Safety for fastener driving tool

Claim 2

A tool for driving fasteners into a workpiece comprising a powered fastener driving assembly including a driver element actuated by a drive piston movable within a cylinder, a fluid controlled main valve means opened to supply pressurized fluid to and closed to exhaust fluid from the cylinder, a fluid controlled cycle valve coupled to the main valve means and movable to alternate positions to control opening and closing of the main valve means, a first control means coupled to the cycle valve including a valve controlled by independently operable manual means and safety means actuated by placing the tool adjacent the workpiece for moving the cycle valve to a position effecting opening of the main valve means only when both of the manual means and the safety means are actuated, and a second control means coupled to the cycle valve and responsive to the operation of at least one of the manual means and safety means for preventing movement of the cycle valve when the manual means is operated prior to the safety means.

Claim 3

A tool for driving fasteners into a workpiece comprising a powered fastener driving assembly including a driver element actuated by a drive piston movable within a cylinder, a fluid controlled main valve means opened to supply pressurized fluid to and closed to exhaust fluid from the cylinder, a fluid controlled cycle valve coupled to the main valve means and movable to alternate positions to control opening and closing of the main valve means, said cycle valve including at least one fluid responsive surface for moving the cycle valve to one of said alternate positions, a first control means coupled to the cycle valve including independently operable manual means and safety means actuated by placing the tool adjacent the workpiece for moving the cycle valve to a position effecting opening of the main valve means only when both of the manual means and the safety means are actuated, and a second control means coupled to said fluid responsive surface on the cycle valve for preventing movement of the cycle valve by preventing the supply of fluid to the fluid responsive surface when the manual means is operated prior to the safety means.

Claim 4

A tool for driving fasteners into a workpiece comprising a powered fastener driving assembly including a driver element actuated by a drive piston movable within a cylinder, a fluid controlled main valve means opened to supply pressurized fluid to and closed to exhaust fluid from the cylinder, a fluid controlled cycle valve coupled to the main valve means and movable to alternate positions to control opening and closing of the main valve means, said cycle valve including at least one fluid responsive surface for moving the cycle valve to one of said alternate positions, a first control means coupled to the cycle valve including independently operable manual means and safety means actuated by placing the tool adjacent the workpiece for moving the cycle valve to a position effecting opening of the main valve means only when both of the manual means and the safety means are actuated, and a second control means coupled to said fluid responsive surface on the cycle valve for preventing movement of the cycle valve by preventing the supply of fluid to the fluid responsive surface when the manual means is operated prior to the safety means.

Claim 5

A tool for driving fasteners into a workpiece comprising a powered fastener driving assembly including a driver element actuated by a drive piston movable within a cylinder, a fluid controlled main valve means opened to supply pressurized fluid to and closed to exhaust fluid from the cylinder, a fluid controlled cycle valve coupled to the main valve means and movable to alternate positions to control opening and closing of the main valve means, said cycle valve being movable to a position effecting closing of the main valve means under the control of fluid supplied to the cylinder, a first control means coupled to the cycle valve including independently operable manual means and safety means actuated by placing the tool adjacent the workpiece for moving the cycle valve to a position effecting opening of the main valve means only when both of the manual means and the safety means are actuated, and a second control means coupled to the cycle valve and to the first control means for preventing movement of the cycle valve after the manual means and the safety means are operated when the manual means is operated prior to the safety means.

Claim 6

A tool for driving fasteners into a workpiece comprising a powered fastener driving assembly including a driver element actuated by a drive piston movable within a cylinder, a fluid controlled main valve means opened to supply pressurized fluid to and closed to exhaust fluid from the cylinder, a fluid controlled cycle valve coupled to the main valve means and movable to alternate positions to control opening and closing of the main valve means, said cycle valve being movable to a position effecting closing of the main valve means under the control of fluid supplied to the cylinder, a first control means coupled to the cycle valve including independently operable manual means and safety means actuated by placing the tool adjacent the workpiece for moving the cycle valve to a position effecting opening of the main valve means only when both of the manual means and the safety means are actuated, and a second control means coupled to the cycle valve and to the first control means for preventing movement of the cycle valve after the manual means and the safety means are operated when the manual means is operated prior to the safety means.

Claim 7

The tool set forth in claim 3 in which the second control means includes a fluid actuated piston mechanically coupled to the cycle valve and biasing the cycle valve against movement to a position effecting opening of the main valve means.

Claim 8

A tool for driving fasteners into a workpiece comprising a powered fastener driving assembly including a driver element actuated by a drive piston movable within a cylinder, a fluid controlled main valve means for selectively supplying pressurized fluid to and exhausting fluid from the cylinder, a cycle valve coupled to the main valve means and movable to alternate positions to control opening and closing of the main valve means, a first control means coupled to the cycle valve including manual means and safety means actuated by placing the tool adjacent the workpiece for moving the cycle valve to said main valve opening control position when both of the manual means and the safety means are actuated, a second control means coupled to the cycle valve and to the cylinder for moving the cycle valve to, said main valve closing control position, a fluid actuated control piston coupled to the cycle valve for controlling its movement, and means coupling the control piston to the first control means and controlling the control piston to prevent movement of the cycle valve to said opening control position when the manual means is actuated prior to the safety means.

