Grooving machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a grooving machine housing (3) and a grooving machine (1) comprising the housing (3). The housing (3) is intended to surround part of a cutting disc (10) and includes an open bottom (4) to face a substrate to be grooved, an inlet (8) spaced from the open bottom (4) for drawing air into the housing (3) and an outlet (9) spaced from both the inlet (8) and the open bottom (4) for connection to a dust extraction means.

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates generally to grooving machines and their housings, and in particular to grooving machines intended for making slots, grooves or recesses in walls or at floor level. Technical background

[0002] Such a groove cutter can be used to make slots, grooves or recesses in masonry, for example in plaster, brick or concrete walls, in silico-calcareous walls or in any surface.

[0003] In domestic electrical installations, it is often necessary to create slots, grooves, or similar recesses in the masonry when electrical cables or conduits need to be laid beneath the plaster. Similarly, such recesses are frequently required when installing plumbing pipes.

[0004] Common wall chasers typically include a housing with an outlet for connection to dust extraction systems. Air is drawn in between the substrate engagement portion, which forms an open bottom of the housing, and exits through the outlet to reduce the dust generated by the wall chaser as it cuts a groove in the substrate. Summary of the invention

[0005] A non-exclusive objective of the present invention is to provide a grooving machine that can more efficiently extract the dust generated during the grooving operation.

[0006] The invention relates to a groove cutter housing with an inlet for drawing air into the housing and an outlet for connection to a dust extraction means.

[0007] The inventors determined that the presence of a separate air inlet improves the efficiency of dust suction.

[0008] The housing may be designed to enclose part of a cutting disc. The housing may include an open bottom, for example, to face a substrate to be grooved. The inlet may be spaced from the open bottom and / or the outlet. The inlet may be spaced from both the outlet and the open bottom. The outlet may be spaced from the inlet and / or the open bottom. The outlet may be spaced from both the inlet and the open bottom.

[0009] The invention also relates to a groover housing intended to surround part of a cutting disc, the housing comprising an open bottom to face a substrate to be grooved, an inlet spaced from the open bottom to draw air into the housing and an outlet spaced from both the inlet and the open bottom for connection to a dust extraction means.

[0010] The housing may include a protective element, which may be located near the inlet and / or inside the housing. This protective element may be designed to inhibit the ejection of particles through the inlet.

[0011] More specifically, the housing may include a protective element near the inlet inside the housing to inhibit the ejection of particles through the inlet.

[0012] The protective element may be to inhibit the ejection of particles through the inlet and / or to prevent the insertion of a user's fingers into the casing.

[0013] The protective element may include a screen, for example a particle protection screen.

[0014] The housing or protective element may include a baffle. The baffle may be located inside the housing. The baffle may define at least part of a flow path, for example, one into which air is drawn through the inlet. The baffle may define a flow path with the interior of the housing, for example, one into which air is drawn through the inlet.

[0015] More specifically, the protective element may include a baffle that describes a flow path with the inside of the housing into which air is drawn through the inlet.

[0016] The particle protection element may include a filter, for example a particle filter.

[0017] The baffle can be positioned close to the periphery of the cutting disc. The baffle may include a downstream opening. The downstream opening may be located between the inlet and the open bottom, for example, so that an induced airflow, during operation, from the dust extraction means, draws air through the inlet and / or so that it flows along the flow path, for example, and is discharged through the downstream opening.

[0018] More specifically, the baffle can approach the periphery of the cutting disc and include a downstream opening between the inlet and the open bottom so that an induced airflow, during use, by the dust extraction means draws air through the inlet, so that it flows along the flow path and is discharged through the downstream opening.

[0019] The open bottom can be at least partially defined by a portion of substrate engagement. This portion of substrate engagement can be configured to cooperate with a grooved substrate, for example, so that the spaces between them provide a flow surface with that of the downstream opening. This arrangement can be configured to create a negative pressure pocket to confine dust while simultaneously providing airflow for the extraction of the confined dust.

[0020] More specifically, the open bottom can be at least partially described by a portion of substrate engagement configured to cooperate with a grooved substrate so that the whole of the spaces between them provides a flow surface with that of the downstream opening, so that the majority of the air exiting the outlet is drawn through the primary inlet to create a vacuum pocket to confine dust while providing an airflow for the extraction of confined dust.

[0021] Air can be drawn in through the inlet and / or into the flow path during use.

