Chop Saw Height Adjustment Guide Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing chop saw designs with height-adjustable tables suffer from excessive sideways movement during height adjustment, compromising the stability and accuracy of mitre and bevel cuts.

Innovation Solution

A chop saw design featuring a base with a rotatable table, a bevel mount, and a motor unit that pivots to allow for chop, mitre, and bevel cuts, along with a height adjustment mechanism using a support rod and guide mechanism with projections to prevent sideways movement, and an integrated light guide system for precise cutting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a height adjustment mechanism with a tubular support is used for the table, then the height of the table can be adjusted, but excessive sideways movement occurs during height adjustment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheight adjustabilityVSAvoidsideways movement stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A sliding support acts as an intermediary component between the tubular support and the motor unit. This sliding support includes a body with two projections that engage with the side of the tubular support, preventing sideways movement while allowing vertical sliding. The intermediary sliding support resolves the contradiction by providing lateral constraint without interfering with the height adjustment function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the table height is adjusted during operation, then the cutting position can be changed, but the accuracy of mitre and bevel cuts deteriorates due to sideways movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting position flexibilityVSAvoidcutting accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The sliding support with projections engages the tubular support to prevent sideways movement, ensuring that height adjustment does not compromise cutting accuracy. The intermediary structure maintains precise positioning while allowing vertical movement for position flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The sliding support allows dynamic adjustment of table height while maintaining lateral stability. The projections engage with the tubular support during sliding, providing continuous lateral constraint that preserves cutting accuracy throughout the adjustment range.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If a guide mechanism with projections is added to prevent sideways movement, then cutting accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting accuracyVSAvoidheight adjustment mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sliding support provides a simple dynamic mechanism where projections naturally engage with the tubular support during vertical sliding. This passive constraint mechanism improves accuracy without requiring complex active control systems or multiple components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The projections on the sliding support automatically engage with the tubular support to prevent sideways movement. The mechanism is self-regulating, requiring no additional control systems or complex assembly, thus improving accuracy while minimizing added complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2602076B1Chop saw with top table
Publication Date: 2016.04.27 BLACK & DECKER CORP
  • EP2602076B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2602076B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2602076B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A saw comprising: a base (2); a first table (4) rotatably mounted about a vertical axis (8) within the base (4); a bevel mount (16) pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis (18) on the edge of the first table (4); a motor unit (20) pivotally mounted on the bevel mount to allow the motor unit to pivot from a first raised position towards the table to a second lowered position; a saw blade (22) rotatably mounted on and capable of being rotationally driven by the motor unit (20); and a second table (12) mounted via a height adjustment mechanism on the motor unit (20) having a slot (42) formed through it through which the top section of the circular saw blade 22 is capable of projecting; the height adjustment mechanism comprising a support rod (301) attached to the table which is capable of being axially slid in a linear manner on the motor unit, the sliding movement of the support rod (301) being controlled by a guide mechanism; a locking mechanism (316, 336) to releasably lock the position of the support rod (301) on the motor unit (20); wherein the guide mechanism comprises a sliding support (340) mounted on the motor unit (20) which slidingly engages with the side of the support rod (301), characterised in that the sliding support comprises a body (342) attached to the motor unit having two projections (360, 362), the two projections (360, 362) engaging with the side of the support rod (301).