Brake positioning system

• US 20020017182A1
• Filed: 08/13/2001
• Published: 02/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sawstop Holding LLC
• Original Assignee: SD3, LLC
• Inventors: Gass, Stephen F., Johnston, Andrew L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,857,345 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 83/58
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 47/08 of devices for bringing the circular saw blade to the workpiece or removing same therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 59/001 Measuring or control devices, e.g. for automatic control of work feed pressure on band saw blade measuring in general G01; controlling in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: B27B 13/14 Braking devices specially designed for band sawing machines, e.g. acting after damage of the band saw blade
• CPC Class Codes: B27B 5/38 Devices for braking the circular saw blade or the saw spindle; Devices for damping vibrations of the circular saw blade, e.g. silencing B23D47/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B27G 19/00 Safety guards or devices specially adapted for wood saws; Auxiliary devices facilitating proper operation of wood saws
• CPC Class Codes: B27G 19/02 for circular saws
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/12 with means, e.g. feelers, which in case of the presence of a body part of a person in or near the danger zone influence the control or operation of the machine F16P3/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/145 using magnetic technology
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/147 using electro-magnetic technology, e.g. tags or radar
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/148 using capacitive technology
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 83/01 Safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/081 With randomly actuated stopping means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/089 Responsive to tool characteristic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/141 With means to monitor and control operation [e.g., self-regulating means]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/613 Work guard
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7697 Tool angularly adjustable relative to work-support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7705 Adjustable angular relationship
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7726 By movement of the tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/773 Work-support includes passageway for tool [e.g., slotted table]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/778 And means to rotate tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7788 : Tool carrier oscillated or rotated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/8773 : Bevel or miter cut

Abstract

A saw is disclosed having a detection system adapted to detect a dangerous condition between a person and a saw blade, and a brake adapted to stop the saw blade in response to detection of the dangerous condition. The saw further includes a brake positioning system that allows the brake to be positioned in at least two different operable positions to accommodate at least two different blade diameters. The saw may include a system to detect brake-to-blade spacing.

Claims

1. A woodworking machine comprising:

a blade selected from an operable range of sizes;

a detection system adapted to detect a dangerous condition between a person and the blade;

a brake adapted to stop the blade in response to detection of the dangerous condition; and

a brake positioning system configured to allow the brake to be selectively positioned in at least two different operable positions to accommodate at least two different blade sizes.

2. The woodworking machine of claim 1, where the brake positioning system is configured to prevent installation of the blade if the brake is not in the operable position corresponding to the size of the blade.

3. The woodworking machine of claim 1, where the brake positioning system is configured to prevent operation of the machine if the brake is not in the operable position corresponding to the size of the blade.

4. The woodworking machine of claim 1, where the brake positioning system is configured to prevent the brake from being positioned in an operable position that does not correspond to the size of the blade.

5. The woodworking machine of claim 1, where the machine is a saw, and where the blade is a circular blade.

6. The woodworking machine of claim 1, where the brake positioning system is configured to be selectively positioned in at least two different operable positions at least one inch apart.

7. A woodworking machine comprising:

a working portion adapted to work when moving;

a detection system adapted to detect a dangerous condition between a person and the working portion;

a reaction system associated with the detection system to cause a predetermined action to take place relative to the working portion upon detection of the dangerous condition, where the reaction system includes a component positioned adjacent the working portion; and

a positioning system adapted to allow the component to be positioned in more than to one position adjacent the working portion to accommodate working portions of different sizes.

8. A woodworking machine comprising:

a working portion adapted to work when moving;

means for detecting a dangerous condition between a person and the working portion;

reaction means associated with the detection system for causing a predetermined action to take place relative to the working portion upon detection of the dangerous condition; and

means for positioning at least a portion of the reaction means in more than one position adjacent the working portion to accommodate working portions of different sizes.

9. A woodworking machine comprising:

a cutter adapted to cut a workpiece;

a motor adapted to drive the cutter;

a detection system adapted to detect a dangerous condition between a person and the cutter;

a brake mechanism having a brake adapted to engage the cutter to stop the cutter;

a spacing detection system associated with the brake mechanism and adapted to detect whether the spacing between the cutter and the brake is within a predetermined range; and

a control system adapted to prevent operation of the motor if the spacing detected by the spacing detection system is out of the predetermined range.

10. The machine of claim 9, where the spacing detection system includes an electronic sensor adapted to detect whether the spacing between the cutter and the brake is within a predetermined range.

11. The machine of claim 9, where the spacing detection system includes a magnetic sensor adapted to detect whether the spacing between the cutter and the brake is within a predetermined range.

12. The machine of claim 9, where the spacing detection system includes an optical sensor adapted to detect whether the spacing between the cutter and the brake is within a predetermined range.

13. The machine of claim 9, where the brake is mounted in a removable cartridge, and where the spacing detection system detects whether the spacing between the cutter and the brake is within a predetermined range by detecting whether the spacing between the cutter and the cartridge is within a predetermined range.

14. A woodworking machine comprising:

a cutter;

a motor adapted to drive the cutter;

a brake adjustably positionable adjacent the cutter;

a sensor system adapted to sense the spacing between the cutter and the brake; and

a control system configured to control the operation of the motor and to receive a signal from the sensor system representative of the spacing between the cutter and the brake, where the control system is further configured to selectively prevent operation of the motor dependent on the signal received from the sensor system.

15. A woodworking machine comprising:

a cutter adapted to cut a workpiece;

means for detecting a dangerous condition between a person and the cutter;

a brake configured to engage and stop the cutter;

means for detecting whether the spacing between the cutter and the brake is within a predetermined range; and

means for preventing operation of the cutter if the spacing between the cutter and the brake is out of the predetermined range.