Brake mechanism for power equipment

• US 7,788,999 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2006
• Issued: 09/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sawstop Holding LLC
• Original Assignee: SD3, LLC
• Inventors: McDonald, Anwyl M., D'Ascenzo, David S., Jensen, Joel F., Gass, Stephen F., Johnston, Andrew L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alie; Ghassem
• Application Number:
  US11/401,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20060179983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,611 Days
• Field of Search: 83/58, 834/772, 83D/IG.1, 835/81, 83/621, 837/81, 834/90, 83/62, 834/771, 834/71, 836/391, 834/77, 83/74, 834/78, 833/97, 361/143, 361/364, 361/445, 318/364, 318/445, 307/39, 144/2.1
• US Class Current: 83/13
• 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: B26D 5/00 Arrangements for operating and controlling machines or devices for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/22 Safety devices specially adapted for cutting machines safety devices in general F16P
• 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 B23D47/005 takes precedence
• 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 83/04 Processes
• 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 83/613 Work guard
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7693 Tool moved relative to work-support during cutting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7697 Tool angularly adjustable relative to work-support
• 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 83/8773 Bevel or miter cut

Abstract

Woodworking machines are disclosed having cutting tools adapted to cut workpieces. The machines include a detection system adapted to detect one or more dangerous conditions between a person and the cutting tool. The machines also include a brake mechanism having one or more braking components adapted to engage and stop the cutting tool in response to the detection of a dangerous condition.

Claims

1. A method for minimizing potential injuries from a woodworking machine having a rotatable blade with one or more teeth, the method comprising:

detecting one or more dangerous conditions between a person and the blade; and

stopping the rotation of the blade if one of the dangerous conditions is detected by pivoting a brake into the teeth of the blade so that at least one tooth of the blade cuts into the brake to draw the brake into tighter engagement with the blade.

2. The method of claim 1 where the limitation of stopping the rotation of the blade is performed by pivoting a brake at least partially formed of metal into the teeth of the blade.

3. The method of claim 1 where the limitation of stopping the rotation of the blade is performed by pivoting a brake at least partially formed of plastic into the teeth of the blade.

4. The method of claim 1 where the limitation of stopping the rotation of the blade is performed by pivoting a brake at least partially formed of aluminum into the teeth of the blade.

5. The method of claim 1 where the teeth of the blade have a given hardness and where the limitation of stopping the rotation of the blade is performed by pivoting a brake with a blade-contacting region having a hardness less than the hardness of the teeth.

6. The method of claim 1 where the teeth of the blade are metal and have a given hardness, where the brake includes a blade-contacting region made at least partially of metal, and where the metal of the blade-contacting region has a hardness less than the hardness of the teeth.

7. The method of claim 1 where the teeth of the blade have a given hardness, where the brake includes a blade-contacting region made at least partially of aluminum, and where the aluminum of the blade-contacting region has a hardness less than the hardness of the teeth.

8. The method of claim 1 where the teeth of the blade have a given hardness, where the brake includes a blade-contacting region made at least partially of plastic, and where the plastic of the blade-contacting region has a hardness less than the hardness of the teeth.

9. A method for minimizing potential injuries from a woodworking machine having a rotatable blade with one or more teeth, the method comprising:

detecting one or more dangerous conditions between a person and the blade; and

decelerating the rotation of the blade if one of the dangerous conditions is detected by pivoting a pawl into the teeth of the blade so that at least one tooth of the blade cuts into the pawl to draw the pawl into tighter engagement with the blade.

10. The method of claim 9 where the limitation of decelerating the rotation of the blade is performed by pivoting a pawl at least partially formed of metal into the teeth of the blade.

11. The method of claim 9 where the limitation of decelerating the rotation of the blade is performed by pivoting a pawl at least partially formed of plastic into the teeth of the blade.

12. The method of claim 9 where the limitation of decelerating the rotation of the blade is performed by pivoting a pawl at least partially formed of aluminum into the teeth of the blade.

13. The method of claim 9 where the teeth of the blade have a given hardness and where the limitation of decelerating the rotation of the blade is performed by pivoting a pawl with a blade-contacting region having a hardness less than the hardness of the teeth.

14. The method of claim 9 where the teeth of the blade are metal and have a given hardness, where the pawl includes a blade-contacting region made at least partially of metal, and where the metal of the blade-contacting region has a hardness less than the hardness of the teeth.

15. The method of claim 9 where the teeth of the blade have a given hardness, where the pawl includes a blade-contacting region made at least partially of aluminum, and where the aluminum of the blade-contacting region has a hardness less than the hardness of the teeth.

16. A method for minimizing potential injuries from a woodworking machine having a rotatable blade with one or more teeth, the method comprising:

detecting one or more dangerous conditions between a person and the blade; and

a step for stopping the rotation of the blade if one of the dangerous conditions is detected by pivoting a brake into the teeth of the blade so that the teeth cut into the brake to draw the brake into tighter engagement with the blade.