Safety methods for use in power equipment

Abstract

Woodworking machines and safety methods for use with those machines are disclosed. The machines include a detection system adapted to detect one or more dangerous conditions and a reaction system associated with the detection system. The reaction system can include an explosive to trigger the system, and also can be configured to retract a cutting tool at least partially away from a cutting region upon detection of a dangerous condition by the detection system.

1 . A cutting machine comprising: 
 a blade configured to cut a workpiece;    a detection system configured to detect a dangerous condition;    a reaction system adapted to perform a specified action to mitigate possible injury from the dangerous condition; and    an explosive to trigger the reaction system to perform the specified action when fired.    
   
   
       2 . The cutting machine of  claim 1 , where the blade moves to cut a workpiece, and where the specified action is to stop the blade.  
   
   
       3 . The cutting machine of  claim 1 , where the specified action is to cover the blade.  
   
   
       4 . The cutting machine of  claim 1 , where the blade is configured to cut a workpiece in a work zone, and where the specified action is to retract the blade at least partially away from the workzone.  
   
   
       5 . The cutting machine of  claim 1 , where the dangerous condition is contact between a person and the blade.  
   
   
       6 . The cutting machine of  claim 1 , where the dangerous condition is proximity between a person and the blade.  
   
   
       7 . The cutting machine of  claim 1 , where the blade is configured to cut a workpiece in a work zone, where the specified action is to retract the blade at least partially out of the workzone, and where the dangerous condition is contact between a person and the blade.  
   
   
       8 . The cutting machine of  claim 1 , where the blade is configured to cut a workpiece in a work zone, where the specified action is to retract the blade at least partially out of the workzone, and where the dangerous condition is proximity between a person and the blade.  
   
   
       9 . The cutting machine of  claim 1 , where the reaction system is configured so that firing the explosive causes at least a part of the reaction system to move.  
   
   
       10 . The cutting machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a firing subsystem to fire the explosive upon detection of the dangerous condition.  
   
   
       11 . A woodworking machine having a cutting region for cutting workpieces, comprising: 
 a movable cutting tool for cutting workpieces in the cutting region;    a detection system adapted to detect a dangerous condition between a person and the cutting tool; and    a reaction system associated with the detection system and the cutting tool, where the reaction system is configured to pivot the cutting tool at least partially away from the cutting region upon detection of the dangerous condition by the detection system.    
   
   
       12 . The woodworking machine of  claim 11  where the dangerous condition is contact between a person and the cutting tool.  
   
   
       13 . The woodworking machine of  claim 11  where the dangerous condition is proximity of a person to the cutting tool.  
   
   
       14 . The woodworking machine of  claim 11  further comprising a rotatable arbor on which the cutting tool is mounted, an arbor block adapted to support the arbor, and a support structure to which the arbor block is pivotally mounted; and where the reaction system is configured to pivot the arbor block, arbor and cutting tool at least partially away from the cutting region upon detection of the dangerous condition by the detection system.  
   
   
       15 . The woodworking machine of  claim 14  where the cutting tool is a circular blade, where the machine is configured to cut a workpiece by moving the workpiece in a feed direction past the blade, and where the arbor block is pivotally mounted to the support structure downstream from the blade relative to the feed direction.  
   
   
       16 . The woodworking machine of  claim 14  where the cutting tool is a circular blade, where the machine is configured to cut a workpiece by moving the workpiece in a feed direction past the blade, and where the arbor block is mounted to the support structure at a pivot point behind the blade relative to the feed direction.  
   
   
       17 . The woodworking machine of  claim 14  where the cutting tool is a circular blade, where the machine is configured to cut a workpiece by moving the workpiece in a feed direction past the blade, where the support structure includes a trunnion to which the arbor block is pivotally mounted, and where the trunnion is positioned behind the blade relative to the feed direction.  
   
   
       18 . A woodworking machine comprising: 
 a table having a work surface defining a cutting region;    a cutting tool positioned to extend at least partially into the cutting region;    a detection system adapted to detect a dangerous condition between a person and the cutting tool; and    a reaction system associated with the detection system and the cutting tool, where the reaction system is configured to retract the cutting tool completely below the work surface within approximately 14 milliseconds after the dangerous condition is detected by the detection system.    
   
   
       19 . The woodworking machine of  claim 18  where the dangerous condition is contact between a person and the cutting tool.  
   
   
       20 . The woodworking machine of  claim 18  where the dangerous condition is proximity of a person to the cutting tool.