1. Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a signal generating device, and more particularly
to a pneumatic signal generating device for a pneumatic tool.
2. Description of Related Art
[0002] With reference to Fig. 6, a conventional pneumatic tool 70 substantially comprises
a body 71, a driving device 72, a trigger assembly 73, and a silencer 74. The body
71 has a holding chamber 711, a trigger chamber 712, an inlet channel 713, and an
outlet channel 714. The trigger chamber 712 is adjacent to the holding chamber 711
and extends laterally. The inlet channel 713 and the outlet channel 714 communicate
with the trigger chamber 712. The driving device 72 is mounted in the holding chamber
711, and the trigger assembly 73 is mounted in the trigger chamber 712. The silencer
74 is mounted on a bottom of the body 71 and communicates with the outlet channel
714.
[0003] When the conventional pneumatic tool 70 is in use, the body 71 is connected with
an air compressor by a pipe and compressed air can be led into the inlet channel 713.
When the trigger assembly 73 is pressed, the compressed air is led into the holding
chamber 711 to actuate the driving device 72 and the pneumatic tool 70 works. In addition,
redundant air will be discharged from the outlet channel 714.
[0004] The compressed air is the power source for driving the conventional pneumatic tool
70 to operate, but the pressure of the compressed air is unstable and is not easily
detected. Therefore, to detect the pressure in the pneumatic tool and the pressing
times of the trigger assembly 73 is difficult.
[0005] In addition, to mount an electrical element in the pneumatic tool 70 for detecting
the pressure or the pressing times of the trigger assembly 73 is also difficult. Additional
wires or electrical elements are necessary for the arrangement of the detecting electrical
element, so the structure of the conventional pneumatic tool having a detecting function
is complicated.
[0006] To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide a pneumatic
signal generating device for a pneumatic tool to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned
problems.
[0007] The main objective of the invention is to provide a pneumatic signal generating device
that is applied to detect the conditions of a pneumatic tool.
[0008] The pneumatic generating device has a valve sleeve, a valve core, a piston pin, and
a guiding assembly. The valve sleeve has a sleeve chamber, an opening, and an input
end. The sleeve chamber is defined in the valve sleeve. The opening is defined in
an end of the valve sleeve and communicates with the sleeve chamber. The input end
is defined in an end of the valve sleeve opposite the opening. The valve core is mounted
rotatably in the sleeve chamber of the valve sleeve and has an axial hole and an annular
groove. The axial hole is defined axially through the valve core. The annular groove
is defined around an outer surface of the valve core. The piston pin is mounted moveably
in the axial hole in the valve core and has an end extending out of the input end
of the valve sleeve and combined with a sealing cap. The guiding assembly is combined
rotatably with the valve core and has a signal member and a guiding tube. The signal
member is combined with the valve core, is held in the annular groove in the valve
core, and has a passage defined in the signal member and communicating with the sleeve
chamber of the valve sleeve. The guiding tube is connected with the signal member
and communicates with the passage in the signal member.
[0009] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent
from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
IN THE DRAWINGS
[0010]
- Fig. 1
- is a side view in partial section of a pneumatic tool having a pneumatic signal generating
device in accordance with the present invention;
- Fig. 2
- is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the pneumatic signal generating device
in Fig. 1;
- Fig. 3
- is a side view in partial section of the pneumatic signal generating device in Fig.
2;
- Fig. 4
- is an enlarged operational side view in partial section of the pneumatic tool with
the pneumatic signal generating device in Fig. 1;
- Fig. 5
- is an enlarged operational side view of the pneumatic tool in Fig. 4; and
- Fig. 6
- is an enlarged operational cross sectional side view of the pneumatic signal generating
device in Fig. 5.
[0011] With reference to Figs. 1 to 4, a pneumatic signal generating device in accordance
with the present invention is mounted in a trigger chamber 11 of a pneumatic tool
10, is connected with a trigger assembly 12 and comprises a valve sleeve 20, a valve
core 30, a piston pin 40, and a guiding assembly 50.
[0012] With reference to Fig. 1, the pneumatic tool 10 may be conventional and has an inlet
channel 13 and an outlet channel 14. The trigger chamber 11 is defined laterally in
a body of the pneumatic tool 10. The inlet channel 13 and the outlet channel 14 communicate
with the trigger chamber 11.
