EP3546162A1

EP3546162A1 - Chainsaw

Info

Publication number: EP3546162A1
Application number: EP19162202.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Oskar Bergquist; Marcus Pettersson; Per-Anders BÜLOW; Urban JARMESTA
Original assignee: Husqvarna AB
Current assignee: Husqvarna AB
Priority date: 2018-03-29
Filing date: 2019-03-12
Publication date: 2019-10-02
Anticipated expiration: 2039-03-12
Also published as: SE542656C2; SE1850362A1; EP3546162B1

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a top-handle chain saw 1 comprising a housing 3 and a guide bar 5, projecting from the housing in a front direction and carrying a saw chain 7. A top handle 9 on the housing, extends from a rear tower on the housing to a front tower on the housing, and a side handle 15 extends laterally from the top handle. A handguard 17 has a proximal end pivotably connected to the housing 3 and a distal end extending into a space in between the side handle 15 and the guide bar 5. The handguard is moveable between a forward position where a saw chain brake is activated and a backward position where the saw chain brake is released, and is devised such that its distal end in said backward position is located further to the rear, away from the guide bar 5, than the front tower to which the top handle 9 is connected.

Description

Technical field

The present disclosure relates to a top-handle chain saw comprising a housing, a guide bar projecting from the housing in a front direction and carrying a saw chain, a top handle on the housing, extending from a rear tower on the housing to a front tower on the housing, a side handle, extending laterally from the top handle, and a handguard, having a proximal end pivotably connected to the housing and a distal end extending into a space in between the side handle and the guide bar and being moveable between a forward position where a saw chain brake is activated and a backward position where the saw chain brake is released.

Background

Such a chain saw is described for instance in EP-1952959-A1 . Top-handle chain saws of this type may be useful typically for arborists cutting branches while climbing trees, but also under other circumstances where a chain saw with a compact grip is desired.
One problem associated with chain saws of this kind is how to make them even more useful in difficult working conditions such as working when climbing trees or working in a cramped space.

Summary

One object of the present disclosure is therefore to obtain a top handle chain saw that makes work under difficult conditions easier.
This object is achieved by means of a top-handle chain saw as defined in claim 1. More particularly, in a top-handle chain saw of the initially mentioned type, the handguard is devised such that its distal end in the backward position is located further to the rear, away from the guide bar, than the front tower to which the top handle is connected. By means of this arrangement, the handguard can be drawn further to the rear, and therefore will obscure the user's view of the guide bar to a lesser extent. Also, the chain saw is less hindered by other branches etc. in cramped spaces. This makes operation of the chain saw easier under difficult working conditions.
The handguard may be pivotably connected to the housing at a connection point below the front tower. This makes the connection point protected by the front tower to some extent.
The handguard may further be pivotably connected to the housing at a front part of the front tower.
The handguard may be provided with a cut-out to accommodate the front tower. This allows the handguard to be moved further back.
The chain saw may be battery driven.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig 1 illustrates a top-handle type chain saw according to known art.
Fig 2 shows a side view of a chain saw according to the present disclosure with a hand guard in its locking position.
Fig 3 shows the side view of fig 2 where the hand guard has been moved to the release position.
Fig 4 shows a front view corresponding to fig 3.
Fig 5 shows isolated the hand guard of fig 4.

