U.S. patent application number 17/188044 was filed with the patent office on 2021-08-12 for power saws.
This patent application is currently assigned to SawStop Holding LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is SawStop Holding LLC. Invention is credited to J. David Fulmer, Stephen F. Gass, John P. Nenadic.
Application Number | 20210245390 17/188044 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005429982 |
Filed Date | 2021-08-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210245390 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fulmer; J. David ; et
al. |
August 12, 2021 |
POWER SAWS
Abstract
Power saws and features for power saws are disclosed. Various
features are particularly relevant to jobsite or benchtop table
saws, such as a trunnion formed from a shaped tube, an elevation
carriage, and an arbor block retention mechanism. Other features
are particularly relevant to table saws, hand-held circular saws,
track saws, miter saws, and band saws with active injury mitigation
technology, such as an electrically isolating gear and an
overmolded arbor/gear element.
Inventors: |
Fulmer; J. David; (Wailea,
HI) ; Gass; Stephen F.; (West Linn, OR) ;
Nenadic; John P.; (Camas, WA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SawStop Holding LLC |
Tualatin |
OR |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
SawStop Holding LLC
Tualatin
OR
|
Family ID: |
1000005429982 |
Appl. No.: |
17/188044 |
Filed: |
March 1, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
15988907 |
May 24, 2018 |
10933554 |
|
|
17188044 |
|
|
|
|
62511234 |
May 25, 2017 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B23D 45/068 20130101;
B27B 13/14 20130101; B23D 47/02 20130101; B23D 47/025 20130101;
B27G 19/02 20130101; B27G 19/00 20130101; B27G 19/06 20130101; B27B
5/38 20130101; B23D 47/12 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B27G 19/00 20060101
B27G019/00; B27G 19/02 20060101 B27G019/02; B23D 45/06 20060101
B23D045/06; B23D 47/02 20060101 B23D047/02; B23D 47/12 20060101
B23D047/12 |
Claims
1. A power tool comprising: a rotatable arbor; a blade mounted on
the arbor; a motor to spin the arbor and blade; a detection system
to detect when a person contacts the spinning blade; a reaction
system triggerable to perform an action to mitigate injury upon
detection of the contact; and an electrically isolating gear
through which the motor spins the arbor.
2. The power tool of claim 1, where the electrically isolating gear
is on the arbor.
3. The power tool of claim 1, where the electrically isolating gear
includes an outer ring of conductive material and an inner ring of
non-conductive material.
4. The power tool of claim 3, where the inner ring contacts the
outer ring, and further comprising splines at the contact between
the inner and outer rings.
5. The power tool of claim 1, where the electrically isolating gear
is on the arbor, where the gear includes an outer ring of
conductive material and an inner ring of non-conductive material,
where the inner ring contacts the arbor, and where the inner ring
is formed by molding over the arbor.
6. The power tool of claim 1, where the electrically isolating gear
is on the arbor, where the gear includes an outer ring of
conductive material and an inner ring of non-conductive material,
where the inner ring includes at least one bearing seat.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/988,907, filed May 24, 2018, which claims
the benefit of and priority from U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 62/511,234, filed May 25, 2017, both of which
are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to power saws and features
that may be implemented in power saws. Various disclosed features
are particularly relevant to portable table saws sometimes called
jobsite or benchtop saws. Various other disclosed features are
particularly relevant to table saws, hand-held circular saws, track
saws, miter saws, and band saws with active injury mitigation
technology.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A power saw is a tool used to cut a workpiece, such as a
piece of wood, to a desired size or shape. Table saws, hand-held
circular saws, track saws, miter saws, and band saws are examples
of power saws. A table saw includes a work surface or table and a
circular blade extending up through the table. A person uses a
table saw by placing a workpiece on the table and feeding it into
contact with the spinning blade to cut the workpiece to a desired
size. A hand-held circular saw includes a circular blade, motor and
handle. A person uses a hand-held circular saw by grasping the
handle and moving the spinning blade into contact with a workpiece.
A track saw is similar to a hand-held circular saw, and includes a
track to guide the movement of the saw as the blade cuts the
workpiece. A miter saw includes a circular blade on a moveable
support arm. A person uses a miter saw by placing a workpiece under
the blade and then moving the blade into contact with the workpiece
to make a cut, typically by pivoting the blade and support arm
down. A band saw includes a work surface and an adjacent band blade
driven around two or more rollers or wheels. A person uses a band
saw by placing a workpiece on the work surface and moving the
workpiece into contact with the band blade.
[0004] Power saws are some of the most basic and versatile machines
used in woodworking and construction. For example, power saws are
used in making furniture and cabinetry, in the installation of
hardwood flooring, in cutting plywood panels for roofing and walls,
in cutting material for countertops, in making pallets and crates,
and for many other projects and tasks.
[0005] Each type of power saw comes in various sizes and
configurations. For example, table saws come in sizes ranging from
large, stationary, industrial table saws, to small, lightweight,
portable table saws. Larger table saws are sometimes called cabinet
saws, mid-sized table saws are sometimes called contractor saws or
hybrid saws, and smaller table saws are sometimes called portable,
jobsite, or benchtop table saws. The larger table saws include
induction motors and cast-iron parts, and typically weigh well over
100 pounds. The smaller, portable table saws are often small and
light enough to be transported in the back of a pickup truck, and
they often have stands with wheels so they can be moved around a
jobsite or workspace. The smaller table saws have universal motors
and weigh less than 100 pounds. For example, jobsite saws weigh
approximately 60 to 80 pounds, and the smallest benchtop saws weigh
approximately 40 to 45 pounds.
[0006] Hand-held circular saws, track saws, miter saws and band
saws also come in various sizes and configurations, and they can be
equipped with different features.
[0007] The names "table saws," "hand-held circular saws," "track
saws," "miter saws," and "band saws" are general categories that
can overlap. For example, a track saw is a type of hand-held
circular saw and can be referred to as a hand-held circular saw.
Miter saws and band saws have tables or work surfaces on which a
workpiece is placed to make a cut, and in that regard are similar
to a table saw. Nevertheless, the designations "table saws,"
"hand-held circular saws," "track saws," "miter saws," and "band
saws" are generally understood by persons of ordinary skill in the
art of woodworking and construction to identify different
categories or types of power saws.
[0008] Power saws present potential dangers or hazards because of
the moving blade. Numerous accidents occur where a person using a
power saw accidentally comes into contact with the moving blade. To
address this issue, power saws can be equipped with active injury
mitigation technology. Active injury mitigation technology detects
a dangerous condition, such as accidental contact with the moving
blade by a person, and then performs some action to mitigate
injury, such as stopping or retracting the blade in milliseconds.
Generally, an embodiment of active injury mitigation technology
includes at least a detection system to detect the dangerous
condition and a reaction system to perform the action to mitigate
injury. An embodiment of active injury mitigation technology might
also include a control system to control and/or test operation of
the detection and reaction systems. The terms "detection system,"
"reaction system" and "control system" are used to identify known
categories of structural components, and therefore, identify
structure rather than function, just as the terms "actuator" and
"sensor" identify known categories of structural components. For
example, the term "detection system" is known to describe
structural elements such as electronic circuitry to generate and
monitor an electrical signal. The term "reaction system" is known
to describe structural elements such as brake mechanisms and
retraction mechanisms. The term "control system" is known to
describe structural elements such as electronic circuitry and
controllers used to manage, control and/or test the operability of
the detection and reaction systems. U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 10/100,211, filed Mar. 13, 2002 and titled "Safety Systems for
Power Equipment," which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,724,840 on Aug.
8, 2017, describes active injury mitigation technology and various
implementations and embodiments of active injury mitigation
technology in power saws. The entire disclosure of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/100,211, and the patent resulting from that
application, are incorporated herein by reference.
[0009] This document describes power saws and features that may be
implemented in various categories of power saws. Some of the
features described are particularly relevant to portable table saws
such as jobsite and benchtop table saws. Other features described
are particularly relevant to power saws with active injury
mitigation technology.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 shows a portable table saw.
[0011] FIG. 2 shows an internal side view of the table saw of FIG.
1 with the housing removed.
[0012] FIG. 3 shows an isometric view of the top of the table of
the table saw in FIG. 1 isolated.
[0013] FIG. 4 shows an isometric view of the bottom of the table of
FIG. 3.
[0014] FIG. 5 shows the housing of the table saw of FIG. 1
isolated.
[0015] FIG. 6 shows the bottom component of the housing of the
table saw of FIG. 1 isolated.
[0016] FIG. 7 shows the table insert and accompanying hold-down
mechanism of the table saw of FIG. 1 isolated.
[0017] FIG. 8 shows an isometric bottom view of the hold-down
mechanism of FIG. 7 isolated.
[0018] FIG. 9 shows an isometric top view of the hold-down
mechanism of FIG. 7 isolated.
[0019] FIG. 10 shows a detail view of the table insert and
hold-down mechanism installed in the table saw of FIG. 1.
[0020] FIG. 11 shows the fence of FIG. 1 isolated.
[0021] FIG. 12 shows a detail view of the portion of the table
comprising a front rail.
[0022] FIG. 13 shows a detail view of the portion of the table
comprising a rear rail.
[0023] FIG. 14 shows a side view of the table saw of FIG. 1.
[0024] FIG. 15 shows the wrench mounting apparatus of FIG. 14
isolated.
[0025] FIG. 16 shows the arbor nut wrench of FIG. 14 isolated.
[0026] FIG. 17 shows the arbor flange wrench of FIG. 14
isolated.
[0027] FIG. 18 shows a front view of the table saw of FIG. 1.
[0028] FIG. 19 shows the trunnion of FIG. 2 isolated.
