WO2002011946A1

WO2002011946A1 - Guiding tool for portable electrical cutting appliances

Info

Publication number: WO2002011946A1
Application number: PCT/FR2001/002363
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-Claude Marseille
Original assignee: Marseille Jean Claude
Priority date: 2000-08-08
Filing date: 2001-07-19
Publication date: 2002-02-14
Also published as: FR2812837B1; AU2001278545A1; FR2812837A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a tool comprising two rails (1, 2) maintained mutually parallel by two crosspieces (3, 4). Each rail comprises a planar base (1A, 2A), a top flat surface (1B, 2B) and a shoulder (1C, 2C). One of the crosspieces is fixed on the planar base of the two rails and the other crosspiece is fixed on the top flat surface of the two rails. Each rail comprises a removable longitudinal tongue (1F, 2F) which extends above the rail shoulder to form therewith a slide rail wherein slides the portable electrical appliance. Two blocks (1H, 2H) are provided respectively on the two planar rail bases for squaring the rails and each crosspiece is provided with an elongated slot (3A, 4A), one of the two rails being fixed to the two crosspieces through said elongated slots for adjusting the distance between the two rails.

Description

GUIDANCE TOOL FOR ELECTROPORTATDJS CUTTING APPARATUS

The present invention relates to a multifunctional device which can be used for fixing and / or guiding devices or tools, in particular, but not exclusively portable or power-driven devices such as, for example, jigsaws, circular saws , routers, grinders, planers, sanders etc.

In general, it is known that numerous devices have already been proposed which serve to guide such portable electric devices.

Most often, these devices involve a table on which is fixed, at adjustable height, a pair of parallel guide rails with adjustable spacing which are used for guiding portable electrical devices. Variant embodiments of such devices are illustrated in US Patents 4,489,634 and US 4,237,767.

Similarly, there has also been proposed, by US Pat. No. 4,519,280, a device of this kind making it possible to perform oblique cuts at predetermined angles.

Patent application GB 2 120 163 shows a guide device in which the two guide rails are pivotally mounted, by one of their ends, around a horizontal axis carried by a support structure itself fixed on the table top.

It turns out that these devices are relatively expensive, bulky and require fixed station installations in a workshop. They are therefore not suitable for DIY or even for professional use on site outside the workshop.

Indeed, in these two cases, we are led to use a variety of objects to support the workpiece such as kitchen tables, planks placed on trestles etc ...

This is the reason why, for guiding portable devices such as jigsaws or circular saws, rulers or the like are generally used which are fixed on the parts to be sawed by means of clamps.

However, this solution does not make it possible to obtain good accuracy since very often the portable device is cantilevered on the workpiece and tends to tilt so that slightly sawn surfaces are obtained. lefts. This occurs in particular when a cut is made at a slight distance from the edge of the workpiece. The same problem also arises when milling an edge of a workpiece using a router: in fact, in most of these cases, the device is only supported on the workpiece by half of the support surface of the base and has poor stability.

Furthermore, the devices which have been proposed so far are specifically designed for one function, for example sawing, and are not suitable for performing other functions. The invention therefore more particularly aims to eliminate these drawbacks.

To this end, it proposes a multifunctional device which can be used for fixing and / or guiding portable devices and / or tools, this device being simple, inexpensive and compact, and which nevertheless makes it possible to carry out varied work with excellent precision.

This device comprises two parallel profiled rails, each comprising a guide face and a bearing face, these two rails being connected at each of their ends by two crosspieces by means enabling adjustment of the spacing to be obtained. , said rails being designed to guide and / or secure the portable device and / or the tool.

According to the invention, this device is characterized in that said profiled rails comprise two mutually facing guide faces which comprise, projecting, in the vicinity of the bearing face, a support wing of small thickness and in that it comprises means making it possible to carry out an easily removable fixing of at least one of said rails at one or more adjustable locations along this rail on a support structure and / or on a workpiece.

Advantageously, the aforesaid profiled rail may comprise a profiled shape of concave or convex shape capable of ensuring longitudinal guidance of the said fixing means.

This profiled shape could consist of a groove, the opening of which has a width less than the width of its central part and in that the aforesaid fixing means comprise a head tenon whose head engages in said groove, the width ( or the diameter) of the head being greater than the width of the throat opening. This groove may in particular be produced in the support face or in the upper face opposite to the support face.

