Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100050843 | Table saw - Table saws and table saws designed to incorporate safety systems are disclosed. The table saws may include vertical slide elevation mechanisms positioned toward the rear of the saw and constructed so that an arbor block and blade can retract when a safety system detects an unsafe condition. Other table saw parts and components are also disclosed. | 03-04-2010 |
20100083804 | Discrete proximity detection system - A machine is described having at least one dangerous portion. The machine also includes a safety system to detect dangerous proximity between a person and the dangerous portion and perform a predetermined action to limit or prevent injury to the person from the dangerous portion. The machine may include high voltage generation means, connection means, and electronic detection means. | 04-08-2010 |
20100132524 | Contact detection system for power equipment - A woodworking machine having one or more dangerous portions is disclosed. The machine also includes a safety system configured to detect accidental contact between a person and at least one of the dangerous portions by electrically coupling a signal to the person's body, and detecting if the signal becomes coupled to the dangerous portion. | 06-03-2010 |
20100180739 | Apparatus and method for detecting dangerous conditions in power equipment - Woodworking machines are disclosed having electrically conductive cutting tools adapted to cut workpieces. The machines include a contact detection system capacitively coupled to the cutting tool, and adapted to detect contact between a person and the cutting tool. The machines also include a reaction system configured to cause one or more predetermined actions to take place upon detection of contact between a person and the cutting tool by the contact detection system. | 07-22-2010 |
20100213018 | Brake mechanism for power equipment - Brake pawls for use in safety systems for power equipment are disclosed. The brake pawls include an energy-absorbing region. The energy absorbing regions may include a deformable or collapsible region made from apertures in the brake pawl or from collapsible members or from materials of differing hardnesses, strengths, or structures. | 08-26-2010 |
20100236663 | Power equipment with detection and reaction systems - Woodworking machines and safety methods for use with those machines are disclosed. The machines include a detection system adapted to detect one or more dangerous conditions and a reaction system associated with the detection system. The reaction system can include an explosive to trigger the system, and also can be configured to retract a cutting tool at least partially away from a cutting region upon detection of a dangerous condition by the detection system. | 09-23-2010 |
20100263509 | Miter saw with safety system - A miter saw is 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 retract the blade from the cutting zone. | 10-21-2010 |
20100288095 | Table saws with safety systems - Table saws are disclosed. The table saws may include a circular blade, an elevation mechanism configured to raise and lower the blade relative to the work surface; and a spring to provide a force biasing the blade up or down relative to the work surface. The spring may be a gas spring connected between a trunnion and an elevation plate. | 11-18-2010 |
20110023670 | Power equipment with detection and reaction systems - Woodworking machines and safety methods for use with those machines are disclosed. The machines include a detection system adapted to detect one or more dangerous conditions and a reaction system associated with the detection system. The reaction system can include an explosive to trigger the system, and also can be configured to retract a cutting tool at least partially away from a cutting region upon detection of a dangerous condition by the detection system. | 02-03-2011 |
20110023673 | Power equipment with detection and reaction systems - Woodworking machines and safety methods for use with those machines are disclosed. The machines include a detection system adapted to detect one or more dangerous conditions and a reaction system associated with the detection system. The reaction system can include an explosive to trigger the system, and also can be configured to retract a cutting tool at least partially away from a cutting region upon detection of a dangerous condition by the detection system. | 02-03-2011 |
20110056351 | Table saw with improved safety system - A table saw having a reaction system configured to take a predetermined action to mitigate injury upon detection of a dangerous condition is disclosed. The reaction system has a component in a predetermined orientation relative to the blade and the component is configured to maintain its orientation relative to the blade as the blade is raised and lowered. | 03-10-2011 |
20110061769 | Detection systems for power equipment - Methods to detect when a human body contacts a predetermined portion of a machine are disclosed. The methods distinguish contact with a person from contact with other materials. The methods are particularly applicable in woodworking equipment such as power saws to distinguish contact between a person and the blade of the saw from contact between the blade and wet or green wood. Woodworking machines and memory devices for use in woodworking machines having safety systems designed to detect a dangerous condition between a human and a dangerous portion of the woodworking machine and to trigger some action to mitigate the dangerous condition are also disclosed. | 03-17-2011 |