[0022] The entrance may include a louvered opening.

[0023] The entrance may include one or more openings. Each opening may have a width less than or equal to 4 mm.

[0024] More specifically, the entrance may include one or more openings with a width less than or equal to 4 mm.

[0025] The invention also relates to a groove cutter comprising a housing as described above.

[0026] The groove cutter may include a drive means, for example for operational connection to a cutting disc. The drive means may be configured to rotate the cutting disc, for example in a specific direction of rotation.

[0027] The output can be downstream of the input along the direction of rotation.

[0028] The invention also relates to a grooving machine comprising a housing as described above and a drive means for operational connection to a cutting disc, in which the drive means is configured to rotate the cutting disc in a direction of rotation and the output is upstream of the input along the direction of rotation.

[0029] The drive means may include a brushless motor.

[0030] The groove cutter may include a cutting disc. The cutting disc may be connected, for example, in an operational manner, to a drive mechanism.

[0031] More specifically, the groove cutter may include a cutting disc operationally connected to the drive means.

[0032] To avoid any doubt, all the characteristics described herein also apply to every aspect of the invention.

[0033] Within the scope of this application, it is expressly provided that the various aspects, embodiments, examples, and alternatives set forth in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims, and / or in the following description and drawings, and in particular their individual features, may be considered independently or in any combination. In other words, all embodiments and / or features of any embodiment may be combined in any manner, unless such features are incompatible.

[0034] To avoid ambiguity, the terms "may," "and / or," "for example," and any similar terms used in this document shall be interpreted as non-limiting, such that not every feature so described is necessarily present. Indeed, any combination of optional features is expressly envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention, whether or not they are expressly claimed. The applicant reserves the right to amend any claim originally filed or to file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any claim originally filed to depend on and / or incorporate any feature of any other claim, even if it was not originally claimed in that manner. Brief description of the figures

[0035] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the detailed description that follows, for an understanding of which reference should be made to the attached drawings in which: [ Fig. 1 ] there figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a groove cutter, as an example, viewed from the rear; Fig. 2 ] there figure 2 illustrates a side perspective view of the groove cutter figure 1 ; Fig. 3 ] there figure 3 illustrates a top view of the groove cutter Figures 1 And 2 ; Fig. 4 ] there figure 4 illustrates a rear view of the groover presented at figures 1 to 3 ; Fig. 5 ] there figure 5 illustrates a side view of the groover presented at figures 1 to 4 , viewed from one side; [ Fig. 6 ] there figure 6 illustrates a perspective cross-sectional view with one side of the case omitted to show the baffle; and [ Fig. 7 ] There figure 7illustrates an exploded view of the groove cutter figures 1 to 6 . Detailed description of the invention

[0036] Now, referring to figures 1 to 7 , we can see a groove cutter 1 comprising a handle 2 attached to a housing 3. The housing 3 surrounds part of a cutting disc 10 (or a pair of cutting discs 10) and includes an open bottom 4 to face a substrate to be grooved.

[0037] The housing 3 also includes a drive means 5 operationally connected to the cutting disc 10, a power converter 6 and a power cord 7 (see the figure 7 ). The power cord 7 is used to connect the drive means 5 to an external power supply via the power converter 6.

[0038] The housing 3 also includes an inlet 8 and an outlet 9 to allow an airflow to carry away the dust generated by the grooving process. The inlet 8 is spaced away from the open bottom 4 to draw air into the housing 3. The outlet 9 is spaced away from both the inlet 8 and the open bottom 4 for connection to a dust extraction means (not shown).

[0039] In this example, the drive means 5 includes a brushless motor. The drive means 5 is configured to rotate the cutting disc in a direction of rotation R, and the output 9 is upstream of the input 8 along the direction of rotation R (see the figure 5 ).

[0040] The housing 3 includes a protective element 80 near the inlet 8 inside the housing 3. The protective element 80 includes a baffle in this example. The baffle describes a flow path with the interior of the housing 3 into which air is drawn through the inlet 8.

[0041] More specifically, the baffle 80 approaches the periphery of the cutting disc 10 and includes a downstream opening 82 between the inlet 8 and the open bottom 4. An airflow induced by the dust extraction means draws air through the inlet 8, so that it flows along the flow path and is discharged and evacuated through the downstream opening 82.

