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US 2012/0067182 A1Published application
Apparatus and method for detecting dangerous conditions in power equipment
AssigneeSd3, LLC
InventorStephen F. Gass
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Woodworking machines are disclosed having electrically conductive cutting tools adapted to cut workpieces. The machines include a contact detection system capacitively coupled to the cutting tool, and adapted to detect contact between a person and the cutting tool. The machines also include a reaction system configured to cause one or more predetermined actions to take place upon detection of contact between a person and the cutting tool by the contact detection system.
Claims11
A band saw comprising:
- a motor;
- at least two spaced-apart wheels, where at least one wheel is driven by the motor;
- a band blade extending around the wheels, where the band blade is electrically isolated;
- signal generation circuitry adapted to generate an electrical signal;
- a capacitive coupling adapted to capacitively couple the signal generation circuitry to the band blade to transfer at least a portion of the electrical signal to the band blade;
- and
- detection circuitry configured to monitor the electrical signal on the band blade for changes indicative of a dangerous condition between a person and the band blade and to trigger some action to mitigate the dangerous condition when the changes indicative of the dangerous condition are detected.
4 more elements
A woodworking machine comprising:
- a motor;
- a cutting tool driven by the motor, where the cutting tool is electrically isolated;
- an excitation system adapted to generate an electrical signal;
- a capacitive coupling adapted to capacitively couple the excitation system to the cutting tool to transfer at least a portion of the electrical signal, to the cutting tool, where the capacitive coupling includes a conductive plate adjacent the cutting tool;
- and
- an insulating spacer intermediate the cutting tool and conductive plate.
3 more elements
A woodworking machine comprising:
- a motor;
- a cutting tool driven by the motor, where the cutting tool is electrically isolated;
- an excitation system adapted to generate an electrical signal;
- means for capacitively coupling the excitation system to the cutting tool to transfer at least a portion of the electrical signal to the cutting tool;
- and
- means for positioning the capacitive coupling means in an operable configuration in the woodworking machine.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.