S pt 26 J. CARNESECCA, JR., ETAL POWER OPERATED TOOL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 1, 1966 Joseph Camesecca, Jr. E gidio C. Cameseccqfleceased BY Bernice D. Carneseccafixecufnk INVENTORS 9 BY Wm...
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p 26, 1967 J. CARNESECCA, JR. ETAL POWER OPERATED TOOL 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 1, 1966 llll wk g NE NE N2 \//Nr v5 mm N9 mm v9 NE Joseph Carneseccmdn E giq/o C. Carnesecca, Deceased Y Bernice D.Carnesecca,xecufrix INVENTORvS BY and United States Patent 3,343,613 POWER OPERATED TOOL Joseph Carnesecca, Jr., Springville, Utah, and Egidio C. Carnesecca, deceased, late of Springville, Utah, by Bernice D. Carnesecca, exeeutrix, Springville, Utah, assignors to New Draulics, Inc., a corporation of Utah Filed Aug. 1, 1966, Ser. No. 569,540 12 Claims. (Cl. 173-169) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A power operated tool mounted at one end of an elongated tubular housing driven by a fluid operated motor connected to the other end of the tubular housing. The fluid motor and a flow control valve is connected to a handle through which the entire tool assembly is manually supported. A -trigger mounted on the handle actuates the valve against a continuous fluid bias to control bidirectional flow of fluid under pressure to the fluid motor the output of which is transmitted by a drive shaft through the tubular housing.
This application is a continuation-in-part of prior copending application U.S. Ser. No. 224,631, filed Sept. 19, 1962, and relates to power operated tools. More particularly, the present invention pertains to improvements in fluid power operated tools employing cutting elements such as saw chains and pruning shears.
One of the important improvements of the present invention, is to provide a power operated tool assembly which features a handle portion carrying both a fluid motor and a trigger operated valve mechanism connected to remotely located cutting elements of the tool assembly by means of an elongated support housing. The construction and arrangement of the tool assembly is such as to enable interchange of parts in order to change the length of the support housing for example or the type of valve.
Another important object of the present invention is to provide a fluid power operated tool assembly having a valve mechanism which is continuously urged to a released position without the use of any springs. Further, the valve mechanism is such as to control operation of the fluid motor whether it be of the piston type or the rotary type in a smooth, vibrationless manner avoiding coasting without use of any expensive and cumbersome brake mechanisms. Operation of the fluid motor is also made possible from any source of fluid under pressure available for example on a tractor, loader or hydraulic orchard'lift. The need for expensive air compressors is thereby eliminated.
As a further object of the present invention, the tool assembly is light in weight, simple in construction and easy to maneuver and adjust. In one form of the tool assembly, handling of the tool is facilitated by an armate grip portion mounting the trigger actuating mechanism from the valve assembly and a conduit guide through which the fluid conduits connected to the valve assembly are relieved of any stress at the connector fittings.
Additional objects of the present invention include the use of an elongated support housing the length of Which is selected as required including a drive transmitting shaft assembly featuring detachable connectors and intermediate support facilities.
These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:
3,343,513 Patented Sept. 26, 1967 FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of one form of power operated tool constructed in accordance with the present invention.
FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the tool assembly shown in FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 3 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 33 in FIGURE 2.
FIGURE 4 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated bysection line 44 in FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 5 is a partial sectional View taken substantially through a. plane indicated by section line 5-5 in FIGURE 4.
FIGURE 6 is a partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 6-6 in FIGURE 4.
FIGURE 7 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 77 in FIGURE 2.
FIGURE 8 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated bysection line 88 in FIGURE 2.
FIGURE 9 is a side elevational view of another form of power operated tool assembly.
FIGURE 10 is an enlarged side sectional view of a portion of the tool assembly shown in FIGURE 9.
FIGURE 11 is a top sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 1111 in FIG- URE 10.
FIGURE 12 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 1212 in FIGURE 10.
FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of a portion of the handle assembly associated with the power operated tool assembly shown in FIGURE 9.
FIGURE 14 is a perspective view of the valve body associated with the valve assembly shown in FIGURES 10, 11 and 12.
FIGURE 15 is a partial side sectional view showing another form of valve assembly.
FIGURE 16 is a partial sectional View taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 1616 in FIGURE 15.
FIGURE 17 is a perspective view of the valve body associated with the valve assembly shown in FIGURES 15 and 16.
Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIGURES 1 and 2 illustrates one form of power operated tool assembly in its entirety, which is generally referred to by reference numeral 10. The tool assembly includes a handle portion generally referred to byreference numeral 12 and acutting tool portion 14 adjustably supported by anelongated support housing 16 connected to thehandle portion 12. Fluid is conducted to and from the tool assembly for operation thereof by means of a pair ofconduits 18 and 20. It will therefore be apparent that the tool assembly is held by the operator at thehandle portion 12 thereof while the cutting operation is performed at a location remote therefrom by means of thecutting tool portion 14 which is of the endless chain saw type as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.
Referring now to FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, it will be observed that thecutting tool portion 14 includes anelongated guide blade 22 removably mounted on aswivel head 24 by means of the spacedfasteners 26 and 28 and theslot 30. Anendless saw chain 32 is entrained about theguide blade 22 and a drive sprocket wheel 34 splined to ashaft section 36 projecting from anend portion 38 of thesupport housing 16. Theend portion 38 includes a transversely projectingjournal 40 on which theswivel head 24 is rotatably mounted for 360 angular movement about an axis extending through theshaft section 36. The swivel head is held assembled on thejournal 40 by means of thethrust discs 42 and 44 and is angularly adjustable as shown for example by dotted line in FIGURE 2. Also, the swivel head encloses therewithin a lubricant reservoir for lubricating thesaw chain 32 as it passes about the drive sprocket 34.
Theshaft'section 36 to which the drive sprocket 34 is connected, is driven through a right angle drive including thebevel gear 46 connected to theshaft section 36 and journaled within theend portion 38 of the support housing by means of thebearing assembly 48. Thebevel gear 46 meshes with abevel gear 58 journaled by the spaced bearing assembly 60 within theend portion 38 of the housing at right angles to theshaft section 36. Thebevel gear 58 is connected by thecoupling 62 to one end of a power transmittingdrive shaft assembly 64 which extends through thetubular housing portion 66 associated with the support housing.
Thedrive shaft assembly 64 and thetubular portion 66 of the support housing are both replaceable so that different lengths thereof may be utilized in accordance with different requirements and desires. Where an extremely longdrive shaft assembly 64 is utilized, it is composed of at least twotubular sections 68 and 70 as shown in FIGURES 3, 4, and 7. The tool end of thetubular shaft section 70 is internally threaded so as to threadedly receive the threaded portion 72 of thecoupling 62. A ball bearing 74 is held assembled between the tool end of theshaft section 70 and a shoulder 76 on thecoupling 62 for rotatably supporting the drive shaft assembly at one end within theend portion 38 of the support housing. The
bearing 74 is held in concentric relation within the tool 'end of thetubular portion 66 of the housing by means of an annular, channel-shaped seating element 78. Similarly, the opposite drive end of the drive shaft assembly is rotatably supported within thetubular housing portion 66 by the ball bearing 80 seated within anannular seating element 82. Thebearing 80 is held assembled between the shoulder 84 of aconnector 86 and the drive end of thetubular shaft section 68 which threadedly receives theconnector 86. Intermediate support is also provided for the drive shaft assembly by means of a ball bearing 88 as shown in FIGURE 7 seated within an annular seating element 90 of resilient material such as rubber, externally ribbed and frictionally held in engagement with the internal surface of the tubular housing by themetallic sleeve 89. The bearing88 is held assembled between the adjacent ends of thetubular shaft sections 68 and 70 by means of the externally threaded connector 90. Where a single shaft is used, the shaft may be externally knurled to hold the inner race of bearing 88 thereon with a force fit.
