U.S. patent number 3,866,320 [Application Number 05/448,053] was granted by the patent office on 1975-02-18 for guide bar adjustment for chain saw.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Textron Inc.. Invention is credited to Rudolph Progl.
United States Patent |
3,866,320 |
Progl |
February 18, 1975 |
GUIDE BAR ADJUSTMENT FOR CHAIN SAW
Abstract
The tightness of the saw chain on the guide bar of a chain saw
is adjustable by means of a tool-rotatable member which extends to
the outside of the drive case cover and is connected through
helical gears with an adjusting screw mounted in fixed location
adjacent a rear end portion of the guide bar for rotation about an
axis extending lengthwise of the guide bar. An internally threaded
rider on the adjusting screw is interconnected with the guide bar
so as to move the guide bar lengthwise when the rider is moved by
rotation of the adjusting screw. The location of the rotatable
member by which the adjusting screw can be rotated makes it
possible to adjust the tightness of the chain on the guide bar
conveniently and safely.
Inventors: |
Progl; Rudolph (Bayside,
NY) |
Assignee: |
Textron Inc. (Providence,
RI)
|
Family
ID: |
23778822 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/448,053 |
Filed: |
March 4, 1974 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
30/386;
83/816 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B27B
17/14 (20130101); Y10T 83/7239 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
B27B
17/00 (20060101); B27B 17/14 (20060101); B27b
017/14 () |
Field of
Search: |
;30/381,383,386,387,370
;83/816,817,818 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Smith; Al Lawrence
Assistant Examiner: Peters; J. C.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Burns; Robert E. Lobato; Emmanuel
J. Adams; Bruce L.
Claims
1. In a chain saw having a chassis, an elongated guide bar mounted
on and extending forwardly from the chassis, a saw chain running on
the guide bar and a cover enclosing a rear end portion of the guide
bar; means for adjustable moving the guide bar in a lengthwise
direction relative to the chassis to adjust the tightness of the
chain on the guide bar, comprising an elongated adjusting screw,
means rotatably mounting said adjusting screw in fixed location
relative to the chassis adjacent a rear end portion of the guide
bar and with its longitudinal axis extending lengthwise of the
guide bar, an internally threaded rider on said screw in engagement
with threads thereof and movable lengthwise of the screw by
rotation of the screw, means interconnecting said rider and guide
bar to move the guide bar in a lengthwise direction by said rider,
a first gear fixed on and rotatable with said screw, a second gear
meshing with said first gear and rotatable about an axis normal to
the axis of said screw, and driving means fixed with said second
gear and extending to the outside of said cover, said driving means
having means accessible from outside said cover for rotating said
driving means and thereby rotating said second gear, first gear and
screw to move said rider and guide bar in a direction lengthwise of
the guide bar to adjust the tightness of said
2. In a chain saw, guide bar adjusting means according to claim 1,
in which
3. In a chain saw, guide bar adjusting means according to claim 1,
in which said means for rotating said driving means comprises means
at an outer end of said driving means to receive a tool for
rotating said driving means.
4. In a chain saw, guide bar adjusting means according to claim 3,
in which said cover has a recessed portion in which said drive
means is located so that said drive means does not project beyond
an outer surface of the
5. In a chain saw, guide bar adjusting means according to claim 1,
in which said means rotatably mounting said adjusting screw
comprises means for
6. In a chain saw, guide bar adjusting means according to claim 5,
having means for removably securing said cover on said chassis,
said securing means comprising stud bolts on said chassis extending
through an elongated slot in said guide bar and through holes in
said cover, and nuts screwed on said bolts to secure the cover in
place and clamp a rear end portion of
7. In a chain saw, guide bar adjusting means according to claim 6,
in which said driving means is located in the vicinity of said nuts
so that said nuts and driving means are conveniently accessible in
the same location.