Likewise, the aforesaid profiled rail may have an outer shape with a substantially square or rectangular profile. In this case, at least two faces of this profile may include a longitudinal groove of the above type (preferably in dovetail). One of the two grooves can be used to fix a support piece such as a metal plate or a profiled element in the form of an angle iron used to guide and / or support the device. The other groove will then be intended to maintain and guide the above-mentioned fixing means.

Of course, each of the faces of the profile may include a groove. In this case, the grooves, not used to secure the support piece or to guide the fixing means, may be used for fixing and / or guiding accessories, such as, for example, stops. adjustable, support strips. The adjustable stops can in particular be used for quick alignment and to determine the zero point of the scale for the device used.

According to another feature of the invention, each profiled rail may comprise a removable retractable longitudinal tongue which extends along the rail and which comes, in the deployed position, above its support wing to form therewith a slide in which the device slides for anti-kickback and tilting safety.

As previously mentioned, thanks to these provisions the device can be used to make precise cuts or millings on the edges (the edge) of the workpiece. For this purpose, one of the two rails may be fixed to the part and / or its support at an appropriate distance from the edge while the other is suspended "in the air" by the two crosspieces. The device can then be moved by sliding it in the slides without any risk of tilting so that the work performed (cutting, easing) will be precise and clean without any warping due to tilting or any rebound.

Of course, the guide tool according to the invention has the advantage of being adjustable to adapt to different sizes of power tools.

According to a particular embodiment of the guide tool according to the invention, a rubberized sole is fixed on the flat base of each rail to avoid scratches on delicate materials and the skidding of the guide tool on a plate smooth as glass.

According to yet another particular embodiment of the guide tool according to the invention, one of the two rails has a graduation which extends over the length of the rail.

Another advantage of the device described above consists in that it makes it possible to avoid any contact between the sole of the device or the tool and consequently any possibility of deterioration (scratches) of said part.

Embodiments will be described below, by way of nonlimiting examples, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a device according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic cross section of a device according to the invention for guiding a router; Figure 3 shows, in partial cross section, an alternative embodiment of the device shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 illustrates a sliding assembly method of a profiled rail of the type used in Figure 2 and a cross;

Figures 5 to 10 show, in schematic section, (Figures 5 to 9) and in perspective (Figure 10) various devices or tools that can be mounted on a device according to the invention;

FIG. 11 shows another alternative embodiment of the mounting of a telescopic crosspiece at the end of the two profiled rails of a device of the type of that shown in FIG. 1.

In the example shown in Figure 1, the guide device is shown in perspective and comprises two rails 1, 2 of about 110 centimeters in length which each have a flat base 1A, 2 A of about 35 millimeters wide, a flat upper IB, 2B and a lateral shoulder IC, 2C which forms a step or a wing about 2 millimeters thick. The shoulder IC, 2C extends over the entire length of the rail between the flat base and the upper plate thereof. Each rail can be a relatively light metal profile, for example made of an aluminum alloy.

The two rails 1, 2 are held in a symmetrical configuration distant from one another and parallel to each other by two identical crosspieces 3, 4 fixed to the rails near the ends of the rails, for example at about 2 centimeters from a end edge of a rail. The cross members are approximately 25 cm long and approximately 2 cm wide.

The cross member 3 is fixed to the flat bases 1A and 2 A. The cross member 4 is fixed to the upper plates 2 A and 2B. The two crosspieces 3, 4 are parallel between them and the two rails 1, 2 are arranged with the crosspieces so that the two shoulders IC, 2C are arranged one opposite the other. Each cross member is fixed to the two rails by bolts, for example like those indicated by 5, 6 in the figure. As visible in the figure, each cross member is provided with an oblong light 3A, 4A of approximately 17 centimeters in length which extends along the length of the cross member. The bolt 6 passes through the light 4A of the crosspiece 4 to be fixed in the rail 2. In the same way, another bolt (not shown in the figure) passes through the light 3 A of the crosspiece 3 to be fixed in the rail 2 The oblong lights allow you to quickly adjust the distance between the two rails.

Each rail has a 1D, 2D groove on its upper plate and another 1E, 2E groove on its flat base. The grooves are approximately 5 millimeters deep. The cross-member 4 is arranged in the grooves 1D, 2D and the cross-member 3 is arranged in the grooves 1E, 2E and these grooves are machined with precision to obtain a parallelism between the two cross-members.

