Saw chain cutter with bent over depth gauge

Abstract

A cutter for an endless cutter device having a body portion disposed in a substantially upright plane, a cutter portion on a rearward region of the body and a depth gauge portion on a forward region of the body. The depth gauge has a downwardly sloping planar upper surface with a multi-angular configuration. A rear edge of the depth gauge has a central portion which is highest and farther to the rear, with side portions extending forwardly and downwardly therefrom in diverging directions. A free outer edge intermediate the rear edge and forward edge of the depth gauge is the maximum width portion of the depth gauge. Converging edges progress forwardly from the maximum width portion to the front edge of the depth gauge. The heel of the body portion is clipped to permit limited rearward rocking of the cutter.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A cutting chain comprising a plurality of pivotally interconnected links including cutter links, with a cutter link in said chain in an upright position comprising, 
       a body portion disposed in a substantially upright plane and having forward and rearward regions,  
       a cutter portion on the rearward region of the body portion having a forwardly facing cutting edge at a selected elevation above the body portion, and  
       a depth gauge portion on the forward region of the body portion, said depth gauge portion comprising a plate portion bent over at substantially a right angle relative to the plane of the body portion and having an upper surface inclined substantially continuously downwardly from a rearwardly facing rear edge of the plate portion which is disposed at an elevation adjacent but below the elevation of the cutting edge to a forwardly facing front edge of the plate portion which is disposed at a lower elevation, said depth gauge portion being substantially pentagonal with one side of said pentagonal configuration forming a front edge for the depth gauge, and said rear edge having a central portion nearest said cutting edge and a pair of side portions opposite said front edge which extend forwardly from said central portion and diverge from each other on extending forwardly.  
     
     
       2. The chain of claim  1 , wherein said central portion of said rear edge of the depth gauge is disposed at the greatest elevation for the depth gauge relative to said body portion and remainder portions of said depth gauge incline downwardly on extending forwardly therefrom. 
     
     
       3. The chain of claim  2 , wherein said diverging side portions are inclined downwardly from said central portion as they extend forwardly therefrom. 
     
     
       4. The chain of claim  3 , wherein said depth gauge has a central region intermediate its front and rear edges which has the maximum width for the depth gauge, and said side portions of said rear edge extend from said central portion of the rear edge toward said central region. 
     
     
       5. The chain of claim  4 , wherein said depth gauge further comprises opposed side edges which extend forwardly from said central region and converge toward each other as they extend forwardly therefrom. 
     
     
       6. The chain of claim  5 , wherein the depth gauge has a free side region extending away from said body portion, and one of said rear edge side portions and one of said side edges converge in a convex curve on said free side region at said central region. 
     
     
       7. The chain of claim  6 , wherein the maximum width of said depth gauge occurs at said convex curve. 
     
     
       8. The chain of claim  7 , wherein said maximum width portion of said depth gauge is disposed at an elevation intermediate the highest and lowest portions of said depth gauge. 
     
     
       9. The chain of claim  1 , wherein said rear edge side portions diverge from each other to provide an included angle therebetween in a range of from 110 to 170 degrees. 
     
     
       10. The chain of claim  1 , wherein said rear edge side portions diverge from each other to provide an included angle therebetween in a range of from 110 to 160 degrees. 
     
     
       11. The chain of claim  1 , wherein said diverging rear edge side portions are inclined downwardly from said central portion as they progress forwardly therefrom. 
     
     
       12. The chain of claim  1 , wherein said central portion of said rear edge of the depth gauge defines a convex curve. 
     
     
       13. A cutter for an endless cutter device movable along a path for cutting a kerf in a workpiece, said cutter in an upright position comprising, 
       a body portion disposed in a substantially upright plane and having forward and rearward regions,  
       a cutter portion on the rearward region of the body portion having a forwardly facing cutting edge at a selected elevation above the body portion, and  
       a depth gauge portion on the forward region of the body portion, said depth gauge portion comprising a plate portion bent over at substantially a right angle relative to the plane of the body portion and having an upper surface inclined substantially continuously downwardly from a rearwardly facing rear edge of the plate portion which is disposed at an elevation adjacent but below the elevation of the cutting edge to a forwardly facing front edge of the plate portion which is disposed at a lower elevation, said depth gauge portion being substantially pentagonal with one side of said pentagonal configuration forming a front edge for the depth gauge, and said rear edge having a central portion nearest said cutting edge and a pair of side portions opposite said front edge which extend forwardly from said central portion and diverge from each other on extending forwardly.  
     
     
       14. The chain of claim  13 , wherein said central portion of said rear edge of the depth gauge is disposed at the greatest elevation for the depth gauge relative to said body portion and remainder portions of said depth gauge incline downwardly on extending forwardly therefrom. 
     
     
       15. The chain of claim  14 , wherein said diverging side portions are inclined downwardly from said central portion as they extend forwardly therefrom. 
     
     
       16. The chain of claim  15 , wherein said depth gauge has a central region intermediate its front and rear edges which has the maximum width for the depth gauge, and said side portions of said rear edge extend from said central portion toward said central region. 
     
     
       17. The cutter of claim  16 , wherein the cutting edge has a selected width extending transversely of the plane of the body portion and the maximum width of said depth gauge portion is at least as great as the width of the cutting edge. 
     
     
       18. The cutter of claim  16 , wherein said depth gauge further comprises opposed side edges which extend forwardly from said central region and converge toward each other as they extend forwardly therefrom. 
     
     
       19. The cutter of claim  18 , wherein the depth gauge has a free side region extending away from said body portion, and one of said rear edge side portions and one of said side edges converge in a convex curve on said free side region at said central region. 
     
