Woodworking machines with overmolded arbors

• US 7,472,634 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2004
• Issued: 01/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sawstop Holding LLC
• Original Assignee: SD3, LLC
• Inventors: Fanning, David A., Gass, Stephen F., Fulmer, J. David
• Primary Examiner(s): Alie; Ghassem
• Application Number:
  US10/923,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20050039822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,600 Days
• Field of Search: 83/621, 83/58, 834/713, 834/771, 834/90, 833/97, 835/89, 835/81, 833/971, 834/772, 83D/IG.1, 836/30, 832/97, 836/44, 324/678, 324/658, 324/660, 324/725, 324/706, 324/686, 192 552- 557
• US Class Current: 83/58
• 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: Y10T 83/081 With randomly actuated stopping means
• 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

Abstract

Power equipment with various safety systems is disclosed. Table saws with safety systems and/or blade retraction are disclosed. Over-molded arbors are disclosed for use in power equipment with safety systems and/or blade retraction.

Claims

1. A woodworking machine comprising:

a cutter;

a conductive arbor on which the cutter is mounted;

overmolding on at least a portion of the arbor;

a detection system adapted to detect a dangerous condition between a user and the cutter, where the detection system includes at least one electrode positioned adjacent the arbor and where the overmolding electrically insulates the electrode from the arbor;

a reaction system adapted to perform a specified action to mitigate the dangerous condition upon detection of the dangerous condition by the detection system; and

at least one bearing to support the arbor;

where the overmolding provides a bearing seat for the bearing.

2. The woodworking machine of claim 1 where the overmolding includes a flange adapted to insulate one side of the bearing.

3. A woodworking machine comprising:

a cutter;

a conductive arbor on which the cutter is mounted;

overmolding on at least a portion of the arbor;

a detection system adapted to detect a dangerous condition between a user and the cutter, where the detection system includes at least one electrode positioned adjacent the arbor and where the overmolding electrically insulates the electrode from the arbor; and

a reaction system adapted to perform a specified action to mitigate the dangerous condition upon detection of the dangerous condition by the detection system;

where the woodworking machine further includes at least two bearings to support the arbor and where the overmolding provides bearing seats for the two bearings.

4. The woodworking machine of claim 3 where the bearing seats are of different sizes.

5. The woodworking machine of claim 3 where the overmolding includes a flange adapted to insulate one side of one bearing, and further comprising a non-conductive washer positioned on the arbor adjacent one side of another bearing.

6. The woodworking machine of claim 5 further comprising a retaining clip adapted to hold the non-conductive washer in place.

7. A woodworking machine comprising:

a cutter;

a conductive arbor on which the cutter is mounted;

overmolding on at least a portion of the arbor;

a detection system adapted to detect a dangerous condition between a user and the cutter, where the detection system includes at least one electrode positioned adjacent the arbor and where the overmolding electrically insulates the electrode from the arbor; and

a reaction system adapted to perform a specified action to mitigate the dangerous condition upon detection of the dangerous condition by the detection system;

where the overmolding and electrode are positioned with an air gap of approximately 0.005 to 0.007 inches or 0.13 to 0.18 mm.

8. A woodworking machine comprising:

a cutter;

a conductive arbor on which the cutter is mounted;

overmolding on at least a portion of the arbor;

a detection system adapted to detect a dangerous condition between a user and the cutter, where the detection system includes at least one electrode positioned adjacent the arbor and where the overmolding electrically insulates the electrode from the arbor; and

a reaction system adapted to perform a specified action to mitigate the dangerous condition upon detection of the dangerous condition by the detection system;

where the overmolding has at least one section with a radial thickness different from the radial thickness of another section of the overmolding.