Safety apparatus for protecting an operator of an electrically powered saw

A method for the emergency braking of a blade of an electrically powered saw of the type incorporating a cutting table through which the blade of the saw passes during a cutting operation, the method comprising:

• providing a braking apparatus comprising a braking jaw and a movable jaw spaced apart from the braking jaw, the blade of the saw passing between the braking jaw and the movable jaw, and the apparatus further including a driver for driving the movable jaw from a retracted position into contact with a side face of the blade to force an opposite side the blade against the braking jaw and thereby clamp the blade between the braking jaw and the movable jaw, a piston cylinder in which at least a portion of the driver is slidably arranged, a pressure chamber for holding a fluid at a predetermined pressure, and an actuator operable to release the pressurised fluid from the pressure chamber through a discharge port to the driver, a pressure chamber housing mounted to the piston cylinder and defining the pressure chamber, wherein the pressure chamber houses the actuator, wherein the driver is coupled to the pressure chamber via the actuator and the discharge port, and wherein the discharge port comprises an opening between the actuator housing and the piston cylinder;
• and
• operating the actuator in response to an emergency braking signal to release the pressurised fluid in the pressure chamber to drive the driver against the movable jaw and so drive the movable jaw into said contact with the side face of the blade to brake the blade.

A saw apparatus comprising:

• an electrically powered saw, including a blade;
• a cutting table through which the blade of the saw passes during a cutting operation;
• a braking jaw;
• a movable jaw spaced apart from the braking jaw for reception of the blade of the saw between the braking jaw and the movable jaw;
• a driver for driving the movable jaw from a retracted position into contact with a side face of the blade to force an opposite side the blade against the braking jaw and thereby clamp the blade between the braking jaw and the movable jaw;
• a piston cylinder in which at least a portion of the driver is slidably arranged;
• a pressure chamber for holding a fluid at a predetermined pressure;
• an actuator operable in response to an emergency braking signal to release the pressurised fluid in the pressure chamber to drive the driver against the movable jaw for driving the movable jaw into said contact with the side face of the blade;
• a pressure chamber housing, mounted to the piston cylinder, and defining the pressure chamber, wherein the pressure chamber houses the actuator;
• and
• a discharge port for directing pressurized fluid from the pressure chamber into the driver, the discharge port comprising an opening between the actuator housing and the piston cylinder;
• and
• wherein the driver is coupled to the pressure chamber via the actuator and the discharge port.