20110072942 | Power equipment with detection and reaction systems - Woodworking machines and safety methods for use with those machines are disclosed. The machines include a detection system adapted to detect one or more dangerous conditions and a reaction system associated with the detection system. The reaction system can include an explosive to trigger the system, and also can be configured to retract a cutting tool at least partially away from a cutting region upon detection of a dangerous condition by the detection system. | 03-31-2011 |
20110126682 | Table saws with safety systems and systems to mount and index attachments - Table saws and table saws designed to implement safety systems that detect contact between a person and a dangerous portion of the saw are disclosed. Table saw components, mounting systems for table saws, and table saw attachments are also disclosed. One embodiment may include a first clamp surface, a second clamp surface spaced apart from the first clamp surface so that a base portion of a riving knife or splitter can be placed between the clamp surfaces with the opposing sides of the base portion generally parallel to the first and second clamp surfaces. | 06-02-2011 |
20110138978 | Brake cartridges for power equipment - Safety systems for power equipment and components and brake cartridges for use in those safety systems are disclosed. The safety systems, components and brake cartridges are specifically applicable for woodworking equipment such as saws. An exemplary brake cartridge includes a housing and a braking component configured to engage a moving part of the power tool upon occurrence of a predetermined event. The brake cartridge may further include a switch configured so that proper installation of the cartridge in the power tool triggers the switch. | 06-16-2011 |
20110203438 | Table saw insert with lock-down mechanism - Inserts for table saws are disclosed. The table inserts are equipped with a toolless locking mechanism that mechanically holds the insert in place and which allows for the installation and removal of the insert without the use of tools. The locking mechanism is easy to lock and unlock and yet robust enough to hold a zero-clearance insert in place. | 08-25-2011 |
20120024427 | Detection systems for power equipment - Methods to detect when a human body contacts a predetermined portion of a machine are disclosed. The methods distinguish contact with a person from contact with other materials. The methods are particularly applicable in woodworking equipment such as table saws to distinguish contact between a person and the blade of the saw from contact between the blade and wet or green wood. The methods and woodworking equipment may include predictive blade stop algorithms that prevent unnecessary activations of a safety brake during coast down of a blade and continued protection in the event a main power switch is turned off. | 02-02-2012 |
20120042763 | Table saw throat plates and table saws including the same - Throat plates for table saws and table saws including the same are disclosed. In some embodiments, the throat plates and/or saws include at least one securement mechanism adapted to secure and prevent inadvertent removal of the throat plate from the throat of the saw. In some embodiments, at least one of the securement mechanisms also provides a height adjustment mechanism and/or prevents vertical removal of the throat plate. In some embodiments, the throat plate includes an accessory mounting port that provides a portal for accessories, including safety accessories, to extend through the plate from beneath the table of the saw. In some embodiments, the port extends from the plate's outer perimeter to divide the plate's rear end portion into a pair of spaced-apart members. In some embodiments, these members are independently secured to the table saw and retained apart from each other by one or more of the securement mechanisms. | 02-23-2012 |
20120067182 | Apparatus and method for detecting dangerous conditions in power equipment - Woodworking machines are disclosed having electrically conductive cutting tools adapted to cut workpieces. The machines include a contact detection system capacitively coupled to the cutting tool, and adapted to detect contact between a person and the cutting tool. The machines also include a reaction system configured to cause one or more predetermined actions to take place upon detection of contact between a person and the cutting tool by the contact detection system. | 03-22-2012 |
20120137848 | Miter saw with improved safety system - 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. | 06-07-2012 |
20120168032 | Detection systems for power equipment - Methods to detect when a human body contacts a predetermined portion of a machine are disclosed. The methods distinguish contact with a person from contact with other materials. The methods are particularly applicable in woodworking equipment such as power saws to distinguish contact between a person and the blade of the saw from contact between the blade and wet or green wood. Woodworking machines and memory devices for use in woodworking machines having safety systems designed to detect a dangerous condition between a human and a dangerous portion of the woodworking machine and to trigger some action to mitigate the dangerous condition are also disclosed. | 07-05-2012 |
