Title:
NAILING GUN CARRIAGE
United States Patent 3796365
Abstract:
A carriage for a portable nailing gun is supportively mounted on a pair of journaled wheels at the rear thereof and on a single wheel at the front thereof. The rear wheels are of relatively large diameter compared to the front wheel. The carriage includes a frame with a rearwardly and upwardly extending handle. The forward portion of the frame carries a pivotable bracket on which is removably mounted a portable nailing gun. The nailing gun is pneumatically powered and is actuated through an adjustable camming mechanism associated with one of the rear wheels. An independent hand actuating mechanism is located on the handle so that, in addition to the actuation by moving the carriage, nails can be driven independently at desired locations.
US Patent References:
Fastener driving apparatus
Wandel - December 1959 - 2915754
Automatic self-propelled nailing machine
Elliott - March 1965 - 3173593
Automatic nailing machine
Weems - June 1965 - 3186616
Fastener driving apparatus
Wandel - December 1959 - 2915754
Automatic self-propelled nailing machine
Elliott - March 1965 - 3173593
Automatic nailing machine
Weems - June 1965 - 3186616
Application Number:
05/241124
Publication Date:
03/12/1974
Filing Date:
04/05/1972
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
227/111
International Classes:
B27F7/00; E04D15/04; E04D15/00; B27F7/02
Field of Search:
227/1,5,7,8,110,111
Primary Examiner:
Custer Jr., Granville Y.
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Christensen, O'Connor, Garrison & Havelka
Claims:
1. A nailing gun carriage comprising:
2. The carriage of claim 1 wherein said third wheel has a small diameter relative to the diameter of said pair of wheels, said bracket means mounting said nailing gun to position the delivery means thereof laterally
3. The carriage of claim 2 wherein said bracket means comprises:
4. The carriage of claim 1 wherein said nailing gun is pneumatically powered, said coupling means comprising a first conduit means operatively coupled to said nailing gun at one end and terminating at its other end on said handle in means for connecting said first conduit means to an external source of pneumatic pressure, said first conduit means including a manifold from which pneumatic pressure is supplied to said first and
5. The carriage of claim 4 wherein said first relay means comprises:
6. The carriage of claim 1 further comprising:
7. A carriage for use with a portable nailing gun having an actuating trigger thereon comprising:
8. The carriage of claim 7 further comprising:
9. The carriage of claim 7 further comprising:
10. The carriage of claim 7 wherein said actuating means comprises a pneumatic piston and cylinder means associated with said trigger, said piston means movable to actuate said trigger responsive to said signal from said relay means, said relay means comprising a pneumatic valve means connectable to a source of pneumatic pressure, conduit means in fluid
11. The carriage of claim 10 wherein said relay means further comprises:
12. The carriage of claim 10 wherein said relay means further comprises:
13. The carriage of claim 10 further comprising:
14. The carriage of claim 11 comprising:
15. The carriage of claim 14 wherein said cam means further comprises a plurality of said cam rollers mounted equidistantly from the axis of rotation of said wheel, said plurality of rollers spaced at predetermined distances to periodically move said follower and actuate said first
16. Apparatus on which to support a normally hand-carried, trigger-operated fastener driver device while the device is propelled over a work surface and fasteners are driven into the surface from the device, comprising a carriage having spaced supportive surface engaging wheels on opposite sides thereof, whereby the carriage maintains a stable upright condition on the surface while it travels in one direction over the same, and a handle which is disposed adjacent the relatively rear end of the carriage in the direction of travel thereof, and is adapted to be grasped by an operator standing erect on the surface therebehind, means to support the driver device on the carriage in operative relationship to the surface, a fluid operated servo mechanism on the carriage for transmitting pressure pulses to the trigger of the driver device when the device is supported on
17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the servo mechanism includes a fluid operated piston device, and means for mounting the piston device in cooperative servo relationship with the trigger, and wherein the valve means is disposed on the carriage and is operative to transmit fluid
18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the mounting means for the piston device is operative to mount the piston device on the driver
19. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the valve means include a cam operated valve in the servo mechanism, and cam means on one of the wheels operative to open or close the valve at predetermined angular
20. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the valve means include a
21. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the handle extends upwardly from the carriage and is rearwardly inclined to a point spaced relatively
22. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the support means for the driver device include a bracket which is pivotally mounted on the carriage and attachable to the driver device to yieldably support the driver device
23. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the wheels are disposed at the rear end of the carriage, and there is a third wheel interposed therebetween at the forward end of the carriage, and a bracket pivotally interconnected with the carriage adjacent the third wheel, on which to suspend the driver device in outriggered condition on the carriage at one
24. The apparatus according to claim 23 wherein there are cam means on one of the rear wheels, and a cam operated valve in the servo mechanism engageable by the cam means to operate the piston device at predetermined
25. The apparatus according to claim 24 wherein there is also a manually
26. In combination, a carriage having spaced supportive wheels on opposite sides thereof, in engagement with a surface therebelow, whereby the carriage maintains a stable upright condition on the surface while it travels in one direction over the same, and a handle which is disposed adjacent the relatively rear end of the carriage in the direction of travel thereof, and is adapted to be grasped by an operator standing erect on the surface therebehind, a trigger operated fastener driver device mounted on the carriage so that fasteners can be driven into the surface from the carriage while the device is propelled over the surface thereon, a fluid operated servo mechanism on the carriage for actuating the trigger of the driver device while the device is propelled over the surface on the
27. The combination according to claim 26 wherein the servo mechanism includes a fluid operated piston device operatively interconnected with the trigger, and the valve means is operative to transmit fluid pressure pulses to the piston of the piston device.
2. The carriage of claim 1 wherein said third wheel has a small diameter relative to the diameter of said pair of wheels, said bracket means mounting said nailing gun to position the delivery means thereof laterally
3. The carriage of claim 2 wherein said bracket means comprises:
4. The carriage of claim 1 wherein said nailing gun is pneumatically powered, said coupling means comprising a first conduit means operatively coupled to said nailing gun at one end and terminating at its other end on said handle in means for connecting said first conduit means to an external source of pneumatic pressure, said first conduit means including a manifold from which pneumatic pressure is supplied to said first and
5. The carriage of claim 4 wherein said first relay means comprises:
6. The carriage of claim 1 further comprising:
7. A carriage for use with a portable nailing gun having an actuating trigger thereon comprising:
8. The carriage of claim 7 further comprising:
9. The carriage of claim 7 further comprising:
10. The carriage of claim 7 wherein said actuating means comprises a pneumatic piston and cylinder means associated with said trigger, said piston means movable to actuate said trigger responsive to said signal from said relay means, said relay means comprising a pneumatic valve means connectable to a source of pneumatic pressure, conduit means in fluid
11. The carriage of claim 10 wherein said relay means further comprises:
12. The carriage of claim 10 wherein said relay means further comprises:
13. The carriage of claim 10 further comprising:
14. The carriage of claim 11 comprising:
15. The carriage of claim 14 wherein said cam means further comprises a plurality of said cam rollers mounted equidistantly from the axis of rotation of said wheel, said plurality of rollers spaced at predetermined distances to periodically move said follower and actuate said first
16. Apparatus on which to support a normally hand-carried, trigger-operated fastener driver device while the device is propelled over a work surface and fasteners are driven into the surface from the device, comprising a carriage having spaced supportive surface engaging wheels on opposite sides thereof, whereby the carriage maintains a stable upright condition on the surface while it travels in one direction over the same, and a handle which is disposed adjacent the relatively rear end of the carriage in the direction of travel thereof, and is adapted to be grasped by an operator standing erect on the surface therebehind, means to support the driver device on the carriage in operative relationship to the surface, a fluid operated servo mechanism on the carriage for transmitting pressure pulses to the trigger of the driver device when the device is supported on
17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the servo mechanism includes a fluid operated piston device, and means for mounting the piston device in cooperative servo relationship with the trigger, and wherein the valve means is disposed on the carriage and is operative to transmit fluid
18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the mounting means for the piston device is operative to mount the piston device on the driver
19. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the valve means include a cam operated valve in the servo mechanism, and cam means on one of the wheels operative to open or close the valve at predetermined angular
20. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the valve means include a
21. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the handle extends upwardly from the carriage and is rearwardly inclined to a point spaced relatively
22. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the support means for the driver device include a bracket which is pivotally mounted on the carriage and attachable to the driver device to yieldably support the driver device
23. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the wheels are disposed at the rear end of the carriage, and there is a third wheel interposed therebetween at the forward end of the carriage, and a bracket pivotally interconnected with the carriage adjacent the third wheel, on which to suspend the driver device in outriggered condition on the carriage at one
24. The apparatus according to claim 23 wherein there are cam means on one of the rear wheels, and a cam operated valve in the servo mechanism engageable by the cam means to operate the piston device at predetermined
25. The apparatus according to claim 24 wherein there is also a manually
26. In combination, a carriage having spaced supportive wheels on opposite sides thereof, in engagement with a surface therebelow, whereby the carriage maintains a stable upright condition on the surface while it travels in one direction over the same, and a handle which is disposed adjacent the relatively rear end of the carriage in the direction of travel thereof, and is adapted to be grasped by an operator standing erect on the surface therebehind, a trigger operated fastener driver device mounted on the carriage so that fasteners can be driven into the surface from the carriage while the device is propelled over the surface thereon, a fluid operated servo mechanism on the carriage for actuating the trigger of the driver device while the device is propelled over the surface on the
27. The combination according to claim 26 wherein the servo mechanism includes a fluid operated piston device operatively interconnected with the trigger, and the valve means is operative to transmit fluid pressure pulses to the piston of the piston device.
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to nailing guns and more particularly to a carriage on which a portable nailing gun can be removably mounted.
Many nailing guns exist in the prior art. Most of the nailing guns are of the portable handheld type. Various examples of such nailing guns are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,253,760, 3,190,187, 3,094,900, 3,081,742, 3,043,272, 2,979,725 and 2,944,522. Such nailing guns acceptable for large volume commercial work are relatively heavy. When nailing floor sheeting to floor joists, the operator of such guns must bend over to operate the gun. Such work can be very tiresome and requires rest periods. Thus to efficiently utilize such a nailing gun in large volume production, more than one operator must be employed or valuable production time is lost.
The portable nailing guns of the type disclosed in the above-mentioned patents are pneumatically operated from a remote source of air pressure or the like. Other nailing guns are available which are electrically powered. The present invention applies to a carriage for both types of nailing guns.
Most nailing guns are actuated by depressing a trigger conveniently located on one of the handles of a nailing gun. Most such nailing guns also include a safety trigger mechanism which is actuated when the nail delivery tube of the nailing guns is situated near the surface to be nailed. The safety trigger prevents inadvertent firing of the gun when no surface is adjacent the delivery tube to receive the nail. Generally, the safety trigger includes a sleeve surrounding the nail delivery tube or a pin extending outwardly beyond the nail delivery tube. As the tube is engaged with a floor, the safety trigger mechanism is moved to activate the hand-actuated trigger of the gun.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a carriage on which a portable nailing gun can be mounted. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a carriage on which a portable, pneumatically powered, nailing gun can be mounted. It is a further object of the present invention to provide actuation of the nailing gun responsive to movement of the carriage along a surface to be nailed. It is a further object of the present invention to provide means for actuating the nailing gun independent of the movement responsive actuating means.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a nailing gun carriage and portable nailing gun combination which will provide more efficient utilization of manpower and equipment for relatively large volume nailing operations. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a nailing gun carriage which will eliminate much of the physical exertion required by the operator thereof. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a nailing carriage which is easy and simple to operate. