WO1993018894A1

WO1993018894A1 - Woodworking rig

Info

Publication number: WO1993018894A1
Application number: PCT/GB1993/000612
Authority: WO
Inventors: Desmond Walters
Original assignee: Desmond Walters
Priority date: 1992-03-24
Filing date: 1993-03-24
Publication date: 1993-09-30
Also published as: GB9419390D0; GB2282774B; GB2282774A; AU3764393A; GB9206385D0

Abstract

A woodworking rig comprises two rectangular supports (10, 20) connected together by pivotal links (31 to 34) adjacent the corners of the two supports, permitting adjustment of the spacing between the two supports whilst maintaining them parallel to each other. One support (20) is arranged to receive a power tool carrier (50) for sliding movement along that support, to work on a workpiece laid on the lower support (10). The rig may be inverted, and the power tool carrier fixed to the support (10), so that the rig forms a fixed power tool bench.

Description

Woodworking Rig

This invention relates to a rig for use in woodworking, and particularly to a universal woodworking rig which is useful for a wide variety of purposes.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a woodworking rig which comprises first and second rectangular supports connected together by pivotal links adjacent the corners of the two supports, permitting adjustment of the spacing between the two supports whilst maintaining them parallel to each other, one support being arranged to receive a power tool carrier for sliding movement of the carrier along that support, whilst the rig is positioned with said one support above the other support.

In one mode of use, the power tool carrier can be slid along the upper support whilst a workpiece is laid on the lower support. The workpiece may be laid across or lengthwise of the lower support, without being obstructed by the pivotal links.

The distance between the two supports is preferably set by adjustable stops carried by one of the supports, adjacent the pivotal links. The rig may be turned the other way up for another mode of use, in which a flat carrier is fixed to the support which is now uppermost, the carrier mounting a power tool e.g. a circular saw with its blade projecting upwards through a slot in the carrier: in this mode the rig forms a fixed power tool bench.

The two rectangular supports of the woodworking rig preferably comprise rectangular frames made up of extruded aluminium members. Preferably the outer edges of these are formed with grooves of e.g. T-section to receive fixing elements or accessories.

Preferably a stand is provided on which the woodworking rig may be supported at e.g. waist height. The stand preferably comprises two uprights having cross-members at their tops on which the rig rests: preferably the cross-members have up-turned ends which are secured to the lower frame of the rig by screw clamps engaged within the T-section grooves on the outer edges of that frame.

Although the rig is intended primarily for woodworking, it may also be used for workpieces of other materials.

An embodiment of this invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view of a woodworking rig in accordance with this invention, arranged for a first mode of use;

FIGURE 2 is a view of the woodworking rig of Figure 1, arranged for a second mode of use;

FIGURE 3 is a view of the woodworking rig when supported on a stand; and

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged view of a top part of the stand, showing the manner in which the woodworking rig is fixed to the stand.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a woodworking rig which comprises first and second rectangular frames 10,20, each formed of extruded aluminium members joined together. Thus, the first frame 10 comprises opposite side members 11,12 joined by end members 13,14 and the second frame 20 comprises opposite side members 21,22 joined by cross-members 23,24. The two frames 10,20 are joined together by a set of four links 31 to 34. Each link e.g. 31 has one end hinged on a transverse axis to a bracket 31a fixed to the face of a side member 11 of the first frame 10, and its opposite end hinged on a parallel axis to a bracket 31b fixed to the face of a side member 21 of the second frame 20. The links are positioned on the side members of the frames adjacent the opposite ends of the frames. It will be appreciated that the links interconnect the two frames so that the two frames can be moved towards or away from each other, whilst remaining parallel to each other, by pivotal movement of the links. The side members 11,12 of the first frame 10 have blocks 41 to 44 projecting from them, adjacent respective ones of the links 31 to 34, and the blocks 41 to 44 have adjustable stops 45 to 48 screw-threaded into them. In use, the second frame 20 is moved so that its opposite side members 21,22 abut against the stops 45 to 48, which can be adjusted to set the spacing between the two frames 10,20. This produces a firm and stable arrangement. The top and bottom edges of the frame side member

11,12 and 21,22 are formed with shallow longitudinal grooves the brackets of the pivotal links fit into these grooves an are aligned thereby. The same grooves may be used fo similarly aligning accessories used with the rig.