8. In a chain saw having a chassis, an elongated guide bar mounted
on and extending forwardly from the chassis, a saw chain running on
the guide bar and means enclosing a rear end portion of the guide
bar; means for adjustably moving the guide bar in a lengthwise
direction to adjust the tightness of the chain on the guide bar,
comprising an elongated adjusting screw, means rotatably mounting
said adjusting screw in fixed location relative to the chassis
adjacent a rear end portion of the guide bar and with its
lontitudinal axis extending lengthwise of the guide bar, an
internally threaded rider on said screw in engagement with threads
thereof and movable lengthwise of the screw by rotation of the
screw, means interconnecting said rider and guide bar to move the
guide bar in a lengthwise direction by said rider, means for
releasably clamping said guide bar in fixed adjusted position on
the chassis, drive means for rotating said adjusting screw, means
rotatably mounting said drive means in a location conveniently
accessible to an operator with its axis of rotation at an angle to
the axis of rotation of said screw and angle drive connecting means
connecting said drive means with said screw, whereby an operator
after releasing said clamping means can adjust the tightness of the
chain on the guide bar by rotating said drive means, the rotation
of said drive means being transmitted through said angle drive
connecting means to said screw to rotate said screw and thereby
move said rider and guide bar in a direction lengthwise of the
guide bar, whereupon said clamping means is actuated to clamp the
guide bar fixedly in adjusted
9. In a chain saw, guide bar adjusting means according to claim 8,
in which said clamping means and said drive means are located
adjacent one another so that both are conveniently operable by an
operator from a single position.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to power driven chain saws having a
saw chain running on a guide bar which extends forwardly from a
chassis and particularly to convenient means for adjusting the
tightness of the chain on the guide bar.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
A chain saw customarily has an elongated guide bar which is mounted
on and extends forwardly from a power head or chassis including a
motor. A cutting chain which runs on the guide bar is driven by
engagement with a sprocket which is located at the rear end of the
guide bar and is driven by the motor. In order for the saw to
operate properly and safely the tightness of the saw chain on the
guide bar needs to be adjusted so that the chain runs freely on the
guide bar without excessive friction but is sufficiently tight so
that it will not come off of the guide bar during operation of the
saw. Adjustment is periodically required because of chain stretch
caused by tension from cutting. Adjustment of the tightness of the
cutting chain on the guide bar is effected by adjustably moving the
guide bar in a lengthwise direction relative to the chassis and
hence relative to the sprocket by which the chain is driven so as
to vary the distance between the sprocket and the forward end of
the guide bar. Heretofore, such adjustment has customarily been
effected by means of an adjusting screw rotatably mounted on the
chassis adjacent a rear end portion of the guide bar and having a
follower or rider which is interconnected with the guide bar so
that the rider and hence the guide bar can be moved in a direction
longitudinal of the guide bar by rotation of the adjusting screw.
One end of the adjusting screw is usually provided with a
transverse slot to receive the bit of a screwdriver by which the
screw can be turned to adjust the tightness of the chain. By reason
of the location of the adjusting screw between a portion of the
chassis and the guide bar, it has been necessary for an operator
either to turn the saw around so that the guide bar is toward him
or else reach over the guide bar in order to turn the adjusting
screw by means of a screwdriver. This has made the adjustment of
the tightness of the chain on the guide bar inconvenient and also
somewhat hazardous since there is the possibility of the operator
being injured by engagement with the sharp cutting chain.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide for adjustment
of the tightness of the cutting chain of a chain saw in a manner
which is more convenient and safer than heretofore. In accordance
with the invention, an adjusting screw for moving the guide bar of
a chain saw in a lengthwise direction to adjust the tightness of
the cutting chain is rotatably mounted not on the body of the
chassis but inside a removable cover which encloses a rear end
portion of the guide bar and the sprocket by which the chain is
driven. Moreover, the adjusting screw is rotatable by means of a
rotatable member which extends to the outside of the cover and is
hence conveniently accessible to an operator. The rotatable member
is operatively connected with the adjusting screw by means of an
angle drive. By virtue of this arrangement, an operator can adjust
the tightness of the chain without turning the saw around and
without reaching over the guide bar. Hence, adjustment of the
tightness of the chain is made both more convenient and safer.
The guide bar is customarily mounted on the chassis of a chain saw
by means of two stud bolts which project laterally from the chassis
and extend through an elongated longitudinal slot in a rear end
portion of the guide bar. The same bolts may be used for securing
in place a cover enclosing a rear end portion of the guide bar and
the sprocket by which the cutting chain is driven. Nuts screwed
onto the bolts are loosened so as to free the guide bar for
lengthwise movement to adjust the tightness of the chain and after
adjustment are tightened so as to clamp the guide bar securely in
adjusted position while at the same time securing the cover. In
accordance with the invention the rotatable member by which the
adjusting screw is rotated to adjust the tightness of the chain is
preferably located adjacent the nuts on the bolts by means of which
the guide bar is mounted on the chassis. By reason of this
location, an operator can loosen the nuts on the stud bolts, turn
the rotatable member to move the guide bar in a lengthwise
direction to adjust the tightness of the chain and then tighten the
nuts to secure the guide bar in adjusted position without changing
his position with respect to the chain saw. This makes the
adjustment most convenient.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The nature, objects and advantages of the invention will be more
fully understood from the following description in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings which illustrate by way of example a
preferred embodiment of the invention.
