Assembly layout of mechanical tooling on multiple columns

Abstract

Title: Multi-Column Mechanical Tooling Mounting Arrangement. A mechanical tooling comprises at least two columns (140, 144), a carriage (108) configured to move along the at least two columns (140, 144), and a mounting arrangement (144) configured to selectively clamp the carriage (108) onto at least a first column (140) and a second column (144) of the at least two columns. The mounting arrangement (104) has an actuator (160) configured to move the mounting arrangement (104) between a mounted state and an unmounted state, and a force redirection element (164).In the mounted state, the actuator (160) acts on the force redirection element (164) with an actuator force in a first direction, and the force redirection element (164) redirects the force from the actuator (160) and a first clamping force acting on the first column (140) in a first direction and a second clamping force acting on the second column (144) in a third direction. Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 1.

Description

Title of the invention: Mounting arrangement for mechanical tooling on several columns

[0001] Domain

[0002] This paper relates in general to mounting arrangements for mechanical tooling and more particularly to mounting arrangements to be mounted on several columns. Technological background

[0003] Certain mechanical tools, such as routers, router lifting devices, sliding mitre saws, and large planers, use two or more axial columns to allow the motor carriage or cutting mechanism to move in translation along the axial direction. In the case of a plunge router, for example, translation along the axial direction allows the router bit to enter and exit the workpiece. Once the cutting depth in the workpiece is reached, the motor carriage is prevented from moving along the length of the columns so as to fix the height of the router bit relative to the workpiece.It is desirable that the router's height lock be stable and prevent any movement or deflection of the router bit, as such movement or deflection can affect the quality of the cut in the workpiece, potentially ruining the entire piece. Furthermore, excessive movement of the router bit can pose a safety risk to the router user.

[0004] A conventional solution for locking the motor carriage has been to use a simple screw, which is screwed into a hole and applied to the column to apply a locking load to only one of the columns. However, since such a column lock only engages one of the columns, the necessary clearances in the column connection and other machined parts allow some axial movement along the column axis, preventing the column from locking. Consequently, the drill bit can move slightly relative to the workpiece, which reduces the quality of subsequent machining operations.

[0005] In another conventional solution, a threaded rod that can rotate externally passes in front of and cooperates with one column and reaches the other column. But in such an arrangement, the position of the user-operated locking mechanism can only be in the vicinity of the line connecting the two columns. Furthermore, the arrangement results in a rather cumbersome user interface, since the position of the actuating mechanism requires it to be duplicated by one of the sockets of The router, which makes the manual grip asymmetrical. In addition, the requirement that the threaded rod run from one column to the other creates a packaging conflict with the motor, since the motor must be positioned in the housing so as not to interfere with the threaded rod.

[0006] Another solution to the problem mentioned above is a similar locking arrangement, in which a rotating threaded rod can pass in front of and cooperate with one column and come onto the other column, but a gear train and bearings allow the user to position the actuating element differently. However, such a configuration entails additional manufacturing complexity and has tolerance requirements for the gear train and bearings, and furthermore has the same drawbacks as mentioned above with regard to motor placement.

[0007] What is needed, therefore, is a locking arrangement that allows a secure locking connection on two or more columns, while also providing improved ergonomics of the handles and the locking actuator for the user. Furthermore, a locking arrangement that does not interfere with the motor would also be beneficial. Summary of the invention

[0008] According to a first point, the invention relates to a mechanical tool comprising: at least two columns; a carriage configured to move along the at least two columns; and a mounting arrangement configured to selectively mount the carriage on at least a first column and a second column of the at least two columns, the mounting arrangement comprising: an actuator configured to be actuated and move the mounting arrangement between a mounted state and a dismounted state, and a force redirection element, in which, in the mounted state, the actuator acts on the force redirection element by an actuator force in a first direction and the force redirection element redirects the actuator force into a first mounting force applied to the first column in a second direction and into a second mounting force applied to the second column in a third direction.

[0009] Following a second point in the mechanical tooling of point one, the mounting arrangement further comprising: a first force transfer element, on which the force redirection element acts in the mounting state to transfer the first force to the first column, a second force transfer element, on which the force redirection element acts in the mounting state to transfer the second mounting force to the second column.

