Split blade housing with expansion sleeve assembly for power operated rotary knife

A blade housing assembly for a power operated rotary knife, the blade housing assembly comprising:

• a split blade housing including:
• an annular blade support section 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 slot extending axially through the first body portion having a first end portion and a second end portion connected by a passageway, a width of the passageway being smaller than a diameter of the first end portion, the first body portion being movable with respect to the second body portion between a first blade supporting position wherein the split distance between the first and second circumferential ends of the inner wall is a first value and a second blade changing position wherein the split distance between the first and second circumferential ends of the inner wall is a second value, the second value being greater than the first value;
• and
• an expansion sleeve assembly extending through the slot, the expansion sleeve assembly being stationary with respect to the first body portion and including:
• a split sleeve having a central opening and a split extending between first and second ends of the split sleeve, a circumference of the split sleeve changeable between a first condition having a first circumference and a second condition having a second circumference, the first circumference of the split sleeve being greater than the second circumference;
• and
• the split sleeve is received in the first end portion of the slot to secure the first body portion in the first blade supporting position, the split sleeve being in the first condition.

A blade housing assembly for a power operated rotary knife, the blade housing assembly comprising:

• a split blade housing including:
• an annular blade support section 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 slot extending axially into the first body portion having a first end portion and a second end portion connected by a passageway, a width of the passageway being smaller than a diameter of at least one of the first and second end portions, the first body portion being movable with respect to the second body portion between a first blade supporting position wherein the split distance between the first and second circumferential ends of the inner wall is a first value and a second blade changing position wherein the split distance between the first and second circumferential ends of the inner wall is a second value, the second value being greater than the first value;
• and
• an expansion sleeve assembly extending into the slot, the expansion sleeve assembly being stationary with respect to the first body portion and including:
• a split sleeve having a central opening and a split extending between first and second ends of the split sleeve, a circumference of the split sleeve changeable between a first condition having a first circumference and a second condition having a second circumference, the first circumference of the split sleeve being greater than the second circumference, the split sleeve being in the first condition in at least one of the first and second end portions.