[0029] FIG. 20 shows the internal structure of FIG. 2 with some
components removed.
[0030] FIG. 21 shows a detail view of the front connection between
the table and trunnion.
[0031] FIG. 22 shows another view of the front connection between
the table and trunnion, with the table removed for clarity.
[0032] FIG. 23 shows a rear view of a front trunnion mounting plate
isolated.
[0033] FIG. 24 shows a front view of the front trunnion mounting
plate of FIG. 23 isolated.
[0034] FIG. 25 shows a front view of a front trunnion bracket with
some components installed thereon.
[0035] FIG. 26 shows a rear view of the front trunnion bracket of
FIG. 25 with some components installed thereon.
[0036] FIG. 27 shows a front view of a rear trunnion bracket with
some components installed thereon.
[0037] FIG. 28 shows a rear view of the rear trunnion bracket of
FIG. 27 with some components installed thereon.
[0038] FIG. 29 shows a detail view of the rear trunnion connection
to the table.
[0039] FIG. 30 shows another detail view of the rear trunnion
connection to the table, with the table removed for clarity.
[0040] FIG. 31 shows a rear view of a rear trunnion mounting plate
isolated.
[0041] FIG. 32 shows a front view of the rear trunnion mounting
plate of FIG. 31 isolated.
[0042] FIG. 33 shows a detail view of part of the elevation
mechanism of the table saw of FIG. 1.
[0043] FIG. 34 shows the bevel gear bracket of FIG. 33
isolated.
[0044] FIG. 35 shows the elevation shaft bracket of FIG. 2
isolated.
[0045] FIG. 36 shows another view of the elevation shaft bracket of
FIG. 2 isolated.
[0046] FIG. 37 shows a side view of the internal structure of the
table saw of FIG. 1 with some components removed for clarity.
[0047] FIG. 38 shows an isometric front view of an elevation
carriage isolated.
[0048] FIG. 39 shows an isometric rear view of the elevation
carriage of FIG. 38 isolated.
[0049] FIG. 40 shows a brake cartridge bracket isolated.
[0050] FIG. 41 shows the brake cartridge bracket of FIG. 40 with
some components installed thereon.
[0051] FIG. 42 shows a brake cartridge cable housing and brake
cartridge alignment bracket isolated.
[0052] FIG. 43 shows another view of the brake cartridge cable
housing of the table saw of FIG. 42 isolated.
[0053] FIG. 44 shows an elevation carriage with a brake cartridge
bracket and a brake cartridge.
[0054] FIG. 45 shows a retraction bracket isolated.
[0055] FIG. 46 shows an alignment bracket isolated.
[0056] FIG. 47 shows a retraction bracket and elevation carriage
with some additional components installed thereon.
[0057] FIG. 48 shows a retraction bracket and elevation carriage
with some additional components installed thereon.
[0058] FIG. 49 shows a motor, gearbox, and alignment block
isolated.
[0059] FIG. 50 shows another view of the motor, gearbox, and
alignment block of FIG. 49 isolated.
[0060] FIG. 51 shows an isometric top view of the alignment block
in FIG. 49 isolated.
[0061] FIG. 52 shows a side isometric view of the alignment block
in FIG. 49 isolated.
[0062] FIG. 53 shows a bottom isometric view of the alignment block
in FIG. 49 isolated.
[0063] FIG. 54 shows a detail view of part of the gearbox of FIG.
49.
[0064] FIG. 55 shows a detail view of the alignment block of FIG.
49 attached to the gearbox of FIG. 49.
[0065] FIG. 56 shows some of the internal components of the motor
and gearbox of FIG. 49 isolated.
[0066] FIG. 57 shows a perspective view of FIG. 56.
[0067] FIG. 58 shows a perspective view of an insulating gear.
[0068] FIG. 59 shows a side view of the gear of FIG. 58.
[0069] FIG. 60 shows a cross-sectional view of the gear of FIG.
58.
[0070] FIG. 61 shows another cross-sectional view of the gear of
FIG. 58 in a housing.
[0071] FIG. 62 shows part of the tilt mechanism of the table saw of
FIG. 1 with some components removed for clarity.
[0072] FIG. 63 shows the tilt plate of FIG. 62 isolated.
[0073] FIG. 64 shows the tilt lock lever and elevation shaft
bracket of the tilt mechanism of FIG. 62 isolated.
[0074] FIG. 65 shows a cross-sectional view of the tilt lock lever
and elevation shaft bracket of FIG. 64, taken along the line F-F in
FIG. 64, with a tilt plate added.
[0075] FIG. 66 shows an alternative table insert and accompanying
hold-down mechanism.
[0076] FIG. 67 shows an isometric bottom view of the hold-down
mechanism of FIG. 66 isolated.
[0077] FIG. 68 shows a perspective top view of the hold-down
mechanism of FIG. 66 isolated.
[0078] FIG. 69 shows a front view of the hold-down mechanism of
FIG. 66 isolated.
[0079] FIG. 70 shows a cross-sectional side view of the hold-down
mechanism of FIG. 66 isolated, taken along the line A-A in FIG.
69.
[0080] FIG. 71 shows a detail view of the table insert and
hold-down mechanism of FIG. 66 installed in the table saw of FIG.
1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0081] FIG. 1 shows a table saw 10. The table saw includes a table
12 with an opening 14 and an insert 16 in the opening. A blade 18
extends up through a slot 20 in the insert. A housing 22 supports
the table and a motor is within the housing. The motor 200, shown
in FIG. 2, is operably connected to the blade to drive or spin the
blade. To use the table saw, a user places a workpiece on the table
and slides it into contact with the spinning blade to make a
cut.
[0082] Table saws such as saw 10 can be equipped with "active
injury mitigation technology." That phrase refers to technology
that detects a dangerous condition, such as contact between a
person and the spinning blade, and then performs some predetermined
action to mitigate any injury, such as stopping and/or retracting
the blade. Exemplary implementations of active injury mitigation
technology are described in International Patent Application
Publication No. WO 01/26064 A2, in U.S. patent application Ser. No.
10/100,211, filed Mar. 13, 2002, titled "Safety Systems for Power
Equipment," and in U.S. Pat. No. 9,724,840, issuing from U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 10/100,211, all of which are
incorporated herein by reference.
[0083] The blade in a table saw is typically supported in such a
way that a user can change the elevation and tilt of the blade
relative to the work surface or table to cut material of various
thicknesses and to make angled cuts. FIG. 2 is an internal side
view of table saw 10 with housing 22 and other structures removed.
FIG. 2 shows blade 18 supported by an elevation carriage 30, which
in turn is supported by a trunnion 32 hanging from table 12. The
elevation carriage moves up and down relative to the trunnion to
change the elevation of the blade relative to the table, or
relative to the work surface on the table, and the elevation
carriage and trunnion tilt or pivot from side to side to change the
angle of the blade relative to the table or work surface.
[0084] In some table saws, the elevation of the blade is changed by
turning a hand wheel, such as hand wheel 34 in FIG. 1. Typically,
the hand wheel is connected to a shaft which turns bevel gears to
raise and lower the elevation carriage as shown in FIG. 2, or
alternatively, the hand wheel turns a screw that pivots the
elevation carriage up and down. Other table saws use a lever or
other mechanism to raise and lower the blade. Tilting the blade is
accomplished in some table saws by turning a second hand wheel or a
lever, and in other table saws by releasing a clamp and moving the
elevation hand wheel to the side, as shown in FIG. 2. The specific
elevation and tilt mechanisms shown in FIG. 2 are discussed in more
detail below.
[0085] Table 12 is shown isolated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The table is
made from die cast aluminum with ribs on the bottom side, shown in
FIG. 4, to add strength and rigidity while minimizing weight and
manufacturing costs. It will be appreciated that table 12 could be
made from other materials or by other methods. Table 12 has two
extensions 50 which allow a fence 38 to have an increased lateral
range, thus increasing the saw's rip capacity, while keeping the
saw lightweight.
[0086] Housing 22 includes a main body 52 and a base 54 attached to
the main body (shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, respectively). The base is
formed with ribs and openings in what may be thought of as a
honeycomb pattern. The ribs are close enough to prevent a user from
reaching into the interior of the saw, and the openings between the
ribs allow sawdust to fall through. The height and size of
different ribs can be varied to provide clearance for internal
components of the saw. In the depicted embodiment, the base is
injection molded out of plastic, although it will be appreciated
that other materials and methods could be used.
[0087] Base 54 can be joined to the main body 52 to form housing 22
in various ways. In the depicted embodiment, the base is screwed to
the main body, and the base and main body include screw holes and
bosses for the screws. Main body 52 can also include sockets that
can be used to clamp or mount the saw to a cart, stand, or
benchtop, such as sockets 56 shown in FIG. 5.
[0088] Inserts used in table saws typically lock in place in the
blade opening so that the blade does not kick the insert back
toward the user if the blade contacts the insert. Locking the
insert into place also prevents the insert from popping up and
presenting an edge that might catch a workpiece as the workpiece
moves toward the blade. In saws with active injury mitigation
systems, particularly those in which the system monitors an
electrical signal for changes indicative of contact between a user
and the blade, the throat plate is typically made of, or coated
with, non-conductive material.
[0089] An insert fits into an opening in a table. The opening is
sometimes called a "throat" or "blade opening" and the insert is
sometimes called a "throat plate." The opening is typically large
enough for a user to perform some types of service or maintenance
to the saw through the opening, such as changing the blade. An
opening in the table around the blade, however, means the table
cannot support a workpiece next to the blade, so the insert is
placed in the opening around the blade to support a workpiece
adjacent the blade. As seen in FIG. 1, insert 16 fits in opening 14
in table 12. The insert includes a slot or channel 20 through which
the blade extends. The insert is removable so a user can access
internal components of the saw through the blade opening (for
example, a user can remove the insert to change the blade, to
access the mount for a riving knife or spreader, or to change out a
cartridge used in an active injury mitigation system). In the
depicted exemplary embodiment, insert 16 and corresponding opening
14 are generally rectangular in shape. This allows the throat plate
opening to extend closer to the edges of the table, thus increasing
the capacity of the hole and the accessibility of the internal
components of the saw.
