a longitudinal length along said barrel permitting longitudinal sliding movement of the barrel for full engagement with the breechblock plus movement of the breechblock into a cocked position.

Claim 9

The tool according to claim 1 wherein the barrel portion of the housing is substantially semicircular in cross section for cradling a cylindrical barrel, and is provided with an arched barrel-retaining member proximate said location toward the muzzle end of the barrel for substantially enclosing the upper side of the barrel at such location, said arched barrel-retaining member having an inner semicircular surface for substantially matching the cylindrical barrel in an upraised position thereof and for limiting the upward movement of the barrel.

Claim 10

The tool according to claim 8 including a substantially horizontal pin member carried by said barrel portion of said housing at said location toward the muzzle end of the barrel, and at the lower side of said barrel, and a matching slot in the underside of said barrel through which said pin member extends, said last mentioned slot having a longitudinal length along said barrel for permitting longitudinal slidable movement of the barrel for full engagement with the breechblock plus movement of the breechblock into a cocked position.

Claim 11

A powder actuated tool comprising: a housing including a rearward breech portion and a forward barrel portion; a breechblock carried by said breech portion; a barrel cradled by said barrel portion when said barrel is in a first position in substantial alignment with said breechblock; said barrel being pivotally engaged by the barrel portion of said housing at a location toward the muzzle end of said barrel so that the breech end of said barrel can be upraised away from said breechblock into a loading position; a captive piston longitudinally slidable within said barrel and movable in response to explosion of a power load for driving a fastener element into a workpiece at the muzzle end of said barrel; and a piston retractor ring slidably carried on said barrel, said ring carrying a member for engaging the head of said captive piston by engaging the head of said piston on the muzzle end thereof; handle means extending outwardly from either side of said ring for moving said ring and said piston to a firing position toward the breech end of said barrel; and said barrel being provided with a longitudinal slot ending short of the breech and muzzle ends of said barrel, wherein said member for engaging the head of said captive piston extends through said longitudinal slot in said barrel.

Claim 12

A powder actuated tool comprising: a housing including a rearward breech portion and a forward barrel portion; a breechblock carried by said breech portion; a barrel cradled by said barrel portion when said barrel is in a first position in substantial alignment with said breechblock; said barrel being pivotally engaged by the barrel portion of said housing at a location toward the muzzle end of said barrel so that the breech end of said barrel can be upraised away from said breechblock into a loading position; a captive piston longitudinally slidable within said barrel and movable in response to explosion of a power load for driving a fastener element into a workpiece at the muzzle end of said barrel; and a piston retractor ring slidably carried on said barrel, said ring carrying a member for engaging the head of said captive piston by engaging the head of said piston on the muzzle end thereof; handle means extending outwardly from either side of said ring for moving said ring and said piston to a firing position toward the breech end of said barrel; and said barrel being provided with a longitudinal slot ending short of the breech and muzzle ends of said barrel, wherein said member for engaging the head of said captive piston extends through said longitudinal slot in said barrel.

Claim 13

The tool according to claim 1 wherein said barrel portion of said housing matingly receives said piston retractor allowing location of said barrel in said first position only when said piston retractor is located far enough toward the muzzle end of said barrel so that said member for engaging the captive piston does not interfere with the movement of the captive piston in driving said fastener element.

Claim 14

A powder actuated tool comprising: a housing including a rearward breech portion and a forward barrel portion; a breechblock carried by said breech portion; a barrel cradled by said barrel portion when said barrel is in a first angular position in substantial alignment with said breechblock; said barrel being pivotally engaged by the barrel portion of said housing at a location toward the muzzle end of said barrel so that the breech end of said barrel can be upRaised away from said breechblock into a loading position; said barrel also being slidable with respect to the barrel portion of said housing in and out of cocked position; a captive piston longitudinally slidable within said barrel and movable in response to explosion of a power load for driving a fastener element into a workpiece at the muzzle end of said barrel; a piston retractor slidably carried by said barrel, said retractor including a member for engaging said piston for moving said piston to a firing position toward the breech end of said barrel; and said barrel portion of said housing including a recess for receiving a portion of said piston retractor toward the muzzle end of the barrel portion of the housing when said barrel is in said first angular position, the piston retractor being restrained between a portion of said barrel and said recess in the barrel portion of said housing when said barrel is in its cocked position so that said piston retractor will not be struck by movement of said piston in response to explosion of the power load.

