Vacuum-operated cutting tool and system therefor

A cast cutting tool for cutting casts and the like using an oscillating saw blade, said tool comprising:

• (a) a housing for supporting a flow of air therethrough from an inlet side to an outlet side, said outlet side having an outlet fitting for connection to a vacuum-inducing source for inducing an air flow through said housing from said inlet to said outlet sides,
• (b) a turbine means rotatably mounted in said housing for rotation in response to said vacuum-induced air flow therethrough,
• (c) a motion converting means connected to said turbine means for converting the rotary motion of said turbine means to a rotary oscillating motion about an axis of rotation,
• (d) chuck means for detachably receiving a saw blade thereon, the saw blade caused to oscillate about said axis of rotation to effect cutting in response to rotation of said turbine means,
• (e) a partition dividing said housing into an upstream side and a downstream side, said partition having an opening formed therethrough so that the air flows from said upstream side through said opening to said turbine means to effect rotation thereof, and
• (f) a nozzle connected to the downstream side of said partition and in registration with said opening therein for directing the air flow from said opening in said partition to said turbine means.

A cast cutting tool for cutting casts and the like using an oscillating saw blade, said tool comprising:

• (a) a housing means for supporting a flow of air therethrough from an inlet side to an outlet side in response to a vacuum-inducing source,
• (b) a turbine means rotatably mounted in said housing for rotation about an axis in response to said vacuum induced air flow therethrough,
• (c) a motion converting means connected to said turbine means for converting the rotary motion of said turbine means to a rotary oscillating motion about an axis of rotation, said motion converting mechanism including a rotatably mounted shaft upon which said turbine means is mounted for rotation therewith, an eccentric cam surface connected to said turbine mounting shaft, and a cam follower that engages said eccentric cam surface and that oscillates in response to rotation of said cam surface, said cam follower connected to a rotatably mounted drive shaft,
• (d) chuck means connected to said drive shaft for detachably receiving a saw blade of the type having cutting teeth formed on a curvilinear periphery thereof, the saw blade caused to oscillate to effect cutting in response to rotation of said turbine means,
• (e) said cam follower including a bifurcated fork having spaced apart tines, which tines are positioned on opposite sides of said eccentric cam surface, and
• (f) said bifurcated fork including a counter balancing portion thereof on the end remote from said tines.

The cast cutting tool for cutting casts and the like using an oscillating saw blade, said tool comprising:

• (a) a housing means for supporting a flow of air therethrough from an inlet side to an outlet side,
• (b) a turbine means rotatably mounted in said housing for rotation in response to a vacuum induced air flow therethrough,
• (c) a motion converting means connected to said turbine means for converting the rotary motion of said turbine means to a rotary oscillating motion,
• (d) a chuck means connected to said motion converting means for detachably receiving a saw blade thereon, said saw blade caused to oscillate about an axis of rotation in response to rotation of said turbine means to thereby effect cutting, the saw blade of the type having a central aperture and said chuck means including a mandrel upon which the saw blade is mounted, and
• (e) said mandrel, when viewed in a plane transverse to its longitudinal axis, has a polygonol configuration defined by a plurality of flat mounting surfaces.