US2998812A - Cutting machine - Google Patents

Description

W. M. COOPER CUTTING MACHINE Sept. 5, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 4, 1960 INVENTOR. ILL/AM M. COOPER ATTORNEYS Sept. 5, 1961 w. M. COOPER 2,998,812 CUTTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 4, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WILLIAM M. COOPER ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 5, 1961 CUTTING MACHINE William M. Cooper, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Champion Manufacturing Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Jan. 4, 1960, Ser. No. 192 2 Claims. (Cl. 125-13) This invention relates generally to improvements in a cutting machine, and more particularly to an improved operating mechanism in a masonry saw for precisely adjusting the heighth of the cutting assembly above a work table and for swinging the cutting tool of such assembly toward and away from the work table.

It is an important objective of the present invention to provide a masonry saw in which a cutting assembly is swingably mounted on a vertically reciprocable support, a pedal is pivotally connected to a frame, and linkage means operatively interconnects the cutting assembly and pedal so that an initial position of the cutting assembly relative to its pivotal axis is maintained while the heighth of the cutting assembly is adjusted upon reciprocation of the support, and at the same time an initial position of the pedal relative to its pivotal axis is maintained.

An important object is realized by the novel linkage means that enables swinging movement of the cutting assembly upon pivotal actuation of the pedal from its initial position at any selected heighth position of the cutting assembly.

Another important object is achieved by the provision of a linkage constituting heighth adjustment assembly that operatively interconnects the cutting assembly to the pedal for swinging the cutting assembly about its pivotal axis, and of another linkage constituting a stabilizer assembly that operatively interconnects the support to the machine from and to the linkage of the heighth adjustment assembly for causing the heighth adjustment assembly to maintain an initial position of the cutting assembly relative to its pivotal axis upon reciprocation of the support.

Still another important object is provided by the mechanism previously described in which the heighth adjustment assembly includes a heighth adjustment bar pivoted to the cutting assembly, a lift link pivoted to the pedal and a rocker arm extending between and pivoted to the adjustment bar and to the lift link; in which the stabilizer as- Sembly includes a link stabilizer pivoted to the support and a floating link pivoted to the frame and pivoted to the link stabilizer; and in which a pivot means interconnects the floating link to the rocker arm, the link stabiliz r and floating link acting through the pivot means to move the bar and rocker arm to maintain the initial position of the cutting assembly upon reciprocation of the support by separate operating mechanism such as by a hydraulic system, while the pedal is maintained in its initial position.

Yet, another important object is achieved by the above mentioned pivot means betweenthe rocker arm and the floating link which is allowed to float or move in an are about the pivot connection of the floating link to the frame so as to compensate for any tendency of the cutting assembly to swing from its initial position relative to its pivotal axis upon reciprocation of the support, and hence maintain such initial position of the cutting assembly, while the pedal is maintained in its initial position relative to its own pivotal axis.

Another important object is to provide an operating mechanism in a masonry saw that is simple and durable in construction, eflicient in operation, economical to manufacture and assemble, and which can be readily manipulated by anyone with only minimal instruction.

The foregoing and numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will more clearly appear from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment,

particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the cutting machine showing the support for the cutting assembly in a lowered position;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view, as seen from the right of FIG. 1 of the cutting machine;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the cutting machine similar to that illustrated in FIG. 1, but showing the support for the cutting assembly in a raised position. The pedal and cutting tool are illustrated in broken lines to illustrate an adjusted pivoted position, and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the hydraulic cylinder-piston structure.

Referring now by characters of reference to the drawings, it is seen that the cutting machine includes a frame generally designated at 10, the frame 10 having a pair of front legs 11 and a pair of rear legs 12. A rectangular, open top pan .13 interconnects the upper portions of frame legs 11 and 12. A pair of base channels 14 extend between and support the lower ends of a front and a rear leg 11 and 12 at each side of the cutting machine. An intermediate platform 15, disposed substantially midway between the pan 13 and the base channels 14, is secured to and extends between the front and rear legs 11 and 12.

A work table 16 is mounted on and is supported by the. frame 10. More specifically, the work table 16 includes rollers 17 that seat on and engage side rails 18 formed by the uppermost margins of pan 13 for horizontal reciprocating movement in a fore and aft direction on the machine.