The drive end of theshaft assembly 64 is connected by theconnector 86 to theoutput shaft 92 of a rotary type offluid motor 94 as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. The fluid motor is enclosed within amotor body portion 96 carried by the handle assembly and anend plate portion 98 having anaxial extension 100 clamped to the end of thetubular portion 66 of thesupport housing 16.
Also carried by the handle assembly, is a valve assembly generally referred to byreference numeral 102. The valve assembly is enclosed by ahousing portion 104 of the handle assembly on the side of thefluid motor 94 opposite thesupport housing 16. Anarcuate grip portion 106 is connected to thehousing portion 104 and extends forwardly from thefluid motor 94 to aconduit guide portion 108. The conduit guide portion therefore receives therethrough thefluid conduits 18 and 20 as shown in FIG- URE 8. The conduits are clamped to theguide portion 108 by means of theclamp section 110 and thefastener 112 secured to the forward end of a spacer portion 114 connected to thehousing portion 104 of the handle assembly. Theconduits 18annd 20 are thereby aligned with the inlet and outlet passages 116 and 118 in the handle assem- 4 bly which communicate with thefluid motor 94 as shown in FIGURE 6.
Fluid flow to and from the motor is controlled by means of thevalve assembly 102 as aforementioned and toward this end acylindrical opening 120 is formed in the handle assembly overlapping the inlet and outlet passages 116 and 118 as shown in FIGURE 6 in order to establish fluid communication therebetween in bypass relation to the fluid motor. The valve assembly includes avalve body 122 sealingly received within theopening 120 to form acavity 124 therewithin as shown in FIGURE 4 to which the lower end of areciprocable valve element 126 is exposed. Thevalve element 126 is displaceable within the bore 128 of the valve body between a release position wherein a bypass passage is formed between the fluid inlet and outlet passages 116 and 118 and an operating position in which the bypass passage is blocked so that fluid under pressure is routed through the fluid motor for operation thereof.
Thevalve element 126 is displaced from its release posi= tion to the motor operating position against the bias of fluid pressure incavity 124 by means of anactuating trigger element 130 pivotally mounted on thearcuate grip portion 106 of the handle assembly, the trigger element being connected to the valve element by thelink element 132. Thetrigger element 130 is pivotally mounted by thepivot pin 134 as shown in FIGURE 2 so that it may extend forwardly therefrom below the handgrip covering 136 on thearcuate grip portion 106 for convenient manipulation by the operator. To operate the tool thetrigger element 130 is angularly displaced in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 2 so as to downwardly displace thevalve element 126 within the bore 128 to the operating position blocking the bypass passage between the inlet and outlet passages 116 and 118. Recirculation of fluid in bypass relation to the motor is thereby interrupted in order to operate the motor by routing the fluid therethrough causing rotation of themotor output shaft 92. The tool is thereby driven by the torque transmitted through thedrive shaft assembly 64 and the right angle drive. When thetrigger element 130 is released, fluid under pressure displaces thevalve element 126 upwardly to its release position re-establishing fluid communication through the bore 128 of the valve body between the inlet and outlet passages 116 and 118 in bypass relation to the motor. The motor is thereby abruptly stopped without coast.
FIGURE 9 illustrates another power operated tool assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention which is generally referred to byreference numeral 138. This tool assembly also includes ahandle portion 140 connected by thedisconuectible connector assembly 142 to an elongatedsupport housing portion 144 which mounts a pruning shears 146 including thestationary blade 148 and the pivotedcutter blade 150. An elongated pistonrod assembly (not shown) is therefore enclosed within thesupport housing 144 and is connected to a piston type motor enclosed within thehandle assembly 140.