[0090] Opening 14 has eight support tabs, or ledges, 28, which are
shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The support tabs 28 extend a short way into
opening 14 from the underside of the table, and support insert 16
when the insert is placed within the opening. The rear of the
insert can be held down and/or locked into place in many ways. In
the depicted embodiment, tabs 112 (labeled in FIG. 7) extend from
the rear of insert 16 and fit under a corresponding ledge on table
12. The front of insert 16 is held in place by a sliding lock
member actuated by a lever or tab.
[0091] FIGS. 7 through 10 show a mechanism to hold down the front
of an insert that is simple to operate and that does not require a
tool to install, lock, unlock, or remove. FIG. 7 shows the top of
insert 16 with the hold-down mechanism installed therein. The
insert includes an opening or indentation 110 sized to accommodate
both the hold-down mechanism and a user's finger. In the depicted
embodiment, a finger lever 114 is configured to be pulled toward
the front of the saw to release the insert from the blade opening
because pulling the lever in that direction is a convenient,
intuitive movement when a finger is inserted into indentation 110.
Finger lever 114 is shown actuated (angled up) in FIG. 7, and
un-actuated (generally horizontal) in FIGS. 8, 9, and 10. An
additional benefit of the configuration of finger lever 114 is
that, should a user forget to press the lever back down to lock the
insert in place, a piece of wood or other material to be cut would
pass across finger lever 114 and push it down into the un-actuated,
locked position.
[0092] FIGS. 8 and 9 show the hold-down mechanism isolated from
insert 16. Finger lever 114 bends down and becomes lock lever 116,
and a dowel portion 118 is interposed between lever portions 114
and 116. Lock lever 116 fits into a generally rectangular opening
122 in lock block 120. Lock block 120 is connected to the bottom of
insert 16 by a screw 128, which passes through a washer 130 and
into a portion of insert 16 which extends down into elongated
opening 124 in lock block 120, as shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 10. The
downward extension of insert 16 allows for translation of lock
block 120 in the forward and backward directions, but not sideways
or vertically.
[0093] Dowel portion 118 fits within two sets of projections 132
extending down from insert 16, which allow dowel portion 118 to
pivot, but not move forward, backward, or up. When finger lever 114
is pushed down into indentation 110, dowel portion 118 pivots
within projections 132. This causes lock lever 116 to push lock
block 120 towards the front of the saw until front edge 126 of said
lock block 120 overlaps with a corresponding ledge on table 12, as
shown in FIG. 10. This prevents the front of insert 16 from rising
up during use. In order to remove the insert, a user would place a
finger into indentation 110 and pull finger lever 114 up toward the
front of the saw. This would cause front edge 126 to retract and
cease to be in contact with table 12. The user could then lift the
front of insert 16 out of opening 14, slide tabs 112 out of contact
with the table and remove the insert from opening 14.
[0094] As shown in FIG. 7, insert 16 has a slot 20, shown in dashed
lines, that runs from a wider opening 134 at the rear of the insert
to near the front. The insert depicted in FIG. 7 is a
zero-clearance insert, so slot 20 is cut by the blade, as is known
in the art. Slot 20 connects with opening 134 at the rear of the
slot (the rear of the slot is the portion of the slot furthest away
from the front of the table saw when the insert is in the blade
opening). Opening 134 allows room for a riving knife 36 or splitter
to extend up through the insert, as shown in FIG. 1.
[0095] Inserts as described herein, when used in a saw having
active injury mitigation technology, can be made of phenolic or
wood. Both materials are non-conductive, which is preferable for
active injury mitigations systems, but are relatively expensive. In
the presently disclosed embodiment, insert 16 is made entirely from
plastic. Alternatively, the insert could be made out of metal
overmolded with plastic, but such an insert would involve extra
manufacturing steps.
[0096] In an alternate exemplary embodiment, insert 16 could
include screws or other features to level the insert in the blade
opening and to adjust the insert so that the top surface of the
insert is substantially coplanar with the top of table 12, as
described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015-0107430,
titled "Inserts for Table Saws," published Apr. 23, 2015 and
issuing as U.S. Pat. No. 9,919,369 on Mar. 20, 2018, which is
incorporated herein by reference.
[0097] A blade guard, spreader, and/or riving knife may be
positioned adjacent the rear edge of the blade to shield the blade
and/or to prevent a workpiece from catching the rear of the blade.
FIG. 1 shows a riving knife 36, which is supported by elevation
carriage 30. Riving knife 36 raises, lowers and tilts with
elevation carriage 30, and therefore, maintains a constant position
relative to the blade. Various mechanisms for mounting a blade
guard, spreader, and/or riving knife to an elevation carriage in a
table saw are described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No.
2015-0107427-A1, published Apr. 23, 2015, which is incorporated
herein by reference.
[0098] Often, a user of a table saw guides a workpiece past the
blade with a fence, such as fence 38 in FIG. 1, which is shown
isolated in FIG. 11. The fence mounts to the top of the table saw
and provides a fixed reference surface relative to the blade. The
user can slide the workpiece against and along the fence to make a
cut. The fence helps keep the workpiece moving in a straight path
without shifting or rotating, and therefore, helps produce a
straight cut. The fence can be secured at various positions
relative to the blade so that a workpiece can be cut to different
dimensions. The fence clamps to an integrally formed rail running
along the front edge of table 12, such as front rail 42 in FIG. 1,
shown with fence 38 in FIG. 12, and the fence can be locked or
clamped anywhere along the rail. The fence may also rest on or
clamp to an integrally formed rail running along the rear of the
table, such as rear rail 44 in FIG. 1, shown with fence 38 in FIG.
13. In an alternate exemplary embodiment the front and rear rails
42 and 44 could be removable components, not integrally formed as
part of the table. Various fences are described in U.S. Patent
Application Publication No. 2015-0107428-A1, titled "Fences for
Table Saws," published Apr. 23, 2015 and issuing as U.S. Pat. No.
9,757,871 on Sep. 12, 2017, which is incorporated herein by
reference.
[0099] The length of the rail portion of the table along the front
of the saw determines how far the fence can be positioned from the
blade, and therefore, the largest dimension that can be cut on the
saw using the fence. This may be called the cutting capacity or rip
capacity of the saw. Some table saws include rails sufficiently
long to provide 36 inches of cutting capacity--in other words, the
face of the fence nearest the blade is 36 inches away from the
blade so a workpiece can be cut to 36 inches wide. Other table saws
include rails with 52 inches of cutting capacity. Saws with these
cutting capacities are typically stationary saws called cabinet
saws or contractor saws. Smaller, portable saws, such as jobsite or
benchtop saws, typically provide anywhere from 12 inches to about
30 inches of cutting capacity. These smaller, portable saws have
shorter rails in order to minimize the size and weight of the saw.
In an alternate exemplary embodiment, the rails may move or
telescope out to provide increased cutting capacity.
[0100] Examples of front and rear rail portions 42 and 44 are shown
with fence 38 in FIGS. 12 and 13 respectively. The front rail
portion is elongate with a channel 60 extending along the front
face of the rail. The channel helps guide the fence when a user
slides the fence along the rail. The channel also includes a ruler
62 that can be read by the user to facilitate positioning of the
fence at a desired distance from the blade without having to use a
separate tape measure. It can be seen in FIGS. 11 and 13 that fence
38 has an extension 40 which extends down from the back of the
fence and then bends at a 90 degree angle towards the front of the
saw to hook under the rear rail portion. When the handle portion of
fence 38 is generally parallel with the main body of the fence,
extension 40 is pushed away from the main body of the fence. In
this configuration, the fence is free to slide to the left or right
along rails 42 and 44. When the user has moved fence 38 to the
desired position, the user would push the handle portion down to
the position shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, which would clamp the fence
to the front rail and position the angled portion of extension 40
underneath rear rail 44. The handle portion of fence 38 also has an
extension that fits under rail 42 to further hold the fence in
place during use.
[0101] Table saw 10 also includes on-board storage for a pushstick
70, an arbor nut wrench 72, and an arbor flange wrench 74, as shown
in FIG. 14. The right side of housing 22 has a portion which
extends out to form a ledge 76 with two sets of upwardly extending,
U-shaped flanges, 78 and 80, which form a mounting system or
structure to hold the pushstick 70. The inside edge of the outer
portion of each flange has a tab that fits over a beveled portion
of the pushstick to hold the pushstick in place. In an alternate
exemplary embodiment, housing 22 could also be formed with two or
more generally T-shaped extensions around which a power cord could
be wound. Saw housing 22 has a generally vertical, slightly
recessed area 82 under the ledge 76, configured to provide
clearance for wrenches 72 and 74 within the footprint of housing
22. A carriage bolt 84 passes through the recessed area to form a
projection extending in a direction normal to saw housing 22, as
shown in FIG. 15. A washer 86 and extension component 88 are
tightly threaded onto the screw such that washer 86 abuts housing
22 and firmly secures bolt 84, as is shown in FIG. 15. FIGS. 16 and
17 show arbor wrenches 72 and 74, respectively. Arbor nut wrench 72
includes a socket 90 at one end configured to fit around an arbor
nut, and a hole 92 sized to fit over extension 88 and the shaft of
bolt 84. Arbor nut wrench 72 also includes a tapered end 94 which
can be used to help remove brake cartridges used in table saws with
active injury mitigation systems. Said brake cartridges stop and/or
retract the blade in the event of an accident and they must be
removed after use. Occasionally, the act of stopping and/or
retracting the blade causes the brake cartridge to press tightly
against its mount, and in that situation, arbor nut wrench 72 can
be used as a lever to pry the brake cartridge off its mount. Arbor
flange wrench 74 includes a generally U shaped opening 96
configured to fit around an arbor shaft, and a hole 98 sized to fit
over extension 88 and the shaft of bolt 84. To store the wrenches
on the side of the saw, a user would place the blade wrenches onto
the shaft of bolt 84 and slide them over extension 88. The user
would then place wing-nut shaped locking knob 100 on the shaft of
bolt 84 and turn said knob to secure the wrenches so they could not
slide off the extension and bolt. To remove the arbor wrenches, a
user would simply rotate the locking knob in the opposite direction
until it could be removed from the shaft of bolt 84, and then the
user could slide one or both wrenches off of extension 88 and bolt
84.