Detailed description

The present disclosure relates to a top-handle type chain saw. Such a chain saw 1 according to known art is illustrated in fig 1. The chain saw 1 includes a housing 3 and a guide bar 5, projecting from the housing 3 and carrying a chain 7. The chain 7 is driven by a motor (not shown) in the housing 3. Although the chain saw 1 can be oriented differently depending on use, the bottom portion of the chain saw is defined as where the chain 7 is driven towards the housing 3 (indicated with an arrow in fig 1), as this is the normal use. The front direction of the chain saw is defined as the direction in which the guide bar 5 extends from the housing 3.
As mentioned, the chain saw is of a top-handle type, meaning that it has a handle 9 located at the top portion of the housing 3 and extending more or less in the direction of the guide bar 5. This is in contrast to rear-handle type chain saws, where the corresponding handle is instead located at the rear of the housing at a surface facing away from the guide bar 5. Such saws are usually used for heavy-duty forestry work, i.e. cutting down trees. Top-handle saws are usually lighter and used e.g. by arborists that trim branches, occasionally while climbing a tree. Such work requires a very compact chain saw, and therefore the handle is moved further to the front and to the top of the housing.
The top handle 9 thus spans between a front 11 and a rear 13 tower, which rise from the housing 3. A side handle 15 is arranged to extend from the front part of the housing 3, approximately in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the guide bar 5. The side handle 15 as illustrated may be curved such that its other end connects to the lower portion of the housing 3.
Thus, the user may hold the chain saw 1 with his right hand gripping the top handle 9, and his left hand gripping the side handle 15. While this locates the user's hands on the saw in a compact manner suitable for the task, the user is still able to control the moving of the saw in a reliable and stable manner. A handguard 17 is provided for safety purposes. If the saw makes a kickback caused by the movement of the chain 7 in relation to an object being sawed, a chain brake is automatically activated that quickly stops the movement of the chain 7 to protect the user. This chain brake may also be activated by the user by moving the handguard 17 forward to a locking position. The brake may later be released by moving the handguard 17 to the backward position again.
The present disclosure relates to improvements of such top-handle chain saws. Reference is made to figs 2 and 3, where fig 2 shows a side view of a chain saw where the handguard 17 is in the locking forward position braking the chain, and fig 3 shows the corresponding view where the handguard is moved to the releasing backward position.
Fig 2 shows the top-handle chain saw comprising a housing 3, a guide bar 5 projecting from the housing in a front direction and being capable of carrying a saw chain. A top handle 9 is provided on the upper side of the housing 3, extending from a rear tower 13 to a front tower 11 on the housing 3. In the illustrated case, the rear tower 13 forms a part of a battery compartment, the chain saw being driven by an electric motor. A side handle 15, extends laterally from the top handle 9, such that the user can hold the top handle 9 in his right hand and the side handle 15 in his left hand. The held part of the side handle 15 and the top handle 9 extend in approximately perpendicular directions, such that the user can precisely control the movement of the guide bar 5. A handguard 17 is provided having a proximal end 18 pivotably connected to the housing 3 and a distal end 20 extending into a space in between the side handle 15 and the guide bar 5. The handguard 17 is moveable between a forward position shown in fig 2, where a saw chain brake is activated, and a backward position shown in fig 3 where the saw chain brake is released. The handguard 17 can thus be moved forward by the user to brake the saw chain, as is well known per se.
The handguard 17 is devised in such a way that its distal end 20 can be moved past the end of the handle 9 or front tower 11 to reach the said backward position. As can be seen in fig 3, the front end of the front tower 11 is visible in front of the handguard 17. The front end of the front tower 11 thus projects further towards the guide bar than the hand guard, in front of where the side handle 15 is located. Differently expressed, the front side of the handguard 17 is located further to the rear, away from the guide bar 5, than is the front tower 11 to which the top handle 9 is connected, at a location in front of the side handle 15. In particular, the distal end 20 of the handguard 17 may be located behind the front end of the front tower 11.
By allowing the handguard to pass the front tower 11 or top handle 9, the handguard 17 can be pulled back further to reach the release position. This means that the handguard 17 will obstruct the user's view of the guide bar 5 to a lesser extent during use, which is advantageous.
As shown in fig 3, the handguard 17 may be connected pivotably to the housing 3 at a connection point 22 below the front tower 11 as seen from the top of the chain saw.
As illustrated in the front view of fig 4, there may be provided a second connection point 24 at the housing 3 in front of the front tower 11. This gives the handguard 17 a more stable connection with the housing 3.
Fig 5 shows the handguard isolated. The handguard 17 is provided with a cut-out 21 to accommodate the top handle 9 and/or the front tower 11 to which the top handle 9 is connected.
The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described examples and may be varied and altered in different ways within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

A top-handle chain saw (1) comprising a housing (3), a guide bar (5) projecting from the housing in a front direction and carrying a saw chain (7), a top handle (9) on the housing, extending from a rear tower (13) on the housing (3) to a front tower (11) on the housing, a side handle (15), extending laterally from the top handle (9), and a handguard (17), having a proximal end pivotably connected to the housing (3) and a distal end extending into a space in between the side handle (15) and the guide bar (5) and being moveable between a forward position where a saw chain brake is activated and a backward position where the saw chain brake is released, characterized by the handguard (17) being devised such that its distal end, in said backward position, is located further to the rear, as seen in the direction of the guide bar (5), than the front end of the front tower (11) to which the top handle (9) is connected.
Chain saw according to claim 1, wherein the handguard (17) is pivotably connected to the housing (3) at a connection point (22) below the front tower (11).
Chain saw according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the handguard (17) is further pivotably connected to the housing (3) at a front part of the front tower.
Chain saw according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the handguard (17) is provided with a cut-out to (21) accommodate the front tower (11).
Chain saw according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the chain saw is battery driven.