Claim 15

A powder actuated tool comprising: a housing including a rearward breech portion and a forward barrel portion; a breechblock carried by said breech portion; a barrel cradled by said barrel portion when said barrel is in a first angular position in substantial alignment with said breechblock; said barrel being pivotally engaged by the barrel portion of said housing at a location toward the muzzle end of said barrel so that the breech end of said barrel can be upRaised away from said breechblock into a loading position; said barrel also being slidable with respect to the barrel portion of said housing in and out of cocked position; a captive piston longitudinally slidable within said barrel and movable in response to explosion of a power load for driving a fastener element into a workpiece at the muzzle end of said barrel; a piston retractor slidably carried by said barrel, said retractor including a member for engaging said piston for moving said piston to a firing position toward the breech end of said barrel; and said barrel portion of said housing including a recess for receiving a portion of said piston retractor toward the muzzle end of the barrel portion of the housing when said barrel is in said first angular position, the piston retractor being restrained between a portion of said barrel and said recess in the barrel portion of said housing when said barrel is in its cocked position so that said piston retractor will not be struck by movement of said piston in response to explosion of the power load.

Claim 16

The tool according to claim 2 including a power plug received in the breech end of said barrel for holding a power load, said breechblock being movable within said breech portion of said housing from an uncocked to a fully cocked or triggerable position, wherein the barrel, in addition to being pivotally engaged by the barrel portion of said housing, is also rearwardly slidable with respect to the barrel portion of said housing into full engagement with said breechblock and is further rearwardly slidable for urging said breechblock into a cocked position in response to pressure of the muzzle end of the barrel against a workpiece, and wherein said barrel portion of said housing includes a recess for receiving said piston retractor toward the muzzle end of the barrel portion of the housing when said barrel is in said first position, the piston retractor being restrained between the muzzle end of the slot in the barrel and the rearward end of the recess in the barrel portion of the housing when the barrel is in a cocked position.

Claim 17

The tool according to claim 1 including a power plug received in the breech end of said barrel for receiving a power load, said barrel having a substantially smooth inner bore at the breech end thereof, with said power plug being slidably received therewithin and yieldably retained within said inner bore.

Claim 18

The tool according to claim 14 wherein said power plug includes a circumferential groove, and spring retaining means mounted within said groove for bearing against the inner bore of said barrel.

Claim 19

A powder actuated tool comprising: a housing including a rearward breech portion and a forward barrel portion; a breechblock carried by said breech portion; a barrel cradled by said barrel portion when said barrel is in a first position in substantial alignment with said breechblock; said barrel being pivotally engaged by the barrel portion of said housing at a location toward the muzzle end of said barrel so that the breech end of said barrel can be upraised away from said breechblock into a loading position; a captive piston longitudinally slidable within said barrel and movable in response to explosion of a power load for driving a fastener element into a workpiece at the muzzle end of said barrel; a piston retractor slidably carried by said barrel, said retractor including a member for engaging said piston and a handle portion which is manually engageable for moving said piston retractor and said piston to a firing position toward the breech end of said barrel; and said tool further including a slot in said barrel at least adjacent the breech end of said barrel, said barrel portion of said housing including a muffler recess communicating with said slot in said barrel when said barrel is in said first position.