     
       20. The cutter of claim  19 , wherein the maximum width of said depth gauge occurs at said convex curve. 
     
     
       21. The cutter of claim  20 , wherein said maximum width portion of said depth gauge is disposed at an elevation intermediate the highest and lowest portions of said depth gauge. 
     
     
       22. The cutter of claim  13 , wherein said rear edge side portions diverge from each other to provide an included angle therebetween in a range of from 110 to 170 degrees. 
     
     
       23. The cutter of claim  13 , wherein said rear edge side portions diverge from each other to provide an included angle therebetween in a range of from 110 to 160 degrees. 
     
     
       24. The cutter of claim  13 , wherein said diverging rear edge side portions are inclined downwardly from said central portion as they progress forwardly therefrom. 
     
     
       25. The cutter of claim  13 , wherein said central portion of said rear edge of the depth gauge defines a convex curve. 
     
     
       26. A cutting chain comprising a plurality of pivotally interconnected links including cutter links, with a cutter link in said chain in an upright position comprising: 
       
         a body portion disposed in a substantially upright plane and having forward and rearward regions,  
       
       
         a cutter portion on the rearward region of the body portion having a forwardly facing cutting edge at a selected elevation above the body portion, and  
       
         a depth gauge portion on the forward region of the body portion, said depth gauge portion comprising a plate portion bent over at substantially a right angle relative to the plane of the body portion and having an upper surface inclined substantially continuously downwardly from a rearwardly facing rear edge of the plate portion which is disposed at an elevation adjacent but below the elevation of the cutting edge to a forwardly facing front edge of the plate portion which is disposed at a lower elevation, said depth gauge portion being substantially multi - angular having six or more sides, with one side of said multi - angular configuration forming a front edge for the depth gauge, and said rear edge having a central portion nearest said cutting edge and a pair of side portions opposite said front edge which extend forwardly from said central portion and diverge from each other on extending forwardly.   
     
     
       27. The chain of claim  26 , wherein said central portion of said rear edge of the depth gauge is disposed at the greatest elevation for the depth gauge relative to said body portion and remainder portions of said depth gauge incline downwardly on extending forwardly therefore. 
     
     
       28. The chain of claim  27 , wherein said diverging side portions are inclined downwardly from said central portion as they extend forwardly therefore. 
     
     
       29. The chain of claim  28 , wherein said depth gauge has a central portion intermediate its front and rear edges which has the maximum width for the depth gauge, and said side portions of said rear edge extend from said central portion of the rear edge toward said central region. 
     
     
       30. The chain of claim  29 , wherein said depth gauge further comprises opposed side edges which extend forwardly from said central region and converge toward each other as they extend forwardly therefrom. 
     
     
       31. The chain of claim  30 , wherein the depth gauge has a free side region extending away from said body portion, and one of said rear edge side portions and one of said side edges converge in a convex curve on said free side region at said central region. 
     
     
       32. The chain of claim  26 , wherein said rear edge side portions diverge from each other to provide an included angle therebetween in a range of from  110  to  170  degrees. 
     
     
       33. The chain of claim  26 , wherein said diverging rear edge side portions are inclined downwardly from said central portion as they progress forwardly therefrom. 
     
     
       34. A cutter for an endless cutter device movable along a path for cutting a kerf in a workpiece, said cutter in an upright position comprising: 
       
         a body portion disposed in a substantially upright plane and having forward and rearward regions,  
       
       
         a cutter portion on the rearward region of the body portion having a forwardly facing cutting edge at a selected elevation above the body portion, and  
       
         a depth gauge portion on the forward region of the body portion, said depth gauge portion comprising a plate portion bent over at substantially a right angle relative to the plane of the body portion and having an upper surface inclined substantially continuously downwardly from a rearwardly facing rear edge of the plate portion which is disposed at an elevation adjacent but below the elevation of the cutting edge to a forwardly facing front edge of the plate portion which is disposed at a lower elevation, said depth gauge portion being substantially multi - angular having six or more sides, with one side of said multi - angular configuration forming a front edge for the depth gauge, and said rear edge having a central portion nearest said cutting edge and a pair of side portions opposite said front edge which extends forwardly from said central portion and diverge from each other on extending forwardly.   
     
     
       35. The cutter of claim  34 , wherein said central portion of said rear edge of the depth gauge is disposed at the greatest elevation for said depth gauge relative to said body portion and remainder portions of said depth gauge incline downwardly on extending forwardly therefrom. 
     
     
       36. The cutter of claim  35 , wherein said diverging side portions are inclined downwardly from said central portion as they extend forwardly therefrom. 
     
     
       37. The cutter of claim  36 , wherein said depth gauge has a central region intermediate its front and rear edges which has the maximum width for the depth gauge, and said side portions of said rear edge extend from said central portion toward said central region. 
     
     
       38. The cutter of claim  37 , wherein the cutting edge has a selected width extending transversely of the plane of the body portion and the maximum width of said depth gauge portion is at least as great as the width of the cutting edge. 
     
     
       39. The cutter of claim  37 , wherein said depth gauge further comprises opposite side edges which extend forwardly from said central region and converge toward each other as they extend forwardly therefrom. 
     
     
       40. The cutter of claim  39 , wherein the depth gauge has a free side region extending away from said body portion, and one of said rear edge side portions and one of said side edges converge in a convex curve on said free side region at said central region, and the maximum width of said depth gauge occurs at said convex curve. 
     
     
       41. The cutter of claim  34 , wherein said rear edge side portions diverge from each other to provide an included angle therebetween in a range of from  100  to  170  degrees. 
     
     
       42. The chain of claim  26 , wherein said depth gauge portion is hexagonal. 
     
     
       43. The cutter of claim  34 , wherein said depth gauge is hexagonal.