Each rail also has a longitudinal tongue IF, 2F which extends along the length of the rail above the shoulder of the rail to form therewith a slide in which the power tool slides. This tab is removably mounted on the rail. As visible in the figure, the tongue IF, 2F is shorter than the rail 1, 2 and is arranged in the central part of the latter, leaving a free space of approximately 25 centimeters at each end of the rail. The top plate of each rail and the tab are approximately 25 millimeters wide. The tongue can be fixed sliding by a system of bolts and lights 1G, 2G in a counterbore of the upper flat of the rail. Thus, the tongue can be retracted into the rail when it is not used.

Two IH, 2H studs (mounted in dashed lines) for squaring the tool and therefore the two rails 1, 2 are provided respectively on the two bases planes 1A, 2 A near the crosspiece 3. These two studs are aligned with the crosspiece 4 as indicated by line A.

A rubberized sole II, 21 can be fixed on the flat base of each rail to prevent it from slipping on a smooth surface when the power tool slides in the two slides.

As visible in FIG. 1, the rail 1 carries a graduation 7 which extends over the length of the rail.

In the variant shown in FIG. 2, the two rails

R _l5 R ₂ consist of two tubular profiled elements of square section, each of the longitudinal faces of which has a longitudinal groove Li to L ₄ of dovetail section.

On the underside of each of the rails Ri, R is fixed a flat strip of rectangular section BP _ls BP by means of a slide COi, CO ₂ of trapezoidal shape, integral with the strip BP _l3 BP ₂ which engages in the longitudinal groove lower L ₄ , L '. The width of the flat strips BP _l5 BP ₂ is greater than that of a longitudinal face of the rails R _l5 R ₂ . Therefore, a fraction of each of the bands BPj, BP ₂ protrudes from one side of the corresponding rail Rj, R, forming the above wing; the underside of the flat strips BP ₁₅ BP ₂ is optionally provided with a non-slip coating.

Of course, the two rails Ri, R ₂ are kept spaced from each other at the desired distance by means of two crossbars not shown functionally identical to those of the device illustrated in FIG. 1.

In this example, the device serves to guide a router DF whose sole S rests on the projecting portion of the two wings ALi, AL ₂ and comes to bear on opposite sides of the two rails R _R ₂ which constitute faces guide. Each rail Ri, R ₂ can be equipped with a tongue of the type shown in FIG. 1 to hold the sole of the tool (here the router in its upper part). This tongue may be replaced by a profile in the form of an angle iron PC which can be fixed in an adjustable manner in height on one or more slides CO ₃ which engage in the groove L ' _3.

The assembly constituted by the rails Ri, R ₂ and the flat strips BP _ls BP rests on a wooden board PL whose longitudinal edge is intended to be milled by the router DF.

The PL board is placed on the edge of the table top TB (partially shown).

The assembly is secured by means of at least one SRi clamp having a C-shaped body, one end of which is fitted with a CO trapezoidal slide projecting towards the inside of the C. Engaging in the upper groove L ₂ of the rail Ri. The other end of the C is provided with a tapped hole into which a threaded rod TF is screwed carrying on one side a support piece AP and on the other side an operating button MN. The tightening carried out by the button MN makes it possible to fix, on the table top TB, the assembly constituted by the board PL and the device on which the router DF is guided.

Given the relatively large dimensions of the support surface between the flat strip BPi and the board PL, the device is stable, despite the fact that the rail R ₂ is cantilevered ("in a vacuum").

The work performed by the DF router will therefore have a precision much higher than that which would be obtained by using the router in a conventional manner. In this example, the upper end of the body of the SRi clamp has two trapezoidal slides CO ₄ , CO ₅ , arranged symmetrically with respect to each other, projecting inwards and outwards from the C, so as to be able to mount the SRi clamp either in the groove L ₂ on the upper face (in a similar manner to that illustrated in FIG. 2), or in the groove L ₄ on the lower face (FIG. 3).

Thanks to these provisions, the clamp S i is retained on the profiled rail Ri and can however move along the latter in particular in order to be brought to the desired position. Advantageously, the connection between the clamp and the slide will be constituted by a disconnectable attachment.

In the example shown in Figure 3, the two profiles, only one

R ₃ is visible, does not carry a flat strip ALi but a profile in the form of an angle iron PF which is fixed to one of the two lateral faces of the rail by means of slides CO ₆ . These slides engage in the groove L ₅ of one of the lateral faces of the rail R ₃ .