Claim 20

A powder actuated tool comprising: a housing including a rearward breech portion and a forward barrel portion; a breechblock carried by said breech portion; a barrel cradled by said barrel portion when said barrel is in a first position in substantial alignment with said breechblock; said barrel being pivotally engaged by the barrel portion of said housing at a location toward the muzzle end of said barrel so that the breech end of said barrel can be upraised away from said breechblock into a loading position; a captive piston longitudinally slidable within said barrel and movable in response to explosion of a power load for driving a fastener element into a workpiece at the muzzle end of said barrel; a piston retractor slidably carried by said barrel, said retractor including a member for engaging said piston and a handle portion which is manually engageable for moving said piston retractor and said piston to a firing position toward the breech end of said barrel; and said tool further including a slot in said barrel at least adjacent the breech end of said barrel, said barrel portion of said housing including a muffler recess communicating with said slot in said barrel when said barrel is in said first position.

Claim 21

A powder actuated tool comprising: a housing including a rearward breech portion and a forwarD barrel portion; a breechblock carried by said breech portion; a barrel cradled by said barrel portion when said barrel is in a first position in substantial alignment with said breechblock; said barrel being pivotally engaged by the barrel portion of said housing at a location toward the muzzle end of said barrel so that the breech end of said barrel can be upraised away from said breechblock into a loading position; a captive piston longitudinally slidable within said barrel and movable in response to explosion of a power load for driving a fastener element into a workpiece at the muzzle end of said barrel; a piston retractor slidably carried by said barrel, said retractor including a member for engaging said piston and a handle portion which is manually engageable for moving said piston retractor and said piston to a firing position toward the breech end of said barrel; said barrel being provided with a longitudinal slot ending short of the breech and muzzle ends of said barrel, and wherein said member for engaging said piston extends through said longitudinal slot in said barrel for engaging the head of said piston at the muzzle end thereof; and said barrel portion of said housing including a muffler recess communicating with said longitudinal slot in said barrel when said barrel is in said first position, wherein explosive gases from said barrel travel through said slot and into said recess as the head of said captive piston moves past the breech end of said longitudinal slot, said gases further passing along said longitudinal slot toward the muzzle end of said barrel, and a muffler in said muffler recess.

Claim 22

A powder actuated tool comprising: a housing including a rearward breech portion and a forwarD barrel portion; a breechblock carried by said breech portion; a barrel cradled by said barrel portion when said barrel is in a first position in substantial alignment with said breechblock; said barrel being pivotally engaged by the barrel portion of said housing at a location toward the muzzle end of said barrel so that the breech end of said barrel can be upraised away from said breechblock into a loading position; a captive piston longitudinally slidable within said barrel and movable in response to explosion of a power load for driving a fastener element into a workpiece at the muzzle end of said barrel; a piston retractor slidably carried by said barrel, said retractor including a member for engaging said piston and a handle portion which is manually engageable for moving said piston retractor and said piston to a firing position toward the breech end of said barrel; said barrel being provided with a longitudinal slot ending short of the breech and muzzle ends of said barrel, and wherein said member for engaging said piston extends through said longitudinal slot in said barrel for engaging the head of said piston at the muzzle end thereof; and said barrel portion of said housing including a muffler recess communicating with said longitudinal slot in said barrel when said barrel is in said first position, wherein explosive gases from said barrel travel through said slot and into said recess as the head of said captive piston moves past the breech end of said longitudinal slot, said gases further passing along said longitudinal slot toward the muzzle end of said barrel, and a muffler in said muffler recess.

