Cam-actuated split blade housing for power operated rotary knife

A blade housing assembly for supporting an annular rotary knife blade of a power operated rotary knife for rotation about a central axis of rotation, the blade housing assembly comprising:

• a split blade housing including:
• an annular blade support section centered about a blade housing center line, an inner wall of the blade support section defining a blade bearing region;
• a mounting section extending from the blade support section;
• and a split extending through the mounting section and the inner wall of the blade support section and defining a split distance between first and second circumferential ends of the inner wall;
• the mounting section including a first body portion and a second body portion on opposite sides of the split, the first body portion including a first cam slot having a first end portion and a spaced apart second end portion and the second body portion including a second cam slot having a first end portion and a spaced apart second end portion;
• and
• a cam mechanism including:
• a cam plate bridging the first and second body portions of the mounting section of the split blade housing;
• and a cam member rotatably supported by the cam plate, the cam member rotatable between a first, closed position and a second, open position and including a first cam pin received in the first cam slot of the first body portion of the mounting section of the split blade housing and a second cam pin received in the second cam slot of the second body portion of the mounting section of the split blade housing, in the first, closed position of the cam member, the first cam pin is positioned nearer the first end portion of the first cam slot, the second cam pin is positioned nearer the first end portion of the second cam slot and the split distance between the first and second circumferential ends of the inner wall being a first value, in the second, open position of the cam member, the first cam pin is positioned nearer the second end portion of the first cam slot, the second cam pin is positioned nearer the second end portion of the second cam slot and the split distance between the first and second circumferential ends of the inner wall being a second value.

A power operated rotary knife comprising:

• an annular rotary knife blade supported for rotation about a central axis of rotation;
• an elongated handle assembly extending along a longitudinal axis;
• a frame body coupled to a distal end of the elongated handle assembly, the frame body including a mounting pedestal;
• and
• a blade housing assembly coupled to the frame body and supporting the annular rotary knife blade for rotation about the central axis of rotation, the blade housing assembly including:
• a split blade housing including:
• an annular blade support section centered about a blade housing center line and including an inner wall;
• a mounting section extending from the blade support section;
• and a split extending through the mounting section and the inner wall of the blade support section and defining a split distance between first and second circumferential ends of the inner wall;
• the mounting section including a first body portion and a second body portion on opposite sides of the split, the first body portion including a first cam slot having a first end portion and a spaced apart second end portion;
• and
• a cam mechanism including:
• a cam plate bridging the first and second body portions of the mounting section of the split blade housing;
• and a cam member rotatably supported by the cam plate, the cam member rotatable between a first, closed position and a second, open position and including a first cam pin received in the first cam slot of the first body portion of the mounting section of the split blade housing, in the first, closed position of the cam member, the first cam pin is positioned nearer the first end portion of the first cam slot and the split distance between the first and second circumferential ends of the inner wall being a first value, in the second, open position of the cam member, the first cam pin is positioned nearer the second end portion of the first cam slot and the split distance between the first and second circumferential ends of the inner wall being a second value, the cam mechanism securing the mounting section of the split blade housing to the mounting pedestal of the frame body.