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a nailing carriage which is capable of carrying a nail hopper to supply the nailing gun. It is a further object of the present invention to provide the feature of easy removability of the nailing gun from the carriage so that the nailing gun can be utilized for handheld operations, such as wall-sheathing nailing and the like. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a nailing gun mounting on a carriage which has provision for allowing recoil of the nailing gun at the time of firing. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a nailing gun mounting on a carriage which effectively utilizes the safety trigger mechanism present on most commercially available portable nailing guns. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a nailing gun carriage structure by which the nailing gun can easily be lifted from the floor and rendered inoperative.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention therefore provides a carriage for use with a portable nailing gun having an actuating trigger thereon comprising a frame carrying a first pair of supporting wheels journaled thereon and at least a third supporting wheel journaled thereon, the frame including a handle mounted thereon and having a cross bar means at the other end thereof for grasping by an operator, a bracket means removably connectable to a portable nailing gun, the bracket means mounted for movement on the frame to recoil when the gun recoils and to return the gun to a ready position after recoil, actuating means mounted on the carriage for operatively causing the gun to discharge a nail responsive to a signal from a relay means located elsewhere on the carriage.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A better understanding of the present invention will be acquired by reading the ensuing specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is an isometric view showing the nailing gun carriage of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the nailing gun carriage; and
FIG. 3 is a detail of the shoe of the present invention as mounted on the safety trigger mechanism of a portable nailing gun.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIG. 1 the carriage of the present invention, generally designated 10, has a primary structural frame 12 substantially triangular in shape. A pair of handles 14 composed of hollow bar stock are connected to the rearward portion of the frame 12. A cross bar 16 attached to the upper end of the handles 14. The cross bar 16 extends laterally beyond the upper ends of the handles 14 so that the protruding ends of the cross bar 16 can be grasped by an operator. A rear axle 18 is journaled on a pair of structural flanges 20 mounted on the frame 12. A pair of large diameter wheels 22, preferably about 151/4 inches in diameter (i.e., 48 inches circumference), are mounted on the ends of the axle 18. A downwardly extending vertically adjustable axle carrier 24 is connected at the forward end of the frame 12. A small diameter wheel 26 is journaled on axle 28 in turn connected to the axle carrier 24.
A nailing gun bracket generally designated 30 is also attached to the forward end of the frame 12. Bracket arm 32 is pivotally connected by bolt 34 to flange 36. Flange 36 is firmly connected to one of the members of frame 12. Attached to the upper end of bracket arm 32 is a laterally extending flange 35. A portable nailing gun 37 is removably connected to the laterally extending flange 35 by four fasteners 38. The laterally extending flange 35 positions the nailing gun 37 in outrigger fashion outboard of the frame 12, to facilitate nailing along wall structures and the like. The pneumatically powered nailing gun 37 of the type illustrated is well-known in the prior art. Exemplary guns are described in the above referenced patents.
A spring retention flange 40 is also attached to the frame 12. A coil spring 42 is interconnected in tension between retention flange 40 and the upper portion of arm 32. The coil spring 42 counterbalances the weight of the nailing gun 37 on the bracket 30 so that smooth recoil and operation of the nailing gun is achieved. The spring also permits smooth upward and downward movement of the gun during passage over nailing surface irregularities but prevents excessive downward movement of the gun when the front wheel of the carriage is raised.
Nailing gun 37 is preferably of the type which includes a safety actuating trigger. In the embodiment shown a safety trigger arm 46 is mounted for vertical reciprocating movement. As shown in FIG. 1 the actuating arm is carried on a pair of removable fasteners 54 retaining the arm 46 through associated slots. At its upper throw, arm 46 will arm the nailing gun by opening a pneumatic valve within the gun 37. At its downward throw arm 46 will close the valve deactivating the nailing gun 37.
The safety trigger arm 46 (FIGS. 1 and 3) is connected to a safety sleeve 50 surrounding the nail delivery tube 44 and mounted for vertical sliding movement on the delivery tube 44. In accordance with this invention, a shoe 48 is removably connected to safety sleeve 50 by means of a set screw 52. Shoe 48 serves to prevent the safety sleeve 50 from catching on irregularities on the surface to be nailed.