Mounted for vertical reciprocating movement on the frame 10 is a support generally indicated at 20. This support 20' includes a pair of laterally spaced, cylindrical sleeves 21 disposed at the rear of frame 10 and formed as a vertical continuation of the rear legs 12. The sleeves 21 extend upwardly above the open top pan 13 and above the work table 16. A vertical cylindrical post 22 is slidably mounted in each of the cylindrical sleeves 21, the posts 22 being movable to the retracted position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and to the extended position illustrated in FIG. 3. The posts 22 are rigidly secured by a transverse beam 23.

Flexible boots 24 provide dust seals for the connection between the sleeves 21 and the posts 22. Each boot 24 has one end secured to one of the posts 22 and the other end secured about the sleeve'21 with which the post is associated. The boots 24 are flexible to permit ready reciprocation of the posts 22 without any binding action.

Secured to the top of each post 22 is a bearing block 25 in which is formed an inclined forwardly facing notch 26. An axle 27 extends between the bearing blocks 25 and is located for horizontal pivotal movement in the notches 26.

The cutting assembly referred to at 30 is swingably mounted on support 20 so as to move a cutting tool 3-1 toward and away from the work table 16. More particularly, the cutting assembly 36 includes a platform 32 fixed to axle 27 and disposed between the bearing blocks 25. The platform 32 is normally located in a horizontal initial position relative to its pivotal axis provided by axle 27.

A motor 33 is mounted on platform 32 and is operatively connected to the cutting tool 31 by a belt drive 34. The cutting tool 31 is in the nature of a masonry saw rotatably mounted to one end of platform 32 at one side of the pivot axle 27.

A recirculating system (not shown) of a conventional well known type may be provided to direct a coolant to the tool 31, which coolant is collected by the pan 13.

For the convenience of the operator and for maximum efi'iciency in operation of the cutting machine, a separate hydraulic system is utilized to reciprocate the support 20 vertically in order to adjust the heighth of the cutting assembly 30. The hydraulic system includes a cylinder 35, the bottom end of which seats on and is secured to the bottom of pan 13, and hence is secured to the frame 10. Reciprocably mounted in the cylinder 35 is a coacting piston 36, the upper end of piston 36 being attached securely to the cross beam 23.

A pump assembly indicated at 37 is mounted on the forward end of the intermediate platform 15 of frame 10. The pump assembly 37 is operatively interconnected to the cylinder 35 by a hose connection (not shown). A pump handle 38 is adapted to actuate the pump assembly 37 and hence actuate the cylinder-piston structure 35-36 in order to reciprocate the support 20.

Pivotally connected to the frame 19 about a horizontal axis is a pedal 40. Specifically, the pedal 40 is attached by pivot pin 41 between a pair of laterally spaced vertical bars 42 extending between and attached to a cross brace 43 extending between the rear legs 12 and attached to the bottom of pan 13. The pedal 40 extends forwardly from its pivotal axis provided by pivot pin 41 to a position adjacent and between the front frame legs 11. The forward end of the pedal 40 is provided with a foot plate 44.

In its normal initial position, the pedal 49 is disposed substantially horizontal relative to its pivotal axis. As is best seen in FIG. 1, a stop member 45 is threadedly attached to the intermediate frame platform 15, the stop member 45 being provided with a rubber bumper 46 engaging the top of pedal 4% to determine the initial position of the pedal 40. This normal initial position of pedal 40 relative to its pivotal axis can be varied selectively upon threaded adjustment of the stop member 45.

A tension spring 47 operatively interconnects the frame platform '15 and the pedal 4% and tends to urge the pedal 4% upwardly against the stop member 45, and hence tends to hold and maintain the pedal 40 in its normal initial position, illustrated in FIG. 1.

Operatively interconnecting the cutting assembly 30 and the pedal 49 is a heighth adjustment means that serves to swing the cutting assembly 30 about axle 27 upon pivotal movement of pedal 40 about its pivotal axis. This heighth adjustment meansincludes a heighth adjustment bar t) having one end pivotally attached to the platform 32. by a horizontal pivot pin 51, such pivotal connection being to the platform 32 on the opposite side of axle 27 from the cutting tool 3 1. The opposite end 52 of adjustment bar 50 extends downwardly.

A lift link 53, provided by a pair of compatible link members, has one end pivotally connected by a horizontal pivot pin 54 to the pedal 40 at a point spaced forwardly from the pedals pivot pin 41. The other end of the lift link 53 extends upwardly.