[0102] Table saws are typically started and stopped by a user
flipping or triggering some type of switch on the saw. Such
switches should be designed and positioned so they are easy and
intuitive to use, but also so they are protected and so they can be
repaired or replaced easily, if necessary. A switchbox having these
characteristics is disclosed in US Patent Application Publication
No. 2016-0243632, published Aug. 25, 2016, titled "Table Saws,"
which is herein incorporated by reference. FIG. 18 shows the
position of switchbox 1000 in saw housing 22.
[0103] Switchbox 1000 switches power to a motor 200 shown in FIGS.
2, 49, and 50. (FIG. 2 shows a left-side view of the internal
mechanism of saw 10.) In the depicted embodiment, motor 200 is a
direct drive universal motor. A gearbox 202 is attached to the
motor and said gearbox is attached to elevation carriage 30.
Elevation carriage 30 is a bent sheet metal part, shown isolated in
FIGS. 38-39. In the depicted embodiment, an arbor block assembly is
attached to elevation carriage 30 by bolts threading into sockets
720, 722 and 726 in the arbor block, as shown in FIGS. 49 and 50.
The elevation carriage, in turn, is supported by a trunnion, such
as trunnion 32 shown in FIG. 2, in such a way that the elevation
carriage can raise and lower relative to the trunnion. The trunnion
is supported by table 12 in such a manner that the trunnion can
tilt relative to the table. In the depicted embodiment the trunnion
tilts to the right when facing the front of the saw, but could be
designed to tilt to the left.
[0104] In many saws, the trunnion is a die cast aluminum part, but
in the depicted embodiment, trunnion 32, shown isolated in FIG. 19,
is a torsion transfer member formed from a unitary piece of hollow
steel tubing bent into a something similar to a U shape. This
design is advantageous because it reduces the cost and complexity
of manufacturing.
[0105] Trunnion 32 is comprised of two generally parallel,
generally vertical sections 302 and 304, connected to a bottom
section 306, by corners 308 and 310. Trunnion 32 has holes 312,
314, 316, 318, 320, 322, 324, 326, 328, 330, 332, 334, 336, and
338, the uses of which will be discussed later. While only one side
of each hole is labeled in FIG. 19, each of the holes has an
accompanying hole on the opposite side of the hollow trunnion tube.
Rear section 304 extends slightly further down relative to front
section 302, as seen in FIG. 2, so corner 310 has a slightly
narrower angle than corner 308 since the bottom section 306 slopes
or is angled such that the back end is lower than the front end,
relative to table 12. The rear end of bottom section 306 is lower
to provide clearance for bevel gears 350 and 352 as well as to
allow elevation carriage 30 to be tall enough to provide stability
in both the vertical and horizontal directions. This trunnion
design has several advantages, including low cost, simplicity, and
ease of manufacturing.
[0106] The trunnion 32 mounts to the table 12 via front and rear
mounting plates 354 and 358, which are pivotally connected to
respective front and rear trunnion brackets 356 and 360. The
trunnion, mounting plates, and brackets are shown in FIG. 20, with
some other structures of the saw removed for clarity. The front
connection between the trunnion and table is shown in FIGS. 21 and
22, the front trunnion mounting plate is shown isolated in FIGS. 23
and 24, and the front trunnion bracket is shown isolated in FIGS.
25 and 26. The rear trunnion bracket is shown isolated in FIGS. 27
and 28, the rear connection between the trunnion and table is shown
in FIGS. 29 and 30, and the rear trunnion mounting plate is shown
isolated in FIGS. 31 and 32.
[0107] Front trunnion mounting plate 354 is made from a unitary
piece of bent sheet metal. FIG. 23 shows an isometric view of the
back side of the mounting plate, relative to the front of the saw,
and FIG. 24 shows the front side of the mounting plate. As shown in
FIGS. 21 and 22, front trunnion mounting plate 354 mounts to
trunnion 32 via three screws. Two parallel screws 380 pass through
holes 372 and 374 in front trunnion mounting plate 354 and then
through holes 338 and 334 respectively in trunnion 32. It can be
seen in FIG. 22 that the parallel screws 380 are flush with the
front edge of front trunnion mounting plate 354. This is because
holes 372 and 374 are countersunk on the front side of the plate,
as shown in FIG. 24, and the angled surfaces provide space for the
heads of the screws. Each of the three screws used to attach front
trunnion mounting plate 354 to trunnion 32 is held in place by a
washer and hex nut, although it will be appreciated that other
methods of attaching components to the trunnion could be used. The
third screw, 382, passes through hole 378 in front trunnion
mounting plate 354, through hole 336 in trunnion 32, and then
through hole 376 in front trunnion mounting plate 354. Holes 376
and 378 are located on portions of front trunnion mounting plate
354 which are bent such that they are perpendicular to the main
section. Front trunnion mounting plate 354 attaches to front
trunnion bracket 356 via two screws 390, which pass through holes
364 and 366 in front trunnion mounting plate 354. Front trunnion
bracket 356 has an elongate, generally horizontally oriented,
arcuate opening 400, through which screws 390 pass, as shown in
FIGS. 25 and 26. Between screws 390, there is an arcuate sliding
piece 408, shaped to fit within, and slide along, arcuate opening
400, with holes for screws 390 and depressions 414 and 416, which
are designed to receive cylindrical projections 368 and 370 on
front trunnion mounting plate 354.
[0108] Front trunnion bracket 356 is shown with screws 390, washers
392, and sliding piece 408 in FIGS. 25 and 26. Sliding piece 408
can move within arcuate opening 400 in order to allow the trunnion
32 and accompanying blade, arbor, and motor, to tilt up to 45
degrees in order to allow a user to make angled cuts. Front
trunnion bracket 356 is made from a unitary piece of sheet metal
bent horizontally at an angle of about 90 degrees about a third of
the way up the piece. The horizontal third of the bracket has three
holes 402, 404, and 406. Two screws 394 pass through washers 396
and holes 402 and 406 in front trunnion bracket 356 and attach to
table 12, as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22. Eccentric roller 398 passes
through hole 404 in front trunnion bracket 356 and inserts into a
projection in table 12. It can be seen in FIG. 25 that holes 402
and 406 are oblong, with the long sides parallel with the bend in
the front trunnion bracket 356. Hole 404 is also oblong, but is
wider than holes 402 and 406, and its long sides are perpendicular
to the bend in the front trunnion bracket 356. A user could rotate
the eccentric roller 398 in hole 404 in order to provide fine
lateral adjustment for the trunnion and therefore the blade and
motor assembly relative to the table. The front trunnion bracket is
allowed to have slight lateral movement with the rotation of
eccentric roller 398 because holes 402 and 406 can move relative to
screws 394.
[0109] Rear trunnion bracket 360 is shown with screws 390, washers
392, and sliding piece 408 in FIGS. 27 and 28. Both front trunnion
bracket 356 and rear trunnion bracket 360 have identical arcuate
openings 400, screws 390, washers 392, and sliding pieces 408. Rear
trunnion bracket 360 is made from a unitary piece of sheet metal
bent horizontally at an angle of about 90 degrees about a third of
the way up the piece. Two screws 426 pass through washers 428 and
holes 430 and 432 in the horizontal part of rear trunnion bracket
360 and attach to table 12, as shown in FIGS. 29 and 30. Holes 430
and 432 in rear trunnion bracket 360 are, like holes 402 and 406 in
front trunnion bracket 356, oblong to provide lateral clearance for
movement relative to screws 426 to allow for lateral adjustment of
the trunnion.
[0110] Rear trunnion bracket 360 attaches to rear trunnion mounting
plate 358 in the same manner in which front trunnion bracket 356
attaches to front trunnion mounting plate 354. Screws 390 pass
through sliding piece 408 and holes 446 and 452 in rear trunnion
mounting plate 358 to secure rear trunnion mounting plate 358 to
rear trunnion bracket 360. Cylindrical projections 448 and 450 on
rear trunnion mounting plate 358 are shaped to fit into
corresponding cylindrical depressions 414, 416 in sliding piece 408
to provide additional stabilization between the rear trunnion
mounting plate 358 and rear trunnion bracket 360. This connection,
as well as the connection between the rear bracket and the table is
shown in FIGS. 29 and 30.
[0111] Both front and rear trunnion brackets are installed in table
saw 10 such that the horizontal sections used to attach the
trunnion brackets to the bottom of table 12 both extend towards the
front of the saw.
[0112] Rear trunnion mounting plate 358 is shown isolated in FIGS.