As shown in FIGURES 10, 11, 12 and 13, the handle assembly includes an outertubular casing 152 within which the fluid piston motor is housed having externally threadedchamber portion 154. The motor chamber is thereby connected to acylindrical handle body 156 by means of an internally threadedend section 158. The handle body also includes afluid inlet passage 160 connected by the connecting passage -162 to the fluid chamber within the piston motor and anoutlet passage 164. Inlet andoutlet conduits 166 and 168 are respectively connected to the inlet and outlet passages by means of the fittings 170. Also formed in thehandle body 156 is acylindrical opening 172 in fluid communication with both the inlet andoutlet passages 160 and'164. Thus, a bypass between the inlet and outlet passages is established under control of the valve assembly 174. Valve actuating means consisting of atrigger lever element 176 is 'piv otally mounted by thehandle body 156. Toward this end, the handle body is provided with aslot 178 intersected by abore 180 so that the mountingportion 182 of the trigger element may be received in the slot and be pivotally anchored to the body by apin 184 received through thebore 180. A threaded bore 186 is also formed in the handle body intersecting theslot 178 as shown in FIG- URE so as to threadedly receive an adjustingstop element 188 by means of which the trigger element is limited in a counterclockwise direction to a position corresponding to the release position of thevalve element 190 associated with the valve assembly 174.
The valve assembly 174 is similar in construction and operation to thevalve assembly 102 associated with the tool assembly 10 of FIGURES 1 through 8. The valve assembly 174 therefore also includes avalve body 192 received within thecylindrical opening 172 so as to form acavity 194 therebelow to which theend 196 of the valve element is exposed. Accordingly, fluid under pressure supplied to thecavity 194 will exert an axial bias on thevalve element 190 tending to displace it toward its release position. Thecavity 194 is therefore sealed by means of the O-ring seal 196 received within theannular groove 198 of the valve body while thebore 200 extending through the valve body is sealed by the O-rings 202 within the axially spacedgrooves 204 formed in the valve element. The valve body is also formed with an inlet port orcutout 206 which establishes communication between thebore 200 and theinlet passage 160. An outlet port orcutout 208 is also formed in the valve body establishing fluid communication between thebore 200 and theoutlet passage 164. It will be observed from FIGURES 12 and 14, that the axial length of theinlet port 206 is greater than that of theoutlet port 208 so that when thevalve element 190 is displaced downwardly to its operating position, only theexhaust port 208 is closed and fluid communication between thebore 200 and theoutlet passage 164 interrupted. Thus, fluid under pressure supplied to theinlet passage 160 will always be available to pressurize thecavity 194. Toward this end, apassage 210 establishes fluid communication between theinlet port 206 and thecavity 194 in order to assure that fluid under pressure will be exerted at the lower end of the valve element in all positions thereof. Thus, when thevalve element 190 is displaced by thetrigger element 176 to its operating position as defined by thelimit pin 212 engaging theupper end 214 of the valve body, theexhaust port 208 is closed so that fluid supplied to theinlet passage 160 will pressurize the piston chamber. The piston (not shown) within the chamber is thereby displaced causing movement of thepruning cutter blade 150 toward the end of its stroke. When movement of the piston is retarded or stopped by a load engaged with theblade 150, pressure increases. Since fluid communication is established between the inlet passage and thecavity 194, any increase in pressure is communicated to the cavity so that when overload conditions occur, the force exerted on thepiston element 190 will be suflicient to displace it toward its release position. The bypass passage through thebore 200 is thereby opened so as to unload the fluid piston motor.