[0010] Following a third point in the mechanical tooling of point two, the first mounting force acts along a first line of action going from the first force redirection element to the first column, the second mounting force acts along a second line of action going from the force redirection element to the second column and the first and second lines of action are not parallel.

[0011] Following a fourth point in the mechanical tooling of point three, a first length of the first line of action is greater than a second length of the second line of action.

[0012] Following a fifth point in the mechanical tooling of point four, the first force transfer element comprises an oblong curved element extending from the force redirection element to the first column.

[0013] According to a sixth point, the mechanical tooling of point five further includes a motor through which the first line of action passes.

[0014] According to a seventh point in the mechanical tooling of point six, the carriage includes a channel which is complementary to the oblong curved element and in which the oblong curved element is constrained.

[0015] According to an eighth point in the mechanical tooling of point seven, the force redirection element has at least a partially round surface, each of the respective first and second lines of action extends from a point of contact between the respective first and second force transfer element and at least a partially round surface of the force redirection element.

[0016] According to a ninth point in the mechanical tooling of point eight, the force redirection element is spherical or cylindrical.

[0017] Following a tenth point in the mechanical tooling of point nine, the actuator rotates to move the mounting arrangement between the mounted state and the dismounted state around an actuator axis and the first and second force transfer element define a plane.

[0018] Along an eleventh point in the mechanical tooling of point ten, the plane is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the actuator.

[0019] According to a twelfth point in the mechanical tooling of point eleven, the actuator includes a threaded rod which is screwed into a tapped opening in the carriage and is configured so that, when the actuator is rotated to move the mounting arrangement from the unmounted state to the mounted state, the threaded rod exerts the force of the actuator on the force redirection element.

[0020] According to a thirteenth point in the mechanical tooling of point twelve, the at least two columns include a third column and the mounting arrangement further includes a second force redirection element, which redirects the force of assembly in a third assembly force applying to the first column and in a fourth assembly force applying to the third column.

[0021] According to a fourteenth point, the invention relates to a mounting arrangement comprising: an actuator configured to be actuated to move the mounting arrangement between a mounted state, in which the mounting arrangement is mounted on at least a first column and a second column, and a dismounted state; and a force redirection element, in which, in the mounted state, the actuator acts on the force redirection element by an actuator force in a first direction and the force redirection element redirects the actuator force into a first mounting force applied to the first column in a second direction and into a second mounting force applied to the second column in a third direction.

[0022] According to a fifteenth point, the mounting arrangement of point fourteen further comprises a first force transfer element, on which the force redirection element acts in the mounting state to transfer the first force to the first column; a second force transfer element, on which the force redirection element acts in the mounting state to transfer the second mounting force to the second column.

[0023] According to a sixteenth point of the mounting arrangement of point fifteen, the first mounting force acts along a first line of action going from the first force redirection element to the first column, the second mounting force acts along a second line of action going from the force redirection element to the second column and the first and second lines of action are not parallel.

[0024] According to a seventeenth point of the mounting arrangement of point sixteen, a first length of the first line of action is greater than a second length of the second line of action.

[0025] According to an eighteenth point the mounting arrangement of point seventeen, in which the first force transfer element comprises a curved oblong element extending from the force redirection element to the first column.

[0026] According to a nineteenth point the mounting arrangement of point eighteen, in which the curved oblong element is constrained in a conduit which is complementary to the curved oblong element.

[0027] According to a twentieth point of the mounting arrangement of point nineteen, in which the force redirection element has a round surface at least in part, each of the first and second lines of action extends from a point of contact between the first and second respective force transfer element and the round surface at least in part of the force redistribution element.

[0028] Brief description of the drawings

[0029] Fig. 1 is a top cross-sectional view of a router having a mounting arrangement according to the invention.

[0030] Fig. 2 is a detail view of the mounting arrangement of Fig. 1.

[0031] Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of the forces of the mounting arrangement of Fig. 1.