31 and 32. It is made from a unitary piece of sheet metal bent to
fit around the back and over the top of the rear vertical component
304 of trunnion 32, as shown in FIGS. 29 and 30. Two parallel
screws 458 pass through holes 438 and 440 in rear trunnion mounting
plate 358 and then through holes 312 and 316 in trunnion 32. A
third screw 460, which is perpendicular to the two screws 458,
passes through hole 442 in rear trunnion mounting plate 358 and
hole 314 in trunnion 32. As with the front trunnion mounting plate,
the three screws 458 and 460 are secured by washers and hex
nuts.
[0113] It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art
that folded portions of sheet metal parts, such as the trunnion
mounting plates, could be welded to another portion of the part in
order to strengthen the overall part. Examples of such welds are
shown in FIG. 31 at 441, and in FIG. 32 at 443.
[0114] FIG. 33 shows a bevel gear bracket 470 attached to sections
304 and 306 of trunnion 32 via two screws 486 and 488, which pass
through holes 482 and 484 in sections 472 and 478 of the bracket
respectively, and holes 318 and 320 in trunnion 32, respectively.
Bevel gear bracket 470, shown isolated in FIG. 34, is generally
shaped like a W with generally right angles and is made from a
single piece of bent sheet metal with sections 472, 474, 476, 478,
and 494. The two wing sections 494 extend towards each other from
generally vertical section 476 and generally horizontal section 474
on one side of the bevel gear bracket. The wing sections provide
stability and rigidity to the bracket. It is advantageous to only
provide them on one side of the bevel gear bracket in order to
allow for easy access to the bevel gears from the other side of the
bracket.
[0115] Hand wheel 34 connects to an elevation control shaft 510,
which passes through an arcuate opening 26 in saw housing 22, an
elevation shaft bracket 512, hole 324 in trunnion 32, through hole
492 in bevel gear bracket 470, and terminates in a bevel gear 350,
as shown FIGS. 2, 33 and 37. FIGS. 35 and 36 show elevation shaft
bracket 512 isolated from other structures. Elevation shaft bracket
512 is formed from a generally rectangular piece of sheet metal
bent to fit around the front and sides of front vertical section
302 of trunnion 32. It is attached to trunnion 32 via two bolts
530, which pass through holes 516, 518, 520, and 522 in elevation
shaft bracket 512 and holes 326 and 328 in trunnion 32, as shown in
FIG. 37. When elevation shaft bracket 512 is viewed from the front
of saw 10, the front third is generally rectangular, with an
upside-down U shape 528 pressed into it at an angle, such that the
curved part of the U is pressed further in to the metal. There is a
hole 526 in the curved part of the U shape 528, through which
elevation control shaft 510 passes, and the U shaped indentation
528 allows the hole 526 and elevation control shaft 510 to meet at
a perpendicular angle. At the top of the front portion is an
extension with a generally square hole 514 at the top through which
a carriage bolt for a tilt lock lever passes, as will be discussed
later in more detail. The left third of the bracket has two holes,
516 and 518, and the bottom corner is cut away at an angle of about
45 degrees, as shown in FIG. 36. The right third of the bracket has
a horizontal cut approximately two thirds of the way down, with the
top piece bent backwards parallel to the left third, and having two
holes 520 and 522, which correspond with holes 516 and 518 in the
left third. The bottom portion of the right third of the elevation
shaft bracket is parallel with the front third, and it has a hole
524 through which a screw passes to mount a bevel gauge 540, as
shown in FIG. 18. The front face of the bottom portion of the right
third is recessed slightly, so that the left edge of the bevel
gauge 540 meets the step between the face of the middle third and
the bottom portion of the right third, which keeps the bevel gauge
from rotating around the screw in hole 524.
[0116] The bevel gear 350 at the end of elevation control shaft 510
opposite hand wheel 34 is in operative contact with a bevel gear
352 at the base of a threaded elevation shaft 300. This is shown in
FIGS. 2, 20, 33, and 37. Elevation shaft 300 is threaded at a
shallow angle, and this design is advantageous because it forms a
sort of anti-backdrive mechanism, since friction and the slope of
the threads on shaft 300 keeps elevation carriage 30 and its
accompanying components from slipping or drifting down
unexpectedly. The bottom of the threaded elevation shaft passes
through a hole 490 in the bevel gear bracket 470 and the top
terminates in a hole 444 in rear trunnion mounting plate 358
(labeled in FIG. 31). The top and bottom ends of the elevation
shaft are not threaded.
[0117] Elevation carriage 30, shown isolated in FIGS. 38 and 39, is
a piece of sheet metal bent to fit around threaded elevation shaft
300. Two threaded bushings 546 are non-rotatably mounted to the top
and bottom of the elevation carriage 30, as shown in FIG. 48. As
hand wheel 34 is rotated, it causes elevation control shaft 510 and
bevel gear 350 to rotate, and bevel gear 350 meshes with bevel gear
352 on threaded elevation shaft 300 and causes the elevation shaft
to rotate, thus causing the threaded bushings 546 and therefore
elevation carriage 30 to move up or down along the shaft. It is
advantageous that the threaded bushings be spaced as far apart as
possible vertically in order to provide additional stability to
prevent rotation of the motor and blade out of plane with the
elevation carriage 30 and threaded elevation shaft 300.
[0118] Elevation carriage 30 is a single sheet metal piece, with a
generally rectangular rear section 554, and four sections 548, 550,
552, and 556 extending in the same direction away from rear section
554 at an angle of about 90 degrees. Viewed from the front of the
saw, rear section 554 has two corners cut into its right side,
relative to the front of the saw. The part of rear section 554 left
between the corners is bent at 90 degrees and becomes section 556,
to which the riving knife mount is attached via holes 576, 578,
580, 582, 584, 586, and 588, and a cartridge bracket 600 is
attached through hole 574, as will be discussed later. On the
opposite side, rear section 554 is folded at about 90 degrees to
become section 552, which is parallel to section 556. Hole 574 in
section 556 lines up with hole 570 in the opposite section 552. A
pivot shaft 624 passes through holes 570 and 574, as shown in FIG.
48, and its purpose will be discussed later. The top of section 552
extends away from rear section 554 about half the distance of
opposite section 556, and then extends at a slight downward angle
further away from rear section 554 until it is longer than opposite
section 556, before terminating in a nearly vertical surface and
angling back towards rear section 554. At the front end of section
552, relative to the front of the saw, is a metal detent projection
or pin 592 and its role in the retraction of the motor and blade as
part of the active injury mitigation system will be discussed
later. A feature of the depicted embodiment is that metal detent
pin 592 is formed by stamping elevation carriage 30. In other
words, in the depicted embodiment metal detent pin 592 is a stamped
projection. This decreases the manufacturing cost of the saw, since
fewer parts are needed, and stamping sheet metal parts is a
relatively simple process.
[0119] Above the metal detent pin 592 there is a threaded socket
572, the purpose of which will also be discussed later. At the top
and bottom of section 554 are two small tabs, 590, which fold over
matching sections 548 and 550. Tabs 590 serve to limit the vertical
movement of elevation carriage 30 and, therefore, prevent blade 18
from moving too far up or down. The upper elevation limit is
defined by rear trunnion mounting plate 358, and the lower
elevation limit is defined by bevel gear bracket 470. In an
alternate exemplary embodiment, tabs 590 could include screws or
other adjustment mechanisms to allow fine adjustment of the
vertical range of movement for elevation carriage 30. The matching
sections 548 and 550 are folded away from rear section 554 at about
90 degrees, and are generally perpendicular to sections 552 and
556, as shown in FIGS. 38 and 39. They have matching holes 558 and
564, respectively, through which threaded elevation shaft 300
passes. Holes 560 and 562 in section 548 line up with holes 568 and
556, respectively, in section 550, and the threaded bushings 546
are attached to elevation carriage 30 via screws passing through
said holes.
[0120] Brake cartridge bracket 600, shown isolated in FIG. 40, is
used to support a brake cartridge when table saw 10 includes an
active injury mitigation system with a brake cartridge. It is
pivotally attached to section 556 of elevation carriage 30 via
pivot shaft 624, which passes through hole 616 in brake cartridge
bracket 600 and holes 570 and 574 in elevation carriage 30, as
shown in FIGS. 41, 44 and 48. Brake cartridge bracket 600 is formed
from a single piece of sheet metal with holes 602, 604, 606, 608,
610, and 616. Hole 610 is shaped to allow a protrusion of a plug or
socket, such as that on brake cable board housing 634, to pass
through it, and it is shaped generally like a rectangle with the
corners removed and it has a notch in the rear end (relative to the
front of the saw), through which a screw passes in order support a
plug or socket that connects to switchbox 1000. Additional support
for brake cable board housing 634 is provided by a second screw
which passes through hole 608 in brake cartridge bracket 600. A
plastic positioning pin 632 is attached to the brake cartridge
bracket through hole 606, as shown in FIG. 41. The brake cartridge
bracket and plug are positioned so that brake cartridge 630
automatically engages the plug when the brake cartridge is seated
on shaft 624 and plastic positioning pin 632. Hole 610 is slightly
oversized to allow some play for brake cable board housing 634 to
allow its D-Sub connector to contact the accompanying D-Sub
connector in brake cartridge 630.
[0121] In the depicted embodiment, pivot shaft 624, positioning pin
632, and brake cartridge bracket 600 provide a single, fixed
position for brake cartridge 630, as shown in at least FIG. 44. In
some table saws, the system to mount a brake cartridge in the saw
allows for the position of the brake to be adjusted so that the
brake can be moved closer to or further from the edge of the blade.
The depicted embodiment, in contrast, provides a stationary or
fixed mount and the position of the brake cannot be adjusted. This
simplifies the design and reduces the manufacturing cost of the
saw. This also simplifies the operation of the saw because a user
does not need to adjust the position of the brake cartridge
relative to the blade. This also prevents a user from positioning
the brake cartridge further from the blade than it should be, which
might happen by mistake or inadvertence in a system where the
position of the brake cartridge was adjustable. The design and
function of brake cartridge 630 are described in detail in U.S.