It will be apparent from the description of the valve assembly 174 illustrated in FIGURES 10, 11, 12 and 14, that it will control the flow of fluid for operation of either a piston type of fluid motor as described in connection with FIGURES 9 through 14 or a rotary type of gear pump motor such as described in connection with FIG- URES 1 through 8 utilizing a continuously circulating fluid type of circuit. The power operated tools may however also be operated from a closed fluid circuit by replacing the valve assembly with a type such as illustrated in FIGURES 15, 16 and 17. For such an arrangement, thehandle body 216 within thetubular casing 218 of the handle assembly is provided with inlet andoutlet passages 220 and 222 in fluid communication with the cylindrical 6opening 224 within which thevalve body 226 is received. A connectingpassage 228 is also formed in the handle body between the cylindrical opening 224- and thepiston chamber 230, axially spaced from theinlet passage 220. A spool type ofvalve element 232 is received within thebore 234 of the valve body so as to either interrupt or establish fluid communication between theinlet port 236 and thecylinder pressure port 238 formed in the valve body in axially spaced, right angle relation to each other. The inlet port 235 is therefore in communication with theinlet passage 220 while thepressure port 238 is in registration with thepassage 228. Also formed on the valve body in relation to theinlet port 236, is anexhaust recess 240 in communication with theoutlet passage 222. Thus, in the release position of thespool valve element 232 as shown in FIGURE 15, the cylinder chamber 2350 is exhausted through theport 238, bore 234,recess 240 andoutlet passage 222. When thevalve element 232 is displaced to its operating position, fluid communication is then established through thebore 234 between theinlet passage 220 and thepressure passage 238 for supplying fluid under pressure to the cylinder chamber. Thevalve body 226 is also provided with anannular groove 242 for receiving the sealingring 244. This type of valve assembly could also be utilized in conjunction with a closed fluid circuit for tool .assemblies having a rotary type of fluid motor.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes Will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.
What is claimed as new is as follows:
1. In combination with a fluid pressure operated device, a handle assembly having inlet and outlet passages connected to said device and valve means mounted by the handle assembly for controlling circulatory flow of fluid under pressure to said device comprising, a valve body being mounted by the handle assembly having a bore through which continuous fluid communication is established between said inlet passage and the fluid pressure operated device, a valve element mounted for movement within said bore of the valve body, actuating means mounted by the handle assembly and engageable with the valve element for displacement thereof from a release position to an operating position establishing bidirectional flow of fluid under pressure to and from the fluid pressure operated device, and fluid pressure means connected to the bore of the valve body for continuously urging the valve element toward said release position preventing said bidirectional flow.
2. In combination with a fluid pressure operated device, a handle assembly having inlet and outlet passages connected to said device and valve means mounted by the handle assembly for controlling flow of fluid under pressure to said device comprising, a valve body having a bore extending therethrough, said valve body being received within an opening formed in the handle assembly communicating with said inlet and outlet passages, a valve element mounted for movement within said bore of the valve body, actuating means mounted by the handle assembly and engageable with the valve element for displacement thereof from a release position to an operating position producing flow of fluid under pressure to the fluid pressure operated device, and fluid pressure means for urging the valve element toward said release position, said valve body including inlet and outlet ports establishing fluid communication between the inlet and outlet passages through said bore, only the outlet port being closed by the valve element in the operating position thereof, said fluid pressure means including a cavity formed in said opening by the valve body to which the valve element is exposed through the bore, and passage means in the valve body continuously connecting the inlet passage to the cavity for pressurization thereof.
3. The combination of claim 2 including means engageable with the valve body for limiting movement of the valve element to said operating position.
4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said actuating means comprises a trigger element pivotally mounted by the handle assembly in alignment with the valve element, and adjustable stop means limiting displacement of the trigger element by the valve element to the release position.
5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said handle assembly includes an arcuate grip portion connected to the fluid pressure operated device, and guide means mounted by the grip portion in spaced alignment with the valve body for supporting a pair of conduits connected to the inlet and outlet passages.
6. The combination of claim 2 wherein said fluid pressure operated device includes, a fluid motor connected to the handle assembly, a power operated tool, tubular support means connected to the fluid motor for mounting the tool remotely spaced from the handle assembly, and power transmitting means enclosed within the tubular support means for drivingly connecting the fluid motor to the tool.