IN THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side view of a portion of a chain saw in accordance
with the invention including a portion of the guide bar and cutting
chain and a cover enclosing a rear end portion of the guide
bar;
FIG. 2 is an inside view of the cover;
FIG. 3 is a partial cross section taken approximately on the line
3--3 in FIG. 1; and
FIG. 4 is a partial cross section taken at the location indicated
by the line 4--4 in FIG. 2 but with the cover and guide bar
assembled on the chassis of the chain saw.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Means for adjusting the tension of a saw chain is shown by way of
example in the drawings as applied to a chain saw having a power
head or chassis 1. In accordance with conventional construction,
the chassis includes a power unit, for example an electric motor or
an internal combustion engine enclosed in a suitable housing and
provided with customary handles, controls and other accessories. As
such construction is well known, only a portion of the chassis
housing is shown in the drawings. This includes a portion 1a
provided on a side of the chassis for mounting a guide bar 2. The
guide bar is mounted on the chassis by means of two stud bolts 3
which project laterally from the portion 1a of the chassis and
extend through an elongated longitudinal slot in a rear end portion
of the guide bar 2. The slot in the guide bar is of sufficient
length to permit lengthwise movement of the guide bar relative to
the chassis. As seen in FIG. 3, the guide bar 2 is provided in its
periphery with a groove to receive inwardly projecting tangs of a
cutting chain 4 which is thereby guided so as to run around the
periphery of the guide bar. The chain is shown as comprising a
plurality of links 4a connected by rivets 4b. Certain of the links
are provided with cutting teeth 4c and depth gauges 4d. A rear end
portion of the guide bar 1 with the chain thereon is enclosed by a
drive case cover 5 which is mounted on the chassis by means of the
stud bolts 3 which extend through holes suitably provided in the
cover and are provided with nuts 6 which are screwed onto the bolts
to hold the cover 5 and the guide bar 2 in place. A guard plate or
shim 7 is sandwiched between the guide bar 2 and the mounting
portion 1a of the chassis and a similar but reversed guard plate or
shim 8 is sandwiched between the guide bar and the cover 5. At the
rear end of the guide bar the chain runs over and is driven by a
sprocket which in turn is driven by the power unit usually through
a speed responsive clutch. As the sprocket and the means for
driving it are well known, they are not shown in the drawings. The
guard plates 7 and 8 serve to guide the cutting chain as it runs
onto and off of the sprocket. As viewed in FIG. 1, the lower run of
the chain 4 is moving toward the sprocket while the upper run of
the chain is moving toward the outer end of the guide bar.
Adjustment of the tightness of the chain on the guide bar is
effected by moving the guide bar in a lengthwise direction with
respect to the chassis. As the sprocket is in a fixed location with
respect to the chassis, movement of the guide bar forwardly (toward
the right in FIG. 1) increases the distance between the sprocket
and the forward end of the guide bar, thereby tightening the chain.
Conversely, rearward movement of the guide bar with respect to the
chassis loosens the chain. Longitudinal movement of the guide bar
with respect to the chassis is effected by means of a threaded
shaft 10 which is herein referred to as an adjusting screw. The
shaft 10 is externally threaded except for cylindrical end portions
10a and 10b by means of which the shaft is mounted for rotation on
the inside of the drive case cover 5. One end portion 10a is
rotatably received in a cylindrical hole provided in an inwardly
projecting portion 5a of the drive case cover while the other end
portion 10b is rotatably held between a half bearing portion of the
drive case cover and a complementary bearing portion of a gear
cover 11 secured on the inside of the drive case cover by screws
12. In this manner, the adjusting screw 10 is rotatably mounted
adjacent a rear end portion of the guide bar 2 below the slot
receiving the mounting bolts 3. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, the
adjusting screw 10 is located below the bolts 3 and extends
approximately from one bolt to the other. The axis of the adjusting
screw 10 is parallel to the plane of the guide bar and extends
lengthwise of the guide bar so as to be parallel with the slot
receiving the mounting bolts 3.
