Abstract:
A miter saw includes a base having a peripheral wall, a table rotatably supported upon the base, and a miter angle lock. The miter angle lock includes a pin having a first end adjacent the peripheral wall and an opposite second end. The miter angle lock also includes a cam member engageable with the second end of the pin and movable between a locked position in which the first end of the pin is brought into frictional contact with the peripheral wall for locking the table relative to the base, and an unlocked position in which the first end of the pin is spaced from the peripheral wall of the base.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/410,002 filed Dec. 19, 2014, which is a national stage entry under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Patent Application No. PCT/CN2013/089644 filed on Dec. 17, 2013, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201310554216.8 filed Nov. 8, 2013, the entire contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to miter saws, and in particular to a miter saw capable of rapid table angular indexing and locking. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Miter saws are commonly used power tools mainly for making an oblique cut in a workpiece at a certain angle. A typical miter saw includes a base, a table, a fence mounted on the table in a prescribed positional relationship with respect to the base, and a motor assembly mounted on the table, which is rotatable with the table and houses a blade. The table and base can pivot about a vertical axis and the table and base rotate relative to each other during cutting operations with an angle between the blade and a portion of the fence on which the workpiece is supported being adjusted to a value that corresponds to a desired angle of the oblique cut. In a practical oblique cutting operation, the table and base of a miter saw usually need to undergo the following three states: firstly, a complete loose between the table and base in which the table and base are rotatable relative to each other independently for enabling any desired angle adjustment; secondly, indexing of the table and base at a predetermined angular position; thirdly, interlocking of the table and base at the predetermined angular position. 
         [0004]    In order to achieve the above said states, most known miter saws adopt complex indexing and locking mechanisms that are difficult to be manipulated and the manipulation includes several operations necessitating the use of an operator&#39;s both hands. As so far, there has been no miter saw with a reasonable structure and a great practicability that allows the angular indexing and interlocking between the base and table to be accomplished by a single hand. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    An objective of the present invention is to provide a miter saw with a reasonable structure and a great practicability that allows the angular indexing and interlocking between the base and table to be accomplished by a single hand. 
         [0006]    In accordance with this objective, the present invention provides a miter saw which includes: a base having a peripheral wall; a table rotatably supported upon the base; and a miter angle lock. The miter angle lock includes a pin having a first end adjacent the peripheral wall and an opposite second end. The miter angle lock also includes a cam member engageable with the second end of the pin and movable between a locked position in which the first end of the pin is brought into frictional contact with the peripheral wall for locking the table relative to the base, and an unlocked position in which the first end of the pin is spaced from the peripheral wall of the base. 
         [0007]    The present invention also provides a miter saw which includes: a base having a plurality of grooves formed in a bottom surface thereof; a table rotatable with respect to the base; a rotary indexing mechanism including a body fixedly coupled to and rotatable with the table and a protrusion provided on the body, the protrusion configured to be received within one of the plurality of grooves of the base and thereby angularly index the table with respect to the base at a desired rotational position; and a locking mechanism operably coupled to the table and configured to lock the table at the desired rotational position. 
         [0008]    In one specific embodiment, the miter saw further includes a support structure, and the rotary indexing mechanism and the locking mechanism are both fixedly coupled to the table via the support structure. 
         [0009]    In one specific embodiment, the body of the rotary indexing mechanism is a retaining blade, and the retaining blade has one end fixedly connected to the support structure. 
         [0010]    In one specific embodiment, the rotary indexing mechanism further includes a blade drive mechanism disposed in vicinity of the retaining blade and configured to drive the retaining blade to move between a first position at which the retaining blade causes the protrusion to be received in one of the plurality of grooves of the base, and a second position at which the retaining blade causes the protrusion to move out of the one of the plurality of grooves. 
         [0011]    In one specific embodiment, the blade drive mechanism includes a indexing cam facing the retaining blade and a cam handle; the cam handle extends through the indexing cam and is in rotary connection with the support structure; and the cam handle drives the indexing cam to rotate and push the retaining blade to move between the first and second positions. 
