Valve cap for pneumatic nailer

A valve cap assembly for installation on a pneumatic nailer having a housing enclosing a cylinder, defining a return chamber and having an upper end opposite a workpiece contact element end, said assembly comprising:

• a valve cap enclosing a dump valve and a cycle valve, each said valve having a shuttle being disposed for reciprocation in a respective chamber in said cap;
• a conduit connecting said return chamber to said cycle valve for operating a main valve for facilitating piston return to a start position independent of a position of a trigger valve;
• and
• a gasket sealing an upper surface of said valve cap, said gasket having an opening disposed such that in a first position, said cycle valve chamber is open, enabling single drive tool operation, and in a second position, said cycle valve chamber is unplugged, enabling automatic tool operation.

A valve cap assembly for installation on a pneumatic nailer having a housing enclosing a cylinder, defining a return chamber and having an upper end opposite a workpiece contact element end, said assembly comprising:

• a valve cap enclosing a dump valve and a cycle valve, each said valve having a shuttle being disposed for reciprocation in a respective chamber in said cap;
• a conduit connecting said return chamber to said cycle valve for operating a main valve for facilitating piston return to a start position independent of a position of a trigger valve;
• and
• a spacer configured for disposition between said upper end of said housing and said valve cap, a main valve and a main valve spring.

A valve cap assembly for installation on a pneumatic nailer having a housing enclosing a cylinder, defining a return chamber and having an upper end opposite a workpiece contact element end, said assembly comprising:

• a valve cap enclosing a dump valve and a cycle valve, each said valve having a shuttle being disposed for reciprocation in a respective chamber in said cap;
• a conduit connecting said return chamber to said cycle valve for operating a main valve for facilitating piston return to a start position independent of a position of a trigger valve;
• and
• said valve cap defines a dump valve chamber and a cycle valve chamber disposed in spaced relationship to each other, each said chamber being divided into at least three subchambers.

A valve cap assembly for installation on a pneumatic nailer having a housing enclosing a cylinder, defining a return chamber and having an upper end opposite a workpiece contact element end, said assembly comprising:

• a valve cap enclosing a dump valve and a cycle valve, each said valve having a shuttle being disposed for reciprocation in a respective chamber in said cap;
• a conduit connecting said return chamber to said cycle valve for operating a main valve for facilitating piston return to a start position independent of a position of a trigger valve;
• wherein said valve cap includes a signal passageway constructed and arranged for placing said conduit and said cycle valve chamber in fluid communication with each other;
• and
• an adjustable needle valve in communication with said signal passageway for adjusting flow through said pathway to said valve chamber.

A pneumatic nailer, comprising:

• a tool housing enclosing a cylinder with a reciprocating drive piston, and having a trigger and a workpiece contact element both connected to a trigger valve, an upper housing end located opposite said workpiece contact element;
• a valve cap mounted to said housing and including a cycle valve and a dump valve, each said valve reciprocating in a respective valve chamber;
• said dump valve controlling drive pressure for said drive piston, said cycle valve controlling the return of said dump valve to allow piston return;
• and
• a spacer configured for disposition between said upper end of said housing and said valve cap, a main valve and a main valve spring.