The nailing gun shown in the drawings includes an automatic feeder 56 which can be loaded with prepackaged nail clips containing twenty or more nails per clip. Alternatively, as shown in ghost outline, a nail hopper 58 can be mounted on the frame 12 and handles 14. The nail hopper 56 is designed to feed nails, head up, to the automatic feeder 56. Such hoppers are known in the prior art. An important advantage of this invention is to include such a hopper 58 so that bulk nails (which are less expensive than the prepackaged clips) can be used and so that the operator need not reload the nailing gun as frequently as when the clips are used.
Referring now to both FIGS. 1 and 2 an adapter flange 60 is mounted by a suitable fastener on the body of the nailing gun 37 adjacent the main actuating trigger 62. Flange 60 carries a pneumatic cylinder 64 having its piston rod 66 in contact with the actuating trigger 62. The cylinder 64 is pressurized by air fed through conduits 68 and 70 connected to the bottom of the cylinder 64. Cylinder 64 is designed to raise the piston rod 66, thus moving trigger 62 to actuate the gun 37. At the upper end of the stroke of piston rod 66 the pneumatic pressure in cylinder 64 is automatically relieved thus allowing the rod 66 to return to its normally down position. Thus, the piston rod has a servo function with respect to the trigger 62.
Pneumatic pressure is fed to the nailing gun 37 via a main conduit 72 which connects to the nailing gun by a quick-connect coupling 76. The main supply conduit 72 is attached by brackets 78 to the handles 14. The first portion of the main conduit 76 is also attached to a manifold 80. Manifold 80 is in turn connected to a feed conduit 82 which receives pneumatic pressure from a source 84.
Manifold 80 in addition to supplying conduit 72 feeds a first relay conduit 86. Relay conduit 86 travels down the center of one of the handles 14 and connects with pneumatic relay valve 88. Relay valve 88 is mounted on a flange 90 connected to frame 12. An actuating arm 92, also mounted on the flange 90, opens the normally closed valve 88 to admit air to conduit 68 at intervals when the valve 88 is open. Thus when actuating arm 92 opens valve 88, pneumatic pressure is supplied through conduit 68 to pneumatic cylinder 64, which in turn actuates the nailing gun trigger 62.
A hub 94, attached to wheel 22 to rotate with wheel 22, carries a plurality of roller cams 96. As the wheel 22 rotates, hub 94 will cause roller cams 96 to circumscribe a path in which a follower roller 98 is located. The follower roller 98 is connected to the valve actuating arm 92. Thus, for every revolution of the wheel 22 the valve 88 and thus the nailing gun 37 will be actuated four times. Additional holes 100 are provided at predetermined spaced intervals on the hub 94 so that spare roller cams 102, conveniently stored on the hub 94, can be inserted to decrease the nail spacing. In a similar manner by removing certain of the roller cams 96 the nail spacing can be increased.
It is periodically desirable and/or necessary to add extra nails to the surface being nailed. For example, when approaching a wall or the edge of a floor surface, it may be desirable to place one or two extra nails in the flooring to secure the edge of the flooring to the joists. The carriage of the present invention provides this function through a second relay valve 104 mounted on the handle 14 near the cross bar 16. Valve 104 is hand-actuatable by button 106, easily accessible to the operator of the carriage 10. The input to valve 104 is interconnected with the manifold 80 by conduit 108. The outlet port of valve 104 is connected to the cylinder 64 via conduit 70. Thus when the valve button 106 is depressed pneumatic pressure is admitted to the conduit 70 which in turn admits pressure to the cylinder 64, actuating the nailing gun 37. Thus additional nails can be added as desired.
As mentioned above, the preferred diameter of the rear wheels 22 is around 151/4 inches. This is desired not only for easy rolling but to facilitate the camming action provided by the hub 94 and roller cams 96. With a larger diameter wheel, it is of course possible to have greater variance in the spacing of roller cams 96 and thus the spacing of nails being placed by the nailing gun 37.
