Fastener tool having auxiliary fuel cell metering valve stem seal adaptor

A metering valve-tool stem assembly, for use in connection with a fastener-driving tool, for dispensing a predetermined metered amount of fuel from a fuel source into a combustion chamber of the fastener-driving tool, comprising:

• a tool stem, having a substantially cylindrical recessed portion defined therein and an internal, frusto-conically configured end wall, adapted to be fixedly mounted upon a fastener-driving tool so as to be fluidically connected to a combustion chamber of the fastener-driving tool;
• a metering valve operatively connected at an intake end thereof to a fuel source for dispensing a predetermined metered amount of fuel from the fuel source toward the tool combustion chamber;
• a metering valve stem fixedly mounted upon a discharge end of said metering valve and adapted to fluidically cooperate with said tool stem of the fastener-driving tool, wherein said tool stem defines a fluid flow path for delivering the predetermined metered amount of fuel from said metering valve stem, through said tool stem, and into the tool combustion chamber;
• and
• an elastomeric adaptor mounted upon said metering valve stem and adapted to be disposed in sealed engagement with said recessed portion of said tool stem of the fastener-driving tool so as to thereby define a sealed fluid flow path leading from said metering valve and toward the tool combustion chamber regardless of relative movements that may occur between said metering valve stem and said tool stem,
• said elastomeric adaptor comprising a tubular body portion, defined around a longitudinal axis, for disposition within said substantially cylindrical recessed portion of said tool stem, a counterbored region defined within said tubular body portion for housing a forward end portion of said metering valve stem and having a front end wall portion, disposed substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said tubular body portion, for providing an internal wall surface for abutment with a front end face of said forward end portion of said metering valve stem so as to properly seat said forward end portion of said metering valve stem internally within said counterbored region of said tubular body portion, and a frusto-conically configured, annular edge portion formed upon an external wall surface of said front end wall portion of said tubular body portion for mated engagement with said internal, frusto-conically configured end wall of said tool stem so as to provide a universal sealed interface with said tool stem of the fastener-driving tool regardless of relative movements that may occur between said metering valve stem and said tool stem.

A combustion-powered fastener-driving tool, comprising:

• a combustion chamber;
• a fuel cell containing fuel to be injected into said combustion chamber;
• a tool stem, having a substantially cylindrical recessed portion defined therein and an internal, frusto-conically configured end wall, fixedly mounted upon said fastener-driving tool for partially defining a fuel fluid flow path leading toward said combustion chamber of said fastener-driving tool;
• a metering valve operatively mounted at an intake end thereof upon said fuel cell for receiving fuel from said fuel cell and for dispensing a predetermined metered amount of fuel from said fuel cell toward said combustion chamber of said fastener-driving tool such that said predetermined metered amount of fuel can be injected into said combustion chamber of said fastener-driving tool;
• a metering valve stem fixedly mounted upon a discharge end of said metering valve and adapted to fluidically cooperate with said tool stem of said fastener-driving tool, wherein said tool stem defines a fluid flow path for delivering said predetermined metered amount of fuel from said metering valve stem, through said tool stem, and into said combustion chamber of said fastener-driving tool;
• and
• an elastomeric adaptor mounted upon said metering valve stem and adapted to be disposed in sealed engagement with said recessed portion of said tool stem of said fastener-driving tool so as thereby define a sealed fluid flow path leading from said metering valve and toward said tool combustion chamber regardless of relative movements that may occur between said metering valve stem and said tool stem,
• said elastomeric adaptor comprising a tubular body portion, defined around a longitudinal axis, for disposition within said substantially cylindrical recessed portion of said tool stem, a counterbored region defined within said tubular body portion for housing a forward end portion of said metering valve stem and having a front end wall portion, disposed substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said tubular body portion, for providing an internal wall surface for abutment with a front end face of said forward end portion of said metering valve stem so as to properly seat said forward end portion of said metering valve stem internally within said counterbored region of said tubular body portion, and a frusto-conically configured, annular edge portion formed upon an external wall surface of said front end wall portion of said tubular body portion for mated engagement with said internal, frusto-conically configured end wall of said tool stem so as to provide a universal sealed interface with said tool stem of said fastener-driving tool regardless of relative movements that may occur between said metering valve stem and said tool stem.