# US 8,770,457 B2 · Actuation system

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- Number: US 8,770,457 B2
- Document ID: US8770457B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/130,330
- Filed: 2009-12-24
- Published: 2011-12-29
- Granted: 2014-07-08
- Earliest claimed: 2008-12-24
- Assignees: Globalforce IP Limited
- Applicants: Hamish William Hamilton
- Inventors: Hamish William Hamilton
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770457B2

## CPC

- B25F 5/008: {Cooling means}
- B25C 1/042: {Main valve and main cylinder}
- B25D 9/20: involving a tubular-type slide valve
- F15B 15/02: Mechanical layout characterised by the means for converting the movement of the fluid-actuated element into movement of the finally-operated member
- F15B 15/20: Other details {, e.g. assembly with regulating devices}
- B25F: COMBINATION OR MULTI-PURPOSE TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; DETAILS OR COMPONENTS OF PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS NOT PARTICULARLY RELATED TO THE OPERATIONS PERFORMED AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR {(machines or arrangements of machines for performing specified combinations of different metal-working operations not covered by a single other subclass B23P23/00 and subgroups)}
- B25C: HAND-HELD NAILING OR STAPLING TOOLS; MANUALLY OPERATED PORTABLE STAPLING TOOLS (for shoemaking A43D)
- B25D: PERCUSSIVE TOOLS {(percussive machines for forging B21J; hand-held drilling machines, in general B23B45/00, for wood B27C3/08; drilling machines, used for mining or quarrying, with reciprocating tool which is turned intermittently when out of contact with the working face E21B1/00)}
- F15B: SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A device includes an actuation system with a dose chamber including an inlet for high pressure fluid. A working chamber extends away from the dose chamber. An annular wall separates a portion of the working chamber from the dose chamber such that the dose chamber encompasses the portion of the working chamber. In use an item to be driven along the working chamber is at least partially within the surrounded portion of the working chamber with the item at one end of its travel in the working chamber. A valve mechanism selectively allows high pressure fluid from the dose chamber to flow into the piston chamber.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device comprising:
a dose chamber including an inlet for high pressure fluid;
a working chamber having an inlet end;
a valve member with an annular sealing surface surrounding the inlet end of the working chamber, wherein with the valve member in a closed condition the sealing surface meets with an annular seat; and with the valve member in an open condition a gap is presented between the annular sealing surface and the seat as an outlet from the dose chamber to the working chamber; and
a triggering mechanism including a hammer to unseat the valve member to the open condition, wherein the hammer is movable between positions, including a first position extending through a port into the working chamber to bear on the valve member, and a second position withdrawn from contacting the valve member.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 wherein the dose chamber encompasses a portion of the working chamber, the valve member dividing the dose chamber from the encompassed portion of the working chamber.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 wherein the working chamber is a piston chamber, and the device includes a piston in the working chamber and wherein the piston includes a head portion extending toward the inlet of the working chamber;
the cross sectional area of the piston head portion gradually decreasing toward the inlet end of the piston chamber, the inlet region of the piston chamber having a shape complementing the shape of the piston head portion.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein an inlet flow path to the dose chamber is not closed when the valve is open, but has a greater flow resistance than the outlet to the working chamber.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sealing surface of the valve member seats against a wall of the dose chamber.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The device as claimed in claim 5 wherein a biasing mechanism biases the valve to be normally sealed against the wall of the dose chamber.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the valve includes a spanning portion with an impact point central to the valve inlet, and the hammer is arranged to strike the spanning portion in use in order to unseat the valve.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device is a nail gun.

### Claim 9

A device comprising:
a dose chamber including an inlet for high pressure fluid;
a working chamber having an inlet end;
a valve member with an annular sealing surface surrounding the inlet end of the working chamber, wherein with the valve member in a closed condition the sealing surface meets with an annular seat; and with the valve member in an open condition a gap is presented between the annular sealing surface and the seat as an outlet from the dose chamber to the working chamber; and
a triggering mechanism including a hammer to unseat the valve member to the open condition;
wherein the hammer is movable between positions including a first position extending through a port into the working chamber to bear on the valve member, and a second position withdrawn from contacting the valve member, and the hammer seals with the port in the first position, but not in the second position.