Extending between the adjustment bar 54} and the lift link 53 is a rocker arm 55 consisting of a pair of link members. One end of the rocker arm 55 is pivotally attached to the upper end of the lift link 53 by a horizontal pivot pin 56. The other end of the rocker arm 55 is pivotally attached to the lower end 52 of the heighth adjustment bar 59 by a horizontal pivot pin 57.

A stabilizer means operatively interconnects the support 20 to the frame and to and the previously described heighth adjustment means seas to permit the heighth adjustment means to maintain the cutting assembly 30 in its initial horizontal position upon reciprocation of support 2% and yet enable swinging movement of the cutting assembly 39 about its axle 27 upon actuation of pedal 40. L

The stabilizer means includes a pair of spaced brackets fixed to the cross beam 23 of the support 20, and hence constituting a part of such support. One end of a link stabilizer 61 consisting of a pair of link members is attached pivotally to the support bracketsi'! by a horizontal pivot pin 62. The link stabilizer 61 extends downwardly. A floating link 63 consisting of a pair of link members has one end pivotally attached by a horizontal pivot pin 64 to the rigid vertical frame bars 42. The other end of the floating link 63 is pivotally connected to the lower end of the link stabilizer 61 by a horizontal pivot pin 65.

A pivot means provided by the horizontal pivot pin 66 operatively interconnects the floating link 63 with the rocker arm 55. The floating pivot pin 66 is located between the pivot pins 56 and 57 at the end of the rocker arm 55 and is located between the pivot pins 64 and 65 at the end of the floating link 63. It will be particularly noted that the floating pivot pin 66 moves in an are about pivot pin 64 as the floating link 63 is pivotally moved upon reciprocation of support 20.

It will be immediately realized that while the rocker arm 55, lift link 53, link stabilizer 61 and floating link 63 each consist of a pair of link members for rigidity and strength in the embodiment disclosed, a single member may be used and interconnected to operate in the same manner and provide the same functions.

To describe the operation of the cutting machine, assume that the support 20 is located in its lowermost position, as is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The pedal 40 is maintained in its normal, horizontal initial position relative to its pivot axis 41 and the platform 32 of the cutting assembly 30 is maintained in its initial horizontal position relative to its pivot axle 27. The cutting tool 31 is now in its lowermost heighth position above the work table as determined by the support 20.

In order to swing the cutting tool 31 downwardly toward the work table, while the support 20 is held in this lowermost adjusted heighth position, the pedal 40 is depressed or pivotally moved from its initial horizontal position about its pivot pin 41. The pedal 40 upon being depressed acts through the lift link 53 to rotate or swing the rocker arm 55 upwardly about the pivot pin 66. Such pivotal movement of the rocker arm 55 causes an up ward movement of the heighth adjustment bar 50, and hence causes a pivotal movement of the cutting assembly 30 counterclockwise (FIG. 1) so as to lower the cutting tool 31 toward the work table 16.

It is seen that while the support 20 is maintained in its lowermost position, or in fact is maintained in any adjusted heighth position, the link stabilizer 61 fixed to the support '20 holds the floating link 63 in a stationary position, and hence holds the floating pivot pin 66 in a stationary position about which the rocker arm 55 can rotate.

When the pedal 40 is raised, as for example back to its initial horizontal position, the rocker arm 55 is rotated clockwise (FIG. 1) about the pivot pin 66 to cause a corresponding clockwise movement of the cutting assembly 30 about its pivotal axis provided by axle 27, and thereby raise the cutting tool 31 away from the work table 16.

If it is desired to raise the cutting assembly 30, the operator manipulates the pump handle 38 to actuate the hydraulic system, more particularly the cylinder and piston structure 35 and 36, to raise the support 20 to the desired heighth position. It will be noted that the pedal 40 is maintained in its initial horizontal position relative to its pivotal axis upon raising the support 20. If it were not for the panticular structure and connection of the stabilizer means provided by the link stabilizer 61 and the floating link 63,- there would be a tendency for the cutting assembly 30 to rotate about its axle 27 in a clockwise direction (FIG. 1) which would further raise the cutting tool 31 in a direction away from the work table 16. It is desirable to hold the initial position of the cutting assembly 30 relative to its pivot axle 27 while the support and the cutting assembly 30 are raised as a unit, and at the same time hold the pedal 40 in its initial position.

When the support 20 is raised, the link stabilizer 61 rotates the floating link 63 about pivot pin 64 in a counterclockwise direction from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position illustrated in FIG. 3. Because the rocker arm 55 is attached directly to the floating link 63- by the pivot pin 66, the pivot pin 66 acts to rotate the rocker arm 55 in a counterclockwise direction. It will be noted that the pivot pin 66 moves in an arc upwardly about the pivot pin 64.

