Cutlery – Combined cutlery or combined with ancillary feature – With material-holder or disposal
Utility Patent
1999-07-30
2001-01-02
Payer, Hwel-Slu (Department: 3724)
Cutlery
Combined cutlery or combined with ancillary feature
With material-holder or disposal
C030S390000
Utility Patent
active
06167626
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to saws and, in particular, to a dust collection port configured on the blade guard of a circular saw.
2. Scope of the Prior Art
Blade guards have long been used with circular, table, radial arm, and other types of saws that have rotating blades. As the blade rotates and cuts a material, like wood, dust is produced which is channeled through the guard. Typically, the dust exits an open lower end of the guard. The heavier saw dust will quickly settle to the floor, but the lighter dust remains suspended in the air for a period of time.
Different mechanisms have been used to confine the dust produced by the blade. The most common means provides a port, or opening, on the guard. A hose is then connected to the port so that the dust can be deposited in a drum or other container. The air currents through the guard can divert dust through the port into the hose. In addition, vacuums, such as shop-type vacuums, can also be used to pull dust through the port. Alternatively, containers that hold the dust are connected directly to the saw.
Many circular saws have the saw blade on the right side of the power tool. On saws of this style, ports are often positioned on the outer side of the guard. Because of the right side configuration of the saw, the hose does not interfere with the use of the saw. Recently, circular saws have been made that position the blade on the tool's left side. A dust collection port positioned on the outer left side of the guard, however, directs the hose towards the user thereby making it difficult to operate the saw. The hose also obstructs the view of the blade during cutting. Alternatively, other saws have the dust collection port positioned towards the front end of the guard. These ports can direct dust upwards or in front of the saw. In addition, it is known to position the port on the rear end of the guard. U.S. Pat. No. 5,327,649 to Skinner discloses a port on the rear end of the guard towards the upper end. The port is at the end of a tube that extends from the guard. U.S. Pat. No. 5,084,972 to Waugh also discloses a port on the rear end of the guard but towards the lower end. The prior art does not disclose a port on the upper end of the guard towards on the rear of the saw. Nor does it disclose a port in that position so that the hose is directed in a convenient direction when connected to a right-sided saw.
Typically, the dust collection port of the prior art remains open at all times. When the saw is operating the dust will go through the port. If a hose is not connected to the port, then the dust will be projected out of the port directly into the surrounding environment. It has been known to use a spring-loaded door to close the port so that a hose is not required. The doors known in the prior art only close the port and do not have any other function.
Hoses are connected to the port in a variety of ways. The port can be threaded so that a threaded hose can be secured in the port. The port and hose can also be configured with other known attachment mechanisms to ensure that the hose does not come detached during operation of the saw. Some of these mechanisms are cumbersome to use. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,394 to Clawers discloses a dust collection port positioned on the front end of the guard. The port has spring-loaded door to close the port. In order to connect the hose to the port and ensure that the hose does not interfere with the operation of the saw, a shoulder tube is inserted into the port. The tube is directed in the desired direction and the hose is connected to the tube. The prior art, however, does not disclose the use of a port door to secure the hose in place during operation of saw.
Prior art dust collection systems typically provide only an opening for the dust to exit the guard. Due to the shape of the guards, it is common for dust to collect in pockets formed around the port. The collection of dust can make it difficult for dust to escape through the port. Skinner and Waugh do disclose a channel that extends from the front lower end of the guard through to the port at the rear end of the guard. The saws that include those channels only capture a portion of the dust and only that dust that enters the channel. The prior art does not disclose the use of guides or other methods to direct the dust in the channel in the vicinity of the port.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention discloses a saw having a dust collection port on the blade guard that overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art. The dust collection port is positioned on the upper end of the guard towards the rear end and is angled within the guard so that when a hose is connected to the port it is directed away from the saw. In addition, the port is provided with a spring-loaded port door that is biased into the closed position to secure the hose within the port when the door is in the open position. The door is provided with a rib on its underside so that the rib will engage with the hose that is inserted in the port. The rib, and therefore the door, assists in holding the hose within the port. The guard also includes two sets of ribs within the vicinity of the port to direct the dust into the port and to prevent clogs from forming within the guard. The ribs also prevent objects from entering the guard through the port that can damage the blade during operation of the saw.
The saw of the present invention includes a main casing that houses a motor. The motor rotates a shaft to which a blade is removably connected. As is known, the blade has a plurality of teeth on its outer circumference that are used to cut a material such as wood. The saw also includes a guard that surrounds the upper portion of the blade. The guard has an upper end, a lower end, a front end and a rear end. The guard is made with a main portion that is adjacent to the main casing and a cover portion that connects to the main portion. The main and cover portions form a cavity within the guard.
The present invention provides a dust collection port on the guard. The opening or port is provided on the upper end of the guard towards and proximate the rear end. The port extends from that location on the outer surface of the guard through to the cavity within the guard. During operation of the saw, saw dust will pass through the guard and exit through the port. The port is designed to hold a hose. In the preferred embodiment the port is angled from the guard's upper rear end to the shaft so that dust will exit the guard efficiently.
A door is pivotally connected to the guard in the region of the dust collection port. The door is movable between a closed position, where it covers the port, and an open position, to provide access to the inner cavity. When the door is closed during operation of the saw, the dust exits the guard through the open lower end. When the door is open during operation of the saw, at least a portion of the dust exits the guard through the port. A torsion spring can be positioned between the door and the guard to bias the door into the closed position thereby preventing the door from inadvertently opening during operation of the saw.
The spring-biased door will also push against the hose when it is inserted into the port when the door is in the open position thereby holding the hose. On the underside of the door, at least one rib can be formed to also assist in holding the hose within the port. The rib extends laterally on the door and engages with the accordion, or ribbed, outer surface of the hose. The door can also have side flanges for pulling on the door to move it from the closed position to the open position.
As mentioned, the dust formed by the blade during operation of the saw moves through the guard to exit through the port. In order to direct the dust from the cavity to the port, the present invention provides a first set of ribs, or exit ribs, proximate the port and the outer edge of the guard. The direction of these ribs follows the angle as the port. The angle of the
Doumani Robert
Powell Dennis
Gardner Carton & Douglas
Payer Hwel-Slu
S-B Power Tool Company
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