Combustion assisted sledge tool
OwnerCoburn Greinerinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for propelling a sledge head relative to a sledge body mounted to a handle are described. In an aspect, the sledge head is propelled from a sledge body through action of one or more pistons that are driven through combustion or ignition of charges secured within the sledge body. The charges can be activated based on contact between the sledge head and a working surface to engage one or more charges against a firing pin resulting in combustion or ignition of the charges. The tool can include one or more springs to bias the sledge head toward a retracted position, where activation of the one or more charges overcomes the spring bias to propel the sledge head against the working surface upon contact.
Claims20
A sledge head for a combustion-assisted tool, comprising:
- a sledge body configured to couple with a handle for handheld operation of the tool, the sledge body defining a piston cavity and a charge cavity in an axial arrangement, the charge cavity configured to receive a combustible charge;
- a piston positioned within the piston cavity, the piston configured for translational movement within the piston cavity;
- a charge plate coupled to the sledge body in an axially rearward position from the charge cavity, the charge plate axially slidable between a forward position and a rear position, the charge plate biased in the forward position via at least one spring to push the combustible charge against the piston;
- a firing pin coupled to the sledge body adjacent the combustible charge, the firing pin isolated from the combustible charge with the charge plate in the forward position;
- and
- a blast plate coupled to an end of the piston to support the blast plate adjacent an exterior surface of the sledge body, the blast plate having an interior surface that is spaced apart from the exterior surface of the sledge body by a gap with the piston in a neutral position within the piston cavity, wherein at least a portion of the interior surface of the blast plate contacts at least a portion of the exterior surface of the sledge body with the piston in a firing position within the piston cavity to push the charge plate to the rear position, permitting contact between the combustible charge and the firing pin, wherein gases expelled from combustion of the combustible charge push the piston from the firing position outwards to expel the blast plate outwards relative to the sledge body.
A combustion-assisted sledge tool, comprising:
- a handle;
- and
- a sledge head coupled with the handle for handheld operation of the tool, the sledge head including a sledge body defining a piston cavity and a charge cavity in an axial arrangement, the charge cavity configured to receive a combustible charge,
- a piston positioned within the piston cavity, the piston configured for translational movement within the piston cavity, and
- a blast plate coupled to an end of the piston to support the blast plate adjacent an exterior surface of the sledge body, the blast plate having an interior surface that is spaced apart from the exterior surface of the sledge body by a gap with the piston in a neutral position within the piston cavity, wherein at least a portion of the interior surface of the blast plate contacts at least a portion of the exterior surface of the sledge body with the piston in a firing position within the piston cavity, wherein gases expelled from combustion of the combustible charge push the piston from the firing position outwards to expel the blast plate outwards relative to the sledge body.
A sledge head for a combustion-assisted tool, comprising:
- a sledge body configured to couple with a handle for handheld operation of the tool, the sledge body defining a piston cavity and a charge cavity in an axial arrangement, the charge cavity configured to receive a combustible charge;
- a piston positioned within the piston cavity, the piston configured for translational movement within the piston cavity;
- and
- a blast plate coupled to an end of the piston to support the blast plate adjacent an exterior surface of the sledge body, the blast plate having an interior surface that is spaced apart from the exterior surface of the sledge body by a gap with the piston in a neutral position within the piston cavity, wherein at least a portion of the interior surface of the blast plate contacts at least a portion of the exterior surface of the sledge body with the piston in a firing position within the piston cavity, wherein gases expelled from combustion of the combustible charge push the piston from the firing position outwards to expel the blast plate outwards relative to the sledge body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.