7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said tubular support means includes a transversely extending end portion, and swivel means rotatably mounting the tool on the end portion for 360 angular movement, said power transmitting means including an angle gear drive mounted in the end portion of the support means and connected to the tool and an elongated drive shaft connecting the fluid motor to the angle gear drive.
8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said elongated drive shaft includes at least two tubular sections having adjacent, internally threaded portions, bearing means axially spacing said sections in concentric relation to each other, ,an annular seating element within the tubular support means positioning the bearing means therewithin, and connector means threadedly received in the internally threaded portion locking the bearing means in assembled relation between the tubular sections.
9. In combination with a fluid pressure operated device, a handle assembly connected to said device, valve means mounted by the handle assembly for controlling the flow of fluid under pressure to said device, actuating means mounted by the handle assembly and engageable with the valve element for displacement thereof from a release position, a power operated tool, tubular support means connected to the fluid operated device for mounting the tool remotely spaced from the handle assembly and an elongated drive shaft enclosed within the tubular support means drivingly connecting the fluid operated device to the tool, including at least two tubular sections having adjacent internally threaded portions, bearing means axially spacing said sections in concentric relation to each other, an annular seating element within the tubular support means positioning the bearing means therewithin, and connection means threadedly received in the internally threaded portion locking the bearing means in assembled relation between the tubular sections.
10. In combination with a fluid pressure operated device, a handle assembly having inlet and outlet passages connected to said device and valve means mounted by the handle assembly for controlling the flow of fluid under pressure to said device comprising, a valve body having a bore extending therethrough, said valve body being received within an opening formed in the handle assembly communicating with said inlet and outlet passages, a valve element mounted for movement within said bore of the valve body, actuating means mounted by the handle assembly and engageable with the valve element for dis placement thereof from a release position, said fluid pressure operated means including a fluid motor connected to the handle assembly, a power operated tool, tubular support means connected to the fluid motor for mounting the tool remotely spaced from the handle assembly and power transmitting means enclosed within the tubular support means for drivingly connecting the fluid motor to the tool, said tubular support means including a transversely extending end portion, and swivel means rotatably mounting the tool on the end portion for 360 angular movement, said power transmitting means including an angle gear drive mounted in the end portion of the support means and connected to the tool, and an elongated drive shaft connecting the fluid motor to the angle gear drive, said elongated drive shaft including at least two tubular sections having adjacent, internally threaded portions, bearing means axially spacing said sections in concentric relation to each other, an annular seating element within the tubular support means positioning the bearing means therewithin, and connector means threadedly received in the internally threaded portion locking the hearing means in assembled relation between the tubular sections.
11. The combination of claim 9 wherein said handle assembly includes an arcuate grip portion mounted by the fluid pressure operated device, and guide means connected to the grip portion in spaced alignment with the valve body for supporting a pair of conduits connected to the inlet and outlet passages.
12. In a fluid pressure operated device having an inlet and an outlet passage, a flow controlling valve assembly comprising, a valve body having a bore extending therethrough, said valve body being received Within an opening formed in the device and communicating with said inlet and outlet passages, a valve element mounted for movement within said bore of the valve body, actuating means mounted by the handle assembly and engageable with the valve element for displacement thereof from a release position to an operating position producing flow of fluid under pressure to the fluid pressure operated device, fluid pressure means for urging the valve element toward said release position, said valve body including inlet and outlet ports establishing fluid communication between the inlet and outlet passages through said bore, only the outlet port being closed by the valve element in the operating position thereof, a cavity formed in said opening by the valve body to which the valve element is exposed through the bore and passage means in the valve body continuously connecting the inlet passage to the cavity for pressurization thereof.
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,372,942 4/1945 Fischer et a1. 4l451 2,612,140 9/1952 Miller 173169 2,703,928 3/1955 Southwick 143-32 3,097,022 7/1963 Sernety 308-184 3,099,135 7/1963 Hoadley 173169 FRED C. MATTERN, JR., Primary Examiner.
L. P. KESSLER, Assistant Examiner.