US2030520A - Power plane - Google Patents

Description

G. HEIMSATH POWER PLANE Filed June e, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventar Attorney n Feb l936. Y G, HElMSATH 2,036,526

POWER PLANE Filed June 6, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W fi Inventai- Attomey Patented Feb. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES` PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in power planes particularly for surfacing wood but it will be understood, of course, that a plane constructed in accordance with the present invention may be used for any purpose for which it may be found adapted and desirable.

An important object of the invention is to provide, in a vpower plane ofthe type including a plurality of rotary cutters driven by an electric motor, a novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts whereby said cutters and the motor may be expeditiously adjusted as a unit as desired.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide, in a power plane of the aforementioned character, novel means for automatically raising the cutters to inoperative or retracted position when the plane is raised out of engagement with the work on the return stroke or movement in a manner to prevent marking or spoiling said work.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a power plane of the aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efcient and reliable in use, compact, light in weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:-

Figure 1 is a view in vertical longitudinal section through a power plane constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in bottom plan of the invention.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view in side elevation of the invention.

Figure 5 is a view in vertical transverse section, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the inven- O tion which has been illustrated comprises a base I of suitable metal having formed integrally therewith upstanding side flanges 2. At an intermediate point, the base I is provided with a transverse opening 3 which extends upwardly in the side flanges 2, as illustrated to advantage in Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings. Mounted on the forward portion of the base I is a handle 4.

Referring now to Figure 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that the side flanges 2 have formed thereon, adjacent the upwardly extending end portions 5 of the opening 3, vertical guide ribs 6. Mounted for sliding adjustment on the guide ribs 6 between the side flanges 2 is a metallic frame l upon which an electric motor 8 is secured in a vertical position. It will bc noted that the 10 sides of the frame 'I have channels formed therein which accommodate the guide ribs 6.

The frame I includes a pair of horizontally extending, vertically spaced iianges 9 through which the shaft I9 of the electric motor 8 rotat- 15 ably extends. Also journaled in the flanges 9 on opposite sides of the motor shaft I9 are shafts II (see Figure 5). The shafts II are connected to the motor shaft I0 for rotation in unison therewith by gears I2 which are xed on said 20 shafts between the flanges 9. Removably secured on the lower end portions of the shafts III and II for rotation in a horizontal plane are multiple bladed cutters I3. Of course, the cutters I3 are operable in the opening 3 for engagement 25 with the work. As indicated in Figure 2 of the drawings, the construction and arrangement of the members I 3 is such that the cuts made thereby overlap. It will be noted that the upwardly extending end portions 5 of the opening 3 accom- 30 modate the outermost gears I2 and the outer cutters I3. The reference numeral I4 designates a switch which is secured on the rear end portion of the base I for controlling the electric motor 8.

Extending slidably through the base I, at a point forwardly of the switch I4, is a vertical threaded post I5, as shown to advantage in Figure 1 of the drawings. The reference numeral I6 designates a lever which is pivotally mounted, at an intermediate point, on the base I between the 40 post I5 and the cutters I3. At its forward end, the lever I6 is operatively connected to the lowermost flange 9 of the frame l, as at I1. At its rear end', the lever I6 terminates in a fork I8 which is engaged in an annular groove formed in the lower portion of an adjusting nut 20 which is threaded on the post I5. The lower face of the base I has formed therein a recess or socket 2I for the reception of a substantially convex or rounded head 22 on the lower end of the 50 post I5. Mounted on the base I and rising therefrom is a housing 23 which encloses a coil spring I9 and through which the post I5 slidably extends. The coil spring I9 encircles the post I5 and has one end engaged with the top of the housing 23 and its other end engaged with an abutment 25 on the post I5 for yieldingly urging said post downwardly.

It is thought that the operation of the invention will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing, particularly to those skilled in the art to which said invention pertains. When the electric motor 3 is energized, the horizontally rotating, overlapping cutters I3, operating through the opening 3, imp-art to the work an exexceedingly smooth surface as the device is moved thereover. When the plane is engaged with the work under the usual slight pressure the post 5 is forced upwardly against the tension of the spring I9 in a manner to positively project the cutters I3 through the opening 3 to cutting position. When the plane is lifted out of engagement with the work, as during the return stroke or movement, the spring I9 actuates the post l5 to lowered position, thus elevating the cutters I3 to retracted or inoperative position, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, for preventing marring of the work. Through the medium of the nut 2S the cutters I3 may be manually adjusted as desired. By substituting grinding wheels for the cutters I3 on the shafts lil and l l the tool may be successfully used on materials other than wood, such as metal, stone, concrete, etc., also for removing paint'` It is believed that the many advantages of a power plane constructed in .accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed isz- A plane comprising a base having an opening therein and further having a socket therein, rotary cutters mounted for vertical movement of the base and engageable with the work through the opening, a housing mounted on the base, a vertical post extending slidably through the base and the housing, a substantially convex head on the lower end of said post'l engageable with thework for elevating said post, the socket in the base being for the reception of said head, an adjusting nut threadedly mounted on the post, a lever pivotally mounted, at an intermediate point, on the base and having one end operatively connected to the cutters and its other end operatively connected to the adjusting nut, said lever onstituting means for connecting the cutters to the post and to the adjusting nut for raising and lowering said cutters, and a spring in the housing operatively connected to the post for yieldingly urging said post downwardly for elevating the cutters when the plane is disengaged from the work.

GUS HEIM'SATH.

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