Pat. No. 8,459,157, issued Jun. 11, 2013, which is herein
incorporated by reference.
[0122] FIG. 42 shows a brake cable board housing 634 attached to
the side of brake cartridge bracket 600 on the side opposite where
brake cartridge 630 attaches. Brake cable board housing 634 has a
D-sub connector which connects with brake cartridge 630, and two
cables 636 and 638. Cable 636 contains wires relating to a Hall
Effect sensor to monitor blade rotation, detection signal
monitoring, and grounding. Cable 636 may also connect to a
conductive coupling used in some implementations of active injury
mitigation technology. Conductive couplings for power tools with
active injury mitigation technology are described in PCT Patent
Application No. PCT/US17/34566, titled "Detection Systems for Power
Tools with Active Injury Mitigation Technology," filed on May 25,
2017, and naming Stephen F. Gass, John P. Nenadic and Louis R.
Slamka as inventors, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated
by reference. Cable 636 described above may correspond to cable or
wire 274 in the PCT patent application, and the discussion
concerning cable or wire 274 in the PCT application applies to
cable 636 herein. Cable 638 connects to the switchbox. Internal
circuitry and/or programming related to active injury mitigation
technology may be housed in the brake cartridge, and/or in brake
cable board housing 634. In the depicted embodiment, it can be
advantageous to form the cable board housing from two parts that
mate with something like a tongue and groove connection in order to
minimize dust permeability.
[0123] Retraction bracket 660, shown isolated in FIG. 45, is
pivotally attached to elevation carriage 30 via a bolt 676 which
passes through pivot shaft 624 and hole 666 in the retraction
bracket, as shown in FIG. 47. The retraction bracket can be thought
of as shaped generally like a square, with a small ledge formed by
bending the bottom edge out at an angle of about 90 degrees. The
rear corner, relative to the front of the saw, is removed, leaving
a horizontal edge and a vertical edge connected by a third edge,
which is angled at about 45 degrees, as seen in FIGS. 45 and 47.
The retraction bracket 660 also has a generally horizontally
oriented rectangular slot 668 into which metal detent pin 592 on
section 552 of elevation carriage 30 passes. It also has an
elongate, arcuate opening 670, through which a bolt 680 passes. The
bolt 680 is threaded into a socket 572 on the elevation carriage,
and a spring 682 is interposed between the head of bolt 680 and
retraction bracket 660, as shown in FIGS. 47 and 48. Spring 682 can
be selected to provide any chosen amount of force, and tightening
or loosening the bolt adjusts the amount of force the spring
applies. Accordingly, the force between retraction bracket 660 and
metal detent pin 592 can be adjusted by tightening or loosening
bolt 680. In the depicted embodiment, spring 682 has a spring force
on the order of 70 to 80 pounds, although other springs could be
used. This serves to bias section 552 of elevation carriage 30
towards retraction bracket 660, which holds metal detent pin 592 in
slot 668 until the active injury mitigation system is activated and
the motor and blade are retracted under the table, as will be
discussed later.
[0124] Alignment bracket 690, shown in FIGS. 2 and 37 and shown
isolated in FIG. 46, is attached to the back of vertical section
302 of trunnion 32 via two screws, which pass through holes 692 and
694 in alignment bracket 690 and holes 332 and 330, respectively,
in trunnion 32. The alignment bracket provides stability and
alignment. It helps to keep the motor, arbor, and blade from
tilting out of alignment with the trunnion, especially when the
blade is tilted for angled cuts and during retraction of the motor,
arbor, and blade. Alignment bracket 690 is formed from a single
piece of bent sheet metal, with the top edge 696 folded over 90
degrees to one side, and with side edge 698 folded over 90 degrees
in the same direction to add rigidity. The bottom of alignment
bracket 690 is divided in two unequal portions, and the portion
700, which is closer to the front of the saw, is bent at 90 degrees
toward the side such that it is parallel with top edge 696 and
perpendicular to the main section of the bracket and the side edge
698. The rear portion 702 of the bottom of alignment bracket 690
extends down until it is roughly parallel with the top of the hand
wheel 34. Folded sections 696, 698, and 700 add stability to
alignment bracket 690, and section 702 allows elevation carriage 30
to have an increased vertical range.
[0125] In many table saws, the elevation carriage and arbor block
are both made from die cast aluminum. It can be advantageous to
simplify the design and manufacture of a saw by using sheet metal
components where possible, which add strength and decrease
cost.
[0126] In the depicted embodiment, an arbor block assembly
comprised of gearbox 202, brake cartridge bracket 600, and
retraction bracket 660, is designed to pivot down to retract the
blade and thereby help mitigate injury in the event a user
accidentally contacts the spinning blade. It is a feature of the
depicted embodiment that the arbor block assembly is composed of
several components. Gearbox 202, which can also be referred to as
an arbor block, is made from die cast aluminum, and the brake
cartridge and retraction brackets are both made from sheet metal,
such as 2-3 mm thick steel. This decreases the manufacturing cost
of the saw, and it increases the strength of arbor block assembly
in the areas where it might deform due to the forces involved in
retraction. Motor 200 and gearbox 202 are shown in FIGS. 49 and
50.
[0127] A feature of the depicted embodiment is the method by which
the motor and gearbox are formed, attached, and suspended in the
saw so they tilt and retract with the blade. In the depicted
embodiment, the motor and arbor comprise a direct drive system
where the motor drives the arbor directly through gears rather than
through a belt. In the depicted embodiment, the arbor and motor are
designed to pivot down to retract the blade and thereby help
mitigate injury in the event a user accidentally contacts the
spinning blade. More specifically, table saw 10 includes an active
injury mitigation system designed to stop and retract the blade in
the event of an accident where a person contacts the spinning
blade. The system includes a brake cartridge 630 positioned
adjacent the blade, as shown in FIG. 37. Upon detection of contact,
brake cartridge 630 will engage and stop the blade to minimize any
injury, and in doing so, cause the blade to drop or retract until
the gearbox contacts a rubber bumper or stop 710 mounted on the
trunnion, shown in FIG. 37. The rubber bumper 710 is attached to a
metal bumper mount 712, which is in turn attached to sloped bottom
section 306 of trunnion 32 by screws passing through holes in metal
bumper mount 712 and holes 322 in the trunnion.
[0128] In order to simplify the following discussion, arbor
block/gearbox 202, with brake cartridge bracket 600 and retraction
bracket 660, is referred to collectively as arbor block assembly
2000. In normal use, blade 18, motor 200, and arbor block assembly
2000 are prevented from pivoting down, or retracting, by the
interaction between metal detent pin 592 on elevation carriage 30
and opening 668 in retraction bracket 660. Retraction bracket 660
is attached to elevation carriage 30, and retraction bracket 660
extends partway along the side of arbor block 202. Retraction
bracket 660 is attached to the arbor block by four screws which
pass through holes 664 in retraction bracket 660 to three holes 720
and one hole 722 in arbor block 202 (shown in FIG. 49). In the
depicted embodiment, holes 720 pass all the way through the
gearbox, while hole 722 only extends partway through. It will be
appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the location
and number of screws could be varied, or other methods of
attachment could be used to connect the retraction bracket to the
arbor block.
[0129] Metal detent pin 592 on elevation carriage 30 fits into the
rectangular slot 668 on the retraction bracket 660, which is in
turn bolted to gearbox 202. The retraction bracket is a steel
plate, approximately 2 to 3 mm thick, and is therefore relatively
rigid. In normal use, the engagement between retraction bracket 660
and the metal detent pin 592 on elevation carriage 30 holds the
arbor block assembly and motor in position and, therefore, holds
the blade in position. However, when brake cartridge 630 engages
and stops the blade, the angular momentum of the blade creates a
downward force which typically is sufficient to push metal detent
pin 592 out of rectangular slot 668 by flexing section 552 of
elevation carriage 30. Arbor block assembly 2000 then pivots down
around an axis defined by shaft 624, which causes the blade to
retract below the table. In this system, the section 552 of
elevation carriage 30 acts like a spring and flexes away from the
retraction bracket when metal detent pin 592 is forced out of
rectangular slot 668. The retraction bracket 660 presses against,
and drags across, metal detent pin 592 as the motor, blade, and
arbor block assembly pivot down, thereby absorbing some of the
energy of the system. As discussed above, section 552 of elevation
carriage 30 is additionally biased towards the retraction bracket
by spring 682 on bolt 680. When the retraction bracket pivots with
the motor assembly and blade, bolt 680 remains stationary since it
is attached to elevation carriage 30, but the arcuate opening 670
on the retraction bracket moves relative to the spring and bolt.
Bolt 680 can be adjusted to vary the amount of force required to
push metal detent pin 592 out of rectangular slot 668, and to vary
the amount of pressure the retraction bracket applies against metal
detent pin 592 as the arbor block assembly, blade, and motor pivot
down.
[0130] After retracting, arbor block assembly 2000 can be reset to
its normal, operational position by simply moving the assembly up,
either by hand or by the elevation control on the saw, until metal
detent pin 592 snaps back into rectangular slot 668.
[0131] Brake cartridge bracket 600 is attached to the side of
gearbox 202 opposite retraction bracket 660 via three screws which
thread into the opposite sides of holes 720 and one screw which
threads into hole 724. Two oversized pins are pressed into holes
604 in brake cartridge bracket 600 and into holes 726 in gearbox
202 to form an interference fit. Holes 602 in cartridge mounting
bracket 600 require a small amount of clearance in order for the
insertion of the screws into holes 720 and 722 in the gearbox 202,
since the holes in the cartridge bracket are not threaded. This
could allow cartridge bracket 600 and, therefore, cartridge 630 to
move slightly, which is problematic because the spacing between the
cartridge 630 and the blade 18 is important. The interference fit
with the pins in holes 604 and 726 serves to minimize or eliminate
motion of cartridge bracket 600 and cartridge 630 relative to blade
18.