Claim 23

A powder actuated tool comprising: a housing including a rearward breech portion and a forward barrel portion; a breechblock carried by said breech portion and movable within said breech portion of said housing from an uncocked to a fully cocked or triggerable position; said breechblock also carrying a triggerable firing pin; trigger means for operating said firing pin when said breechblock is in a cocked position; a barrel cradled by said barrel portion of said housing, when said barrel is in a first position in substantial alignment with said breechblock; a substantially horizontal pin member carried by said barrel portion of said housing at a location toward the muzzle end of said barrel, said horizontal pin member being positioned at the lower side of said barrel; a power plug positioned at the breech end of said barrel having a chamber communicating with said barrel for receiving a power load adapted to be fired by said firing pin; a matching first slot in the underside of said barrel through which said horizontal pin member extends, said first slot having a longitudinal length along such barrel permitting longitudinal sliding movement of the barrel for full engagement of the power plug with the breechblock plus movement of the breechblock into a cocked position as the barrel is urged toward a workpiece; said barrel being pivotable about horizontal pin member so that the breech end of said barrel including said power plug can be upraised away from said breechblock into a loading position when the barrel carrying the power plug is withdrawn from engagement with said breechblock; said barrel portion of said housing being provided with an arched barrel retaining member proximate and above the location of said horizontal pin member for substantially enclosing the upper side of the barrel proximate said location, said arched barrel retaining member having an inner surface semicircular in cross section for substantially matching the upper side of the barrel in an upraised position of the barrel for limiting the upward movement of the barrel; said barrel having a longitudinal second slot on the underside of the barrel ending short of the breech and muzzle ends of said barrel; a captive piston longitudinally slidable within said barrel and movable in response to an explOsion of the power load in the power plug for driving a fastener element; a ring-shaped piston retractor slidably carried on the exterior of said barrel, said retractor including a member for engaging said piston through a longitudinal second slot in the barrel and a handle portion which is manually engageable for moving said piston retractor and said piston to a firing position toward the breech end of said barrel; and said barrel portion of said housing including a recess for receiving said piston retractor toward the muzzle end of the barrel portion when the barrel is in a position of alignment with the breechblock such that said piston retractor does not interfere with the movement of said captive piston in response to explosion of the power load.

Claim 24

A powder actuated tool comprising: a housing including a rearward breech portion and a forward barrel portion; a breechblock carried by said breech portion and movable within said breech portion of said housing from an uncocked to a fully cocked or triggerable position; said breechblock also carrying a triggerable firing pin; trigger means for operating said firing pin when said breechblock is in a cocked position; a barrel cradled by said barrel portion of said housing, when said barrel is in a first position in substantial alignment with said breechblock; a substantially horizontal pin member carried by said barrel portion of said housing at a location toward the muzzle end of said barrel, said horizontal pin member being positioned at the lower side of said barrel; a power plug positioned at the breech end of said barrel having a chamber communicating with said barrel for receiving a power load adapted to be fired by said firing pin; a matching first slot in the underside of said barrel through which said horizontal pin member extends, said first slot having a longitudinal length along such barrel permitting longitudinal sliding movement of the barrel for full engagement of the power plug with the breechblock plus movement of the breechblock into a cocked position as the barrel is urged toward a workpiece; said barrel being pivotable about horizontal pin member so that the breech end of said barrel including said power plug can be upraised away from said breechblock into a loading position when the barrel carrying the power plug is withdrawn from engagement with said breechblock; said barrel portion of said housing being provided with an arched barrel retaining member proximate and above the location of said horizontal pin member for substantially enclosing the upper side of the barrel proximate said location, said arched barrel retaining member having an inner surface semicircular in cross section for substantially matching the upper side of the barrel in an upraised position of the barrel for limiting the upward movement of the barrel; said barrel having a longitudinal second slot on the underside of the barrel ending short of the breech and muzzle ends of said barrel; a captive piston longitudinally slidable within said barrel and movable in response to an explOsion of the power load in the power plug for driving a fastener element; a ring-shaped piston retractor slidably carried on the exterior of said barrel, said retractor including a member for engaging said piston through a longitudinal second slot in the barrel and a handle portion which is manually engageable for moving said piston retractor and said piston to a firing position toward the breech end of said barrel; and said barrel portion of said housing including a recess for receiving said piston retractor toward the muzzle end of the barrel portion when the barrel is in a position of alignment with the breechblock such that said piston retractor does not interfere with the movement of said captive piston in response to explosion of the power load.

