Portable pneumatic tool powered by an onboard compressor

A method of driving a fastener into a workpiece with a hand-held fastening tool, the method comprising the steps of:

• drawing air from the atmosphere and compressing the air in an onboard compressor mounted to the hand-held fastening tool, the compressor powered by an electrical power source;
• filling a compressed air reservoir with the compressed air compressed in the onboard compressor;
• and
• actuating a valve assembly to release compressed air from the compressed air reservoir into a chamber having a drive piston reciprocally movable therein causing the drive piston to move in a chamber formed in the hand-held fastening tool thereby driving a first fastener.

A method for performing a task with a hand-held pneumatic tool comprising the steps of:

• using an electric motor mounted to the hand-held pneumatic tool to power a compressor mounted to the hand-held pneumatic tool, the compressor having a compressor piston;
• compressing atmospheric air with the compressor piston;
• storing the compressed air;
• actuating a trigger on the hand-held pneumatic tool so that a drive piston positioned in a chamber formed in the hand-held pneumatic tool is driven downward in the chamber by the compressed air;
• driving a working mechanism for performing the task with the downward motion of the drive piston.

A hand-held pneumatic tool comprising:

• a body;
• a chamber formed in the body;
• a drive piston received in the chamber for reciprocal movement therein;
• a working mechanism for performing the work of the hand-held pneumatic tool, the drive piston reciprocating in the chamber to drive the working mechanism;
• an electrical power source;
• a compressor and an electric motor each mounted to the body, the electric motor powered by the electrical power source and the compressor powered by the electric motor;
• a compressed air reservoir in communication with the compressor, the compressed air reservoir storing compressed air that is compressed in the compressor;
• a trigger valve assembly operable to release stored compressed air from the compressed air reservoir into the chamber to drive the drive piston thereby driving the working mechanism.

A portable pneumatic tool system comprising:

• a hand-held pneumatic tool having a body, a chamber formed in the body, a drive piston reciprocating in the chamber under the force of compressed air in the chamber, the reciprocating movement of the drive piston powering a working mechanism for performing a task, and a port in communication with the chamber for bringing compressed air into the chamber;
• a portable compressor assembly adapted to be borne by a user and having an electric motor operatively connected to and powering a compressor, an electrical power source powering the electric motor, and a port in communication with the compressor for delivering compressed air from the compressor, the portable compressor assembly further having means permitting the portable compressor assembly to be borne by a user;
• and
• a compressed air hose connected at one end thereof to the port of the hand-held pneumatic tool and at a second end thereof to the portable compressor assembly.

A method of using a portable pneumatic tool system, the system comprising:

• a hand-held pneumatic tool having a drive piston reciprocating in a chamber under the force of compressed air in the chamber, the reciprocating movement of the drive piston powering a working mechanism for performing a task, and a port in communication with the chamber for bringing compressed air into the chamber;
• and
• a portable compressor assembly adapted to be borne by a user and having an electric motor operatively connected to and powering a compressor, an electrical power source powering the electric motor, and a port in communication with the compressor for delivering compressed air from the compressor;
• the method comprising the steps of:
• grasping the hand-held pneumatic tool with the user's hand;
• attaching the portable compressor assembly to some part of the user's body other than the hand or arm so that the portable compressor assembly is borne by the user;
• connecting a compressed air hose between the port of the compressor assembly and the port of the hand-held pneumatic tool;
• compressing atmospheric air in the compressor of the compressor assembly;
• introducing the compressed air compressed in the compressor into the chamber of the hand-held pneumatic tool to drive the drive piston thereby driving the working mechanism and performing the task.

A portable compressor assembly for providing compressed air to a hand-held pneumatic tool, the portable compressor assembly comprising:

• a body;
• a compressor located at least partially inside the body;
• an electric motor operatively connected to and powering the compressor;
• at least one battery detachably mounted to the body, the battery providing electrical power to the electric motor;
• a port in communication with the compressor, the port connectable to a compressed air line for delivering compressed air to the hand-held pneumatic tool;
• a control system comprising:
• pressure sensing means for sensing the pressure of the compressed air available to the port;
• control means for controlling the electric motor according to a comparison between the pressure sensed by the pressure sensing means and a predetermined pressure setting, the predetermined pressure setting being selectable by the user during use of the portable compressor unit.

A portable pneumatic tool system comprising:

• a hand-held pneumatic tool having a body, a chamber formed in the body, a drive piston reciprocating in the chamber under the force of compressed air in the chamber, the reciprocating movement of the drive piston powering a working mechanism for performing a task, and a port in communication with the chamber for bringing compressed air into the chamber;
• a portable compressor assembly having an electric motor operatively connected to and powering a compressor, a detachably mounted battery powering the electric motor, and a port in communication with the compressor for delivering compressed air from the compressor;
• and
• a compressed air hose connected at one end thereof to the port of the hand-held pneumatic tool and at a second end thereof to the portable compressor assembly.