When it is desired to cease operation of the nailing gun 37, but not disconnect the carriage from the pneumatic source 84, the entire carriage is tilted backwardly about the axle 18. Thus the nailing gun 37 is raised above the surface to be nailed, downward movement of the gun being limited by spring 42 as described previously. As the nailing gun 37 is raised above the surface to be nailed, the shoe 48, ring 50 and safety trigger arm 46 fall to their downward position. Thus the nailing gun is automatically deactivated when the carriage 10 is tilted backwardly.
Although the present invention has been described in relation to a preferred embodiment it is understood that various changes, alterations and substitutions of equivalents can be made without departing from the original concept. For example, electrically actuated gun and relays can be substituted for the pneumatic gun and relays described. It is therefore intended that the invention be limited only by the definition contained in the appended claims.
This invention relates to nailing guns and more particularly to a carriage on which a portable nailing gun can be removably mounted.
Many nailing guns exist in the prior art. Most of the nailing guns are of the portable handheld type. Various examples of such nailing guns are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,253,760, 3,190,187, 3,094,900, 3,081,742, 3,043,272, 2,979,725 and 2,944,522. Such nailing guns acceptable for large volume commercial work are relatively heavy. When nailing floor sheeting to floor joists, the operator of such guns must bend over to operate the gun. Such work can be very tiresome and requires rest periods. Thus to efficiently utilize such a nailing gun in large volume production, more than one operator must be employed or valuable production time is lost.
The portable nailing guns of the type disclosed in the above-mentioned patents are pneumatically operated from a remote source of air pressure or the like. Other nailing guns are available which are electrically powered. The present invention applies to a carriage for both types of nailing guns.
Most nailing guns are actuated by depressing a trigger conveniently located on one of the handles of a nailing gun. Most such nailing guns also include a safety trigger mechanism which is actuated when the nail delivery tube of the nailing guns is situated near the surface to be nailed. The safety trigger prevents inadvertent firing of the gun when no surface is adjacent the delivery tube to receive the nail. Generally, the safety trigger includes a sleeve surrounding the nail delivery tube or a pin extending outwardly beyond the nail delivery tube. As the tube is engaged with a floor, the safety trigger mechanism is moved to activate the hand-actuated trigger of the gun.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a carriage on which a portable nailing gun can be mounted. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a carriage on which a portable, pneumatically powered, nailing gun can be mounted. It is a further object of the present invention to provide actuation of the nailing gun responsive to movement of the carriage along a surface to be nailed. It is a further object of the present invention to provide means for actuating the nailing gun independent of the movement responsive actuating means.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a nailing gun carriage and portable nailing gun combination which will provide more efficient utilization of manpower and equipment for relatively large volume nailing operations. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a nailing gun carriage which will eliminate much of the physical exertion required by the operator thereof. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a nailing carriage which is easy and simple to operate. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a nailing carriage which is capable of carrying a nail hopper to supply the nailing gun. It is a further object of the present invention to provide the feature of easy removability of the nailing gun from the carriage so that the nailing gun can be utilized for handheld operations, such as wall-sheathing nailing and the like. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a nailing gun mounting on a carriage which has provision for allowing recoil of the nailing gun at the time of firing. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a nailing gun mounting on a carriage which effectively utilizes the safety trigger mechanism present on most commercially available portable nailing guns. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a nailing gun carriage structure by which the nailing gun can easily be lifted from the floor and rendered inoperative.