[0042] The baffle 80 serves to inhibit the ejection of particles through the inlet and to prevent the insertion of a user's fingers into the housing. Furthermore, the inlet 8 includes a louvered opening 83 comprising louvers 84, in this example. This therefore allows the inlet 8 to include several openings 85 of a smaller width L, less than or equal to 4 mm in this example.

[0043] The groove cutter can therefore meet safety requirements that will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

[0044] Outlet 9 is fitted with an angled tube 90 which is rotatably mounted on the housing 3. Tube 90 can thus be rotated to reorient outlet 9. The dust extraction means (not shown) is preferably a suction device, such as a vacuum cleaner. Tube 90 allows a hose from the suction device to connect airtight to outlet 9 to generate or encourage an airflow from inlet 8 through the cutting disc 10 as they rotate, and outwards through outlet 9.

[0045] The open bottom 4 is described by a portion of substrate engagement 40. The portion of substrate engagement 40 is configured to cooperate with a grooved substrate so that the total space between them provides a flow surface smaller than that of the inlet 8. Thus, the majority of the air exiting the outlet 9 is drawn in through the inlet 8.

[0046] The handle 2 is U-shaped, with its ends connected to a first side 30 of the housing 3 and an intermediate part connected to an upper part 31 of the housing 3. The part of the housing 3 which surrounds a part of the cutting disc 10 is substantially cylindrical and forms a second side 32 of the housing 3.

[0047] Inlet 8 is located on an exterior surface of the second side 32 of the envelope 3, so that it is free of any obstruction which might restrict the free circulation of air into Inlet 8.

[0048] The invention therefore proposes a grooving machine 1 in which an airflow can freely enter the inlet 8, be sucked through the cutting disc 10 to carry away the dust created during the grooving process and exit through the outlet 9, thus improving the dust removal efficiency.

[0049] Those skilled in the art will understand that the embodiments described above can vary in many ways, provided they are consistent with the scope of the claims. List of reference signs

[0050] 1 Grooving cutter 10 Cutting disc 2 Handle 3 Housing 30 First side of housing 31 Upper part 32 Second side of housing 4 Open bottom 40 Substrate engagement portion 5 Drive means 6 Power converter 7 Power cord 8 Inlet 80 Baffle 82 Downstream opening 83 Louvered opening 84 Louver 85 Opening 9 Outlet 90 Bent tube L Opening width R Direction of rotation

Claims

1. Grooving housing (3) intended to surround part of a cutting disc (10), the housing (3) comprising an open bottom (4) to face a substrate to be grooved, an inlet (8) spaced from the open bottom (4) for drawing air into the housing (3) and an outlet (9) spaced from both the inlet (8) and the open bottom (4) for connection to a dust extraction means.

2. Grooving machine housing (3) according to claim 1 comprising a protective element (80) near the inlet (8) inside the housing (3) to inhibit the ejection of particles through the inlet (8).

3. Grooving machine housing (3) according to claim 2, in which the protective element (80) includes a baffle which describes a flow path with the interior of the housing (3) into which air is drawn through the inlet (8).

4. Grooving machine housing (3) according to claim 3, in which the baffle (80) approaches the periphery of the cutting disc (10) and includes a downstream opening (82) between the inlet (8) and the open bottom (4) such that an airflow induced during use by the dust extraction means draws air through the inlet (8), so that it flows along the flow path and is discharged through the downstream opening (82).

5. Grooving machine housing (3) according to claim 4, wherein the open bottom (4) is at least partially described by a substrate engagement portion (40) configured to cooperate with a substrate to be grooved so that the set of spaces between them provides a flow surface with that of the downstream opening (82) to create a vacuum pocket to confine dust while providing an airflow for the extraction of confined dust.

6. Grooving machine housing (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the inlet (8) includes a louvered opening (83).

7. Grooving machine housing (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the inlet (8) comprises one or more openings (85) of a width (L) less than or equal to 4 mm.

8. Grooving machine (1) comprising a housing (3) according to any one of the preceding claims and a drive means (5) for operational connection to a cutting disc (10), in which the drive means (5) is configured to rotate the cutting disc in a direction of rotation (R) and the output (9) is upstream of the input (8) along the direction of rotation (R).

9. Grooving machine (1) according to claim 8, wherein the drive means (5) comprises a brushless motor.

10. Grooving machine (1) according to claim 8 or claim 9, comprising a cutting disc (10) operationally connected to the drive means (5).

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