20120186699 | Detection systems for power equipment - Methods to detect when a human body contacts a predetermined portion of a machine are disclosed. The methods distinguish contact with a person from contact with other materials. The methods are particularly applicable in woodworking equipment such as power saws to detect contact between a person and the blade of the saw. Woodworking machines and memory devices for use in woodworking machines having safety systems designed to detect a dangerous condition between a human and a dangerous portion of the woodworking machine and to trigger some action to mitigate the dangerous condition are also disclosed. | 07-26-2012 |
20120216665 | Blade guard a table saw - Blade guards for table saws are disclosed. The blade guards can be used in a configuration where the guard holds a work piece against a work surface. This may be thought of as blade guards with hold-down capability. The blade guards also include splitters and anti-kickback assemblies. The anti-kickback assemblies include anti-kickback pawls that can be in an operable configuration or a disabled configuration. | 08-30-2012 |
20120260782 | POWER EQUIPMENT WITH DETECTION AND REACTION SYSTEMS - Woodworking machines and safety methods for use with those machines are disclosed. The machines include a detection system adapted to detect one or more dangerous conditions and a reaction system associated with the detection system. The reaction system can include an explosive to trigger the system, and also can be configured to retract a cutting tool at least partially away from a cutting region upon detection of a dangerous condition by the detection system. | 10-18-2012 |
20140165801 | LOGIC CONTROL FOR FAST-ACTING SAFETY SYSTEM - Woodworking machines including cutting tools and motors adapted to drive the cutting tools are disclosed. The machines also include a detection system adapted to detect a dangerous condition between the cutting tool and a person, and a reaction system adapted to perform a specified action upon detection of the dangerous condition. The machines further include a control system adapted to test the operability of at least a portion of the detection system and/or the reaction system. The control system is adapted to disable the motor if the tested portion is inoperable. | 06-19-2014 |
20140290455 | APPARATUS FOR DETECTING DANGEROUS CONDITIONS IN POWER EQUIPMENT - Woodworking machines are disclosed having electrically conductive cutting tools adapted to cut workpieces. The machines include a contact detection system capacitively coupled to the cutting tool, and adapted to detect contact between a person and the cutting tool. The machines also include a reaction system configured to cause one or more predetermined actions to take place upon detection of contact between a person and the cutting tool by the contact detection system. | 10-02-2014 |
20140360819 | BRAKE CARTRIDGES AND MOUNTING SYSTEMS FOR BRAKE CARTRIDGES - Safety systems for power equipment, components, cartridges and mounting systems for cartridges are disclosed. The safety systems, components, cartridges and mounting systems are specifically applicable for woodworking equipment such as saws. A cartridge system for use in safety systems for power tools might include a cartridge adapted to perform a predetermined action when triggered, where the predetermined action causes the deceleration and/or retraction of a working portion of the power tool, where the cartridge includes a first connector, and where a second connector is mounted in the power tool and adapted to connect to the first connector. | 12-11-2014 |
20150020668 | BLADE TILT MECHANISMS FOR TABLE SAWS - Blade tilt mechanisms for table saws are disclosed. The disclosed tilt mechanisms provide easy and intuitive operation. They also provide auto-locking so that a user simply releases a component to lock the blade at a specific angle. The tilt mechanisms also provide defined incremental steps for the tilt of the blade and the steps are typically spaced at 1-degree intervals. | 01-22-2015 |
20150020669 | BLADE ELEVATION MECHANISMS AND ANTI-BACKDRIVE MECHANISMS FOR TABLE SAWS - Elevation mechanisms for table saws and anti-backdrive mechanisms for use in elevation mechanisms for table saws are disclosed. The anti-backdrive mechanisms typically include three sub-assemblies: an input assembly, an output assembly, and a fixed assembly. The anti-backdrive mechanisms prevent a torque related to the output assembly from changing the blade elevation. For example, the weight of the blade and the structure supporting the blade is prevented from backdriving the elevation mechanism and allowing the blade to drop. | 01-22-2015 |
20150040737 | TABLE SAWS WITH SAFETY SYSTEMS AND SYSTEMS TO MOUNT AND INDEX ATTACHMENTS - Table saws and table saws designed to implement safety systems that detect contact between a person and a dangerous portion of the saw are disclosed. Table saw components, mounting systems for table saws, and table saw attachments are also disclosed. One embodiment may include a first clamp surface, a second clamp surface spaced apart from the first clamp surface so that a base portion of a riving knife or splitter can be placed between the clamp surfaces with the opposing sides of the base portion generally parallel to the first and second clamp surfaces. | 02-12-2015 |