         [0012]    In one specific embodiment, the cam handle includes a shaft and the indexing cam defines a bore; the shaft extends through the bore and is in rotary connection with the support structure; and both the shaft and the bore have a non-circular radial cross section. 
         [0013]    In one specific embodiment, along an axial direction of the shaft, the indexing cam is located between the support structure and the cam handle; a resilient retaining ring is located between the support structure and the indexing cam; and a resilient corrugated retaining ring is located between the indexing cam and the cam handle. 
         [0014]    In one specific embodiment, the locking mechanism includes a locking pin which extends through a bore in the support structure and comes in contact with an outer circumstantial surface of the base; and a friction force between one end face of the locking pin and the outer circumstantial surface of the base causes the table to be locked. 
         [0015]    In one specific embodiment, the locking mechanism further includes a locking handle and a friction sheet; the locking handle has a locking cam fixedly disposed thereon; the other end face of the locking pin is in contact with the friction sheet; and when the locking handle rotates, the locking cam synchronously pushes the friction sheet and thereby causes the locking pin to make contact with the outer circumstantial surface of the base. 
         [0016]    In one specific embodiment, the locking handle is in rotary connection with the support structure by a rotary pin. 
         [0017]    In one specific embodiment, the locking mechanism further includes a spring disposed along an axis direction of the locking pin and between the locking pin and the friction sheet; the spring has one end fixedly connected to the locking pin and the other end connected to the friction sheet by an open ring. 
         [0018]    In one specific embodiment, axes of the bore and locking pin both extend along a radial direction of the outer circumstantial surface of the base. 
         [0019]    The present invention uses a rotary indexing mechanism to achieve the relative rotational position indexing between the base and the table and uses a locking mechanism to further realize the interlocking between the base and the table, and both the rotary indexing mechanism and the locking mechanism are fixedly connected to the table. Such design enables the construction of a more reasonable and practical structure that allows the angular indexing and interlocking to be accomplished by a single hand. In addition, by coupling the table and the rotary indexing mechanism to the base from the top side and the bottom side of the base, respectively, the table and the rotary indexing mechanism further creates a clamping effect on the base, which can promote the position indexing performance compared to conventional indexing mechanisms. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a miter saw in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  diagrammatically depicts a rotary indexing mechanism used in one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  diagrammatically depicts a locking mechanism used in one embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0023]    In these figures:  1 -table;  2 -base;  3 -retaining blade;  4 -locking handle;  5 -rotary pin;  6 -screws;  7 -washers;  8 -spring washers;  9 -screw;  10 -friction sheet;  11 -support structure;  12 -locking pin;  13 -spring;  14 -open ring;  15 -resilient retaining ring for shaft use;  16 -indexing cam;  17 -resilient corrugated retaining ring for shaft use;  18 -cam handle;  19 -shaft;  20 -grooves;  21 -protrusion;  22 ,  23 -bores;  24 -cam-accommodating gap;  25 -bore;  26 -locking cam;  27 -screw;  30 -outer circumstantial surface; and L-axis. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    The miter saw of the present invention will be described in greater detail in the following description which demonstrates an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in conjunction with  FIGS. 1 to 3 . It is understood that those skilled in the art can make modifications and alterations to the invention without departing from the true scope and spirit of the invention. 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the embodiment provides a miter saw including at least a base  2  and a table  1  in coaxial rotary connection. As used herein, the term “coaxial rotary connection” denotes that center axes of the base  2  and the table  1  coincide and extend along the same straight line indicated as an axis L in  FIG. 1 . The table is rotatable about the axis L, while the base  2  is stationary. In other words, the table  1  can rotate about the axis L with respect to the base  2 . The base  2  and the table  1  have complementary shapes. In this embodiment, the base  2  substantially resembles a ring and the table  1  substantially resembles a disk. The miter saw further includes a rotary indexing mechanism and a locking mechanism that are coupled to the table  1  by a support structure  11 . The relative rotational position between the base  2  and the table  1  is indexed by the rotary indexing mechanism. After being indexed, the base  2  and the table  1  are interlocked by the locking mechanism. The table  1  and the rotary indexing mechanism are coupled to the base  2  from a top side and a bottom side of the base  2 , respectively. More specifically, the table  1  is positioned on the base  2  from the top side of the base  2 , whilst a protrusion  21  of the rotary indexing mechanism is received in a groove  20  of the base  2  from the bottom side of the base  2  (as will be described in detail below). 