Claim 25

The tool according to claim 1 further including means for preventing movement of said barrel into said first position until said piston retractor is positioned far enough toward the muzzle end of said barrel so that said member for engaging said piston does not interfere with the movement of said piston in driving said fastener element.

Claim 26

A powder actuated tool comprising: a housing including a rearward breech portion and a forward barrel portion; a breechblock carried by said breech portion; a barrel carried by said barrel portion and provided with a longitudinal slot ending short of the breech and muzzle ends of said barrel and through which explosive gases may escape from said barrel; a captive piston longitudinally slidable within said barrel and movable in response to explosion of a power load for driving a fastener element into a workpiece at the muzzle end of said barrel; said barrel portion of said housing being provided with a muffler recess communicating with said slot near the breech end thereof for receiving expansion of explosive gases from said barrel as the head of the captive piston passes the breech end of said longitudinal slot; and a muffler in said muffler recess, wherein said muffler comprises a roll of sheet metal located in said muffler recess.

Claim 27

A powder actuated tool comprising: a housing including a rearward breech portion and a forward barrel portion; a breechblock carried by said breech portion; a barrel carried by said barrel portion and provided with a longitudinal slot ending short of the breech and muzzle ends of said barrel and through which explosive gases may escape from said barrel; a captive piston longitudinally slidable within said barrel and movable in response to explosion of a power load for driving a fastener element into a workpiece at the muzzle end of said barrel; said barrel portion of said housing being provided with a muffler recess communicating with said slot near the breech end thereof for receiving expansion of explosive gases from said barrel as the head of the captive piston passes the breech end of said longitudinal slot; and a muffler in said muffler recess, wherein said muffler comprises a roll of sheet metal located in said muffler recess.

Claim 28

A powder actuated tool comprising: a housing including a rearward breech portion and a forward barrel portion; a breechblock carried by said breech portion; a barrel carried by said barrel portion and provided with a longitudinal slot ending short of the breech and muzzle ends of said barrel and through which explosive gases may escape from said barrel; a captive piston longitudinally slidable within said barrel and movable in response to explosion of a power load for driving a fastener element into a workpiece at the muzzle end of said barrel; said barrel portion of said housing being provided with a muffler recess communicating with said slot near the breech end thereof for receiving expansion of explosive gases from said barrel as the head of the captive piston passes the breech end of said longitudinal slot; a muffler in said recess; and wherein said barrel portion of said housing includes a longitudinal slot matching the breech end portion of said longitudinal slot in said barrel, said muffler recess being closed except for the longitudinal slot in the barrel portion of the housing communicating therewith.

Claim 29

A powder actuated tool comprising: a housing including a rearward breech portion and a forward barrel portion; a breechblock carried by said breech portion; a barrel carried by said barrel portion and provided with a longitudinal slot ending short of the breech and muzzle ends of said barrel and through which explosive gases may escape from said barrel; a captive piston longitudinally slidable within said barrel and movable in response to explosion of a power load for driving a fastener element into a workpiece at the muzzle end of said barrel; said barrel portion of said housing being provided with a muffler recess communicating with said slot near the breech end thereof for receiving expansion of explosive gases from said barrel as the head of the captive piston passes the breech end of said longitudinal slot; a muffler in said recess; and wherein said barrel portion of said housing includes a longitudinal slot matching the breech end portion of said longitudinal slot in said barrel, said muffler recess being closed except for the longitudinal slot in the barrel portion of the housing communicating therewith.

Claim 30

The tool according to claim 21 wherein said muffler comprises a loosely coiled roll of sheet metal disposed in said recess with the axis of the roll in a direction longitudinal of said tool.

Claim 31

The tool according to claim 22 wherein an outer end of said roll is oriented upwardly so the outer entrance of the passage between the convolutions of the roll opens toward said first mentioned longitudinal slot.