[0032] Fig. 4 is a top cross-sectional view of the router of Fig. 1 in which the mounting arrangement is offset from the center of the tooling.

[0033] Fig. 5 is a detail view of the mounting arrangement of Fig. 4 in the unmounted state.

[0034] Fig. 6 is a detail view of the mounting arrangement of Fig. 5 in the mounted state.

[0035] Fig. 7 is a top cross-sectional view of a router having a mounting arrangement according to the invention, in which one of the force transfer elements is in the form of a curved oblong element.

[0036] Fig. 8 is a top perspective view of the router of Fig. 7 showing the curved mounting arrangement around the motor.

[0037] Fig. 9 is a perspective view from the rear of the router of Fig. 7, the carriage not being described to make the elements of the mounting arrangement clearer.

[0038] The [Fig. 10] is a top view of the mounting arrangement of the [Fig. 7].

[0039] The [Fig. 11] is a top detail view of the mounting arrangement of the [Fig. 7].

[0040] Figure 12 is a front perspective view of a router carriage and a mounting arrangement according to another embodiment of the invention.

[0041] The [Fig. 13] is a top plan view of the router carriage and the mounting arrangement of the [Fig. 12].

[0042] Fig. 14 is a top cross-sectional view of a router having a mounting arrangement according to the invention, in which one of the force transfer elements is formed in the form of a link connected by a spindle.

[0043] Fig. 15 is a detail view of the mounting arrangement of Fig. 14.

[0044] Figure 16 is a schematic top view of a mounting arrangement as follows the invention that is mounted on four columns.

[0045] Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a router lifting device having a mounting arrangement according to the invention, in which the actuator axis and the mounting plane are perpendicular to each other.

[0046] Fig. 18 is a side perspective view of a sliding saw having a mounting arrangement according to the invention. Detailed description

[0047] To facilitate understanding of the principles of the embodiments described in this document, reference will now be made to the drawings and descriptions that follow. The scope of the invention is not limited by the reference numerals. The invention also encompasses any modifications to the illustrated embodiments and includes other applications of the principles of the described embodiments as would normally appear to a person skilled in the art.

[0048] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a mechanical tool 100, configured, for example, as a router, having a double-column mounting arrangement 104 according to the invention. The mechanical tool 100 has a motor carriage 108, on which a motor 112 is mounted. The motor 112 is functionally connected to a drill bit holder 116, which receives a working tool, for example, a router bit, a drill cutter, a grinding tool, or the like. The motor 112 drives the drill bit holder 116 to rotate the working tool so as to process material on a workpiece.

[0049] The motor carriage 108 has two lateral extensions 120, 124, to which handles (not shown in [Fig. 1]) are attached, arranged on opposite sides of a central region 128, in which the motor 112 is located. Each lateral extension 120, 124 defines a hollow cylinder 132, 136, in which a respective column 140, 144 is arranged with sufficient clearance to allow the motor carriage 108 to move along the axial direction of the columns 140, 144 (i.e., in and out of view of [Fig. 1]) so as to adjust the depth of the working tool in the drill bit holder 116 to the desired cutting depth.

[0050] Referring now to [Fig. 2] while continuing to refer to [Fig. 1], the mounting arrangement 104 comprises an actuator 160, a force redirection element 164, and two force transfer elements 172, 176. In the illustrated embodiment, the actuator 160 is in the form of a hand-operated button 180 attached to a threaded bolt 187 that is screwed into a threaded hole 188 in the motor support 108. In other embodiments, the actuator 160 may be a wing screw, a lever connected to a threaded rod, a button, a cable, a linkage, a tapered key, a cam lever, a hydraulic actuator, or any other suitable actuator. The actuator 160 is configured to selectively apply an actuator force 192 to the force redirection element 164.More specifically, in the mounted state, the actuator 160 applies the actuator force 192 to the force redirection element 164, and in the non-mounted state, the actuator force 192 is reduced or eliminated.

