Miter saw with improved safety system

• US 20020056348A1
• Filed: 01/14/2002
• Published: 05/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sawstop Holding LLC
• Original Assignee: SD3, LLC
• Inventors: Huebner, Randall J., Gass, Stephen F., Fulmer, J. David
• Granted Patent: US 6,945,148 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 83/62.1
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 45/06 with a circular saw blade arranged underneath a stationary work-table
• 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 55/08 of devices for guiding or feeding strap saw blades
• 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 vibration-damping of sawing machines or devices working with circular saw blades B23D47/005
• 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 3/148 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 83/7697 Tool angularly adjustable relative to work-support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7726 By movement of the tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7788 Tool carrier oscillated or rotated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/8773 Bevel or miter cut
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/8786 Oscillating tool

Abstract

A miter saw is disclosed having a base, a blade supported by the base, a detection system adapted to detect a dangerous condition between a person and the blade, and a reaction system associated with the detection system to cause a predetermined action to take place upon detection of the dangerous condition. The blade is rotatable, and moves into a cutting zone to cut a workpiece. The predetermined action may be to stop the blade from rotating, to create an impulse against movement of the blade into the cutting zone, or to cause the blade to move away from the cutting zone.

Claims

1. A miter saw comprising:

a base assembly defining a cutting zone;

a motor assembly associated with the base assembly and including an arbor rotatable about an elongate central axis;

a blade mounted on the arbor and configured to selectively cut workpieces in the cutting zone; and

a safety system including one or more support arms and a braking mechanism having at least one brake member adapted to engage the blade, where the brake member is coupled to the one or more support arms, and where the one or more support arms are configured to move the brake member about the elongate central axis of the arbor.

2. The miter saw of claim 1, further comprising a fastener configured to fasten the blade to the arbor, and where at least one of the one or more support arms includes an opening configured to facilitate installation of the fastener.

3. The miter saw of claim 1, further comprising a pivot arm assembly configured to couple the motor assembly to the base assembly, where the pivot arm assembly may be pivoted toward and away from the cutting zone, and where the one or more support arms are configured to move the brake member about the elongate central axis of the arbor as the pivot arm assembly is pivoted toward and away from the cutting zone.

4. The miter saw of claim 3, where the one or more support arms are configured to move the brake member in a direction generally opposite to the direction in which the pivot arm assembly is pivoted.

5. The miter saw of claim 3, further comprising one or more linkage assemblies configured to couple the one or more support arms to a portion of the base assembly.

6. The miter saw of claim 5, where the blade has angular momentum when rotating, and where the brake member is configured to transfer at least a portion of the angular momentum of the blade to the one or more support arms.

7. The miter saw of claim 6, where the one or more linkage assemblies are configured to transfer at least a portion of the angular momentum of the blade from the one or more support arms to the base assembly.

8. The miter saw of claim 1, where the safety system includes a detection system configured to detect accidental contact between a person and the blade, and where the brake member is configured to engage and stop the rotation of the blade if the detection system detects such contact.

9. The miter saw of claim 1, further comprising a housing configured to cover at least a portion of the blade, and where the support arms are configured to selectively move the brake member into and out of the housing.

10. A miter saw comprising:

a base assembly defining a cutting zone;

a pivot arm assembly pivotally coupled to the base assembly;

a rotatable blade supported by the pivot arm assembly and configured to cut workpieces within the cutting zone; and

means for stopping the rotation of the blade;

where the blade has angular momentum when rotating, and where the means for stopping the rotation of the blade includes means for transferring at least a portion of the angular momentum of the blade to the base assembly.

11. The miter saw of claim 10, where the base assembly includes a base configured to support workpieces, where the means for transferring is configured to transfer at least a portion of the angular momentum of the blade to a first region of the base assembly, and where the first region is above the base.

12. The miter saw of claim 10, where the base assembly includes a base configured to support workpieces and a tilt mechanism configured to tilt relative to the base, where the pivot arm assembly is pivotally coupled to the tilt mechanism, and where the means for transferring is configured to transfer at least a portion of the angular momentum of the blade to the tilt mechanism.

13. The miter saw of claim 10, further comprising means for urging the pivot arm assembly in a direction away from the cutting zone.

14. The miter saw of claim 13, where the means for urging includes means for converting at least a portion of the angular momentum of the blade into a force on the pivot arm assembly in a direction away from the cutting zone.

15. The miter saw of claim 10, further comprising means for detecting accidental contact between a person and the blade, and where the means for stopping the rotation of the blade is configured to stop the rotation of the blade if such accidental contact is detected.

17. The miter saw of claim 16, where the support structure includes at least one pivot pin disposed within the housing, and where the brake member is mounted on the pivot pin.

18. The miter saw of claim 17, where the housing includes an outer wall, and where the at least one pivot pin extends at least partially through the outer wall of the housing.

19. The miter saw of claim 16, where the housing includes at least one opening configured to allow the installation and removal of the brake member, and a cover selectively movable to cover and uncover the opening.

20. The miter saw of claim 16, where the support structure is configured to move the brake member at least partially out of the housing to allow installation and removal of the brake member.

16. A miter saw comprising:

a base assembly;

a housing pivotally coupled to the base assembly;

a circular blade supported at least partially within the housing;

a motor configured to rotate the blade; and

a safety system including at least one brake member disposed within the housing and adapted to engage and stop the rotation of the blade;

where the brake member is coupled to the housing by support structure configured to move the brake member within the housing and around the perimeter of the blade.