Plunge type router

• US 4,319,860 A
• Filed: 02/29/1980
• Issued: 03/16/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Beares, Allen G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bilinsky, Z. R.
• Application Number:
  US06/125,957
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 409/182, 409/184, 144/134 D, 144/136 C, 144/144.5, 408/14, 408/112
• US Class Current: 409/182
• CPC Class Codes: B27C 5/10 Portable hand-operated wood-milling machines; Routers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/18 with stopping upon completion of prescribed operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/306608 End mill [e.g., router, etc.]

Abstract

A plunge type router is disclosed which includes an improved depth lock system operative to exert a clamping force directly on the motor housing and which distributes the clamping force over a substantial surface area thereof whereby the motor housing may be securely retained in position without damaging or distorting the housing. An adjustable depth stop system is also provided which provides a positive, easily, accurately adjustable stop member engageable by a portion of the motor housing and an associated rack and pinion adjustment assembly operative to accurately locate the stop member so as to provide positive control of the depth of cut.

Claims

1. In a plunge type router including a motor housing having a driving motor provided therein including a driving shaft extending outwardly from the lower end thereof, said driving shaft being adapted to have a cutting tool secured thereto, a base housing having a work engaging flange portion and a main body portion extending upwardly therefrom, said main body portion having a bore extending therethrough, said motor housing being supported within said bore and axially movable with respect to said base housing between a retracted position in which said cutting tool is positioned above said work engaging flange portion and an outwardly extended position in which said cutting tool projects below said work engaging flange portion a predetermined distance, improved means for selecting said predetermined distance and locking said driving motor in said extended position comprising:

first and second locking flange means projecting generally radially outwardly from said main body portion, said flange portions being positioned in circumferentially spaced relationship and in part defining an opening therebetween in a sidewall of said main body portion; and

means for exerting a pulling force on each of said first and second flange means to thereby move said first and second flange means toward each other, said movement being operative to restrict the diameter of said bore whereby a clamping force is exerted on said motor housing so as to lock said motor housing in said extended position;

a stop member including an axially elongated flange portion movably positioned on the outer surface of said main body portion and a stop flange portion extending radially inwardly from said elongated flange portion, said stop flange portion being engageable with a lower end of said motor housing so as to prevent outward movement of said cutting tool beyond said predetermined distance.

rack means provided on a radially inwardly facing surface of said elongated flange portion;

a pair of spaced substantially parallel outwardly extending axially elongated guide flange portions provided on said main body portion, said elongated flange portion being positioned between said guide flange and said guide flange having opposed surfaces operative to guide axial movement of said stop means,

a rotatable shaft extending through aligned openings provided in each of said guide flange portions;

gear means provided on said rotatable shaft, said gear means being in meshing engagement with said rack whereby said rotatable shaft is operative to axially move said stop means; and

clamp means operative to clamp said stop means to said main body portion in a preselected position whereby said stop flange will operate to prevent outward movement of said cutting tool beyond said predetermined distance.

2. A plunge type router as set forth in claim 1 wherein said main body portion further includes a pair of axially spaced circumferentially extending slots positioned immediately adjacent either axial side of said first and second flange means and extending through said opening, said slots being operative to facilitate relative movement to said first and second flange means.

3. In a plunge type router including a motor housing having a driving motor provided therein, a base housing having a work engaging flange portion and a main body portion extending upwardly therefrom, said main body portion being provided with a bore extending therethrough, said motor housing being supported within said bore and axially movable with respect to said base housing between a retracted position and a preselected extended position, improved means for preselecting said extended position comprising:

stop means axially movably secured to said main body portion of said base housing, said stop means including a flange portion extending radially inwardly into said base engageable with a lower peripheral edge portion of said motor housing so as to limit axial movement of said motor housing to said preselected position when said stop means is positioned in said predetermined position;

said stop means further including an axially elongated flange portion having an elongated slot provided therein and positioned on a radially outer surface of said main body portion;

guide means for guiding axial movement of said stop means, said guide means including a pair of axially elongated radially outwardly substantially parallel guide flange portions formed on said main body portion, opposite surfaces of said guide flange portions being operative to guide axial movement of said stop means;

drive means operative to move said stop means into a predetermined position, said drive means including a rotatable shaft extending through aligned openings provided in said guide flange portions and gear means provided on said shaft;

said elongated flange portion of said stop means further including a rack positioned in meshing engagement with said gear means whereby said rotatable member is operative to move said stop means; and

clamp means operative to clamp said stop means in said predetermined position, said clamp means including a member extending through said slot in said elongated flange portion of said stop means and engageable with an outer surface of said flange portion.