[0051] The force redirection element 164 is configured to redirect the force 192 from the actuator applied by the actuator 160 and apply mounting forces 196, 200 along the axes of the respective force transfer elements 172, 176. In the mode In the illustrated embodiment, the force redirection element 164 is a sphere, a disk, or a cylinder, although in other embodiments the force transfer element may be in the form of an ellipsoid, an elliptical prism, a sphere or a partial cylinder, a sphere or a cylinder having one or more flattened surfaces, or any other shape suitable for receiving the force 192 from the actuator and redirecting it along the points of intersection of tangency to the force transfer elements 172, 176 in the form of mounting forces 196 and 200.

[0052] Referring again to [Fig. 1], each of the force transfer elements 172, 176 extends from the force redirection element 164 to one of the respective columns 140, 144. Each force transfer element 172, 176 can be arranged within a linear bearing or support 204, 208 to facilitate axial movement of the force transfer elements 172, 176. In the mounted state, the force 192 of the actuator applied by the actuator 160 is redirected onto the force transfer elements 172, 176 as mounting forces 196, 200 respectively. The force transfer elements 172, 176 arrive on the respective columns 140, 144 in such a way that the assembly forces 196, 200 applied along the axes 212, 216 of the force transfer elements 172, 176 cause the force transfer elements 172, 176 to clamp the respective column 140, 144 on the face of its associated cylinder 132, 136.It follows that the two columns 140, 144 are immobilized in their associated cylinder 132, 136 to securely fix the carriage 108 relative to the two columns 140, 144.

[0053] In the illustrated embodiment, the longitudinal axis of the actuator 160 is substantially in the same plane as the axes 212, 216 of the force transfer elements 172, 176, which are generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the columns 140, 144. In other embodiments, the actuator 160 and / or at least one of the force transfer elements 172, 176 may be outside the plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the columns 140, 144.

[0054] Advantageously, the mounting arrangement 104 can be positioned in front of the tooling 100, where the actuator is easily accessible to the operator of the tooling 100. In addition, as the two force transfer elements 172, 176 move away from their respective columns 140, 144, the mounting arrangement 144 advantageously allows a sufficiently large motor 112 without interfering with the motor 112 or without requiring a complex arrangement to redirect the mounting arrangement around the motor 112.

[0055] Furthermore, the described mounting arrangement 104 is simple to manufacture and allows for relatively large tolerances to produce the desired clamping force on the two columns 140, 144. More specifically, in embodiments Using a ball or cylinder as a force redirection element 164, the force redirection element 164 maintains three points of contact: one with the actuator 160 and, more specifically, the end surface of the threaded rod 184, and one with each of the two force transfer elements 172 and 176, and, more specifically, their end surfaces. The ball or cylinder is movable to accommodate tolerances between the elements and to maintain a strong force redirection function even with wear on the ball or the end surfaces.

[0056] Furthermore, the described mounting arrangement 104 is configured to redirect the actuator force 192 from one direction into the mounting forces 196, 200 acting in two different directions. Because of this, the described mounting arrangement 104 allows the required input force 192 from the actuator to be adjusted, with the forces 196, 200 applied to the columns 140, 144, and the associated mechanical advantage of the mounting arrangement 104 to be achieved by modifying the geometry of the structures within the mounting arrangement 104.

[0057] As shown in [Fig. 3], the force 192 of the actuator is redirected along the normals to the surface of the force redirection element 164 at the point of intersection with the force redirection elements 172, 176. Since the force redirection elements are supported in the direction of the actuator force 192, the effective mounting forces 196, 200 act directly along the respective axes 212, 216 of the force transfer elements 172, 176. The intensities of the clamping forces 196, 200 can thus be tuned by varying the force 192 of the actuator, the respective angles ab a2 between the line of application of the force 192 of the actuator and the clamping forces 196, 200 and / or the angle #b #2 of the end surfaces between the force redirection element 164 and the force transfer elements 172, 176.Put another way, the intensity of the force 192 of the actuator required for a given clamping force 196, 200 can be adjusted by decreasing the angles ai, a2 between the lines of application of the forces or by decreasing the angles #b #2 of the end surfaces.

