Cutting – Rotatable disc tool pair or tool and carrier – With means to support work relative to tool
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-01
2001-09-18
Dexter, Clark F. (Department: 3724)
Cutting
Rotatable disc tool pair or tool and carrier
With means to support work relative to tool
C083S473000, C083S486100, C083S490000, C083S581000, C083S859000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06289778
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to devices useful for supporting a workpiece relative to an adjustable tool. More particularly, the present invention relates to miter saws, compound saws, and the like.
2. Description of the Invention's Background
Many types of adjustable tool stations are known which enable a user to place a workpiece in a station and adjust the position of a tool relative to the workpiece. More specifically, many types of adjustable tool stations are known which include a tool which is adjustable relative to a fence or other part which is fixed to a base, such that a workpiece may be positioned against the fence and the tool adjusted relative thereto. An example of such a station is the Makita LS 1011 sliding compound miter saw, which is much like other stations such as the Hitachi C 8F8, the Ryobi TSS-220, the AEG SKS 300, and the Sears 23488 sliding compound miter saws.
The Makita saw includes a power saw which is rotatably mounted to a bar which slides relative to a table. The table is rotatably mounted to a base. Two portions of the base extend upwardly along either side of the table such that the base and the table form a continuous surface for a workpiece to be worked upon. The two portions also serve as attachment points for a fence which is fixed to the base and which thus remains stationary when the table rotates. In use, a workpiece is placed on the continuous surface against the fence, and the table and thus the power saw is rotatable to a desired angle relative to the workpiece.
Such an arrangement has the disadvantage, however, of requiring that the station be constructed such that the upper surfaces of the table and the two portions of the base lie in the same plane when assembled. Such a requirement requires machining within tight tolerances and very careful manufacture and assembly of the various parts of the station. These factors can greatly increase the cost to manufacture a station. Such a construction is fairly traditional, however, and generally arises from the clash between the desire to maintain a compact station and the need to fix the fence to a stationary base.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,245,533 to Batson, a station is disclosed which presents only a single workpiece support surface. Specifically, a motor operated circular miter chop saw
10
includes a cast base structure
12
having a work supporting surface
24
, and a circular saw structure
14
which is pivotable upwardly and downwardly relative to the base structure
12
, but which is otherwise fixed thereto. A fence structure
18
is provided perpendicular to the surface
24
, and is rotatably carried by the base structure
12
such that it is movable to various angles relative to the plane of a saw blade
20
of the saw structure
14
. A pair of locking means
40
are provided to lock the fence structure
18
in a desired angular orientation.
The Batson device is disadvantageous, however, in that it provides a movable rather than a fixed fence. When a user saws a particular workpiece, as when a user works on a workpiece in most types of operations, he or she presses the workpiece against the fence with a lot of force, to maintain the workpiece in the desired angular orientation relative to the saw. The constant pressure against the fence tends to urge the fence out of its desired angular orientation, especially if several cuts are made, and thus can lead to cuts which are at an unintended angle. Even with the provision of locking means it is difficult to prevent fence movement during repeated use in a work environment.
In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved adjustable tool station.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an adjustable tool table which presents a single workpiece support surface.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable tool table which is relatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable tool station which is relatively easy to disassemble and reassemble correctly when replacement of worn parts is needed.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable tool station which is relatively resistant to unintended movement of a workpiece guide surface thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above objects as well as other objects not specifically enumerated are accomplished by an adjustable tool table in accordance with the present invention. An adjustable tool station of the present invention includes a subframe, a table portion rotatably attached to the subframe, wherein the table portion includes an upper surface defining a work support plane, a tool mounted to the table portion, and a fence fixed to the subframe and extending above the work support plane, wherein the fence includes a first side and a second, opposite side. The first side constitutes a workpiece guide surface, and defines a workpiece guide area which includes all points which are closer to the first side than the second side. All portions of the subframe located within the workpiece guide area are located below the work support plane.
The objects of the present invention are also accomplished by a sliding compound miter saw which includes a subframe, a table portion rotatably attached to the subframe, wherein the table portion includes an upper surface defining a work support plane, a power saw slidably mounted to the table portion, and a fence fixed to the subframe and extending above the work support plane, wherein the fence includes a first side and a second, opposite side. The first side constitutes a workpiece guide surface, and defines a workpiece guide area which includes all points which are closer to the first side than the second side. All portions of the subframe located within the workpiece guide area are located below the work support plane.
The objects of the present invention are further accomplished by a sliding compound miter saw which includes a subframe, wherein the subframe includes a wear ring made of a relatively hard material and a base portion made of a relatively soft material and wherein the wear ring is fixed to an upper side of the base portion, a table portion, wherein the table portion includes an upper surface defining a work support plane, and a pin, wherein the pin extends into holes in the table portion and the base portion and through a hole in the wear ring to rotatably attach the table portion to the subframe and to radially locate the table portion, the wear ring, and the base portion relative to one another. The table portion is rotatable over about 102 degrees of arc relative to the subframe. The sliding compound miter saw also includes a pair of tubes slidably attached to the table portion below the work support plane, a power saw pivotally mounted to the tubes, a plurality of arcuate slots extending through the table portion, a plurality of posts extending through the arcuate slots, and a fence fixed to the posts and extending above the work support plane, wherein the fence includes a first side and a second, opposite side. The first side constitutes a workpiece guide surface, and defines a workpiece guide area which includes all points which are closer to the first side than the second side. All portions of the subframe located within the workpiece guide area are located below the work support plane. The sliding compound miter saw further includes at least three wear pads attached to an underside of the table portion, wherein the wear pads each include a contact point thereon which together define a plane generally parallel to the work support plane, the wear ring includes at least three arcuate wear zones on an upper surface thereof each extending over about 102 degrees of arc, and the wear pads contact the wear zones at the contact points to locate the work support plane in a position generally perpendicular to the workpiece guide surface.
REFERENCES:
patent: 206360 (1878-07-01), Shimer et al.
patent: 1646589
Delta International Machinery Corp.
Dexter Clark F.
Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP
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