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , in conjunction with  FIG. 1 , the rotary indexing mechanism includes at least a retaining blade  3 . One end of the retaining blade  3  is in fixed connection with the support structure  11 . The retaining blade  3  has the protrusion  21  formed thereon which is complementary in shape with the groove  20  preformed in a bottom side of the base  2 . The indexing of the relative rotational position between the base  2  and the table  1  is accomplished when the protrusion  21  is received in a corresponding groove  20  from the bottom side of the groove  20 , and will be destroyed after the protrusion  21  moves out of the groove  20 . In order to angularly index the table  1  with respect to the base  2  at different rotational positions, there are a plurality of the grooves  20  formed in the bottom side of the base  2 . The plurality of grooves  20  are in the same shape and arranged either equidistantly or not. In addition, the number and arrangement of the grooves  20  are adjustable according to practical needs. As such, the table  1  can be indexed at a desired rotational position with respect to the base  2  by positioning the protrusion  21  of the retaining blade  3  in a corresponding one of the grooves  20 . 
         [0027]    In this embodiment, the support structure  11 , table  1  and retaining blade  3  are secured together using screws  6 , pads  7  and spring washers  8 . The screws  6  may be implemented as M6 screws, the pads  7  may be implemented as Φ6 pads and the spring washers  8  may be implemented as Φ6 spring washers. Additionally, the support structure  11  is further provided at its front end with an M6 screw  27  for adjusting a distance from a mounting position of the support structure  11  for ensuring a sufficient space for enabling two cams  16  and  26 , described in detail below, to rotate therein to realize the indexing and interlocking operations. 
         [0028]    The rotary indexing mechanism further includes a blade drive mechanism. The retaining blade  3  is coupled to the blade drive mechanism. Under the action of this blade drive mechanism, the retaining blade  3  can be bent itself such that the protrusion  21  is evacuated from the corresponding groove  20 . The blade drive mechanism is in rotary connection to the support structure  11 . 
         [0029]    More specifically, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the blade drive mechanism includes an indexing cam  16  and a cam handle  18 . A shaft  19  is fixedly provided on the handle  18  and the shaft  19  successively extends through a bore  23  in the cam  16  and a bore  22  in the support structure  11 . The shaft  19  and the bore  23  have the same non-circular cross section and can therefore rotate in a synchronized manner. Further, the bore  22  in the support structure  11  has an inner diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the shaft  19 , and the shaft  19  can thus rotate within the bore  22 . 
         [0030]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , in this embodiment, the radial cross section of the shaft  19  is delimited by a major arc and the cord of the arc. As the shape of the shaft is complementary to that of the bore  23  in the cam  16 , the shaft  19  and the cam  16  can thus rotate coaxially and synchronously. The present invention is not limited in this regard as the shaft  19  and the bore  23  may also be enabled in other forms, such as, for example, by a spline connection, to achieve the synchronized rotation. 
         [0031]    Along an axial direction of the shaft  19 , the cam  16  is located between the support structure  11  and the cam handle  18 . A resilient retaining ring  15  for shaft use is provided between the support structure  11  and cam  16 , and a resilient corrugated retaining ring  17  for shaft use is position between the cam  16  and the cam handle  18 . The resilient retaining ring  15  may be implemented as a resilient Φ8 ring for shaft use. 
         [0032]    After the blade drive mechanism, support structure  11  and retaining blade  3  are assembly together, the shaft  19  and the support structure  11  are in rotary connection, which allows the shaft  19  and the cam handle  18  to rotate about the axial direction of the shaft  19 . The rotation of the cam handle  18  drives the cam  16  to rotate synchronously and hence the cam  16  comes in contact with the blade  3 . With the cam  16  further rotating, it pushes against the retaining blade  3  and, as a result, bends the retaining blade  3 . In this embodiment, the cam  16  is arranged above the retaining blade  3  and pushes the retaining blade  3  downwardly to make the bend. 
