What is claimed is:
1. In a fastener-driving tool having a reciprocating driver blade for driving fasteners into a workpiece, a magazine configured for storing and feeding at least one collated strip of fasteners to the driver blade, comprising:
a housing defining a feed end, a driving end and a guidance portion disposed between and contacting the two ends;
said guidance portion having at least two guidance formations, a first guidance formation configured for engaging the fastener strip at a first location, and said second guidance formation configured for engaging the fastener strip at a second location.
2. The tool of claim 1 wherein each fastener strip includes a plurality of sleeves having a lower edge and a window channel defined by at least one and preferably two opposing radially projecting portions, and said first guidance formation is configured for engaging the strip at the lower edge, and said second guidance formation is configured for engaging the strip in the window channel.
3. The tool of claim 1 wherein the fastener strip is supported only by said first guidance formation in a first zone of the magazine, and only by said second guidance formation is a second zone of the magazine.
4. The tool of claim 1 wherein said first guidance formation extends from said feed end and said second guidance formation extends from said driving end.
5. The tool of claim 4 wherein said magazine is provided with a transition zone where said first guidance formation ends and said second guidance formation begins.
6. The tool of claim 5 wherein said magazine is provided with at least one sidewall which visually displays said transition zone.
7. The tool of claim 6 wherein said at least one sidewall defines an S-curve for indicating said transition zone.
8. The tool of claim 4 wherein said first guidance formation extends approximately the length of said magazine.
9. The tool of claim 1 wherein said first guidance formation is at least one rail which engages the bottom of said sleeve.
10. The tool of claim 1 wherein said second guidance formation is a pair of opposing rails which each engage a corresponding set of windows in the fastener strip.
11. A fastener driving tool having a magazine comprising:
a housing having a first guidance formation and a second guidance formation, said first guidance formation configured for guiding a fastener strip in a first location, said second guidance formation configured for guiding the fastener strip in a second location, the first location being different from the second location.
12. The magazine of claim 11 wherein said housing is configured so that the fastener strip is guided first guided only by said first guidance formation, then only by said second guidance formation.
13. The magazine of claim 12 wherein the fastener strip includes a plurality of frangible sleeves each having a lower edge and a window channel, said first guidance formation being configured for slidably engaging said lower edge, said second guidance formation being configured for slidably engaging said window channel.
14. The magazine of claim 11 further including a sidewall configured for indicating a transition zone between said first guidance portion and said second guidance portion.
15. In a fastener-driving tool having a reciprocating driver blade for driving fasteners into a workpiece, a magazine configured for storing and feeding at least one collated strip of fasteners to a nosepiece reciprocally engaged by the driver blade and having a fastener receiving aperture, said magazine comprising:
a housing defining a feed end, a driving end opposite the feed end, said driving end having an opening in communication with the aperture of the nosepiece;
said feed end having a guidance formation configured for engaging said collated strip of fasteners at opposing channel formations for guiding the strip of fasteners into said opening, said guidance formation being the only guidance formation engaging the fastener strip.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for controlling an electric assist motor in a vehicle steering system during an enablement of an overuse algorithm, said method comprising the steps of:
providing electric power to said electric assist motor of said vehicle steering system via a switching circuit;
sensing a temperature of one of at least said electric assist motor and a power driving circuitry that provides power to said electric assist motor;
determining whether said sensed temperature of said one of at least said electrical assist motor and said power driving circuitry is increasing over a predetermined period of time; and
reducing said electric power provided to said electric assist motor in response to a lack of increase in said sensed temperature.
2. The method of claim 1 further including the steps of:
receiving a sensed temperature signal by a stall detector; and
outputting a control signal for adjusting said electric power provided to said electric assist motor.
3. The method of claim 2 further including the step of providing said control signal to a gain amplifier for adjusting a received torque command signal indicative of an applied steering torque input.
4. The method of claim 3 further including the step of providing said adjusted torque command signal to a switching circuit for limiting electric power to said electric assist motor.
5. The method of claim 2 wherein said step of reducing said electric power is further defined by reducing an output of said electric assist motor to a predetermined percentage of a maximum steering assistance output.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein said predetermined percentage is about 20%.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of determining whether said sensed temperature is increasing includes taking a plurality of temperature measurements, and sensing an increase in temperature for a predetermined number of consecutive temperature measurements by the plurality of temperature measurements.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein said predetermined number of consecutive temperature measurements include at least two consecutive temperature measurements.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein said predetermined number of consecutive temperature measurements is taken at fixed time intervals.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein said fixed time intervals are about two second intervals.
11. The method of claim 8 wherein said predetermined number of consecutive temperature measurements is taken at variable time intervals.
12. A method for controlling an electric assist motor in a vehicle steering system during an enablement of an overuse algorithm, said method comprising the steps of:
providing electric power to said electric assist motor of said vehicle steering system via a switching circuit;
sensing a temperature of one of at least said electric assist motor and a power driving circuitry that provides power to said electric assist motor by taking at least two consecutive temperature measurements over a predetermined period of time;
determining whether said sensed temperature of said one of at least said electric assist motor and said power driving circuitry is increasing over said predetermined period of time by adding a calibration constant to said second measured temperature and subtracting said second measured temperature from said first measured temperature and producing a negative temperature difference; and
reducing said electric power provided to said electric assist motor in response to a lack of increase in said sensed temperature.
13. An apparatus for controlling an electric assist motor in a vehicle steering system during an enablement of an over-use algorithm, the apparatus comprising:
a switching circuit for providing electric power to said electric assist motor, said electric assist motor providing steering assistance to said vehicle steering system;
a torque command circuit for providing a torque command signal to said electric assist motor for demanding a respective output torque from said electric assist motor in response an applied steering torque signal;
a temperature sensor coupled to one of at least said electric assist motor and said switching circuit for sensing a temperature of said one of at least said electric assist motor and said switching circuit and for generating an output signal in response to said sensed temperature; and
a stall detector responsive to said output signal from said temperature sensor during an enablement of said over-use algorithm and being operable to reduce said electric power to said electric assist motor by adjusting said torque command signal when said sensed temperature of said one of at least said electric assist motor and said switching circuit does not increase over a predetermined period of time.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising an adjustable gain amplifier, coupled to said torque command circuit and said stall detector for modifying said torque command signal received from said torque command circuit in response to said stall detector detecting said sensed constant temperature over said predetermined period of time.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said torque command signal is modified for reducing said torque output of said electric motor to a predetermined percentage of a maximum steering assistance of said electric assist motor.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said predetermined percentage is about 20%.
17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein at least two consecutive temperature measurements are taken by said temperature sensor during said predetermined period of time.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said consecutive temperature measurements are taken at fixed time intervals.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said fixed time intervals are about two second intervals.
20. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said temperature measurements are taken at variable time intervals.