Electric Saw with Operator Protection System
First Claim
1. An operator protection system for protecting an operator of an electrically powered saw from the blade of the saw during a cutting operation, the saw being of the type including a cutting table through which the blade passes, and the protection system comprising:
- clamping means for clamping the blade to stop travel of the blade;
control system means conductively connected to the blade and adapted to monitor for conduction of an electrical signal between the operator and the blade in event of electrical contact of the operator with the blade; and
actuator means operable by the control system means to operate the clamping means to clamp the blade upon detection of the conduction of the electrical signal by the control system means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is described a control system for an electrically powered saw of the type incorporating a table through which the blade of the saw passes. The control system comprises a clamping mechanism (16, 16a) having clamping members (18, 20) counter-rotatable relative to one another to clamp the blade (4) in use to stop travel of the blade in event of an operator coming into electrical contact with the blade during use of the saw. The control system monitors for an electrical signal conducted between the operator and the blade or the blade and the operator upon contact of the operator with the blade.
87 Citations
48 Claims
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1. An operator protection system for protecting an operator of an electrically powered saw from the blade of the saw during a cutting operation, the saw being of the type including a cutting table through which the blade passes, and the protection system comprising:
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clamping means for clamping the blade to stop travel of the blade; control system means conductively connected to the blade and adapted to monitor for conduction of an electrical signal between the operator and the blade in event of electrical contact of the operator with the blade; and actuator means operable by the control system means to operate the clamping means to clamp the blade upon detection of the conduction of the electrical signal by the control system means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 48)
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9-15. -15. (canceled)
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16. An electrically powered saw adapted to protect an operator from the blade of the saw during a cutting operation, the saw being of the type incorporating a cutting table through which the blade passes, and comprising:
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clamping means for clamping the blade to stop travel of the blade; control system means conductively connected to the blade and adapted to monitor for conduction of an electrical signal between the operator and the blade in event of electrical contact of the operator with the blade; and actuator means operable by the control system means and arranged to operate the clamping means to clamp the blade upon detection of the conduction of the electrical signal by the control system means. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A control system for protecting an operator from the blade of an electrically powered saw during a cutting operation utilizing the saw, the saw being of the type comprising a cutting table through which the blade passes, and the control system comprising:
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a touch sensing circuit for sensing conduction of an electrical signal between the operator and the blade in event of electrical contact of the operator with the blade; an emergency stop circuit for triggering operation of clamping means to clamp the blade to stop travel of the blade, the emergency stop circuit being responsive to the touch sensing circuit, and the touch sensing circuit is configured for being conductively connected with the blade.
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19-34. -34. (canceled)
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35. A clamping mechanism suitable for being fitted to an electrically powered saw of the type incorporating a cutting table through which the blade of the saw passes and to stop travel of the blade in event of an operator coming into contact with the blade during a cutting operation, the clamping mechanism comprising:
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clamping means adapted to break or shear the blade during the clamping of the blade; and actuator means for effecting operation of the clamping means to clamp the blade, the actuator means being operable by a control system for detecting the contact of the operator with the blade. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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37. A method for protecting an operator of an electrically powered saw from the blade of the saw during a cutting operation, the saw being of the type incorporating a cutting table through which the blade passes, and the method comprising:
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providing clamping means for clamping the blade to stop travel of the blade; insulating the operator against electrical contact with the blade, the band saw having control system means for monitoring for conduction of an electrical signal between the control system means and the blade in event of the operator coming into electrical contact with the blade; and monitoring for conduction of the electrical signal using the control system means, the clamping means being operable to clamp the blade upon detection of the conduction of the electrical signal by the control system means and the control system means being conductively connected to the blade.
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38-47. -47. (canceled)
Specification