4. In a plunge type router including a motor housing having a driving motor provided therein including a driving shaft extending outwardly from the lower end thereof, said driving shaft being adapted to have cutting tool secured thereto, a base housing having a work engaging flange portion and a main body portion extending upwardly therefrom, said main body portion having a bore extending therethrough, said motor housing being supported within said bore and axially movable with respect to said base housing between a retracted position in which said cutting tool is positioned above said work engaging flange portion and an outwardly extended position in which said cutting tool projects below said work engaging flange portion a predetermined distance, improved means for selecting said predetermined distance comprising:

a stop member including an axially elongated flange portion having an elongated slot provided therein and movably positioned on the outer surface of said main body portion and a stop flange portion extending radially inwardly from said elongated flange portion, said stop flange portion being engageable with said lower end of said motor housing so as to prevent outward movement of said cutting tool beyond said predetermined distance;

rack means provided on a radially inwardly facing surface of said elongated flange portion;

a pair of spaced substantially parallel outwardly extending axially elongated guide flange portions provided on said main body portion, said elongated flange portion being positioned between said guide flanges and said guide flange having opposed surfaces operative to guide axial movement of said stop means;

a rotatable shaft extending through aligned openings provided in each of said guide flange portions;

gear means provided on said rotatable shaft, said gear means being in meshing engagement with said rack whereby said rotatable shaft is operative to axially move said stop member; and

clamp means operative to clamp said stop means to said main body portion in a preselected position whereby said stop flange will operate to prevent outward movement of said cutting tool beyond said predetermined distance, said clamp means including a threaded member extending outwardly from said main body portion and through said slot in said stop member elongated flange portion and through said slot in said stop member elongated flange portion, and fastening means threaded on said threaded member, said fastening means being operative to clamp said elongated flange portion against said main body portion whereby said stop member may be secured in said preselected position.

5. In a plunge type router including a motor housing having a driving motor provided therein including a driving shaft extending outwardly from the lower end thereof, said driving shaft being adapted to have a cutting tool secured thereto, a base housing having a work engaging flange portion and a main body portion extending upwardly therefrom, said main body portion having a bore extending therethrough, said motor housing being supported within said bore and axially movable with respect to said base housing between a retracted position in which said cutting tool is positioned above said work engaging flange portion and an outwardly extended position in which said cutting tool projects below said work engaging flange portion a predetermined distance, improved means for selecting said predetermined distance and locking said driving motor in said extended position comprising:

first and second locking flange portions projecting generally radially outwardly from said main body portion, said locking flange portions being positioned in circumferentially spaced relationship and in part defining an opening in a sidewall of said main body portion;

a pair of circumferentially extending slots provided in said sidewall of said main body portion, said slots being positioned in substantially parallel axial spaced relationship and extending through said opening;

a pair of aligned openings extending through each of said first and second flange portions;

an elongated member having a head on one end thereof extending through said openings;

actuating means connected to the other end of said elongated member and operative in response to actuation thereof to exert a pully force between said elongated member and one of said first and second flange portions, said head being operative to exert a pulling force on the other of said first and second flange portions;

said pulling forces acting on oppositely facing surfaces of said first and second flange portions to effect a deflection thereof in a converging direction whereby the diameter of said bore is restricted in the area between said slots so as to exert a circumferential clamping force on said motor housing whereby said motor housing may be locked in said outwardly extended position;

stop means axially movably secured to said main body portion of said base housing;

guide means for guiding axial movement of said step means;

drive means operative to move said stop means into a preselected position, said stop means including a portion engageable with said motor housing so as to limit axial movement of said motor housing whereby outward movement of said cutting tool is limited to said predetermined distance when said stop means is positioned in said predetermined position;

said portion of said stop means including a flange portion extending radially inwardly into said bore and engageable with a lower peripheral edge portion and said motor housing; and

clamp means operative to clamp said stop means in said predetermined position.

6. A plunge type router as set forth in claim 5 wherein said drive means includes a rotatable member provided on said base housing, said rotatable member being operative to move said stop means.

7. In a plunge type router including a motor housing having a driving motor provided therein, a base housing having a work engaging flange portion and a main body portion extending upwardly therefrom, said main body portion having a bore extending therethrough, said motor housing being supported within said bore and axially movable with respect to said base housing between an extended and retracted position, improved depth stop means and depth lock means for setting said preselected extended position and locking said motor housing in said preselected extended position, said improved means comprising:

stop means axially movably secured to said main body housing;

means for positioning said stop means relative to said motor housing whereby said stop means will operate to prevent axial movement of said motor housing beyond said preselected extended position;

said stop means including an elongated member having a rack provided thereon and said positioning means including a rotatable shaft secured to said main body portion having gear means provided thereon, said gear means being positioned in meshing engagement with said rack whereby rotation of said shaft is operative to axially position said stop means relative to said main body portion; and

locking means provided on said main body housing for locking said motor housing in said preselected extended position, said locking means being operative to releasably exert a circumferential clamping force on a portion of said motor housing positioned within said bore whereby relative movement between said base housing and said motor housing is restricted.

8. A plunge type router as set forth in claim 7 wherein said portion of said stop means comprises a flange portion extending radially into said bore and engageable with a lower peripheral edge portion of said motor housing.