Adjustable support for cutting apparatus
AssigneeFederal-Mogul Corporation
InventorFrederick Trentadue
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cutting tool such as a tile saw is pivotally connected to a linear guide rod with a four-bar linkage. The linkage allows the cutting tool to be raised and lowered over a work table to facilitate plunge cutting. One link of the four-bar linkage is mounted over the linear guide rod in a fixed perpendicular relationship with the surface of the work table to ensure that the blade of the cutting tool is maintained in a similar perpendicular orientation throughout plunge cutting. This is achieved by adjusting the links of the four-bar linkage as a parallelogram linkage. A linear bearing is fitted between the fixed perpendicular link and the guide rod to allow the cutting tool and linkage to freely slide along an accurate linear cutting path.
Claims10
An apparatus for guiding a cutting tool through a linear cutting stroke, comprising:
- workpiece support means having a support surface for supporting a workpiece during said cutting stroke;
- linear guide means for accurately guiding said cutting tool through said linear cutting stroke, said linear guide means being operatively associated with said workpiece support means;
- pivot means operatively associated with said linear guide means;
- and
- linkage means pivotally connected to said pivot means for interconnecting said cutting tool with said linear guide means, said linkage means comprising a first link disposed substantially perpendicular to said support surface of said workpiece support means for maintaining said cutting tool substantially perpendicular to said support surface of said workpiece support means during pivotal movement of said linkage means.
The apparatus of claim wherein said linkage means further comprises a second link pivotally mounted over said linear guide means, said second link serving as a pivot support arm for pivotally connecting said cutting tool with said linear guide means.
The apparatus of claim wherein said linkage means comprises a four-bar linkage having an adjustable length link for adapting said cutting apparatus for beveled cuts or straight cuts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.