Independently and jointly operable radial saw guards

A radial saw for rip cutting and cross cutting workpieces comprising:

• a motor driven saw blade mounted on a yoke depends from a supporting arm that overhangs a worktable, said motor driven saw blade being movable relative to a worktable mounted fence to enable said motor driven saw blade to be operated for rip cutting workpieces longitudinally relative to the fence and for cross cutting transverse relative to the fence;
• an upper blade guard mounted in fixed position relative to said yoke mounted motor driven saw blade for covering at least approximately an upper half of the motor driven saw blade;
• a lower rear blade guard pivotally mounted to the upper blade guard and configured to cover a lower half rear area of the motor driven saw blade, said lower blade guard including a wrong way feed barrier during rip cutting;
• a lower front blade guard independently and pivotally mounted to the upper blade guard and configured to cover a lower half front area on at least one side of the motor driven saw blade, said lower front blade guard including automatic lifting means to facilitate upward or downward movement relative to lower rear guard and the upper blade guard upon engaging or disengaging a workpiece;
• said lower rear blade guard and said lower front blade guard being telescopically movable with respect to one another to provide substantial protection to a user through limited exposure of said motor driven saw blade during rip cutting;
• said lower rear blade guard and said upper blade guard being telescopically movable with respect to one another when the lower rear blade guard is lifted during cross cutting;
• and
• said lower rear blade guard includes a blunt transverse wall at an outfeed end which serves as the wrong way feed barrier during rip cutting.

A radial saw for rip cutting and cross cutting workpieces comprising:

• a motor driven saw blade mounted on a yoke depends from a supporting arm that overhangs a worktable, said motor driven saw blade being movable relative to a worktable mounted fence to enable said motor driven saw blade to be operated for rip cutting workpieces longitudinally relative to the fence and for cross cutting transverse relative to the fence;
• an upper blade guard mounted in fixed position relative to said yoke mounted motor driven saw blade for covering at least approximately an upper half of the motor driven saw blade;
• a lower rear blade guard pivotally mounted to the upper blade guard and configured to cover a lower half rear area of the motor driven saw blade;
• a lower front blade guard independently and pivotally mounted to the upper blade guard and configured to cover a lower half front area of the motor driven saw blade;
• said lower rear blade guard and said lower front blade guard being telescopically movable with respect to one another to provide substantial protection to a user through limited exposure of said motor driven saw blade during rip cutting;
• said lower rear blade guard and said upper blade guard being telescopically movable with respect to one another when the lower rear blade guard is lifted during cross cutting;
• said lower rear blade guard and said lower front blade guard being provided on at least one side of said motor driven saw blade;
• and
• said lower rear blade guard including a blunt transverse wall at an outfeed end which serves as wrong way feed barrier means during rip cutting.