Elevation mechanism for table saws

A table saw comprising:

• a table defining a work surface;
• a generally planar, circular blade configured to extend at least partially above the work surface;
• a motor to drive the blade;
• an elevation carriage adapted to support the blade and to move to change the elevation of the blade relative to the work surface;
• a trunnion structure adapted to support the elevation carriage and to move the blade between a position where the blade is perpendicular to the work surface and a position where the blade is not perpendicular to the work surface;
• and
• an elongate shaft fixed to one of the elevation carriage and trunnion structure at a mounting location, where the shaft extends generally vertically relative to the work surface when the blade is perpendicular to the work surface, where the shaft includes a free portion that extends from the mounting location to an unsupported end of the shaft without any further support for the shaft between the mounting location and the unsupported end, and where the other of the elevation carriage and trunnion structure is configured to slide on the free portion when the elevation carriage moves to change the elevation of the blade relative to the work surface.

A table saw comprising:

• a table defining a work surface;
• a generally planar, circular blade configured to extend at least partially above the work surface;
• a rotatable arbor to support the blade;
• an elevation carriage adapted to support the arbor and to move up and down to change the elevation of the blade relative to the work surface;
• a motor;
• a belt system interconnecting the motor and arbor;
• a trunnion structure adapted to support the elevation carriage and motor and to move the blade between a position where the blade is perpendicular to the work surface and a position where the blade is not perpendicular to the work surface;
• and
• a support shaft interconnecting the elevation carriage and trunnion structure, where the support shaft has first and second ends, where the support shaft is fixed to one of the elevation carriage and trunnion structure at a first mounting location generally near the first end, where the support shaft is also fixed to the same one of the elevation carriage and trunnion structure at a second mounting location generally near the middle of the shaft, where the portion of the shaft from the second mounting location to the second end is not fixed to the same one of the elevation carriage or trunnion structure, and where the support shaft engages the other of the elevation carriage and trunnion structure between the first and second mounting locations and between the second mounting location and the second end of the shaft.