         [0033]    When to adjust the rotational angle of the table  1  with respect to the base  2 , the cam handle  18  is rotated to drive the cam  16  to rotate about a center line of the bore  23 . As the cam  16  contacts the retaining blade  3 , the rotation of the cam  16  generates a downward force on the retaining blade  3  which bends the blade  3  and thereby makes the protrusion  21  on the retaining blade  3  move out of the corresponding receiving groove  20  of the base  2 . After this, the table  1  is rotatable with respect to the base  2  freely. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the locking mechanism includes a locking pin  12 . The locking pin  12  extends through a bore  25  in the support structure  11  and contacts an outer circumstantial surface  30  of the base  2 . Because of this contact between a front end face of the locking pin  12  and the outer circumstantial surface  30  of the base  2 , there is a friction force between the two surfaces which maintains the base  2  and the table  1  in an interlocked state. 
         [0035]    The locking mechanism further includes a locking drive mechanism. The locking drive mechanism includes a locking handle  4  and a friction sheet  10 . A rear end face of the locking pin  12  contacts the friction sheet  10 , and the friction sheet  10  can be bent to drive the locking pin  12  to make contact with the outer circumstantial surface  30  of the base  2  to accomplish the lock operation. The bending of the friction sheet  10  can be accomplished by rotating the locking handle  4 . 
         [0036]    The locking handle  4  has a locking cam  26  fixedly mounted thereon. The locking cam  26  pushes the friction sheet  10  with the rotating of the locking handle  4  and hence causes the friction sheet  10  to be bent. In this embodiment, the support structure  11  defines a gap  24  in which the friction sheet  10  is disposed and the cam  26  rotates in the gap  24  to push the friction sheet  10 . One end of the friction sheet  10  is fixed on the support structure  11  using a screw  9 . The screw  9  may be implemented as an M4 screw. Reference may be made to the cam  16  for a better understanding of the cam  26 . Compared to wheel-shaped structures functioning in a similar way used in conventional miter saws, these cams  26  and  16  are advantageous in owning a protrusion that can push the friction sheet  10  and the retaining blade  3 , respectively, when the cams rotate. 
         [0037]    The locking handle  4  is in rotary connection with the support structure  11  by means of a rotary pin  5 . 
         [0038]    The locking drive mechanism further includes a spring  13  which is stretchable and compressible in an axis direction of the locking pin  12 . The spring  13  surrounds the locking pin  12  and has its one end fixedly connected to the locking pin  12  and the other end connected to the friction sheet  10  through an open ring  14 . 
         [0039]    In this embodiment, locking the table  1  against the base  2  can be accomplished by rotating the locking handle  4  downwardly to cause the cam  26  to push the friction sheet  10 . The sheet  10  then drives the locking pin  12  to move forward and press against the outer circumstantial surface  30  of the base  2  at a front end of the driving the locking pin  12 . In this configuration, a friction force between the front end of the locking pin  12  and the outer circumstantial surface  30  can maintain the table  1  and the base  2  in a desired interlocked state. Further, the spring  13  surrounding the locking pin  12  acts as a withdrawal means which pulls the locking pin  12  back to the original position when the locking handle  4  is loosened. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , axes of the bore  25  and the locking pin  12  both extend along a radial direction of the outer circumstantial surface  30  of the base  2 . Therefore, the static friction force existing in the interlocked configuration is directed tangent to the outer circumstantial surface  30 . 
         [0041]    As described above, the miter saw of the present invention uses a rotary indexing mechanism to achieve the rotational position indexing between the base and the table and uses a locking mechanism to further realize the interlocking between the base and the table. Both the rotary indexing mechanism and the locking mechanism are mounted on a support structure that is fixedly connected to the table. Such design enables the construction of a more reasonable and practical structure that allows the position indexing and interlocking to be accomplished by a single hand. In addition, by coupling the table and the rotary indexing mechanism to the base from the top side and the bottom side of the base, respectively, the table and the rotary indexing mechanism further creates a clamping effect on the base, which can promote the position indexing performance compared to conventional indexing mechanisms. 
         [0042]    Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.