[0058] Furthermore, the lengths and positions of the force transfer elements 172, 176 can be modified to adjust the forces and the overall geometry of the mounting arrangement. Thus, for example, as seen in Figures 4 to 6, a mounting arrangement 104A is provided in which the lengths LB and L2 of the force transfer elements 172, 176 are different and in which the actuator 160 is offset. More specifically, in the embodiment shown in [Fig. 4], the length Li of the force transfer element 172 is greater than the length L2 of the force transfer element 172. As can be seen more clearly in Figures 5 and 6, even with the offset of the force transfer elements 172, 176 and the actuator 160, the force redirection element 164 can still move from The state ([Fig. 5]) is moved from the unmounted state ([Fig. 6]) to the mounted state ([Fig. 6]), while maintaining contact with the force transfer elements 172 and 176. It follows that the mounting arrangements described here allow the actuator 160 to be moved to an ergonomically efficient position, while providing good clamping on both columns.

[0059] Furthermore, the force transfer elements need not be straight bars to effectively transfer forces in the described mounting arrangements. Thus, for example, Figures 7 to 11 illustrate an embodiment of a mechanical tool 100B having a mounting arrangement 104B, in which the actuator 160 is disposed on one side of the motor carriage 108, with one force transfer element 176B being significantly longer than the other, longer force transfer element 172, and in which the force transfer element 176B is curved. In such a configuration, advantageously, the mounting arrangement 104B can be designed to avoid any interference with the motor 112, which is partially disposed in the application line 224 of the clamping force 200 between the force redirection element 164 and the column 144.

[0060] As seen in [Fig. 7], the actuator 160B of the mounting arrangement 104B is configured as a lever 180B connected to a threaded rod 184. The lever 180B is, in particular, mounted adjacent to the gripping region 122 so that, when the tool 100B is held by the gripping regions 122 and 126 during normal use of the tool 100B, the user's thumb is adjacent to the lever 180B. Consequently, the user can easily actuate the lever 180B without removing their hand from the gripping region 122. More precisely, the lever 180B can be positioned at a distance of approximately 6 mm to 76 mm from the gripping region 122. In one embodiment, lever 180B is disposed at a distance between approximately 25mm and approximately 50mm from the grip region 122.

[0061] The force transfer element 176B is in the form of an oblong curved element having a generally rectangular cross-section, although the reader will understand that the cross-section of the oblong curved element may be different in other embodiments. The force transfer element 176B may, for example, be housed in a complementary oblong curved channel 174B ([Fig. 11]) defined by the motor carriage 108B. The channel 174B constrains the force transfer element 1476B so that there is minimal or no deflection of the force transfer element 176B due to bending loads from the clamping force 200, and the clamping force 200 is transferred by the force transfer element 176B from the force redirection element 164 to the column 144.The functional path of the load of the clamping force 200 thus acts along the line of action 224 between the force redirection element 164 and the column 144.

[0062] As the actuator 160 is arranged contiguous with the handle 124, the force transfer element 172B is significantly shorter than the force transfer element 176B. Thus, for example, in one embodiment, the effective length L2 of the force transfer element 176B, that is, the length as measured along the straight line from the force redirection element 164 to the column 144, is more than three (3) times the effective length Li of the force transfer element 172B. In other embodiments, the ratio between Li and L2 can be between about 4 and about 25, between about 5 and about 15 or between about 6 and about 12. In another embodiment, the shortest force transfer element 172B is omitted, so that the force redirection element 164 acts directly on column 140.

[0063] Furthermore, the force transfer elements 172B, 176B are configured such that the reaction forces 228, 232 applied to the two force transfer elements 172B, 176B are applied in opposite directions to the associated force transfer element 172B, 176B. More specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, the angle of the end surface of the force transfer element 176B causes the force redirection element 164 to apply a force component essentially towards the threaded rod 184, and the reaction force 228 applied to the force transfer element 172B is therefore applied in a direction similar to the direction of the actuator force 192.

[0064] The curved configuration of the force transfer element 176B provides packaging advantages in the design of the mechanical tooling 100. In particular, the force transfer element 176B provides a simple and efficient way to route the clamping force 200 around the motor 112. It follows that the motor 112 can be larger than in conventional tooling without requiring complex arrangements to move the fixture elements out of the plane of the motor 112.