The inner face of the wing AL ₃ of the profile PF serves as a guide face while the inner face of the wing AL of the profile PF constitutes the bearing face.

The upper face of the clamp comprises a slide CO ₇ which engages in the groove L ₆ of the lower face of the rail R ₃ .

The cross-member TRi connecting the two rails here comprises a transverse slide CO ₈ which engages in the groove L ₇ of the upper face of the rail

Ri. The fixing of the TRi cross member is completed by VP needle screws which are screwed into tapped vertical bores, crossing the TRi cross member and the CO ₈ slide and coming to bear on the bottom of the groove L This solution has the advantage of being relatively compact.

In the example shown in FIG. 4, the cross-member TR ₂ consists of a section of profiled rail, the lower face of which is provided with a longitudinal groove RL similar to that of the profiled rail ₄ .

In this case the mounting of the cross-member TR ₂ on each of the rails R _{t is} carried out using two slides CO, CO ₁₀ oriented at right angles to one another and secured to each other. other in their middle region.

Here, too, the blocking of the slides can be obtained by means of NP needle screws of the type shown in FIG. 3.

As previously mentioned, the device according to the invention has a universal character and can be used for fixing and / or guiding numerous tools, whether they be hand tools or power tools, these tools having to be mounted on a sole SM capable of engaging between the two profiled rails R _1; R ₂ . (This sole can belong to the device or to the tool.)

Thus, it can be used to fix a vice E (figure 5), a miter box BO (figure 7), a drilling gauge CP (figure 10) consisting of a parallelepiped plate provided with a plurality drilling to the diameter of the drills

It can receive a fixed PO motorized headstock and a mobile headstock

MS so as to constitute a tower. Similarly, it could receive only one drum.

In the example shown in Figure 8, the sole SM intended to slide between the two profiled rails Ri, R ₂ is equipped with a circular cutting blade LC, rotatably mounted around a transverse axis. This set is intended to ensure the function of a cutter to cut a sheet by moving it along the profiled rails R _l5 R ₂ . Of course, the LC rotary blade could be replaced by a blade fixedly mounted on the sole SM by a diamond wheel for cutting glass, by a wheel for cutting tiles, etc.

In the example shown in FIG. 9, the sole SM carries an angle grinder MA which, depending on the nature of the disc chosen DS, can cut out of metal or other materials such as ceramic, glass, stone or even cement.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments previously described. Thus, the sleepers TR could each comprise two tubular elements TB ₁ , TB2 engaging telescopically one in the other. Each of these two elements has on one side a return at right angle RT _l5 RT ₂ of section substantially equal to the interior section of a rail R _l5 R ₂ so as to be able to engage it closely. The fixing of these returns in the corresponding rails as well as the fixing of the two tubular elements in the desired position can then be carried out using screws.

Likewise, the device may also include numerous other accessories which complement or replace the accessories described above.

Thus, for example, the device according to the invention may comprise a cover mounted on the rails so as to be able to be adjusted in width and in height, for example by means of an assembly involving bolts, nuts or springs. Two windows may be provided on the hood, one of these windows being intended to visualize a spirit level, housed under the hood while the other is assigned to a second spirit level fixed on the rail and used for the adjustment of verticality. One of the two rails Ri, R ₂ may comprise on one of these lateral sides, a graduation allowing it to serve as a rule, as well as means making it possible to constitute a square.

Optionally, the central cavity of the profiled rails can be used to receive and / or store accessories such as screwdrivers, pencil, etc.

A safety stop may be provided at the end of the rail to prevent the tilting of the power tool and so that the tool used (saw blade or cutter) is not in contact with the crosspiece.

Likewise, the rails may be produced in several sections which can be assembled by interlocking or articulated to each other so as to allow the guiding of devices over significant lengths while solving the problems of space.

Claims

claims

1. Device for fixing and or guiding portable devices and / or tools, characterized in that it comprises at least one profiled rail provided with means making it possible to carry out said fixing and / or said guiding as well as means for effecting a removable fixing of said rail on a support structure in one or more adjustable locations along this rail.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises two parallel profiled rails (Ri, R ₂ ) each comprising a guide face and a bearing face, these two rails (Ri, R ₂ ) being connected l '' to each other, at their ends, by two crosspieces (TRi, TR ₂ ) thanks to means allowing a spacing adjustment to be obtained, said rails (Ri, R ₂ ) being designed to guide and / or the attachment of the portable device and / or of the tool, characterized in that said profiled rails (Ri, R ₂ ) comprise two mutually facing guide faces as well as two support wings (ALi, AL ₂ ) thin, projecting from the guide faces, serving to support said device and / or said tool, and in that it comprises means (SRi) allowing an easily removable fixing of at least the one of said rails (Ri) in one or more adjustable locations along this rail (Ri) on a sup structure port (TB) and / or on a workpiece (PL) carried on said structure (TB).