[0132] In the depicted embodiment, the end of gearbox 202 near
alignment bracket 690 is supported by an alignment block 714, which
is labeled in FIGS. 49, 50, and 55 and is shown isolated in FIGS.
51-53. A threaded hole 730 passes through the alignment block near
its rear and is used to attach the alignment block to the gearbox.
The rear of the block has a generally horizontal channel 732
defined by three top projections 736 and two bottom projections 738
on the rear of alignment block 714, configured to fit over a
corresponding edge 734 on gearbox 202, as shown in FIGS. 54 and 55.
The end of gearbox 202 adjacent alignment bracket 690 includes two
mounting arms 740, each with a through hole, and the base of the
alignment block fits on ledge 734 between mounting arms 740 so that
the holes in the arms align with the hole 730 near the base of the
alignment block. A bolt 744 passes through a hole in one of the two
arms 740 on the gearbox, as shown in FIG. 55, and then goes through
hole 730 in the alignment block and extends through the hole in the
other arm on the gearbox. A self-locking nut 746, such as a nylon
insert lock nut, is then threaded onto the bolt to hold the bolt
still. With this configuration, turning bolt 744 causes alignment
block 714 to move along the bolt, and thereby adjusts the lateral
position of the arbor block and blade relative to the alignment
block.
[0133] Alignment block 714 includes a vertical notch 750, which is
perpendicular to horizontal channel 732 and is configured to fit
over the rear edge of alignment bracket 690. Two arms or
projections 722 form notch 750, and those projections extend over
the rear edge of alignment bracket 690 to prevent the alignment
block, arbor block assembly 2000, and motor from moving laterally,
and to guide the alignment block as it moves up and down along the
rear edge of alignment bracket 690 when elevation carriage 30 moves
up and down and when the motor, arbor block assembly 2000, and
blade retract.
[0134] The clearance between the two projections 722 and alignment
bracket 690 is chosen to provide enough space so that the alignment
block is held against most lateral movement, but not so much that
it locks against the rear edge of alignment bracket 690 and
prevents the motor, arbor block assembly, and blade from moving up
and down. In the depicted embodiment, arbor block assembly 2000
retracts in an arc and, therefore, will move toward and away from
the rear edge of alignment bracket 690 when it retracts and is
reset. Retraction of the motor and arbor block assembly can involve
significant forces, so alignment block 714 is made from 30 percent
glass filled nylon in order to be strong enough to accommodate the
forces involved in retraction.
[0135] Power saws such as the lightweight table saw shown at 10 in
FIG. 1, hand-held circular saws, track saws, and miter saws
typically include a motor that is directly coupled to the blade to
drive the blade. Such a motor may be mounted on a moveable arm
supported by a base as in the case of a miter saw, it may include a
handle as in the case of a hand-held circular saw or a track saw,
or it may be in a cabinet or housing as in the case of table saw 10
depicted in FIG. 1. FIGS. 49 and 50 show a motor 200 with a housing
2004, and FIG. 56 shows some of the components of motor 200. The
motor includes a motor armature, as is known, and the motor
armature includes a shaft, such as motor shaft or drive shaft 2008
shown in FIG. 56. The drive shaft is supported by bearings 2010 and
2012, which in turn are supported by motor housing 2004. A fan 2014
is mounted on shaft 2008 to cool the motor. The motor operates as
is known in the art. FIG. 56 shows only selected portions of motor
200 for simplicity. For example, the windings that carry electric
current to create the force to spin drive shaft 2008 are not shown,
and the stator is not shown. The windings on the motor armature are
insulated from drive shaft 2008, as is known in the art.
[0136] Drive shaft 2008 includes a pinion gear 2016 at one end.
Pinion gear 2016 meshes with a gear 2018, so that when drive shaft
2008 spins pinion gear 2016, pinion gear 2016, in turn, drives gear
2018. Gear 2018 is mounted on an arbor shaft 2020 which is
supported by bearings 2022 and 2023, which, in turn, are supported
in gearbox 202. Bearings 2022 and 2023 are labeled in FIG. 56, and
bearing 2023 is labeled in FIG. 57. Bearing 2023 is supported in a
carrier or case 2024, as shown in FIG. 61, and case 2024 is then
attached to gearbox 202. Bearing 2022 is press fit into a bearing
seat formed in gearbox 202. Blade 18 is held on arbor 2020 by
collars 2032 and 2034, and by a nut 2036 which threads onto arbor
2020. Saw 10 is configured so that when drive shaft 2008 and pinion
gear 2016 spin, gear 2018 also spins, causing arbor 2020 to spin
and drive the blade. Gears 2016 and 2018 can be sized to cause the
blade to spin at a desired speed. In a power saw as described
herein, it would be common for an arbor and blade to spin at around
4,000 revolutions per minute. Saws with motors configured as shown
in FIG. 56 are often referred to as direct drive saws.
[0137] In a direct drive saw equipped with an active injury
mitigation system that imparts an electrical signal to the blade to
detect accidental contact with a person, such as table saw 10, the
blade must be isolated from electrical ground to maintain the
signal on the blade. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 56,
electrical isolation of the blade is accomplished through gear
2018. In the depicted embodiment, gear 2018 is supported by arbor
2020 and is driven by pinion 2016. The reverse is also possible;
gear 2018 could be on motor shaft 2008, and gear 2018 could drive
another gear or pinion on arbor 2020.
[0138] FIGS. 58, 59, 60 and 61 show arbor 2020 and gear 2018 in
more detail, including cross-sectional views in FIGS. 60 and 61.
FIG. 60 is taken along the line A-A in FIG. 59, and FIG. 61 is
taken along the line A-A in FIG. 56. As can be seen, gear 2018
includes an outer ring 2060, which includes the teeth of the gear.
Outer ring 2060 is made from metal, and specifically, can be made
from powder metal or from a metal such as steel that is forged and
cut. A non-conductive inner ring 2062, made from plastic, ceramic,
or some other non-conductive material, is arranged concentrically
along the interior of outer ring 2060. Splines or keys, such as
spline 2063 in FIG. 61, prevent slipping or rotation between outer
ring 2060 and inner ring 2062. Gear 2018 is formed or mounted on
arbor shaft 2020, and arbor 2020 is made from metal. The end of
arbor 2020 on which gear 2018 is mounted has keys or splines, such
as spline 2065, which prevent slipping or rotation between inner
ring 2062 and arbor 2020. Inner ring 2062, which is non-conductive,
provides the necessary electrical isolation.
[0139] The depicted embodiment of gear 2018 has the advantage of
maintaining the strength of a gear with metal teeth while giving
the necessary electrical isolation. The non-conductive inner ring
is positioned outward from the axis of rotation of the gear to
maximize the surface area in contact with outer ring 2060 to
minimize shear and to provide more torque. The gear and rings may
take many different forms, and different numbers of rings may be
used. The present embodiment is advantageous because the
non-conductive inner ring 2062 can be made from a dielectric
material such as injection molded plastic to reduce manufacturing
costs.
[0140] One important consideration is the width of the gap between
the conductive arbor shaft 2020 and the conductive exterior ring
2060. If the gap is narrow, capacitance between the metal arbor
shaft 2020 and the motor shaft 2008 can increase, leading to
coupling and noise, which can interfere with monitoring the signal
on the blade and detecting accidental contact between a user and
the blade. It is advantageous to maximize the amount of dielectric
isolation material and minimize the quantity of conductive material
without compromising the structural integrity of drive gear 2018.
As an example, in a power tool with an active injury mitigation
implementation where an electrical signal is imparted to the arbor
and blade, noise may come through the gear driving the arbor, such
as gear 2018 discussed herein. The teeth on the gear are in
conductive contact with the motor shaft, and as the teeth mesh, any
signal on the arbor can be perturbed by the movement of the gear
teeth moving closer to and then further away from the motor shaft
due to capacitance between the gear teeth and the arbor. Such
perturbations can be called noise, and that noise can be
sufficiently big and variable to affect the ability to detect
reliably changes in the signal on the blade that indicate contact
between a person and the blade. Providing a sufficient gap of
non-conductive material between the arbor and the gear teeth
minimizes such noise.
[0141] In the depicted embodiment, and at the position of the
cross-section shown in FIG. 61, the diameter of inner ring 2062
measured from the outside of one spline 2063 to the outside of the
opposite spline is 36.5 mm, and the diameter of the inner ring
between the splines is 36 mm, making each spline 0.25 mm tall.
However, the heights of the splines change depending on position,
as seen in FIG. 58, where the visible, outside surfaces of the
splines are higher than in FIG. 61. Outer ring 2060 has an
internal, annular ridge 2064, shown in FIG. 60, and the height of
the splines under that ridge is less, as shown in FIG. 61.
Referring back to FIG. 61, the diameter of arbor 2020 measured from
the outside of one spline 2065 to the outside of the opposite
spline is 19 mm, while the diameter of the shaft between the
splines is 15 mm, making each spline 2065 2 mm tall. Of course,
splines of different dimensions can be used, and, as stated, gear
2018 can be sized to achieve the desired rotational speed of the
blade. A common speed of rotation of the blade and arbor in a power
saw as described herein is 4,000 revolutions per minute.
[0142] It has been found experimentally that a conductive shaft
diameter of 15-19 mm, a non-conductive inner ring diameter of 38-46
mm, and an outer ring diameter of 52-59 mm provides an optimum
balance of strength and electrical isolation.
