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US 8,006,595 B2Granted
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.
Claims9
A woodworking machine comprising:
- a motor;
- an electrically isolated arbor configured to be driven by the motor;
- a cutting tool coupled to the arbor;
- an excitation system adapted to generate an electrical signal;
- a capacitive coupling adapted to capacitively couple the excitation system to the arbor to transfer at least a portion of the electrical signal to the cutting tool, where the capacitive coupling includes a conductive plate substantially encircling the arbor;
- and
- an insulator substantially encircling the conductive plate.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.