Miter saw with improved safety system

• US 8,061,246 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2010
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sawstop Holding LLC
• Original Assignee: SD3, LLC
• Inventors: Gass, Stephen F., Fulmer, J. David
• Primary Examiner(s): Alie; Ghassem
• Application Number:
  US12/661,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20100257988A1
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 83/621, 834/771, 833/971, 83D/IG.1, 835/81, 836/66, 83/72, 834/713, 83/62, 834/73, 834/88, 834/90, 83/50, 83/767, 83/481, 834/712, 834/85, 834/89, 835/74, 83/84, 838/23, 838/27, 838/26, 839/54, 834/81, 836/65, 835/22, 835/44, 834/76, 835/26, 837/68, 835/46
• US Class Current: 83/62.1
• 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 vibration-damping of sawing machines or devices working with circular saw blades B23D47/005
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 83/01 Safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/081 With randomly actuated stopping means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/088 Responsive to tool detector or work-feed-means detector
• 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 83/7788 Tool carrier oscillated or rotated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/8773 Bevel or miter cut

Abstract

Miter saws are disclosed having a base, a blade supported by the base, a detection system adapted to detect a dangerous condition between a person and the blade, and a reaction system associated with the detection system to cause a predetermined action to take place upon detection of the dangerous condition. The blade is rotatable, and moves into a cutting zone to cut a workpiece. The predetermined action may be to stop the blade from rotating, to create an impulse against movement of the blade into the cutting zone, or to cause the blade to move away from the cutting zone. The reaction system may include a brake member coupled to a housing.

Claims

1. A miter saw comprising:

a base assembly;

a housing pivotally coupled to the base assembly;

a circular blade supported at least partially within the housing;

a motor configured to rotate the blade; and

a safety system including at least one brake member disposed within the housing and adapted to engage and stop the rotation of the blade;

where the brake member is coupled to the housing by support structure configured to move the brake member within the housing and substantially circumferentially along the perimeter of the blade; and

where the housing includes at least one opening configured to allow the installation and removal of the brake member, and a cover selectively movable to cover and uncover the opening.