In one mode of use, and as shown in Figure 1, th second frame 20 is supported by the adjustable stops a desire spacing above the first frame 10. A workpiece is laid on th lower frame 10 and below the upper frame 20, the workpiec either laying in the transverse direction or in th longitudinal directions. A power saw, mounted to a carrier 5 so that its blade projects downwardly through a slot 51 in th carrier, can then be slid along the upper frame 20 to cut int the workpiece to a desired depth, which is determined by th preset spacing between the two frames. The carrier 50 is, i the example shown, a rectangular board which rests on inwardly directed flanges e.g. 25 on the side members 21,22, as it i slid along the frame 20. Alternatively, the side members 21,2 may be formed with grooves (preferably T-section grooves) o their inner edges, which receive projections of correspondin section on the edges of the carrier 50. Power tools other tha a saw may be carried on carriers slid along the frame 20 i similar manner.

Preferably as shown the frame 10 has work bases o boards 15,16 fitted between its opposite side members 11,12 an against its end members 13,14, leaving a space in the centr between the work bases 15,16. Preferably these work base 15,16 rest on flanges projecting from the inner edges of th side members 11,12, these flanges being spaced from both th top and bottom edges of these members. Grooves e.g. 17 ar formed in the work bases 15,16 to align with the saw blade, o to receive metal inserts having a series of tapped or plai holes to receive fixing elements of accessories.

In an alternative mode of use, and as shown in Figur 2, the woodworking rig is turned so that the frame 10 i positioned above the frame 20. The carrier 50 is now fitte to the frame 10, between two work bases 15a,16a: carrier 50 an work bases 15a,16a rest on and are bolted to the flanges on th inner edges of the frame members 11,12. The blade of the powe saw projects upwards through the slot 51 of the carrier. The carrier 50 forms, with the work bases 15a, 16a, a continuous flat surface to support workpieces to be sawn. The frame 10 is supported above the frame 20 by means of the adjustable stops (not shown in Figure 2) , but preferably in this mode of use the two frames 10,20 are firmly held together by a set of four spacers e.g. 61,62: each of these is bolted to a bracket on the underside of the side members 11,12 of the first frame 10, and are fixed by screw clamps which engage in T-section grooves on the outer edges of the side members 21,22 of the frame 20.

The outer edges of the side members 11,12 of the frame 10 are also formed with T-section grooves. These grooves in the outer edges of the frames may be used for fitting a variety of accessories. One example is shown in Figure 2 and comprises a cutting fence 70, adjustably mounted for angle on the top face of a carriage 72: a side face of carriage 72 has upper and lower pairs 73,74 of projecting bearings, for engagement within the T-section grooves in the outer edges of the respective frames 10,20.

Referring to Figure 3, preferably a stand 80 is provided to support the woodworking rig at waist-height. The stand 80 which is shown comprises two bases 81,82, each having two legs with adjustable feet, the two bases being interconnected by a bar 83 and having respective uprights 84,85. As shown in Figure 4, the top of each upright carries a cross-member e.g. 86 having upright slotted brackets 87 at its opposite ends: the woodworking rig is supported on the two cross-members and the slotted brackets of the latter are fixed to the lower of the two frames by screw clamps 88 engaged into the T-section grooves along the outer edges of the lower frame.

As shown in Figure 3, an outrigger may be provided to support long workpieces. The outrigger comprises a base 90, having three legs with adjustable feet, and an upright 91 on the top of which a flat support 92 is mounted. A bar 93 may be used to couple the outrigger to the stand: the bar 93 has fixings at each end, through which the outrigger upright 91 and one of the uprights of the stand may pass; these uprights are circular in section to allow the position of the outrigger relative to the stand to be adjusted. More than one suc outrigger may be used, positioned to either side of th woodworking rig and coupled to either of the two uprights 84,8 of the stand.

Claims

1) A woodworking rig which comprises first and second rectangular supports connected together by pivotal links adjacent the corners of the two supports, permitting adjustment of the spacing between the two supports whilst maintaining them parallel to each other, one support being arranged to receive a power tool carrier for sliding movement of the carrier along that support, whilst the rig is positioned with said one support above the other support.

2) A woodworking rig as claimed in claim 1, comprising adjustable stops carried by a said support to set the distance between the two supports.

3) A woodworking rig as claimed in claim 1 or 2, comprising a flat carrier for fixing to said other support, when the rig is inverted so that said other support is above said one support, said carrier being arranged to mount a power tool for use of the rig as a fixed power tool bench.

4) A woodworking rig as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the two supports comprise rectangular frames made up of extruded aluminium members.

5) A woodworking rig as claimed in claim 4, in which the outer edges of said rectangular frames are formed with grooves to receive fixing elements or accessories.

6) A woodworking rig as claimed in any preceding claim, in combination with a stand to support the rig.

7) A woodworking rig and stand combination as claimed in claim 1, in which the stand comprises two uprights having cross-members on which the rig rests.