Miter saw with improved safety system

• US 6,826,988 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2002
• Issued: 12/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sawstop Holding LLC
• Original Assignee: SD3, LLC
• Inventors: Fulmer, J. David, Gass, Stephen F.
• Primary Examiner(s): ASHLEY, BOYER DOLINGER
• Application Number:
  US10/052,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20020059854A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: 833/97, 833/971, 834/712, 834/713, 834/75, 834/77, 834/771, 834/56, 834/722, 83D/IG.1, 835/69, 835/61, 835/81, 834/91, 83/58, 83/621, 56/104, 56/113, 144/182.5, 144/356, 144/384, 144/391, 144/427, 144/286.5, 337/1, 337/5, 337/10, 337/17, 337/70, 337/189, 337/148, 337/170, 337/180, 337/237, 337/288, 411/7, 411/39, 411/350, 74/2, 748/14, 102/437, 102/464, 102/438, 102/377, 335/147, 335/1, 335/132, 155/87.7, 155/87.74, 155/87.77, 155/826, 155/376, 155/379, 307/142, 307/115, 307/117, 307/131, 307/326, 152/129.B, 152/133, 152/149, 152/194, 152/137, 152/138, 340/690, 340/563, 340/590, 361/623, 361/103, 361/1, 361/124, 361/105, 303/82, 303/81, 169/42, 318/362, 403/2
• US Class Current: 83/62.1
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 45/06 with a circular saw blade arranged underneath a stationary work-table
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 47/08 of devices for bringing the circular saw blade to the workpiece or removing same therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 55/08 of devices for guiding or feeding strap saw blades
• 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: B27B 13/14 Braking devices specially designed for band sawing machines, e.g. acting after damage of the band saw blade
• 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 83/081 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 83/7697 Tool angularly adjustable relative to work-support
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7726 By movement of the tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7788 Tool carrier oscillated or rotated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/8773 Bevel or miter cut
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/8786 Oscillating tool

Abstract

A woodworking machine is disclosed having a base, a blade, 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 and/or to stop movement of the blade toward the cutting zone.

Claims

1. A woodworking machine comprising:

a base assembly defining a cutting zone;

operative structure movably coupled to the base assembly;

a movable cutting tool mounted on the operative structure and configured to cut workpieces in the cutting zone when the operative structure is moved toward the cutting zone;

a motor configured to move the cutting tool;

a detection system configured to detect one or more dangerous conditions between a person and the cutting tool; and

a reaction system configured to stop the movements of the cutting tool and the operative structure in response to the detection of a dangerous condition by the detection system, where the reaction system is coupled to the operative structure and configured to selectively engage both the cutting tool and the base assembly;

where the reaction system includes a first braking element configured to engage the cutting tool, and a second braking element configured to engage the base assembly; and

where the first and second braking elements are pivotally coupled together.

2. The woodworking machine of claim 1, where the reaction system includes a biasing mechanism configured to urge the first braking element into engagement with the cutting tool.

3. The woodworking machine of claim 1, where the biasing mechanism is configured to urge the second braking element into engagement with the base assembly.

4. The woodworking machine of claim 1, where the first braking element is configured to urge the second braking element into engagement with the base assembly.

5. A woodworking machine comprising;

a base assembly defining a cutting zone;

operative structure movably coupled to the base assembly;

a movable cutting tool mounted on the operative structure and configured to cut workpieces in the cutting zone when the operative structure is moved toward the cutting zone;

a motor configured to move the cutting too;

a detection system configured to detect one or more dangerous conditions between a person and the cutting tool; and

a reaction system configured to stop the movements of the cutting tool and the operative structure in response to the detection of a dangerous condition by the detection system, where the reaction system is coupled to the operative structure and configured to selectively engage both the cutting tool and the base assembly;

where the reaction system includes a first braking element configured to engage the cutting tool, and a second braking element configured to engage the base assembly; and

where the reaction system includes a biasing mechanism configured to urge the second braking element into engagement with the base assembly, and where the first braking element is configured to releasably restrain the second braking element against the urging of the biasing mechanism.

6. The woodworking machine of claim 5, where the second braking element includes anchor structure, and where the first braking element includes grappling structure configured to releasably grip the anchor structure.

7. A miter saw comprising:

a base assembly;

a pivot arm assembly movably coupled to the base assembly;

a rotatable blade mounted on the pivot arm assembly;

a motor configured to drive the blade;

a detection system configured to detect accidental contact between a person and the blade; and

a reaction system coupled to the pivot arm assembly and configured to stop both the movement of the pivot arm assembly and the rotation of the blade upon the detection of contact by the detection system;

where the reaction system includes a first braking element configured to engage and stop the movement of the blade, and a second braking element configured to engage the base assembly and stop the movement of the pivot arm assembly, where the first braking element is configured to urge the second braking element into engagement with the base assembly.

8. The miter saw of claim 7, where the first and second braking elements are pivotally coupled together.