Adjustable cover assembly for cut-off tool

Abstract

A cover assembly for use on a cut-off tool. The tool has a housing, a motor having a rotor, and an output shaft for fastening a cutting wheel. The shaft is connected to the rotor, so the output shaft turns about an axis aligned with the centerline of the rotor. The assembly includes a cover sized for receiving the cutting wheel. The cover has a collar sized for receiving a portion of the tool surrounding the output shaft. The collar is fastenable to the tool. The tool includes a foot having an elongated planar sole pivotally attached to the cover. The foot is pivotable with respect to the cover to adjust a distance that the cutting wheel extends from the sole. The cover includes a clamp for clamping the foot to the cover when the distance the cutting wheel extends from the sole corresponds to a desired maximum cutting depth.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cover assembly for use on a cut-off tool having a housing, a motor having a rotor mounted inside the housing, said motor being selectively operable to rotate the rotor about a centerline, the cut-off tool having an output shaft adapted for fastening a cutting wheel thereto, said output shaft being operatively connected to the rotor so the output shaft turns about an axis that is generally aligned with the centerline of the rotor, said cover assembly comprising:
 a semi-annular cover sized and shaped for receiving the cutting wheel when the cutting wheel is fastened to the output shaft, said cover having a collar sized for receiving a portion of the tool surrounding the output shaft, the collar being releasably fastenable to said portion of the tool to attach the cover to the tool; and   a foot having an elongated planar sole pivotally attached to the cover for pivotal movement relative to the cut-off tool when the collar is fastened to the portion of the tool, the foot being selectively pivotable with respect to the cover to adjust a distance that the cutting wheel extends from the sole;   wherein the cover includes a clamp positioned for clamping the foot to the cover when the distance the cutting wheel extends from the sole corresponds to a desired maximum cutting depth.   
     
     
         2 . A cover assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the foot includes an arcuate tongue extending from the sole and adjacent the cover, and the clamp comprises a screw positioned for fastening the tongue to the cover. 
     
     
         3 . A cover assembly as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein:
 the arcuate tongue has a curved slot sized for receiving the screw, said slot follows a circular path that sweeps through an arc centered on an imaginary line through the cover about which the sole pivots; and   the screw extends through the slot and is threaded into the cover.   
     
     
         4 . A cover assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the sole extends perpendicular to the cutting wheel when the collar is fastened to the portion of the tool and the cutting wheel is fastened to the output shaft. 
     
     
         5 . A cover assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the sole has a slot sized and shaped for receiving the cutting wheel and allow the cutting wheel to extend through sole. 
     
     
         6 . A cover assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the cover includes a semi-cylindrical outer surface, a planar front face extending radially inward from a forward end of the outer surface, and a planar rear face extending radially inward from a rearward end of the outer surface, so the cover encloses a portion of the cutting wheel. 
     
     
         7 . A cover assembly as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the front face of the cover has an opening sized for providing clearance to install and remove the cutting wheel from the output shaft when the collar is fastened to the portion of the tool. 
     
     
         8 . A cover assembly as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein:
 the collar extends rearward from the rear face of the cover and includes a pair of ears separated by a longitudinal gap; and   the collar tightens around the portion of the tool when the pair of ears are moved closer together to reduce a width of the gap.   
     
     
         9 . A cover assembly as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the collar includes a screw extending between the pair of ears to pull the pair of ears closer together. 
     
     
         10 . A cover assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , in combination with the cut-off tool. 
     
     
         11 . A cut-off tool, comprising:
 a housing;   a motor having a rotor mounted inside the housing, the motor being selectively operable to rotate the rotor about a centerline;   an output shaft adapted for fastening a cutting wheel thereto, said output shaft being operatively connected to the rotor so the output shaft turns about an axis when the motor operates; and   a cover assembly, including:
 a semi-annular cover sized and shaped for receiving the cutting wheel when the cutting wheel is fastened to the output shaft, said cover having a collar sized for receiving a portion of the housing surrounding the output shaft, the collar being releasably fastenable to said portion of the housing to attach the cover to the housing; and 
 a foot having an elongated planar sole pivotally attached to the cover for pivotal movement relative to the cut-off tool when the collar is fastened to the portion of the housing, the foot being selectively pivotable with respect to the cover to adjust a distance that the cutting wheel extends from the sole. 
   
     
     
         12 . A cut-off tool as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the cover includes a clamp positioned for clamping the foot to the cover when the distance the cutting wheel extends from the sole corresponds to a desired maximum cutting depth. 
     
     
         13 . A cut-off tool as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the foot includes an arcuate tongue extending from the sole and adjacent the cover, and the clamp comprises a screw positioned for fastening the tongue to the cover. 
     
     
         14 . A cut-off tool as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein:
 the arcuate tongue has a curved slot sized for receiving the screw, said slot follows a circular path that sweeps through an arc centered on an imaginary line through the cover about which the sole pivots; and   the screw extends through the slot and is threaded into the cover.   
     
     
         15 . A cut-off tool as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the sole extends perpendicular to the cutting wheel when the collar is fastened to the portion of the housing and the cutting wheel is fastened to the output shaft. 
     
     
         16 . A cut-off tool as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the sole has a slot sized and shaped for receiving the cutting wheel and allow the cutting wheel to extend through sole. 
     
     
         17 . A cut-off tool as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the cover includes a semi-cylindrical outer surface, a planar front face extending radially inward from a forward end of the outer surface, and a planar rear face extending radially inward from a rearward end of the outer surface, so the cover encloses a portion of the cutting wheel. 
     
     
         18 . A cut-off tool as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein:
 the collar extends rearward from the rear face of the cover and includes a pair of ears separated by a longitudinal gap; and   the collar tightens around the portion of the housing when the pair of ears are moved closer together to reduce a width of the gap.   
     
     
         19 . A cut-off tool as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein the collar includes a screw extending between the pair of ears to pull the pair of ears closer together. 
     
     
         20 . A cut-off tool as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein:
 the housing includes a joint to selectively articulate the tool; and   the collar releasably fastens to joint to attach the cover to the housing.