GB2212434A

GB2212434A - Guide frame for power tool

Info

Publication number: GB2212434A
Application number: GB8826791A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Randolph Skarsten
Original assignee: SKILTEN TOOLS; SKILTEN TOOLS Ltd
Current assignee: SKILTEN TOOLS; SKILTEN TOOLS Ltd
Priority date: 1987-11-16
Filing date: 1988-11-16
Publication date: 1989-07-26
Also published as: GB8726764D0; GB8826791D0

Abstract

A guide frame for a power tool in which two elongate slide members 212, 213 extend between a pair of cross members 214, each cross member being releasably secured to one side of a work surface. One of the slide members 213 is adjustable relative to the cross members so that the spacing between cross members can be varied to accommodate different tools. In a further guide frame (Fig 1, not shown), a sub-frame 10 having two parallel slide members (12, 13) is mounted on rails (30, 32) so that it can turn about an axis perpendicular to the work surface, thereby to vary the direction of movement of the tool. The spacing between the slide members is again adjustable. <IMAGE>

Description

GUIDE FRAMES FOR POWER TOOLS This invention relates to guide frames for power tools.

Known guide frames for power tools, such as hand held routers or circular saws, include a pair of parallel guide members which guide and support the tool as it is moved in a straight line above a work surface.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved guide frame for power tools.

According to the invention there is provided a guide frame for a power tool comprising two cross members which are adapted to be releasably secured to respective opposite sides of a work surface and two elongate slide members for releasably securing to the end members so that the members are parallel arranged, extend between the cross members, and serve to guide a power tool as it moves in a straight line over the work surface, one of the slide members being adjustable in position relative to the cross members so that the spacing between the slide members can be varied to accommodate different tools.

According to the invention there is also provided a guide frame for a power tool, comprising a sub-frame having two parallel slide members adapted to guide a power tool as it moves in a straight line relative to a work surface, the sub-frame being mounted so that it can turn, at least to a limited extent, about an axis perpendicular to the work surface, to vary the direction of movement of the tool.

Preferably, the sub-frame is slidably supported at or near each end thereof on a support rail extending over the arc of a circle, whereby the sub-frame can turn about the said axis as it slides on the support rail. A separate arcuate support rail may be provided for each end of the sub-frame.

Normally, the sub-frame is arranged horizontally, and is rotatable about a vertical axis.

Preferably, the sub-frame is supported on the or each support rail by means of pillars, each pillar being adjustable in height thereby to adjust the height of the sub-frame above the work surface.

The work surface may be the work top of a bench. The or each support rail may be fixed directly to the work surface.

Suitably, the sub-frame further comprises a guide frame wherein the sub-frame further comprises two cross members, the two parallel slide members extend between the cross members, and one of the slide members is adjustable in position relative to the cross members so that the spacing between the slide members can be varied to accommodate different tools.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a guide frame in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is an end elevation of the guide frame of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a detail of the height adjustment of pillars forming part of the guide frame of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows an adjustable end stop which may be used on the guide frame of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a perspective view of an adjustable sub-frame which can be used in the guide frame in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of a guide frame in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, a guide frame for an overhead router or circular saw comprises a sub-frame 10 supported above a work surface 40 on rails 30 and 32. The sub-frame 10 includes two elongate parallel slide members 12 and 13 joined at their ends by cross members 14, which are adjustable, to form a rigid structure. The slide members 12 and 13 are shaped to support and guide a power tool such an overhead router or circular saw.

The sub-frame 10 is mounted on four pillars 20 each connected to one of the slide members 12 and 13 near its upper end. The two pillars 20 at one end of the sub-frame are slidable on the rail 30, whilst the two pillars at the other end of the sub-frame are slidable on the other rail 32. Each of the rails 30 and 32 is shaped to extend over an arc of a circle, so that as the pillars 20 slide on the rails, the sub-frame 10 turns about a vertical axis passing through the imaginary centre of the circle. The lengths of the rails 30 and 32 are such that the sub-frame can be turned through an angle of up to 450 in each direction from the central position shown in Figure 1. The pillars 20 can be locked in position on the rails 30and 32 by clamping screws 23 (Figure 3).

The rails 30 and 32 are carried by support bars which are fixed to the underside of the work surface 40 and extend beyond the edges of the work surface. Each rail is clamped to the bars 42 by means of a screw operated clamp 44, as shown in Figure 4.

As shown diagrammatically in Figures 2 and 3, each pillar 20 has an internally threaded bore 21 which receives an externally threaded member 15. Each member 15 is connected to one of the elongate slide members 12 or 13 by means of a screw (not shown) which engages an internally threaded bore in the member. The height of the sub-frame 10 above the work surface 40 can be adjusted by turning the four screws 15, effectively adjusting the height of the four pillars 2. This enables the height of the saw or router to be adjusted.

As shown in Figures 1 and 4, a length stop support-bar 46 is provided, which carries two slide stops 48 movable independently along its length. The support bar 46 is independently movable along respective bars 42 and lockable in position so that the position and orientation of the length stops 48 can be adjusted. The slide stops 48 can be clamped in position by screw members 49.

Figure 5 shows an alternative form of sub-frame, in which the spacing between two parallel slide members 112 and 113 can be adjusted, to accommodate different power tools.