As the rocker arm 55 is rotated as described above upon raising the support 20, the heighth adjustment bar 50 is raised and thereby maintains the cutting assembly 20 in the initial horizontal position relative to its axle 27.

Thus it is seen that in any adjusted heighth position of cutting assembly 30 upon reciprocation of the support 20,. the initial position of the cutting assembly 30 about its axle 27 and the initial position of pedal 40 relative to its pivot pin 41, is maintained. Furthermore, in any adjusted heighth position of the cutting assembly 30 and of support 2t), the pedal 40 can be moved from its initial position about its pivotal axis to swing the cutting assembly 30 about its axle 27 in order to swing the cutting tool 31 toward and away from the work table '16.

Although the invention has been described by making detailed reference to a single preferred embodiment, such detail is to be understood in an instructive, rather than in any restrictive sense, many variants being possible within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a cutting machine, a frame, a work table mounted on said frame, a support mounted on said frame for vertical reciprocal movement, a cutting assembly pivotally mounted on said support, the cutting assembly including a cutting tool at one side of its pivotal axis, a pedal pivoted to said frame below said cutting assembly, means engaging the pedal to hold the pedal in a substantially horizontal initial position relative toits pivotal axis, a heighth adjustment assembly including an adjustment bar having one end pivoted to the cutting assembly on the,

opposite side of its pivotal axis from the cutting tool, said adjustment bar extending downwardly, a lift link having one end pivoted to said pedal in spaced relation to the pivotal connection of the pedal to said frame, said lift link extending upwardly, a rocker arm having one end pivoted to the other end of said adjustment bar, the rocker arm having its other end pivoted to the other end of said lift link, said heighth adjustment assembly maintaining the cutting assembly in substantially a horizontal initial position relative to its pivotal axis when the pedal is located in its initial position, a stabilizer assembly including a link stabilizer having one end pivoted to said sup- 7 port and extending downwardly, and a floating link having one end pivoted to the other end of said link stabilizer, said floating link having its other end pivoted to said frame yet fixed in a stationary position thereto, pivot means interconnecting the rocker arm to said floating link,

said pivot means being disposed between the pivoted ends of said rocker arm and between the pivoted ends of said floating link, means for reciprocating said support,

said link stabilizer and floating link acting through said pivot means to move the rocker arm and said adjustment bar to maintain the cutting assembly in its initial horizontal position upon reciprocation of said support without moving the pedal trom its initial horizontal position, the pedal acting through the heighth adjustment assembly to pivot the cutting assembly and hence move the cutting tool toward and away from the work table upon pivotal movement of said pedal without causing any movement of said stabilizer assembly.

2. In a cutting machine, a frame, a work table mounted on said frame, a support mounted on said frame for vertical reciprocal movement, a cutting assembly provided with a cutting tool, means mounting the cutting assembly to the support about a horizontal pivotal axis for swinging the tool toward and away from said work table, a pedal pivoted about a horizontal axis to said frame, means for holding the pedal selectively in an initial position relative to its pivotal axis, a heighth adjustment bar pivoted about a horizontal axis to said cutting assembly, a lift link pivoted about a horizontal axis to said pedal, the lift link and adjustment bar extending toward each other, a rocker arm extending between the lift link and adjustment bar, the rocker arm having one end pivoted about a horizontal axis to the lift lllllk and having the other end pivoted about a horizontal axis to the adjustment bar, a link stabilizer pivoted about a horizontal axis to said support, a floating link having one end pivoted about a horizontal axis to said frame yet fixed in a stationary position relative to said frame and having the other end pivoted about a horizontal axis to said stabilizer, pivot means interconnecting the rocker arm to said floating link about a horizontal axis, the pivot means being disposed between the pivoted ends of the rocker arm and the pivoted ends of the floating link, and means connected directly to said support for reciprocating said support to adjust the heighth of said cutting assembly, the link stabilizer and floating link being movable by said support and acting through said pivot means to move the rocker arm and said adjustment bar to maintain the cutting assembly in an initial position relative to its horizontal pivotal axis upon vertical reciprocable adjustment of said support while said pedal is maintained in its initial position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,557,672 McGrath June 19, 1951 2,682,262 Schultz June 29, 1954 2,863,440 Harclerode Dec. 9, 1958 2,893,372 Harclerode July 7, 1959

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