Table saw

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10792834-B2
Application number	US-201815947985-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 9, 2018
Priority date	Jun 5, 2017
Publication date	Oct 6, 2020
Grant date	Oct 6, 2020

Abstract

A table saw includes a table, a saw unit movably coupled underneath the table, a riving knife extending through the table, and a quick-release assembly selectively coupling the riving knife to the table. The quick-release assembly includes a mounting plate coupled to the table and a clamping plate movable relative to the mounting plate between a clamping position, in which the riving knife is clamped between the mounting plate and the clamping plate to secure the riving knife to the table, and a release position, in which the riving knife is releasable from the table. The quick-release assembly further includes a pin coupled for movement with the clamping plate and a handle pivotably coupled to the pin. The pin has a cam portion engageable with the saw unit. The clamping plate is movable between the clamping position and the release position in response to pivoting movement of the handle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A table saw comprising:
a table;
a saw unit movably coupled underneath the table;
a riving knife extending through an opening in the table and aligned with a saw blade extending through the opening; and
a quick-release assembly selectively coupling the riving knife to the table, the quick-release assembly including
a mounting plate fixedly coupled to the saw unit,
a clamping plate that is movable relative to the mounting plate between a clamping position, in which the riving knife can be clamped between the mounting plate and the clamping plate to secure the riving knife to the table, and a release position, in which the riving knife is releasable from the table,
a pin having a first end coupled for movement with the clamping plate between the clamping position and the release position, and
a handle pivotably mounted to a second end of the pin and including a cam portion engageable with a saw unit frame, wherein the handle pivots about an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the pin, wherein the clamping plate is movable between the clamping position and the release position in response to pivoting movement of the handle.

2. The table saw of claim 1 , further comprising parallel fasteners anchored to the mounting plate along which the clamping plate is slidable relative to the mounting plate.

3. The table saw of claim 1 , wherein the pin further includes a reduced-diameter section and an adjacent cylindrical section that is adjacent the clamping plate.

4. The table saw of claim 3 , wherein the riving knife includes a vertical slot having a width less than a diameter of the cylindrical section of the pin, but greater than the reduced-diameter section.

5. The table saw of claim 4 , wherein the riving knife further includes an aperture coexistent with the vertical slot, and wherein the aperture includes a nominally larger diameter than the cylindrical section of the pin.

6. The table saw of claim 5 , wherein the cylindrical section of the pin is received in the aperture when the clamping plate is in the clamping position, thereby locking the riving knife to the mounting plate and the saw unit.

7. The table saw of claim 1 , wherein the quick-release assembly further includes a compression spring biasing the clamping plate toward the release position.

8. The table saw of claim 1 , wherein the pin protrudes through the mounting plate.

9. The table saw of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the pin is pivotably coupled to the handle about a pivot axis.

10. The table saw of claim 9 , wherein the cam portion is in sliding contact with a stationary intermediate bracket mounted to the saw unit frame.

11. The table saw of claim 10 , wherein the cam portion defines a progressively changing radius of contact between the pivot axis and the intermediate bracket, thereby imparting translation to the pin as the handle is rotated in a direction coinciding with an increasing radius of contact.

12. The table saw of claim 1 , further comprising:
a spindle rotatably coupled to the table for driving the saw blade;
at least one flange plate coupled for co-rotation with the spindle for clamping the saw blade to the spindle;
an actuator movable relative to the spindle between a release position, in which the actuator is disengaged from the spindle, and a lockout position, in which the actuator is engaged with the spindle or the flange plate to prevent rotation of the spindle to facilitate changing the saw blade; and
a spring biasing the actuator toward the release position.

13. The table saw of claim 12 , wherein the actuator is slidable relative to the spindle along an axis that is transverse relative to a longitudinal axis of the spindle.

14. The table saw of claim 12 , wherein the actuator includes a protrusion on a first end thereof that is engageable with the spindle or flange plate when in the lockout position.

15. The table saw of claim 14 , wherein the actuator includes a tab on a second end thereof that is user-manipulable to displace the actuator from the release position toward the lockout position.

16. The table saw of claim 15 , wherein the actuator is slidable relative to the spindle along an axis that is transverse relative to a longitudinal axis of the spindle, and wherein the tab is oriented transverse to the actuator axis.

17. The table saw of claim 14 , wherein the protrusion is receiveable in one of multiple slots defined in the spindle or the flange plate to lock rotation of the spindle.

18. The table saw of claim 12 , further comprising a bracket rotatably supporting the spindle relative to the table, wherein the bracket defines a pocket in which the spring is at least partially positioned.

19. The table saw of claim 18 , wherein a first end of the spring is seated against a bottom surface of the pocket, and wherein a second end of the spring is seated against a portion of the actuator.

20. The table saw of claim 19 , wherein the actuator is slidable relative to the spindle along an axis that is transverse relative to a longitudinal axis of the spindle, and wherein the actuator includes a finger extending away from the actuator axis against which the second end of the spring is seated.

21. The table saw of claim 20 , wherein the finger is abutted against a top surface of the pocket when the actuator is in the release position.

22. The table saw of claim 18 , wherein the bracket is a first bracket, and wherein the table saw further comprises a second bracket attached to the first bracket between which the actuator is held.

23. The table saw of claim 22 , wherein at least one of the first bracket or second bracket defines a slot in which the actuator is slidable relative to the spindle between the release position and the lockout position.

24. The table saw of claim 12 , wherein the actuator is positioned underneath the table.

25. The table saw of claim 24 , wherein the actuator is accessible through the opening in the table.

26. The table saw of claim 1 , further comprising:
a blade height adjustment mechanism operable to raise and lower the saw unit relative to the table, the blade height adjustment mechanism including
a first drive shaft defining a first rotational axis to which a first bevel gear is coupled for co-rotation, and
a second drive shaft defining a second rotational axis to which a second bevel gear is coupled for co-rotation,

wherein the second rotational axis is perpendicular to the first rotational axis, wherein the second drive shaft is threaded to the saw unit such that rotation of the second drive shaft moves the saw unit in a direction parallel to the second rotational axis,
wherein the first and second bevel gears are meshed for transferring torque from the first drive shaft to the second drive shaft, and wherein a ratio of teeth on the second bevel gear to the teeth on the first bevel gear, respectively, is between about 0.5:1 and about 0.75:1.

27. The table saw of claim 26 , wherein the ratio of teeth on the second bevel gear to the teeth on the first bevel gear is approximately 0.52:1.

28. The table saw of claim 26 , wherein the blade height adjustment mechanism further includes a support shaft parallel with the second drive shaft for guiding translation of the saw unit.

29. The table saw of claim 28 , wherein the support shaft is cylindrical and non-threaded, thereby pe

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Garces Daniel R
• Mergener Travis
• Li Zhi Bin
• Jiang hai feng
• Richards Daryl S

Classifications

• Y10T83/773

  Work-support includes passageway for tool [e.g., slotted table] · CPC title

• Y10T83/2077

  By kerf entering guide · CPC title

• B27G19/02

  for circular saws · CPC title

• B23D45/068

  the saw blade being adjustable according to depth or angle of cut (B23D45/061, B23D45/065 take precedence) · CPC title

• B27G19/08 Primary

  Accessories for keeping open the saw kerf, e.g. riving knives or wedge plates · CPC title