Saw guard

• US 5,531,147 A
• Filed: 10/17/1994
• Issued: 07/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alpine Engineered Products Incorporated (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alpine Engineered Products Incorporated (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Inventors: Serban, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Rada, Rinaldi I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dexter, Clark F.
• Application Number:
  US08/323,833
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 83/478, 83/546, 83/397, 83/544, 30/391, 144/251 R, 74/613
• US Class Current: 83/478
• CPC Class Codes: B27B 5/32 Devices for securing circular saw blades to the saw spindle
• CPC Class Codes: B27G 19/02 for circular saws
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7734 With guard for tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/872 With guard means

Abstract

A guard apparatus for covering the cutting edge of a circular blade of a radial power saw includes a pivoting guard member extending over a portion of the cutting edge of the blade, mounted to rotate essentially coaxially with the blade, and a fluid driven cylinder and piston mechanism connected to the pivoting guard member for automatically rotating the pivoting guard member to an open position to expose the cutting edge of the blade to a work piece to make a cut and to a closed position upon completion of the cut. The guard apparatus preferably includes an electric circuit and valves for controlling the flow of the fluid into the cylinder and piston mechanism to cause the cylinder and piston mechanism to rotate the pivoting guard member to a closed position upon completion of a cut, a switch mechanism for operating the electric circuit, and a cam portion protruding from the pivoting guard member for bearing against and activating the switch mechanism. The guard apparatus further includes a positionally fixed guard member covering the upper half of the blade, the pivoting guard member and the switch mechanism are preferably mounted within the fixed guard member. The pivoting guard member preferably includes an inner plate having a plate mounting port, a radial flange attached to the inner plate, and an outer plate attached to the radial flange.

Claims

1. A guard apparatus for covering the cutting edge of a circular blade of a radial power saw, comprising:

a pivoting guard member extending over at least a portion of said cutting edge of said blade, and mounting means for mounting said pivoting guard member to rotate essentially coaxially with said blade,

guard rotation means for rotating said pivoting guard member to an open position to expose said cutting edge of said blade to a work piece to make a cut and to a closed position to cover the exposed cutting edge, and,

activating means for activating said guard rotation means to cause said guard rotation means to rotate said pivoting guard member to a closed position, wherein said activating means includes,

a cam portion protruding from said pivoting guard member, said cam portion having a cam surface, and

switch means cooperating with said can surface for activating said guard rotation means, said switch means comprising a switch actuator member biased to ride against said cam surface, such that movement of said switch actuator member resulting from riding over said cam surface operates said switch means.

2. A guard apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a positionally fixed guard member covering the upper half of said blade, wherein said pivoting guard member and said switch means are mounted within said fixed guard member.

3. A guard apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pivoting guard member comprises:

an inner plate having a plate mounting port,

a radial flange attached to said inner plate, and

an outer plate attached to said radial flange.

4. A guard apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said inner plate is essentially a half disk having a circumferential edge to which said radial flange is attached.

5. A guard apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said outer plate is essentially a half disk having a circumferential edge to which said radial flange is attached.