Apparatus for keeping open the gap cut by a saw in a workpiece

An apparatus for keeping open the gap (25) cut in a workpiece (1) having a substantial thickness in the cutting direction, by a saw blade forming said gap in the workpiece, comprising fixed abutment means (35) arranged on one side of a workpiece, said fixed abutment means being substantially centrally aligned with said saw blade, first chucking means arranged substantially opposite said fixed abutment means and spaced to one side of said saw blade, second chucking means (12) also arranged substantially opposite said fixed abutment means and laterally spaced from said first chucking means on the other side of said saw blade to form a saw blade gap between the first and second chucking means, respective guide means operatively supporting said first and second chucking means for gliding movement, power drive means operatively connected to said first and second chucking means for advancing and pressing said first and second chucking means toward said abutment means, each of said first and second chucking means comprising a workpiece facing side and workpiece penetrating means on said workpiece facing side, said apparatus further comprising spring means operatively connected to said first and second chucking means for biasing the respective chucking means against said lateral gliding movement, said workpiece penetrating means biting into the workpiece surface in such a manner that lateral travelling of the first and second chucking means is substantially prevented, whereby said workpiece is clamped substantially in a three point fashion, one point being formed by said abutment means and the other two points being formed by said workpiece penetrating means whereby forces applied to the workpiece by said first and second chucking means keep said sawing gap open.