[0065] Figures 12 and 13 illustrate another embodiment of a mounting arrangement 104C similar to the embodiment shown in Figures 7 to 11. In the embodiment shown in Figures 12 and 13, similar to the embodiment described above, the actuator 160C is formed by a lever 180C connected to a threaded rod 184. As can be seen in [Fig. 10], the lever 180C is close to the gripping area 126 so that the user can easily actuate the lever 180C without removing their hand from the gripping area 126, thus facilitating easy adjustment and locking of the router at the desired height.

[0066] Furthermore, the force transfer element 172C is longer than the force transfer element 176C in the embodiment shown in Figures 12 and 13, but both force transfer elements 172C and 176C are in the form of straight rods. The reader will understand, however, that one or both of the force transfer elements 172C and 176C can be curved in the same way as the force transfer element 172B described above.

[0067] Figures 14 and 15 represent another embodiment of a mounting arrangement 104D configured similarly to the embodiments of Figures 7 to 11, except that the force transfer elements are in the form of rods 172D, 176D connected to each other by a pin 164D. The threaded rod 184 of the actuator 160D cooperates with a rounded end surface 174D of one or both of the rods 172D, 176D so as to apply the force 192 of the actuator to the rods 172D, 176D. The spindle 164D is generally mobile in the direction of application of the force 192 of the actuator so that, after application of the force 192 of the actuator, the ends on the spindle side of the rods 172D, 176D also move in the direction of the force 192 of the actuator.The rods 172D, 176D have a fixed length and the displacement of the ends on the spindle side of the rods 172D, 176D causes the rods 172D, 176D to apply outward clamping forces to the columns 140, 144 respectively to clamp the columns 140, 144 in place.

[0068] Fig. 16 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a mounting arrangement 404 for mechanical tooling, which is designed to mount a carriage 405 on four columns 142, 146, 420, 424. The mounting arrangement 404 can be used, for example, in a large planing machine, a height-adjustable table or a worktable or any other structure having several columns and an adjustable carriage.

[0069] The mounting arrangement 404 includes an actuator 440, three force redistribution elements, which are configured as balls 444, 448, 452 in the illustrated arrangement and six force transfer elements, which are configured as bars 460, 462, 464, 466, 468, 470. The mounting arrangement essentially functions as three mounting sub-arrangements configured similarly to the mounting arrangement reviewed above with regard to [Fig.1].

[0070] More specifically, the actuator 440 is configured as a threaded button, which can be actuated to apply a force 480 to the first ball 444. The first ball 444 redirects the force 480 from the actuator to the two bars 460 and 462 as intermediate forces 482 and 484, respectively. The bar 460 transmits the intermediate force 482 to the second ball 448, which redirects the intermediate force 482 into clamping forces 486 and 488 transmitted along the axes of the bars 464 and 468, respectively. The bars 464 and 468 act on the associated columns 412 and 416, respectively, to lock the carriage 408 in place relative to the columns 412 and 416.

[0071] Similarly, the intermediate force 484 applied along the bar 462 is redirected by the third ball 452 onto the two bars 468 and 470 respectively as clamping forces 490 and 492. The clamping forces 490 and 492 applied to the bars 468 and 470 cause the bars 468 and 470 to come onto the columns 420 and 424, locking the carriage 408 to the columns 420 and 424. It follows that the mounting arrangement 404 provides a simple and reliable mechanism for mounting the carriage 408 onto the four columns 412, 416, 420, and 424 by actuating only a single actuator 440, without the need for tight tolerances or complex mechanisms.

[0072] Furthermore, the reader will understand that the mounting arrangements described in this document are not limited to being used for two or four columns. On the contrary, the mounting arrangement can comprise any appropriate number of nested sub-mounting arrangements to actuate the desired number of columns. Thus, for example, while the embodiment of [Fig. 16] represents three sub-mounting arrangements, in other embodiments, the mounting arrangement can comprise two sub-mounting arrangements for mounting on three columns, four sub-mounting arrangements for mounting on five columns, and so on.