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the aforesaid profiled rail (Ri, R ₂ ) comprises a concave or convex profiled shape capable of ensuring longitudinal guidance of the said fixing means (SRi).

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the said profiled form consists of a groove (L ₂ ) whose opening has a width less than the width of its central part, and in that the above fixing means comprise a head tenon whose head engages in said groove, the width (or diameter) of the head being greater than the width of the opening in the groove (L ₂ ).

5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the aforesaid groove (L ₂ , L) is produced in the bearing face or in the upper face opposite to the bearing face of the above-mentioned rail (Ri).

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the above groove (L ₂ ) has a T-shaped section or dovetail.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the above profiled rails (Ri, R ₂ ) each have an external shape of square or rectangular section, and in that at least the upper and lower faces of each of said rails include longitudinal grooves (Li, L ₄ ) one of which is used for fixing a part (BPi, BP ₂ ) constituting the said support wing while the other ensures the maintenance and guiding of the said fixing means.

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the aforementioned profiled rails (R ₃ ) each have an external shape of square or rectangular section, and in that the guide faces comprise longitudinal grooves (L ₅ ) used for fixing a profiled element in the form of an angle iron (PF) used to guide and / or support the devices and / or tools.

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that all the faces of the profiled rail (R _l5 R ₂ ) are provided with longitudinal grooves, and in that the grooves (Li to L - L'i to L ' ) not used for fixing the support piece or guiding the fixing means are used for fixing and / or guiding accessories.

10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a longitudinal retractable tongue (IF, 2F) which extends along the rail and which comes, in the deployed position, above its wing support (ALi, AL ₂ ) to form therewith a slide in which the device slides for anti-kickback and tilting safety purposes.

11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each cross member is provided with an oblong lumen (3A, 4A) which extends along the length of the cross member, one of the two rails being fixed to the two cross members at through said oblong slots to allow adjustment of the distance between the two rails.

12. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that in addition a rubberized sole (II,)) 2I) is fixed to the flat base of each rail.

13. Device according to one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that one of the two rails has a graduation (7) which extends over the length of the rail.

14. Device according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that each rail comprises two grooves (1D, 1E, 2D, 2E) in which the two cross members are arranged respectively.

15. Device according to one of claims 9 to 14, characterized in that it comprises an angle-shaped section (PF) which can be fixed in adjustable manner in height on one or more slides (CO ₃ ) engaging in one of the grooves (L ₃ ) of the profiled rails (R ₂ ).

16. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aforesaid means for fixing the rail (R ₃ ) comprise a clamp (SR, one end of which is provided with at least one slide (CO ₇ ) s' engaging in one of the grooves (L ₆ ) of said rail (R ₃ ).

17. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the aforesaid clamp (SR comprises two slides (CO, CO ₅ ) intended to come respectively to engage in the grooves (L ₂ , L) of the upper and lower faces of the rail (R).

18. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aforesaid sleepers (TR ₂ ) consist of sections of profiled rails each comprising a longitudinal groove (RL) whose width is narrowed at the level of the opening, and in that that the fixing of the sleepers (TR ₂ ), on at least one of said rails (R ₄ ), is effected by means of two slides (CO, CO ₁₀ ) oriented perpendicularly to one another and integral one from the other, these two slides being intended to engage respectively in the groove (RL) of said section and in a longitudinal groove of said rail (R ₄ ).

19. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it applies to guiding and / or fixing apparatus or tools mounted on a sole (SM), namely, in particular, a vice (E), mobile (PM) and fixed (PO) dolls of a lathe, a miter box, a fixed or rotating cutting blade (LC), a lathe, a grinder angle (MA) and / or a drilling guide (CP).

20. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the above rails (Ri, R ₂ ) include cavities serving as housing for accessories.

21. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aforesaid rails (Ri, R ₂ ) are produced in several sections which can be assembled by interlocking or articulated to each other.

22. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the aforementioned rails are equipped with adjustable stops serving to effect a quick squaring and / or to determine a zero position for the apparatus used.