A pair of rotating flywheels which engage a ram for moving a tool which impacts a part, such as a nail to be driven, are rotated in opposite directions from a single motor or other rotating means, through a pair of substantially identical gears, one of which drives one flywheel and the other of which drives the other flywheel. The drive connection between the respective gears and each of the flywheels may include a belt and pulley arrangement, so that each flywheel may be driven directly by the respective belt but the flywheels are pivoted toward and away from the ram so that when the flywheel moves toward the corresponding side of the ram, the connection between the belt and the corresponding pulley will tend to slacken. A special flywheel pulley has an inner V-shaped groove and parallel side walls for guiding the belt into the groove when full tension occurs. A pair of sockets for receiving pivot pins for the respective flywheels are connected by a bar which is integral with a corresponding end plate and not only withstand precession forces but also tensile forces. A friction surface on the ram, particularly when the flywheel peripheries are polished steel, is a fabric layer of natural fiber, such as long fiber cotton cloth, impregnated by and molded in polyurethane, i.e. a natural fiber embedded in a medium hard plastic or rubber. A bumper has a pyramidal socket to engage a corresponding end of the ram on its return.
A power tool, such as a nailer, having a driver, a flywheel and an activation arm for selectively driving the driver into contact with the flywheel to transfer energy therebetween to cause the driver to translate. The power tool includes a wedging member that may be moved so as to resist movement of the activation arm in a direction that would bring the driver into contact with the flywheel. A method for operating a power tool is also provided.
The present invention pertains to an orthopedic support having a flexible inner member and an exo-skeleton that is molded directly onto the flexible inner member. One aspect of the invention relates to a wrist support having a thumb spica. The wrist support includes a molded plastic exostructure supplying support for resisting motion of said wrist. An inner fabric support is attached to said molded exostructure for providing cushioning to the wrist area. A separate, attachable thumb spica member is provided for optionally configuring the wrist support to include a thumb spica. Other embodiments include an orthopedic support having an attachable stay; a web bridge that extends across and supports the web of the hand; an adjustable wrist support having an adjustable forearm portion that can accommodate various sizes of forearms; a wrist brace having a space to accommodate the web of the hand; and a support having an interior padding member, with the padding member itself having a support structure molded onto the padding. Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of molding the exostructure onto a central core that is placed inside a mold.
A driving tool, such as a nailer, with a flywheel, a driver and an activation arm assembly that is configured to drive the driver into contact with the flywheel to permit energy to be transmitted between the flywheel and the driver so that the driver will translate along an axis.
A method for calibrating a power tool having a roller, a driver and a solenoid. The solenoid has a body and a rod and is coupled to the roller so as to be capable of selectively advancing the roller toward the driver. The method includes: locating the roller onto a predetermined portion of the driver; moving the body of the solenoid in a first direction until the occurrence of a first predetermined condition, the first direction being in a direction that causes the roller to be driven toward the driver; after the occurrence of the first predetermined condition, moving the body of the solenoid in a second direction opposite the first direction until the occurrence of a second predetermined condition and thereafter securing the body of the solenoid to inhibit further movement of the body of the solenoid.
A method for assembling an activation arm assembly for a power tool, such as a fastening tool or nailer. The method includes the mounting of various components of the activation arm assembly on pivot pins and positioning of a pair of arm members to load a spring that biases one of the arm members relative to another of the arm members.