An internally threaded rider or follower nut 13 engages the
threaded portion of the adjusting screw 10 so as to be moved
longitudinally of the screw when the screw is rotated. The rider 13
is connected with the guide bar by means of a laterally projecting
lug portion 13a of the rider extending into an opening 2a provided
in the guide bar below the slot receiving the mounting bolts 3. A
second like opening (not shown) is preferably provided at a
corresponding location on the opposite side of the central slot for
the mounting bolts so that the guide bar is reversible. The
interengagement of the lug portion 13a of the rider 13 with the
hole 2a in the guide bar provides a connection for transmitting
axial movement of the rider 13 to the guide bar thereby moving it
in a lengthwise direction relative to the chassis. At the same
time, the lug 13a prevents rotation of the rider. Thus, by rotating
the adjusting screw 10 in one direction, the guide bar 2 can be
moved forwardly to tighten the chain while rotation of the
adjusting screw 10 in the opposite direction moves the guide bar
rearwardly to loosen the chain.
In accordance with the present invention, the adjusting screw 10 is
reversibly rotatable by means of a rotatable adjusting member
located in a position which is conveniently accessible to an
operator. As the axis of the rotatable adjusting member is disposed
at an angle to the axis of the adjusting screw 10, the two are
interconnected by an angle gear drive. While a worm gear or other
suitable angle gear drive might be used, it is preferred to use
helical gears as illustrated by way of example in the drawings.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the adjusting member comprises a
rotatable member 15 having a larger cylindrical head portion 15a
and a stem portion 15b of reduced diameter. The head portion 15a is
rotatably received in an opening provided in a recessed portion 5b
of the drive case cover 5 while the stem portion 15b is rotatably
supported by an axially aligned hole in the gear cover 11. The
member 15 is thereby supported for rotation about an axis which is
perpendicular to the guide bar 2 and below the axis of the
adjusting screw 10.
The rotatable adjusting member 15 is operatively connected with the
adjusting screw 10 by means of a helical gear 16 fixed on the stem
portion 15b of the member 15 and meshing with a helical gear 17
fixed on the end portion 10b of the adjusting screw 10. By reason
of this gear connection the adjusting screw 10 can be rotated by
turning the rotatable adjusting member 15.
The adjusting member 15 extends to the exterior of the drive case
cover 5 and is provided with means whereby it can easily be
rotated. As illustrated by way of example in FIG. 3, a transverse
slot 15c is provided in the outer end of the adjusting member 15 to
receive the bit of a screwdriver. Alternatively, the adjusting
member 15 can be provided with a wrench head or an Allen head
socket whereby it can readily be turned by means of a suitable
tool.
In order to move the guide bar 2 longitudinally and thereby adjust
the tightness of the chain, it is necessary first to loosen the
nuts 6 on the mounting bolts 3 sufficiently to permit the guide bar
to move. The guide bar is guided in its longitudinal movement by
engagement of the spaced bolts 3 with the side edges of the central
guide bar slot in which the bolts are received. When the nuts 6
have been suitably loosened the guide bar is then moved in the
desired direction by rotating the adjusting member 15 by means of a
screwdriver or other suitable tool. The nuts 6 are then tightened
so as to clamp the guide bar in adjusted position. Since the
adjusting member 15 is located near the nuts 6, it will be seen
that the entire operation can conveniently be carried out by an
operator without changing his position with respect to the chain
saw. As illustrated particularly in FIGS. 1 and 3, the adjusting
member 15 and the nuts 6 are located in the same recess 5b of the
drive case cover 5 and are thereby protected. The location of the
adjusting member 15 as well as the nuts 6 on the outside of the
drive case cover provides for convenient and safe adjustment of the
tightness of the saw chain. Moreover, since the adjusting screw 10
and the gear drive are removably mounted on the inside of the drive
case cover which can readily be removed from the saw merely by
removing the nuts 6, these parts are easily acceptable for
cleaning, lubrication or inspection.
While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated
by way of example in the drawings and is herein particularly
described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that
the invention is in no way limited to the illustrated
embodiment.
* * * * *