[0143] The material forming inner ring 2062 can be selected to have
a coefficient of thermal expansion similar to the material forming
exterior ring 2060 and arbor 2020 to minimize any change of
dimension that might result in slippage between the shaft, inner
ring and exterior ring.
[0144] In the depicted embodiment, gear 2018 and arbor 2020 are
manufactured as one piece. Arbor 2020 and outer ring 2060 are first
formed, such as by machining or by forming from powder metal, or
both. The arbor and outer ring are then positioned in a mold, and a
non-conductive material is then injected into the mold between the
arbor and the outer ring. The non-conductive material molds over
the surface of the arbor and fills the space between the arbor and
the outer ring to form non-conductive inner ring 2062. At the same
time, the non-conductive material forms bearing seats 2066 and 2068
to support bearings 2022 and 2023, respectively. Grooves 2070 can
be cut into the end of arbor 2020, as shown in FIG. 60, to increase
the contact area between the arbor and bearing seat 2066, thereby
minimizing the chance of gear 2018 moving relative to the
arbor.
[0145] Motor housing 2004, as shown in FIGS. 49 and 50, can be
coated with an electrically conductive material, such as conductive
paint, either on the inside or outside of the motor housing, or
both, to provide a shield to tend to block electrical noise such as
radio frequency interference or electromagnetic interference. Due
to its size and composition, blade 18 can function as an antenna
and interfere with the intended function of the active injury
mitigation system. In order to minimize this problem, the motor is
electrically isolated, or "put in a tin can." The stator core of
the motor can be grounded to further address this issue.
Interference from electrical noise is further minimized through the
use of shielded cables. The motor shaft can also be grounded to
reduce noise. Grounding a motor shaft and/or an arbor is disclosed
in U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/343,451, filed May 31,
2016, and in PCT Application No. PCT/US17/34566, titled "Detection
Systems for Power Tools with Active Injury Mitigation Technology,"
filed on May 25, 2017, both of which are incorporated herein by
reference. It can be seen in FIG. 49 that two wires 2005 and 2007
extend from the interior of the motor housing. Wire 2005 is used to
ground the motor shaft, preferably through a conductive coupling as
disclosed in the above-identified PCT application. Wire 2007
grounds the stator through a simple static or non-moving
connection. Both wires 2005 and 2007 are attached to retraction
bracket 660 via a screw passing through hole 672 in retraction
bracket 660 (labeled in FIG. 45). These alternatives can be used
together to shield or block electrical noise.
[0146] FIG. 62 shows a tilt plate 760 installed in table saw 10,
and FIG. 63 shows tilt plate 760 isolated. Tilt plate 760 attaches
to the underside of table 12 near the front of the saw via two
screws, one on the left side of the front trunnion mounting plate
and one on the right side of the front trunnion bracket. FIG. 18
shows tilt plate 760 through hole 24 in saw housing 22. Tilt plate
760 is formed from a unitary piece of bent sheet metal, shaped
generally like a rectangle with a section cut out of the middle at
the top. A generally horizontally oriented arcuate opening 762 is
disposed towards the bottom of the tilt plate, through which the
tilt lock lever passes, as will be discussed later. Tilt plate 760
also includes a tab 764 to which a ground wire can be connected in
order to provide a reference ground for the saw. Two holes 768 are
used to attach stops to tilt plate 760 in order to limit the travel
of trunnion 32 to a range of 45 degrees as it tilts. Three screws
pass through three holes 770 in tilt plate 760 to attach the tilt
plate to saw housing 22. Tilt plate 760 is thus held flush with the
back side of the front of saw housing 22.
[0147] Below arcuate opening 24 in saw housing 22, there is a
second arcuate opening 26, also shown in FIGS. 5 and 18. Elevation
control shaft 510 passes through arcuate opening 26, as stated
previously.
[0148] A tilt lock handle 780 is shown in FIGS. 64 and 65. FIG. 65
shows a cross sectional view of the tilt lock handle 780 and
elevation control shaft bracket 512 along the line F-F--in FIG. 64,
with tilt plate 760 added. A carriage bolt 794 in tilt lock handle
780 passes through a square hole 514 near the top of elevation
control shaft bracket 512 (labeled in FIGS. 35 and 36). A washer
792, a nut (not shown), washer 788, spring 786, handle 782, and
tilt lock handle cap 784 are then arranged on bolt 794 as shown in
FIG. 65. Tilt plate 760, which is shown in FIG. 65 but not shown in
FIG. 64, fits between washer 792 and elevation control shaft
bracket 512. Bolt 794 passes through arcuate opening 762 in tilt
plate 760, such that the head of bolt 794 and elevation control
shaft bracket 512 are behind tilt plate 760, and tilt lock handle
780 is in front of tilt plate 760 and accessible to a user.
[0149] In order to tilt the trunnion and accompanying internal saw
components, a user would first turn handle 782 to the left
(clockwise as seen in FIG. 64) around an axis defined by bolt 794.
Since spring 786 serves to bias washer 788, handle 782, and tilt
lock handle cap 784 away from elevation control shaft bracket 512,
the clamping force on tilt plate 760 would be removed when handle
782 is turned to the left. A user would then use hand wheel 34
and/or tilt lock handle 780 to tilt the trunnion to a desired angle
relative to the table, with bolt 794 travelling along arcuate
opening 762 in tilt plate 760 and the accompanying opening 24 in
saw housing 22, and elevation control shaft 510 travelling along
arcuate opening 26 in saw housing 22. A user would then turn handle
782 to the right (counterclockwise as seen in FIG. 64) around bolt
794 in order to clamp against tilt plate 760 and prevent further
movement of the trunnion and blade.
[0150] Between arcuate openings 24 and 26 in saw housing 22, there
is an arcuate bevel tilt ruler 800, shown in FIG. 18. A user can
use bevel gauge 540 and tilt ruler 800 to ascertain the angle of
the trunnion and blade relative to the work surface.
[0151] FIGS. 66 through 71 show an alternate exemplary embodiment
of the insert hold-down mechanism shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG. 66
shows the top of insert 16 with the alternate hold-down mechanism
installed therein. As disclosed previously, insert 16 includes an
indentation 110, slot 20, opening 134, and tabs 112 that contact
the underside of the saw table. A finger lever 1114 is configured
to be pulled toward the front of the saw to release the insert from
the blade opening. Finger lever 1114 is shown actuated to release
the insert (angled up) in FIG. 66, and un-actuated to secure the
insert (generally horizontal) in FIGS. 67 through 70. FIGS. 67
through 70 show the hold-down mechanism isolated from insert 16.
Finger lever 1114 bends down and becomes a plurality of lock teeth
1116, and a dowel portion 1118 is interposed between lever portion
1114 and lock teeth 1116. Lock teeth 1116 fit into a plurality of
generally rectangular openings 1122 in a lock block 1120. Lock
block 1120 is connected to the bottom of insert 16 by a screw 1128,
which passes through a washer 1130 and into a portion of insert 16
which extends down into an elongated opening 1124 in lock block
1120, as shown in FIGS. 67 through 71. The downward extension of
insert 16 allows for translation of lock block 1120 in the forward
and backward directions, but not sideways or vertically.
[0152] When finger lever 1114 is pushed down into indentation 110,
lock teeth 1116 push lock block 1120 toward the front of the saw,
and front edge 1126 of said lock block 1120 overlaps with a
corresponding ledge on table 12, as shown in FIG. 71. Lock teeth
1116 engage with rectangular openings 1122 in lock block 1120 and
function like a rack and pin gear to move lock block 1120 forward
and backward. The interaction between lock teeth 1116 and lock
block 1120 can be seen in FIG. 70, which shows a cross section of
FIG. 69 along the line A-A in FIG. 69. This prevents the front of
insert 16 from rising up during use. In order to remove the insert,
a user would place a finger into indentation 110 and pull finger
lever 114 up toward the front of the saw. This would cause front
edge 126 to retract and cease to be in contact with table 12. The
user could then lift the front of insert 16 out of opening 14,
slide tabs 112 out of contact with the table, and remove the insert
from opening 14.
[0153] The hold-down mechanism depicted in FIGS. 66 through 71
includes a two position detent 1132 on each side of lock block
1120. The detents fit into two indentations 1134 on each side of
insert. 16, two of which are labeled in FIG. 71. The engagement
between the detents 1132 on lock block 1120 and indentations 1134
in insert 16 prevents the hold-down mechanism from moving
unexpectedly between the locked and unlocked positions.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0154] The power saws described herein are applicable to
woodworking, manufacturing, packaging, construction, carpentry,
material processing, etc. Various disclosed features are
particularly relevant to table saws. Various other disclosed
features are particularly relevant to table saws, hand-held
circular saws, track saws, miter saws, and band saws with active
injury mitigation technology.
[0155] It is believed that the disclosure set forth above
encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility.
While each of these inventions has been disclosed in its preferred
form, the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated
herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous
variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions
includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations
of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties
disclosed herein. No single feature, function, element or property
of the disclosed embodiments is essential to all of the disclosed
inventions. Similarly, where the claims recite "a" or "a first"
element or the equivalent thereof, such claims should be understood
to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither
requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.
[0156] It is believed that the following claims particularly point
out certain combinations and subcombinations that are directed to
one of the disclosed inventions and are novel and non-obvious.
Inventions embodied in other combinations and subcombinations of
features, functions, elements and/or properties may be claimed
through amendment of the present claims or presentation of new
claims in this or a related application. Such amended or new
claims, whether they are directed to a different invention or
directed to the same invention, whether different, broader,
narrower or equal in scope to the original claims, are also
regarded as included within the subject matter of the inventions of
the present disclosure.
* * * * *