Patent ID: 7131897

Claim:
A portable rail cutting apparatus, comprising: a housing encasing a motor, said motor configured to drive a rotary abrasive blade; a drive pulley coupled to said motor; a driven pulley coupled to said rotary abrasive blade; a loop drive belt engaged by said drive pulley and by said driven pulley; and an adjustable protective guard member, partially surrounding said rotary abrasive blade, that includes a detent mechanism configured to provide integral travel positions for said adjustable protective guard member, said detent mechanism containing a series of first locking elements defining said integral travel positions and a spring-actuated second lock structure, wherein said detent mechanism is disposed proximate to a periphery of said adjustable protective guard member, and wherein said spring-actuated second lock structure is movable into a locking position wherein it engages one of said first locking elements to lock said adjustable protective guard member into one of said integral travel positions and movable into a releasing position wherein it is enabling the adjustment of said protective guard member.