Claim 9

A tool for driving fasteners into a workpiece comprising a powered fastener driving assembly including a driver element actuated by a drive piston movable within a cylinder, a fluid controlled main valve means for selectively supplying pressurized fluid to and exhausting fluid from the cylinder, a cycle valve coupled to the main valve means and movable to alternate positions to control opening and closing of the main valve means, a first control means coupled to the cycle valve including manual means and safety means actuated by placing the tool adjacent the workpiece for moving the cycle valve to said main valve opening control position when both of the manual means and the safety means are actuated, a second control means coupled to the cycle valve and to the cylinder for moving the cycle valve to, said main valve closing control position, a fluid actuated control piston coupled to the cycle valve for controlling its movement, and means coupling the control piston to the first control means and controlling the control piston to prevent movement of the cycle valve to said opening control position when the manual means is actuated prior to the safety means.

Claim 10

The tool set forth in claim 5 including means mounting the control piston for movement into and out of engagement with the cycle valve.

Claim 11

The tool set forth in claim 6 in which the first control means includes means for applying a biasing force to the control piston to hold the control piston in engagement with the cycle valve to prevent movement of the cycle valve when the manual means is actuated prior to the safety means, said first control means rendering said biasing means ineffective when the safety means is actuated.

Claim 12

A tool for driving fasteners into a workpiece comprising a powered fastener driving assembly including a driver element actuated by a drive piston movable within a cylinder through power and return strokes, a fluid controlled main valve means that is opened to supply pressurized fluid to and that is closed to exhaust fluid from the cylinder, a cycle valve coupled to the main valve means and movable between a first position to control opening of the main valve means and a second position to control closing of the main valve means, a first control means coupled to the cycle valve including manual means and safety means actuated by placing the tool adjacent the workpiece for moving the cycle valve to its first position when both of the manual means and the safety means are actuated, a second control means coupled to the cycle valve and to the cylinder for moving the cycle valve to its second position when the piston has moved through its power stroke, a fluid actuated control piston normally preventing movement of the cycle valve to its first position, means coupling the control piston to the first control means, and release means in the first control means for controlling movement of the control piston to permit movement of the cycle valve to said one first position only when the safety means is actuated prior to the manual means.

Claim 13

A tool for driving fasteners into a workpiece comprising a powered fastener driving assembly including a driver element actuated by a drive piston movable within a cylinder through power and return strokes, a fluid controlled main valve means that is opened to supply pressurized fluid to and that is closed to exhaust fluid from the cylinder, a cycle valve coupled to the main valve means and movable between a first position to control opening of the main valve means and a second position to control closing of the main valve means, a first control means coupled to the cycle valve including manual means and safety means actuated by placing the tool adjacent the workpiece for moving the cycle valve to its first position when both of the manual means and the safety means are actuated, a second control means coupled to the cycle valve and to the cylinder for moving the cycle valve to its second position when the piston has moved through its power stroke, a fluid actuated control piston normally preventing movement of the cycle valve to its first position, means coupling the control piston to the first control means, and release means in the first control means for controlling movement of the control piston to permit movement of the cycle valve to said one first position only when the safety means is actuated prior to the manual means.

Claim 14

The tool set forth in claim 8 in which the release means includes valve means controlled by the safety means for selectively supplying an exhaust connection and pressurized fluid to the fluid actuated control piston.

Claim 15

A tool for driving fasteners into a workpiece comprising a powered fastener driving assembly including a driver element actuated by a drive piston movable within a cylinder, a fluid controlled main valve means for selectively supplying pressurized fluid to and exhausting fluid from the cylinder, a cycle valve coupled to the main valve means and cyclically movable to alternate positions to control opening and closing of the main valve means, a first control means coupled to the cycle valve including independently operable manual means and safety means actuated by placing the tool adjacent the workpiece for initiating cyclic movement of the cycle valve between its alternate positions when both of the manual means and the safety means are actuated, and a second control means coupled to the cycle valve and the first control means for preventing cyclic movement of the cycle valve after the safety means and manual means are operated whenever the manual means is operated prior to the safety means.

Claim 16

A tool for driving fasteners into a workpiece comprising a powered fastener driving assembly including a driver element actuated by a drive piston movable within a cylinder, a fluid controlled main valve means for selectively supplying pressurized fluid to and exhausting fluid from the cylinder, a cycle valve coupled to the main valve means and cyclically movable to alternate positions to control opening and closing of the main valve means, a first control means coupled to the cycle valve including independently operable manual means and safety means actuated by placing the tool adjacent the workpiece for initiating cyclic movement of the cycle valve between its alternate positions when both of the manual means and the safety means are actuated, and a second control means coupled to the cycle valve and the first control means for preventing cyclic movement of the cycle valve after the safety means and manual means are operated whenever the manual means is operated prior to the safety means.

Claim 17

The tool set forth in claim 10 in which the second control means includes a fluid actuated bias valve for applying a fluid bias to the cycle valve, and the first control means includes valve means for selectively connecting the bias valve to pressurized fluid and an exhaust.