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention therefore provides a carriage for use with a portable nailing gun having an actuating trigger thereon comprising a frame carrying a first pair of supporting wheels journaled thereon and at least a third supporting wheel journaled thereon, the frame including a handle mounted thereon and having a cross bar means at the other end thereof for grasping by an operator, a bracket means removably connectable to a portable nailing gun, the bracket means mounted for movement on the frame to recoil when the gun recoils and to return the gun to a ready position after recoil, actuating means mounted on the carriage for operatively causing the gun to discharge a nail responsive to a signal from a relay means located elsewhere on the carriage.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A better understanding of the present invention will be acquired by reading the ensuing specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is an isometric view showing the nailing gun carriage of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the nailing gun carriage; and
FIG. 3 is a detail of the shoe of the present invention as mounted on the safety trigger mechanism of a portable nailing gun.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIG. 1 the carriage of the present invention, generally designated 10, has a primary structural frame 12 substantially triangular in shape. A pair of handles 14 composed of hollow bar stock are connected to the rearward portion of the frame 12. A cross bar 16 attached to the upper end of the handles 14. The cross bar 16 extends laterally beyond the upper ends of the handles 14 so that the protruding ends of the cross bar 16 can be grasped by an operator. A rear axle 18 is journaled on a pair of structural flanges 20 mounted on the frame 12. A pair of large diameter wheels 22, preferably about 151/4 inches in diameter (i.e., 48 inches circumference), are mounted on the ends of the axle 18. A downwardly extending vertically adjustable axle carrier 24 is connected at the forward end of the frame 12. A small diameter wheel 26 is journaled on axle 28 in turn connected to the axle carrier 24.
A nailing gun bracket generally designated 30 is also attached to the forward end of the frame 12. Bracket arm 32 is pivotally connected by bolt 34 to flange 36. Flange 36 is firmly connected to one of the members of frame 12. Attached to the upper end of bracket arm 32 is a laterally extending flange 35. A portable nailing gun 37 is removably connected to the laterally extending flange 35 by four fasteners 38. The laterally extending flange 35 positions the nailing gun 37 in outrigger fashion outboard of the frame 12, to facilitate nailing along wall structures and the like. The pneumatically powered nailing gun 37 of the type illustrated is well-known in the prior art. Exemplary guns are described in the above referenced patents.
A spring retention flange 40 is also attached to the frame 12. A coil spring 42 is interconnected in tension between retention flange 40 and the upper portion of arm 32. The coil spring 42 counterbalances the weight of the nailing gun 37 on the bracket 30 so that smooth recoil and operation of the nailing gun is achieved. The spring also permits smooth upward and downward movement of the gun during passage over nailing surface irregularities but prevents excessive downward movement of the gun when the front wheel of the carriage is raised.
Nailing gun 37 is preferably of the type which includes a safety actuating trigger. In the embodiment shown a safety trigger arm 46 is mounted for vertical reciprocating movement. As shown in FIG. 1 the actuating arm is carried on a pair of removable fasteners 54 retaining the arm 46 through associated slots. At its upper throw, arm 46 will arm the nailing gun by opening a pneumatic valve within the gun 37. At its downward throw arm 46 will close the valve deactivating the nailing gun 37.
The safety trigger arm 46 (FIGS. 1 and 3) is connected to a safety sleeve 50 surrounding the nail delivery tube 44 and mounted for vertical sliding movement on the delivery tube 44. In accordance with this invention, a shoe 48 is removably connected to safety sleeve 50 by means of a set screw 52. Shoe 48 serves to prevent the safety sleeve 50 from catching on irregularities on the surface to be nailed.
The nailing gun shown in the drawings includes an automatic feeder 56 which can be loaded with prepackaged nail clips containing twenty or more nails per clip. Alternatively, as shown in ghost outline, a nail hopper 58 can be mounted on the frame 12 and handles 14. The nail hopper 56 is designed to feed nails, head up, to the automatic feeder 56. Such hoppers are known in the prior art. An important advantage of this invention is to include such a hopper 58 so that bulk nails (which are less expensive than the prepackaged clips) can be used and so that the operator need not reload the nailing gun as frequently as when the clips are used.