[0073] Figure 17 shows another configuration of a mounting arrangement 504 in which the input axis 506 around which the actuator rotates is not in the plane defined by the force transfer elements 572, 576. The mounting arrangement 504 can be used, for example, in a router lifting device 500 to adjust the height of a router carriage 510, on which the router bit 512 is supported, relative to the table 508 by clamping it on two or more columns 516, 520.

[0074] The mounting arrangement 504 includes an actuator 540 having a rotating input portion 544 configured in the form of a threaded rod and a rotationally fixed output portion 548. The input portion 544 has an input receiver 552, for example, a hexagonal opening configured to receive an output shaft from a removable knob (not shown) so as to rotate with the removable knob. The input portion 544 is screwed into a threaded opening that passes through the table 514 such that the rotation of the input portion 544 is transformed into a vertical movement about the axis of the input portion 544. The vertical movement of the input portion 544 acts on the output portion 548, which is rotationally fixed but vertically movable relative to the table 514.

[0075] The output portion 548 of the actuator 540 has a wedge-shaped region at the end opposite the input portion 544, which includes a beveled surface 556. The beveled surface 556 transforms the vertical movement of the output portion 548 into a force 560 applied to the force redirection element 564, which is configured in the form of a ball, at least partly in the horizontal plane. Although not illustrated in [Fig.7], the force redirection element 564 is prevented from moving in the vertical direction and therefore the force 560 applied to the force redirection element 564 is redirected along the horizontal plane.

[0076] Similar to the embodiments reviewed above with reference to [Fig. 1], the force redirection element 564 redirects the force 560 from the actuator to two force transfer elements 572, 576 as clamping forces 580 and 584, respectively. The force transfer elements 572, 576 are applied to the respective columns 516, 520, which are connected to the router's lifting device 510. Consequently, the forces 580, 584 act to clamp the columns 516, 520 in place relative to the table 514.

[0077] The reader will understand that the features described above in the embodiments of Figures 1 to 16 can also be used in the embodiment of [Fig. 17]. Thus, for example, one or both of the force transfer elements 572, 576 can be curved around obstacles. Furthermore, or alternatively, the mounting arrangement 504 can comprise more than one sub-mounting arrangement so as to mount more than two columns.

[0078] Figure 18 shows another mounting arrangement 604 used in a sliding table saw 600, for example a miter saw, for locking a carriage 608 of the saw to two sliding tubes 612. In particular, the mounting arrangement 604 includes an actuator 620, which includes a lever 624 connected to a threaded rod 628 and which is screwed into a hole in the chamfered pillar 632. The threaded rod 628 is configured so that, in the mounted state, it comes into contact with the force redirection element 436, which redirects the force of the actuator from the threaded rod 628 along the axes of two force transfer elements 640, 644. Each of the force transfer elements 640, 644 comes onto one of the respective sliding tubes 612 so as to lock the beveled pillar 632 onto the sliding tubes 612 and to fix the position of the saw carriage 608 along the axis of the sliding tubes 612.

[0079] It goes without saying that the variants of the characteristics and functions described above can be combined in many other different systems, applications, or processes. Numerous possible modifications, variations, or improvements not described in this document can subsequently be implemented by those skilled in the art and should be considered as encompassed within the preceding description.

Claims

Demands

1. A mechanical tooling (100) comprising: at least two columns (140, 144); a carriage (108) configured to move along the at least two columns (140, 144); and a mounting arrangement (104) configured to selectively mount the carriage (108) on at least a first column (140) and a second column (144) of the at least two columns (140, 144), the mounting arrangement (104) comprising: an actuator (160) configured to be actuated and move the mounting arrangement (104) between a mounted state and a dismounted state;and a force redirection element (164), in which, in the mounted state, the actuator (160) acts on the force redirection element (164) by an actuator force (160) in a first direction and the force redirection element (164) redirects the actuator force (160) into a first mounting force applied to the first column (140) in a second direction and into a second mounting force applied to the second column (144) in a third direction.;

2. The mechanical tooling (100) of claim 1, the mounting arrangement (104) further comprising: a first force transfer element (172) on which the force redirection element (164) acts in the mounting state to transfer the first force to the first column (140); a second force transfer element (176) on which the force redirection element (164) acts in the mounting state to transfer the second mounting force to the second column (144).

