Fastener-driving tool with multiple combustion chambers and usable with fuel canisters of varying lengths
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsMarc Largo, Maureen Shea, Charles Zhao
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a combustion-powered fastener-driving tool including multiple combustion chambers and/or usable with fuel canisters of varying lengths.
Claims20
A method of operating a fastener-driving tool including a housing, a combustion cylinder supported by the housing and defining a combustion chamber, a fuel assembly supported by the housing, and a canister mounting subassembly connected to the housing by at least one mounting element, the canister mounting subassembly including a fuel canister mounting carriage, the method comprising:
- receiving, by the fuel canister mounting carriage, a fuel canister such that the fuel canister:
- is within a plurality of spaced-apart pairs of canister-retainer fingers of the fuel canister mounting carriage;
- engages longitudinally extending ribs of the fuel canister mounting carriage, and
- is partially within a fuel canister closure engager of the fuel canister mounting carriage;
- and
- thereafter, causing the fuel canister mounting carriage to move from a rest position to a dispense position.
A method of operating a fastener-driving tool defining a combustion chamber and including a fuel assembly, said method comprising:
- receiving, by a canister-mounting carriage, a fuel canister such that:
- a pair of fingers of the canister-mounting carriage retain an outer housing of the fuel canister, and
- a fuel canister closer engager of the canister-mounting carriage receives a lip of a cover of the fuel canister and prevents the fuel canister from moving longitudinally and laterally relative to the canister-mounting carriage;
- causing a fuel routing subassembly of the fuel assembly to direct a fuel/air mixture to the combustion chamber;
- and
- causing a canister mover to move the canister-mounting carriage holding the fuel canister from a rest position to a dispense position.
A method of operating a fastener-driving tool defining a combustion chamber, and including a canister mounting subassembly including a fuel canister mounting carriage, the method comprising:
- receiving, by the fuel canister mounting carriage, a first fuel canister of a first length such that the first fuel canister:
- is within and held by a first quantity of canister-retainer fingers of the fuel canister mounting carriage, and
- is partially within a fuel canister closure engager of the fuel canister mounting carriage;
- thereafter, causing the fuel canister mounting carriage to move from a rest position to a dispense position;
- and
- after the first fuel canister is removed from the fuel canister mounting carriage:
- receiving, by the fuel canister mounting carriage, a second fuel canister of a second length that is less than the first length and such that the second fuel canister:
- is within and held by a second quantity of canister-retainer fingers of the fuel canister mounting carriage, the second quantity being less than the first quantity, and
- is partially within the fuel canister closure engager of the fuel canister mounting carriage, and
- thereafter, causing the fuel canister mounting carriage to move from a rest position to a dispense position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.