Improved abrasive saw

Abstract

An abrasive saw having an associated cutting wheel is used for cutting objects. The saw includes a base, a cutting assembly operably mounted to the base and a controller. The cutting assembly includes a pivot shaft, a drive shaft operably mounted to the pivot shaft, a drive, and a drive wheel. A flexible drive element operably connects the drive shaft and a drive wheel. The distance between the drive wheel axis of rotation and the drive shaft axis of rotation is variable to increase or decrease a tension in the flexible drive element. A feed table is operably mounted to the base and is movable forward and rearward in a direction of rotation of the associated cutting wheel. The cutting wheel is lockable in the cutting position and the feed table, with the object secured thereto, is moved, by the controller toward the associated cutting wheel to cut the object. An enclosure encloses the cutting assembly and has stationary sides and openable front and top panels hingedly mounted to one another and to a portion of one of the side panels to open as a unitary assembly for access to the cutting assembly.

1 . An abrasive saw having an associated cutting wheel for cutting objects mounted thereto, comprising:
 a base; and   a cutting assembly operably mounted to the base, the cutting assembly including a pivot shaft, a drive shaft operably mounted to the pivot shaft, a drive, and a drive wheel, the drive being operably connected to the drive shaft, the drive shaft being operably connected to the drive wheel by a flexible drive element to rotate the drive wheel, the drive wheel having the associated cutting wheel mounted thereto, the pivot shaft being pivotable to move the associated cutting wheel between a cutting position and a disengaged position,   wherein the drive shaft has an axis of rotation and the drive wheel has an axis of rotation spaced a distance from the drive shaft axis of rotation, and wherein the flexible drive element spans the distance between the drive wheel axis of rotation and the drive shaft axis of rotation, and wherein the distance between the drive wheel axis of rotation and the drive shaft axis of rotation is variable to increase or decrease a tension in the flexible drive element.   
     
     
         2 . The abrasive saw in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the drive shaft is disposed within the pivot shaft and wherein rotation of the pivot shaft varies the distance between the drive wheel axis of rotation and the drive shaft axis of rotation. 
     
     
         3 . The abrasive saw in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the pivot shaft has a longitudinal axis and wherein a distance between the pivot shaft longitudinal axis and the drive wheel axis of rotation is fixed. 
     
     
         4 . The abrasive saw in accordance with  claim 3  wherein the drive shaft is eccentrically disposed within the pivot shaft. 
     
     
         5 . The abrasive saw in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the flexible drive element is a drive belt, and wherein varying the distance between the drive wheel axis of rotation and the drive shaft axis of rotation varies the tension in the belt. 
     
     
         6 . The abrasive saw in accordance with  claim 5  wherein the drive belt is a toothed belt and wherein a toothed wheel is mounted to the drive shaft and the drive wheel is a toothed wheel. 
     
     
         7 . An abrasive saw having an associated cutting wheel for cutting objects mounted thereto, comprising:
 a base;   a cutting assembly operably mounted to the base, the cutting assembly including a pivot shaft, a drive shaft operably mounted to the pivot shaft, a drive, and a drive wheel, the drive being operably connected to the drive shaft and the drive wheel to rotate the drive wheel, the drive wheel having the associated cutting wheel mounted thereto, the pivot shaft being pivotable to move the associated cutting wheel between a cutting position and a disengaged position, the cutting assembly including a lock to lock the associated cutting wheel in the cutting position;   a feed table operably mounted to the base, the feed table movable forward and rearward in a direction of rotation of the associated cutting wheel; and   a controller,   wherein the associated cutting wheel is lockable in the cutting position and the feed table, with the object secured thereto, is moved toward the associated cutting wheel to cut the object.   
     
     
         8 . The abrasive saw in accordance with  claim 7  including a drive for moving the feed table. 
     
     
         9 . The abrasive saw in accordance with  claim 8  wherein the drive is a manually operated drive. 
     
     
         10 . The abrasive saw in accordance with  claim 8  wherein the drive is a motor. 
     
     
         11 . The abrasive saw in accordance with  claim 10  wherein the controller controls the drive to move the table toward the associated cutting wheel. 
     
     
         12 . The abrasive saw in accordance with  claim 11  including a current sensor circuit, and wherein the current sensor circuit generates a signal to the controller and, upon sensing a predetermined current, the controller slows and/or stops the drive to slow and/or stop movement of the table toward the associated cutting wheel. 
     
     
         13 . The abrasive saw in accordance with  claim 11  wherein the controller includes an input for inputting the speed of the table moving toward the associated cutting wheel. 
     
     
         14 . The abrasive saw in accordance with  claim 7  including a transverse drive to move the feed table transverse to the direction of rotation of the associated cutting wheel. 
     
     
         15 . An abrasive saw having an associated cutting wheel for cutting objects mounted thereto, comprising:
 a base;   a cutting assembly operably mounted to the base, the cutting assembly configured to move the associated cutting wheel between a cutting position and a disengaged position, the cutting assembly including a lock to lock the associated cutting wheel in the cutting position;   a feed table operably mounted to the base, the feed table movable forward and rearward in a direction of rotation of the associated cutting wheel; and   an enclosure enclosing the cutting assembly, the enclosure having at least one stationary side and an openable front panel and top panel, the front panel and the top panel being hingedly mounted to one another to open as a unitary assembly, the assembly openable to provide access to the cutting assembly.   
     
     
         16 . The abrasive saw in accordance with  claim 15  including at least one wear element disposed on the enclosure aligned with the direction of rotation of the associated cutting wheel. 
     
     
         17 . The abrasive saw in accordance with  claim 15  including a controller and at least one interlock, wherein when the interlock is open, the controller prevents operation of the abrasive saw. 
     
     
         18 . The abrasive saw in accordance with  claim 17  wherein the at least one interlock is located on the enclosure. 
     
     
         19 . The abrasive saw in accordance with  claim 15  including a fluid feed to feed fluid to a shroud covering the associated cutting wheel. 
     
     
         20 . The abrasive saw in accordance with  claim 15  wherein a portion of a side panel is operably connected to the front panel and the top panel to open therewith as a unitary assembly.