Referring now to both FIGS. 1 and 2 an adapter flange 60 is mounted by a suitable fastener on the body of the nailing gun 37 adjacent the main actuating trigger 62. Flange 60 carries a pneumatic cylinder 64 having its piston rod 66 in contact with the actuating trigger 62. The cylinder 64 is pressurized by air fed through conduits 68 and 70 connected to the bottom of the cylinder 64. Cylinder 64 is designed to raise the piston rod 66, thus moving trigger 62 to actuate the gun 37. At the upper end of the stroke of piston rod 66 the pneumatic pressure in cylinder 64 is automatically relieved thus allowing the rod 66 to return to its normally down position. Thus, the piston rod has a servo function with respect to the trigger 62.
Pneumatic pressure is fed to the nailing gun 37 via a main conduit 72 which connects to the nailing gun by a quick-connect coupling 76. The main supply conduit 72 is attached by brackets 78 to the handles 14. The first portion of the main conduit 76 is also attached to a manifold 80. Manifold 80 is in turn connected to a feed conduit 82 which receives pneumatic pressure from a source 84.
Manifold 80 in addition to supplying conduit 72 feeds a first relay conduit 86. Relay conduit 86 travels down the center of one of the handles 14 and connects with pneumatic relay valve 88. Relay valve 88 is mounted on a flange 90 connected to frame 12. An actuating arm 92, also mounted on the flange 90, opens the normally closed valve 88 to admit air to conduit 68 at intervals when the valve 88 is open. Thus when actuating arm 92 opens valve 88, pneumatic pressure is supplied through conduit 68 to pneumatic cylinder 64, which in turn actuates the nailing gun trigger 62.
A hub 94, attached to wheel 22 to rotate with wheel 22, carries a plurality of roller cams 96. As the wheel 22 rotates, hub 94 will cause roller cams 96 to circumscribe a path in which a follower roller 98 is located. The follower roller 98 is connected to the valve actuating arm 92. Thus, for every revolution of the wheel 22 the valve 88 and thus the nailing gun 37 will be actuated four times. Additional holes 100 are provided at predetermined spaced intervals on the hub 94 so that spare roller cams 102, conveniently stored on the hub 94, can be inserted to decrease the nail spacing. In a similar manner by removing certain of the roller cams 96 the nail spacing can be increased.
It is periodically desirable and/or necessary to add extra nails to the surface being nailed. For example, when approaching a wall or the edge of a floor surface, it may be desirable to place one or two extra nails in the flooring to secure the edge of the flooring to the joists. The carriage of the present invention provides this function through a second relay valve 104 mounted on the handle 14 near the cross bar 16. Valve 104 is hand-actuatable by button 106, easily accessible to the operator of the carriage 10. The input to valve 104 is interconnected with the manifold 80 by conduit 108. The outlet port of valve 104 is connected to the cylinder 64 via conduit 70. Thus when the valve button 106 is depressed pneumatic pressure is admitted to the conduit 70 which in turn admits pressure to the cylinder 64, actuating the nailing gun 37. Thus additional nails can be added as desired.
As mentioned above, the preferred diameter of the rear wheels 22 is around 151/4 inches. This is desired not only for easy rolling but to facilitate the camming action provided by the hub 94 and roller cams 96. With a larger diameter wheel, it is of course possible to have greater variance in the spacing of roller cams 96 and thus the spacing of nails being placed by the nailing gun 37.
When it is desired to cease operation of the nailing gun 37, but not disconnect the carriage from the pneumatic source 84, the entire carriage is tilted backwardly about the axle 18. Thus the nailing gun 37 is raised above the surface to be nailed, downward movement of the gun being limited by spring 42 as described previously. As the nailing gun 37 is raised above the surface to be nailed, the shoe 48, ring 50 and safety trigger arm 46 fall to their downward position. Thus the nailing gun is automatically deactivated when the carriage 10 is tilted backwardly.
Although the present invention has been described in relation to a preferred embodiment it is understood that various changes, alterations and substitutions of equivalents can be made without departing from the original concept. For example, electrically actuated gun and relays can be substituted for the pneumatic gun and relays described. It is therefore intended that the invention be limited only by the definition contained in the appended claims.