In the sub-frame of Figure 5, each slide member 112 and 113 is supported on arcuate rails (not shown) by pillars 118 corresponding to the pillars 20 of Figure 1. Each pillar is connected to a slide member by means of a bolt 119 which passes through a slot 121 in the slide member.

The slide members 112 and 113 are connected at their ends by two bridges 114. Slide member 112 is bolted in a fixed position to each of the bridges by means of a bolt 120. Slide member 113 is connected at each end to a respective one of the bridges 114 by means of a bolt 116 extending through a slot 115 in the bridge and engaging a nut on the other side of the slot. The slots 115 extend at right angles to the slide member 113, so that the slide member 113 can be moved towards and away from the fixed slide member 112. This enables the position of the slide member 113 to be adjusted to accommodate the base plate of the tool to be employed.

In use, the tool is placed at one end of the slide members, and the slide member 113 is moved towards the fixed slide member 112 until it engages the base plate of the tool. The bolt 116 at that end of the slide member is then tightened, the tool is moved to the other end of the slide members, and the process repeated.

Movement of the slide member 113 involves a movement of the pillars 118 supporting the member 113 along the arcuate rails, which movement is accommodated by a relative movement of each bolt 119 along the associated slot 121.

Each of the slides 112 and 113 consists of a channel section providing an upwardly facing surface 117 on which the base plate of the power tool can be supported, and a vertical face 118 against which the side of the base plate abuts.

Figure 6 of the drawings shows a guide frame similar to the guide frame of Figure 5 which can be used on its own, fixed directly to a work surface or base-board.

In the guide frame of Figure 6, two parallel slide members 212 and 213 are supported at each end thereof by two cross-members 214.

Each cross-member 214 has a base 220, an upright side wall 225 and a top wall 226. A series of holes 219 is provided in the base 220 so that the cross-members 214 can be secured by screws to opposite sides of a workpiece. Each side wall 225 is formed with a cut-away section 222 to allow passage of a power tool. Holes 223 are provided for fixing a length stop to the cross-member. Finally, one section of the top wall 226 is formed with a slot 215 and another section, on the opposite side of the section 222, is formed with a circular hole, not shown.

Each slide member has a channel section of similar construction to that of the slide members 113 and 114 of Figure 6 ie., the slide member has a generally horizontal surface 217, a vertical face 218 and an upper horizontal face 221.

As shown in Figure 6, the slide member 212 is releasably secured to each cross member 214 by means of a bolt 230 which is passed through circular apertures in the face 221 of the member 212 and through one of the above mentioned circular holes in the top wall 226 of the crossmember 214. The location of the slide member 212 relative to the crossmembers 214 is therefore fixed.

The slide member 213 is releasably secured to each cross-member 214 by means of a bolt 216 which passes through a circular aperture in the member 213 and through the slot 215 in the member 214 and has a nut (not shown) at its lower end.

In use of the guide frame of Figure 6, the cross-members 214 are screwed to respective opposite sides of a work-piece and the slide member 212 is then bolted to each cross-member. The slide member 213 is then loosely secured relative to the cross-members by means of the nuts 216 and associated bolts. One edge of the frame of a power tool is placed on the horizontal surface 217 of the slide member 212 so that the frame abuts the vertical face 218. The slide member 213 is then moved towards the opposite edge of the frame until that edge rests on the surface 217 of the member 213 and abuts the vertical face 218 of that member. The nuts are then tightened on the bolts 216.

If a power tool of different width is used, the nuts and bolts 216 are loosened so that the slide member 213 can be moved towards or away from the member 212.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A guide frame for a power tool comprising two cross members which are adapted to be releasably secured to respective opposite sides of a work surface and two elongate slide members for releasably securing to the end members so that the, members are parallel arranged, extend between the cross members, and serve to guide a power tool as it moves in a straight line over the work surface, one of the slide members being adjustable in position relative to the cross members so that the spacing between the slide members can be varied to accommodate different tools.

2. A guide frame as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said one of the slide members is secured to each cross member by means of a bolt which extends through an aperture in the slide member and through a slot in the cross member and has a nut at one end thereof.

3. A guide frame as claimed in claim 2, wherein each cross member has a base adapted to be secured to a workpiece, an upright side wall, and a top wall in which the said slot is formed.

4. A guide frame as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a part of each cross member has a cutaway section to allow passage of the power tool.

5. A guide frame for a power tool comprising a sub-frame having two parallel slide members adapted to guide a power tool as it moves in a straight line relative to a work surface, the sub-frame being mounted so that it can turn, at least to a limited extent, about an axis perpendicular to the work surface, to vary the direction of movement of the tool.

6. A guide frame as claimed in claim 5, wherein the sub-frame is slidably supported at or near each end thereof on a support rail extending over an arc of a circle, whereby the sub-frame can turn about the said axis as it slides on the support rail.

7. A guide frame as claimed in claim 6, wherein a separate arcuate support rail is provided for each end of the sub-frame.

8. A guide frame as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the sub-frame is supported on the or each support rail by means of pillars, each pillar being adjustable in height thereby to adjust the height of the sub-frame above the work surface.

9. A guide frame as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the work surface is the work top of a bench, and the or each support rail is fixed directly to the work surface.

10. A guide frame as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein the sub-frame further comprises two cross members, the two parallel slide members extend between the cross members, and one of the slide members is adjustable in position relative to the cross members so that the spacing between the slide members can be varied to accommodate different tools.

11. A guide frame for a power tool constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.