Ergonomic installation tool with selectable vacuum pintail collector

A tool for use in installing fasteners in workpieces, each fastener including a deformable head and a detachable pintail, each fastener capable of being installed by application to the fastener of an installation force which deforms the head and detaches the pintail, said tool being connectable to a nose assembly which is configured to apply an installation force, said tool comprising:

• a nose piston cylinder;
• a nose piston slidably disposed within said nose piston cylinder, said nose piston having a nose end and a tail end, said nose end of said nose piston being connectable to the nose assembly, said nose piston having a longitudinal bore connecting a nose orifice in said nose end with a tail orifice in said tail end, said nose piston also having a venturi bore which meets said longitudinal bore at a venturi orifice, said venturi bore being oriented at an acute angle with respect to the portion of said longitudinal bore between said nose orifice and said venturi orifice such that air flowing through said venturi orifice under sufficient pressure creates a venturi effect capable of drawing a detached pintail to and through said tail orifice, said venturi bore being connectable at an air feed to a source of pressurized air;
• a slide valve disposed between said venturi bore and said air feed, said slide valve being linearly slidable between an open position, which allows pressurized air to flow from said air feed to said venturi bore, and a closed position, which prevents air flow from said air feed to said venturi bore, said slide valve comprising a ring disposed about the exterior of said nose piston cylinder, said ring having a recess which is in substantial fluid communication with said air feed, said recess being positioned on the inner surface of said slide valve adjacent said nose piston cylinder, said recess being in substantial fluid communication with said venturi bore when said slide valve is in said open position, and said recess not being in substantial fluid communication with said venturi bore when said slide valve is in said closed position, said ring having an outer surface with projections to facilitate sliding movement of said slide valve by a user's hand;
• and
• means for pressurizing said nose piston cylinder.

A tool for use in installing fasteners in workpieces, each fastener including a deformable head and a detachable pintail, each fastener capable of being installed by application to the fastener of an installation force which deforms the head and detaches the pintail, said tool being connectable to a nose assembly which is configured to apply an installation force, said tool comprising:

• a nose piston cylinder;
• a nose piston slidably disposed within said nose piston cylinder, said nose piston having a nose end and a tail end, said nose end of said nose piston being connectable to the nose assembly, said nose piston having a longitudinal bore connecting a nose orifice in said nose end with a tail orifice in said tail end, said nose piston also having a venturi bore which meets said longitudinal bore at a venturi orifice such that air flowing through said venturi orifice under sufficient pressure creates a venturi effect capable of drawing a detached pintail to and through said tail orifice, said venturi bore being connectable at an air feed to a source of pressurized air;
• a slide valve disposed between said venturi bore and said air feed, said slide valve being linearly slidable between an open position, which allows pressurized air to flow from said air feed to said venturi bore, and a closed position, which prevents air flow from said air feed to said venturi bore, said slide valve comprising an outer surface having projections to facilitate sliding movement of said slide valve by a user's hand;
• and
• means for pressurizing said nose piston cylinder.

A tool for use in installing fasteners in workpieces, each fastener including a deformable head and a detachable pintail, each fastener capable of being installed by application to the fastener of an installation force which deforms the head and detaches the pintail, said tool being connectable to a nose assembly which is configured to apply an installation force, said tool comprising:

• a nose piston cylinder;
• a nose piston slidably disposed within said nose piston cylinder, said nose piston having a nose end and a tail end, said nose end of said nose piston being connectable to the nose assembly, said nose piston having a longitudinal bore connecting a nose orifice in said nose end with a tail orifice in said tail end, said nose piston also having a venturi bore which meets said longitudinal bore at a venturi orifice such that air flowing through said venturi orifice under sufficient pressure creates a venturi effect capable of drawing a detached pintail to and through said tail orifice, said venturi bore being connectable at an air feed to a source of pressurized air;
• a slide valve disposed between said venturi bore and said air feed, said slide valve being linearly slidable between an open position, which allows pressurized air to flow from said air feed to said venturi bore, and a closed position, which prevents air flow from said air feed to said venturi bore, said slide valve including a recess which is in substantial fluid communication with said air feed, said recess being positioned on an inner surface of said slide valve adjacent said nose piston cylinder, said recess being in substantial fluid communication with said venturi bore when said slide valve is in said open position, and said recess not being in substantial fluid communication with said venturi bore when said slide valve is in said closed position;
• and
• means for pressurizing said nose piston cylinder.