Chop/table saw arrangement

• US 5,787,779 A
• Filed: 01/29/1997
• Issued: 08/04/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Garuglieri, Andrea
• Primary Examiner(s): Peterson, Kenneth E.
• Application Number:
  US08/791,085
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 83/490, 83/471.3, 83/397, 83/589, 83/585, 83/477.1, 83/477.2, 83/471.2
• US Class Current: 83/397
• CPC Class Codes: B27B 5/165 Convertible sawing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B27B 5/29 Details; Component parts; Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/606 Interrelated tool actuating means and guard means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/613 Work guard
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7693 Tool moved relative to work-support during cutting
• 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 83/7734 With guard for tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7788 Tool carrier oscillated or rotated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/8786 Oscillating tool

Abstract

A saw (10) comprises a frame, a table (12) mounted in the frame and adapted to adopt two positions. A pivot member (14) is on a first side of the table and a saw assembly (16) is pivoted (at 18) to the pivot member. A blade (26) is journalled in the assembly and a motor (22) drives the blade. A spring (124) between the pivot member and saw assembly biasses the saw assembly away from the table a slot in the table permits the blade to protrude through the table. In a first of said two positions of the table, the saw assembly is above the table and the saw is a chop saw for performing plunge cuts on workpieces supported on said first side of the table (FIG. 1). In a second of said two positions, the saw assembly as below the table and the saw is a bench saw for performing cuts on workpieces passed through the blade on a second opposite side of the table (FIG. 2). The spring acts on an intermediate element (114, 132) which has two dispositions, in a first of which the spring supports the weight of the saw assembly when the table is in its first position. In the second disposition the spring bias is released.

Claims

1. A saw comprising a frame, a table mounted in the frame and adapted to adopt two positions, a pivot member on a first side of the table, a saw assembly pivoted with respect to the pivot member, a blade journalled in said assembly, a motor to drive the blade, spring means between the pivot member and saw assembly to bias the saw assembly away from the table, a slot in the table through which said blade is adapted to protrude, in a first of said two positions of the table the saw assembly being above the table, the saw thereby forming a chop saw for performing plunge cuts on workpieces supported on said first side of the table, and, in a second of said two positions of the table, the saw assembly being below the table and the saw thereby forming a bench saw for performing cuts on workpieces passed through the blade on a second opposite side of the table, said spring means acting on an intermediate element having two dispositions, in a first of which dispositions said spring means supports the weight of the said saw assembly when the table is in its first position and in a second of which dispositions said bias is substantially removed, and the saw further comprising an upper guard to cover an upper portion of the blade, the guard being pivoted to said assembly, and a parallelogram lever having a pivotal connection to the pivot member and upper guard whereby an orientation of said upper guard with respect to said pivot member is maintained, and an extension of said parallelogram lever co-operates with a height of cut adjustment means when said intermediate element is in its second disposition and when the saw assembly is in its second position.

2. A saw as claimed in claim 1, in which said adjustment means comprises a worm gear rotationally mounted in a carrier member, which member is adjustably connected to said pivot member, and said extension has a rack to engage said worm gear, rotation of the worm gear when engaged with said rack serving to pivot said parallelogram lever about its pivot to the pivot member to alter height of protrusion of the blade through the slot.

3. A saw as claimed in claim 2, in which said carrier member is pivoted to said pivot member and said intermediate element comprises a toggle lever pivoted to the pivot member, which toggle lever in said first disposition tensions said spring means and, in pivoting to said second disposition, releases said tension and pivots said carrier into engagement with said extension.

4. A saw as claimed in claim 3, in which said carrier and toggle lever are pivoted about the same axis in said pivot member.

5. A saw as claimed in claim 4, in which said spring means comprises a torsion spring around the pivot axis of the saw assembly in the pivot member, one end of said spring pressing against the saw assembly and the other end engaging said intermediate element.

6. A saw as claimed in claim 5, in which an intermediate lever is disposed between said other end of the spring and said intermediate element.

7. A saw as claimed in claim 6, in which said other end of the spring is pivoted to said intermediate lever about a first axis, said intermediate lever is pivoted to said intermediate element about a second axis and said intermediate element is pivoted to said pivot member about a third axis, said axes being parallel and a line joining said first and second axes lying to one side of said third axis in said first disposition of said spring and to the other side of said third axis in said second disposition.

8. A saw as claimed in claim 7, in which said spring means is neutral in said second disposition.