[0013] With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the valve sleeve 20 is mounted in the trigger chamber
11 of the pneumatic tool 10, is cylindrical in shape, and has a sleeve chamber 21,
an opening 22, two inlets 23, two outlets 24, a limiting groove 25, and an input end
26. The sleeve chamber 21 is defined in the valve sleeve 20. The opening 22 is defined
in an end of the valve sleeve 20 facing the trigger assembly 12 and communicates with
the sleeve chamber 21. The two inlets 23 are defined radially in the valve sleeve
20 at positions away from the opening 22 and communicate with the sleeve chamber 21.
The two outlets 24 are defined radially in the valve sleeve 20, are diametrically
opposite each other, and communicate with the sleeve chamber 21. The limiting groove
25 is curved, is defined radially in the valve sleeve 20 at a position between the
opening 22 and the outlets 24, and communicates with the sleeve chamber 21. The input
end 26 is defined in an end of the valve sleeve 20 opposite the opening 22 and has
a pin hole 261 defined through the input end 26.
[0014] With reference to Figs. 1 to 3, the valve core 30 is mounted rotatably in the sleeve
chamber 21 of the valve sleeve 20 and comprises an input segment 32, an output segment
31, a connection segment 33, an axial hole 34, and an annular groove 35. The input
segment 32 is formed on an end of the valve core 30, and the output segment 31 is
formed on an end of the valve core 30 opposite the input segment 32. The connection
segment 33 is mounted between the input segment 32 and the output segment 31 to connect
the input segment 32 with the output segment 31. The axial hole 34 is defined axially
through the input segment 32, the connection segment 33, and the output segment 31.
The annular groove 35 is defined around an outer surface of the valve core 30 at a
position corresponding to the two outlets 24 in the valve sleeve 20 and is preferably
defined between the input segment 32 and the output segment 31 and formed around the
connection segment 33.
[0015] With reference to Figs. 2 and 3, the output segment 31 further has a notch 311 and
a positioning recess 312. The notch 311 is defined radially in the output segment
31 at a position corresponding to the limiting groove 25. The positioning recess 312
is defined longitudinally in the output segment 31 and is diametrically opposite to
the notch 311. The input segment 32 has a mounting hole 321, a guiding channel 322,
an input chamber 323, an input hole 324, and a guiding recess 325. The mounting hole
321 is defined longitudinally in the input segment 32 and is co-axial with the positioning
recess 312 in the output segment 31. The guiding channel 322 is longitudinally in
the input segment 32, is co-axial with the mounting hole 321, and communicates with
the mounting hole 321 and the sleeve chamber 21. The input chamber 323 is defined
in the input segment 32 and communicates with the axial hole 34. The input hole 324
is defined radially in the input segment 32 and communicates with the input chamber
323 and one of the inlets 23 in the valve sleeve 20. The guiding recess 325 is defined
in an end of the input segment 32 facing the pin hole 26 of the valve sleeve 20. The
end of the input segment 32 provided with the guiding recess 325 is adjacent to the
input end 26 of the valve sleeve 20, such that the compressed air entering into the
pin hole 261 can be led into the guiding channel 322 and the input chamber 323 via
the guiding recess 325.
[0016] With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the piston pin 40 is mounted through the axial hole
34 of the valve core 30 and has a first end extending out of the pin hole 261 of the
valve sleeve 20 and a second end connected with the trigger assembly 12. The first
end of the piston pin 40 is combined with a sealing cap 41. With the sealing cap 41,
the pin hole 261 can be sealed and the compressed air can be kept from entering into
the valve sleeve 20 and the valve core 30.
[0017] With reference to Figs. 2 and 3, the guiding assembly 50 is combined rotatably with
the valve core 30 and comprises a fastening member 51, a signal member 52 and a guiding
tube 53. The fastening member 51 is mounted in the positioning recess 312 and preferably
is a bolt. The signal member 52 is mounted in the mounting hole 321 and is co-axial
with the fastening member 51. The signal member 52 may be T-shaped and has a mounting
segment 522 and a guiding segment 523. The mounting segment 522 extends laterally
and has a first end inserted into the mounting hole 321 in the valve core 30 and a
second end defined as a positioning end 521. A fastening hole 524 is defined in the
positioning end 521 and is screwed with the fastening member 51. With the fastening
member 51 being screwed with the fastening hole 524, the signal member 52 is held
securely in the mounting hole 321. The guiding segment 523 protrudes inclinedly from
the mounting segment 522. A guiding passage 525 is L-shaped, is defined in the mounting
segment 522 and the guiding segment 523, communicates with the guiding channel 322
and is free from communicating with the fastening hole 524. When the fastening member
51 is rotated, the signal member 52 will be moved relative to the mounting hole 321
and the position of the signal member 52 is adjusted. The guiding tube 53 is inserted
into an end of the guiding segment 523, communicates with the guiding passage 525,
and extends into the outlet channel 14 of the pneumatic tool 10.
