Patent Publication Number: US-2016243629-A1

Title: Clamped beam cutting tool

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to construction in general and in particular to a method and apparatus for cutting beams. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     In the field of construction, it is commonly necessary to cut most building materials to the size required for that particular application. The process of cutting some materials however is frequently time consuming an inaccurate according to known methods for doing so. 
     In particular, in the case of structural beams and the like, such beams are commonly formed of metal I or T beams which are cut to length and subsequently welded or bolted together. One common method of cutting such beams is to use a cutting torch which are commonly available at a job site. 
     Disadvantageously such cutting torches are known to produce a rough or uneven cut which will depend greatly upon the skill of the person operating the torch. Cutting torches are also slow taking 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to a first embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed apparatus for cutting a beam comprising a base member sized to be locatable upon a beam. The base member has a stationary first clamping surface and an opposed movable second clamping surface. The apparatus further comprises a saw pivotally mounted to the base member so as to be operable to be rotated between a first position wherein a blade of the saw is positioned to cut a beam clamped between the first and second clamping surfaces and a second position rotatably retracted therefrom. The base member includes a receiving surface adapted to receive a work piece thereon on a side opposite to the saw. 
     The first clamping surface may be located on a stationary clamping member. The stationary clamping member may extend substantially perpendicular from the base member. The stationary clamping member may comprise a substantially planar ember. 
     The second clamping surface may be located on a movable clamping member. The movable clamping member may be supported from a threaded rod. The threaded rod may be threadably received within a bore of the base member. The bore may be located within an extension from the base member. The threaded rod may include a handle at a distal end thereof. 
     The base member may comprise a substantially planar member. The planar member may include an opening therethrough. The saw may include a motor. The opening may have a shape corresponding to the saw and the motor so as to permit the saw to pass therethrough. 
     Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention wherein similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view, 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an apparatus for cutting structural steel members according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  being applied to a beam. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  cutting a beam. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  cutting a beam with the motor of the saw passing through the base member. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an apparatus for cutting structural members according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown generally at  1 . The apparatus comprises a saw  12  pivotally mounted to a base member  20 . The saw  12  be of any conventional type such as, by way of non-limiting example, a circular saw. The saw  12  includes a motor  13  as is conventionally known having a bracket  14  extending therefrom for pivotal securement to the base member  20  as will be more fully described below. The saw  12  also includes a handle  16  for operation of the saw and a saw blade  18 . 
     The base member  20  comprises a substantially planar member extending between first and second ends,  22  and  24 , respectively and first and second side edges  26  and  28 , respectively. The base member  20  has top and bottom surfaces,  30  and  32 , respectively. The bottom surface  32  is adapted to receive a work piece to be cut. The first end  22  includes a pair of parallel spaced apart pivot plates  34  extending from the top surface  32 . The pivot plates  34  have a distance therebetween selected to receive the bracket  14  of the saw therein. The pivot plates  34  also include bores  36  therethrough sized to receive a pin  38  therethrough. The bracket  14  includes a corresponding bore (not shown) sized to receive the pin  38  therein so as to pivotally support the bracket  14  between the pivot plates  34 . 
     The base member  20  includes an opening  40  therethrough sized and shaped to permit the motor  13  and any other protruding portions of the saw  12  to pass therethrough as illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The first side edge  26  is positioned to the same side of the saw blade  18  as the motor  13  so as to prevent the saw blade  18  from contacting the base member. The base member  20  may also include a handle  42  or the like extending therefrom for use in carrying or transporting the apparatus. 
     The base member  20  includes a first clamping member  50  extending from the bottom surface  32  having a first clamping surface  52  thereon. The base member  20  also includes a second clamping member  54  located proximate to the bottom surface having a second clamping surface  56  located thereon. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the first and second clamping surfaces  52  and  56  are opposed and oriented towards each other so as to be operable to clamp a work piece therebetween. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the base member  20  also includes a base bracket  60  extending from the bottom surface  32 . The bottom bracket includes a bore (not shown) therethrough threaded to receive a threaded rod  62  therethrough. The threaded rod  62  extends between first and second ends,  64  and  66 , respectively wherein the second clamping member  54  is located at the first end  64  thereof. The second end  66  of the threaded rod  64  has a handle  68  or other suitable means for rotating the threaded rod. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2 through 4 , in operation, the apparatus  10  may be located on a work piece, such as, by way of non-limiting example, a beam  8  or the like. Thereafter as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the handle  68  may be rotated so as to engage the second clamping member upon the beam  8  in a direction generally indicated at  70  so as to clamp it between the first and second clamping surfaces  52  and  56  proximate to the bottom surface  32 . It will be appreciated that the location of the beam under the base member, or on the opposite side of the base member than the saw  12  permits the apparatus to be supported by the work piece which will assist in the operation of the apparatus in a variety of locations including a shop. Once the first and second clamping surfaces  52  and  56  have been secured to a work piece, the saw  12  may be turned on and rotated in a downward direction as illustrated in  FIG. 3  in a direction generally indicated at  72  so as to cause the saw blade  18  to cut the beam  8 . As set out above, the opening  40  is positioned and sized so as to permit the motor and other structures on the saw  12  to pass therethrough when it is necessary to cut a beam further below the base member  20  than the radius of the saw blade  18 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the base member  20  may also include a roller  74  or other suitable low friction member along the bottom surface  32  thereof, such as by way of non-limiting example, a bushing to permit the apparatus to be slidingly moved along the beam for during repositioning. 
     While specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative of the invention only and not as limiting the invention as construed in accordance with the accompanying claims.