3. The mechanical tooling (100) of claim 2, wherein: the first mounting force acts along a first line of action from the first force redirection element (164) to the first column (140) the second mounting force acts along a second line of action from the force redirection element (164) to the second column (144) and the first and second lines of action are not parallel.

4. The mechanical tooling (100) of claim 3, wherein a first length of the first line of action is greater than a second length of the second line of action.

5. The mechanical tooling (100) of claim 4, wherein the first force transfer element (172) comprises an oblong curved element (176B) extending from the force redirection element (164) to the first column (140).

6. The mechanical tooling (100) of claim 5, further comprising: a motor (112) through which passes the first line of action.

7. The mechanical tooling (100) of claim 6, wherein the carriage (108B) comprises a channel (174B) which is complementary to the oblong curved element (176B) and in which the oblong curved element (176B) is constrained.

8. The mechanical tooling (100) of claim 2, wherein the force redirection element (164) has at least a partially round surface, each of the respective first and second lines of action extends from a point of contact between the respective first and second force transfer elements (172, 176) and at least a partially round surface of the force redirection element (164).

9. The mechanical tooling (100) of claim 8, wherein the force redirection element (164) is spherical or cylindrical.

10. The mechanical tooling (100) of claim 2, wherein: the actuator (160) rotates to move the mounting arrangement (104) between the mounted state and the dismounted state around an actuator axis (160) and the first and second force transfer elements (172, 176) define a plane.

11. The mechanical tooling (100) of claim 10, wherein the plane is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the actuator (160).

12. The mechanical tooling (100) of claim 1, wherein the actuator (160) comprises a threaded rod (184) which is slid into a tapped opening of the carriage (108) and is configured such that, when the actuator (160) is rotated to move the mounting arrangement (104) from the unmounted state to the mounted state, the threaded rod (184) exerts the force of the actuator (160) on the force redirection element (164).

13. The mechanical tooling (100) of claim 1, wherein the at least two columns (412, 416, 420, 424) comprise a third column and the mounting arrangement (404) further comprises a second force redirection element (444, 448, 452) which redirects the mounting force into a third mounting force applying to the first column and a fourth mounting force applying to the third column.

14. A mounting arrangement (104) comprising: an actuator (160) configured to be actuated to move the mounting arrangement (104) between a mounted state, in which the mounting arrangement (104) is mounted on at least a first column (140) and a second column (144), and a dismounted state; and a force redirection element (164), in which, in the mounted state, the actuator (160) acts on the force redirection element (164) by an actuator force (160) in a first direction and the force redirection element (164) redirects the actuator force (160) into a first mounting force applied to the first column (140) in a second direction and into a second mounting force applied to the second column (144) in a third direction.

15. The mounting arrangement of claim 14, further comprising: a first force transfer element (172) on which the force redirection element (164) acts in the mounting state to transfer the first force to the first column (140); a second force transfer element (176) on which the force redirection element (164) acts in the mounting state to transfer the second mounting force to the second column (144).

16. The mounting arrangement of claim 15, wherein the first mounting force acts along a first line of action from the first force redirection element (164) to the first column (140), the second mounting force acts along a second line of action from the force redirection element (164) to the second column (144), and the first and second lines of action are not parallel.

17. The mounting arrangement of claim 16, wherein a first length of the first line of action is greater than a second length of the second line of action.

18. The mounting arrangement of claim 17, wherein the first force transfer element (172) comprises a curved oblong element (176B) extending from the force redirection element (164) to the first column (140).

19. The mounting arrangement of claim 18, wherein the curved oblong element (176B) is constrained in a conduit (174B) which is complementary to the curved oblong element (176B).

20. The mounting arrangement of claim 15, wherein the force redirection element has a round surface at least in part, each of the first and second lines of action extends from a point of contact between the first and second respective force transfer element (572, 576) and the round surface at least in part of the force redistribution element (564).

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