Claim 18

A multifire tool for driving a series of fasteners into a workpiece comprising a powered fastener driving assembly including a driver element actuated by a drive piston movable within a cylinder, a fluid controlled main valve means for selectively supplying pressurized fluid to and exhausting fluid from the cylinder, a fluid operated cycle valve coupled to the main valve means and movable to alternate positions to control opening and closing of the main valve means, bias valve means for applying a fluid bias to the cycle valve means to move the cycle valve means to one of its alternate positions, means coupled to the cycle valve and to the cylinder for applying a fluid bias to the cycle valve means to move the cycle valve to the other of its alternate positions, and control means including manual means and safety means actuated by placing the tool adjacent the workpiece for initiating movement of the cycle valve when both of the manual means and the safety means are actuated, said control means including means operating the bias valve means to apply a fluid bias to the cycle valVe means only when the safety means is actuated prior to the manual means.

Claim 19

A multifire tool for driving a series of fasteners into a workpiece comprising a powered fastener driving assembly including a driver element actuated by a drive piston movable within a cylinder, a fluid controlled main valve means for selectively supplying pressurized fluid to and exhausting fluid from the cylinder, a fluid operated cycle valve coupled to the main valve means and movable to alternate positions to control opening and closing of the main valve means, bias valve means for applying a fluid bias to the cycle valve means to move the cycle valve means to one of its alternate positions, means coupled to the cycle valve and to the cylinder for applying a fluid bias to the cycle valve means to move the cycle valve to the other of its alternate positions, and control means including manual means and safety means actuated by placing the tool adjacent the workpiece for initiating movement of the cycle valve when both of the manual means and the safety means are actuated, said control means including means operating the bias valve means to apply a fluid bias to the cycle valVe means only when the safety means is actuated prior to the manual means.

Claim 20

A tool for driving fasteners into a workpiece comprising a powered fastener driving assembly including a driver element actuated by a drive piston movable within a drive cylinder, a fluid controlled main valve means for selectively supplying pressurized fluid to and exhausting fluid from the cylinder, a cycle valve coupled to the main valve means and movable to alternate positions to control opening and closing of the main valve means, said cycle valve including a valve cylinder and a valve piston movable therein for controlling the connection of exhaust and pressurized fluid to the main valve means, a piston means movable within the valve cylinder between a position biasing the valve piston and a position spaced from the valve piston, first passage means placing the valve cylinder in communication with the drive cylinder at a point located between the piston means and the valve piston for applying a fluid bias from the drive cylinder to the valve piston, second passage means communicating with the valve cylinder at a point spaced from the valve piston to apply a fluid bias to the piston means only, and valve means controlling the application of fluid pressure to the second passage means.

Claim 21

A tool for driving fasteners into a workpiece comprising a powered fastener driving assembly including a driver element actuated by a drive piston movable within a drive cylinder, a fluid controlled main valve means for selectively supplying pressurized fluid to and exhausting fluid from the cylinder, a cycle valve coupled to the main valve means and movable to alternate positions to control opening and closing of the main valve means, said cycle valve including a valve cylinder and a valve piston movable therein for controlling the connection of exhaust and pressurized fluid to the main valve means, a piston means movable within the valve cylinder between a position biasing the valve piston and a position spaced from the valve piston, first passage means placing the valve cylinder in communication with the drive cylinder at a point located between the piston means and the valve piston for applying a fluid bias from the drive cylinder to the valve piston, second passage means communicating with the valve cylinder at a point spaced from the valve piston to apply a fluid bias to the piston means only, and valve means controlling the application of fluid pressure to the second passage means.

Claim 22

A tool for driving fasteners into a workpiece comprising a powered fastener driving assembly including a driver element actuated by a drive piston movable within a cylinder, main assembly means opened to supply pressurized fluid to and closed to exhaust fluid from the cylinder, cycle means coupled to the main assembly means and movable to alternate positions to control opening and closing of the main assembly means, a first control means coupled to the cycle means including means controlled by independently operable manual means and safety means actuated by placing the tool adjacent the workpiece for moving the cycle means to a position effecting opening of the main assembly means only when both of the manual means and the safety means are actuated, and a second control means coupled to the cycle means and responsive to the operation of at least one of the manual means and safety means for preventing movement of the cycle means when the manual means is operated prior to the safety means.

Claim 23

A tool for driving fasteners into a workpiece comprising a powered fastener driving assembly including a driver element actuated by a drive piston movable within a cylinder, main assembly means opened to supply pressurized fluid to and closed to exhaust fluid from the cylinder, cycle means coupled to the main assembly means and movable to alternate positions to control opening and closing of the main assembly means, a first control means coupled to the cycle means including means controlled by independently operable manual means and safety means actuated by placing the tool adjacent the workpiece for moving the cycle means to a position effecting opening of the main assembly means only when both of the manual means and the safety means are actuated, and a second control means coupled to the cycle means and responsive to the operation of at least one of the manual means and safety means for preventing movement of the cycle means when the manual means is operated prior to the safety means.