[0018] With reference to Figs. 3 to 5, when in use, the pneumatic tool 10 is connected with
a compressed air source. When the trigger assembly 12 is pressed, the piston pin 40
will be axially moved relative to the valve sleeve 30 and the sealing cap 41 will
depart from the valve sleeve 20 to open the pin hole 261. At this time, the compressed
air will enter the trigger chamber 11 via the inlet channel 13 and some of the compressed
air will enter the guiding channel 322 via the pin hole 261 and the guiding recess
325. The compressed air shunt will then enter the guiding passage 525 of the signal
member 52 and the guiding tube 53. Consequently, the compressed air shunt entering
into the guiding tube 53 can serve as a pressure signal to be led to a counter or
a pressure gauge connected with the outlet channel 14 of the pneumatic tool 10. Accordingly,
the pressing times of the trigger assembly 12 or the pressure in the pneumatic tool
10 can be easily calculated or detected by the compressed air shunt, and additional
electrical elements and wire arrangement are not necessary. In addition, the pneumatic
signal generating device in accordance with the present invention can be easily assembled
in a conventional pneumatic tool, and the weight and volume of the pneumatic tool
will not be increased.
1. A pneumatic signal generating device for a pneumatic tool,
characterized in that the pneumatic signal generating device comprises:
a valve sleeve (20) having
a sleeve chamber (21) defined in the valve sleeve (20);
an opening (22) defined in an end of the valve sleeve (20) and communicating with
the sleeve chamber (21); and
an input end (26) defined in an end of the valve sleeve (20) opposite the opening
(22);
a valve core (30) mounted rotatably in the sleeve chamber (21) of the valve sleeve
(20) and having
an axial hole (34) defined axially through the valve core (30); and
an annular groove (35) defined around an outer surface of the valve core (30);
a piston pin (40) mounted moveably in the axial hole (34) in the valve core (30) and
having an end extending out of the input end (26) of the valve sleeve (20) and combined
with a sealing cap (41); and
a guiding assembly (50) combined rotatably with the valve core (30) and comprising
a signal member (52) combined with the valve core (30), held in the annular groove
(35) in the valve core (30), and having a passage (525) defined in the signal member
(52) and communicating with the sleeve chamber (21) of the valve sleeve (20); and
a guiding tube (53) connected with the signal member (52) and communicating with the
passage (525) in the signal member (52).
2. The pneumatic signal generating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the valve core (30) further comprises
an input segment (32) formed on an end of the valve core (30);
an output segment (31) formed on an end of the valve core (30) opposite the input
segment (32); and
a connection segment (33) mounted between the input segment (31) and the output segment
(32) to connect the input segment (32) with the output segment (31);
the axial hole (34) is defined axially through the input segment (32), the connection
segment (33), and the output segment (31);
the annular groove (35) is defined between the input segment (32) and the output segment
(31) and is formed around the connection segment (33); and
the signal member (52) is combined with the input segment (32) of the valve core (30).
3. The pneumatic signal generating device as claimed in claim 2, wherein
the input segment (32) of the valve core (20) has
a mounting hole (321) defined in the input segment (32); and
a guiding channel (322) defined in the input segment (32) and communicating with the
mounting hole (321) and the sleeve chamber (21);
the signal member (52) has an end mounted in the mounting hole (321) in the input
segment (32) and communicates with the sleeve chamber (21) via the guiding channel
(322).
4. The pneumatic signal generating device as claimed in claim 3, wherein
the signal member (52) comprising
a mounting segment (522) extending laterally and inserted into the mounting hole (321)
in the valve core (30); and
a guiding segment (523) protruding inclinedly from the mounting segment (522).
5. The pneumatic signal generating device as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4,
wherein
the output segment (31) of the valve core (30) has a positioning recess (312) defined
in the output segment (31);
the guiding assembly (50) further comprises a fastening member (51) mounted in the
positioning recess (312); and
the signal member (52) comprises a positioning end (521) extending laterally and combined
securely with the fastening member (51).