Abstract: A dust collection bag 1 for a power tool comprises a box-like container 10 which is separable into two parts 11, 12 along a plane of the box-like container and the interfitting portions 13, 14 of the two parts are rigid. One part 11 which is suitably a rigid plastics moulding has means 15 for connecting the container to the power tool outlet and the other part 12 has at least part of its wall surface formed of filter material 12a. The parts 11, 12 may be hinged together 16 and have connection means 17, 18 for releasably connecting them to close the container (FIG. 1).

Abstract: A workcenter (10) comprises its supports (14a,b,c) which each carry a carriage (24a,b,c) movable along the supports by motors (30a,b,c) under central computer control (41).Each support is an aluminum extruded U-shaped section having four tracks (28) comprising steel strips (27) in slots (29).The carriage is likewise extruded having undercut slots (83) receiving the heads (92) of axles (90) which have eccentric stubs (96) on which bearing wheels (26) are journalled. Four wheels are so-mounted at each end of the carriage.

Abstract: A workcenter (10) comprises its supports (14a,b,c) which each carry a carriage (24a,b,c) movable along the supports by motors (30a,b,c) under central computer control (41). Each support is an aluminium extruded U-shaped section having four tracks (28) comprising steel strips (27) in slots (29). The carriage is likewise extruded having undercut slots (83) receiving the heads (92) of axles (90) which have eccentric stubs (96) on which bearing wheels (26) are journalled. Four wheels are so-mounted at each end of the carriage. The workcenter is adaptable between different modes of operation; overhang or cantilever by virtue of the profile of the supports.

Abstract: Grinding apparatus including a grinding disc for grinding a tool having tungsten carbide tips is disclosed, and a recirculating coolant system is provided with a magnetic separator for removing particles of tungsten carbide from the recirculating coolant. The magnetic separator includes an elongated, labyrinthine flowpath through which the coolant flows while the tungsten particles are separated from the coolant by a magnetic field.

Abstract: A fence (50) for supporting a workpiece, having two frame members (52, 54) and each frame member (52, 54) having rows of longitudinal grooves (62) in which frame elements or slide bars (66) are retained. An opening (24) between the frame members (52, 54) is reduced to a narrow gap to allow passage of a blade and varied according to a desired cutting angle by moving the slide bars (66) along the grooves (62). Movement of the slide bars (66) is achieved by rotation of a roller (75) mounted in a vertical bore in its respective frame member. The roller abuts the rear of the slide bars (66) and thus also prevents unwanted movement of the slide bars when stationary.

Abstract: Sanding apparatus comprises a housing for a motor driving a drive spindle. A sanding disk platen is mounted on one end of the drive spindle through a freely rotatable bearing disposed eccentrically with respect to the drive spindle. A sanding disk is disposed on a front surface of the platen. A resiliently biased brake is mounted in the housing and is adapted to bear against a low friction annular surface of the platen in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the drive spindle. The drive spindle is arranged to rotate at between 10,000 and 15,000 rpm. Under no load, the brake permits rotation of the platen about its own axis up to about 750 rpm.

Abstract: A plug is suitable for use in preformed blind holes in rigid and soft material and also holes in sheet form material. The plug comprises a head portion joined to a tail portion by four identical legs, all having flexing points towards their ends and in a central portion, the radial thickness of the legs increasing towards the central portion, so that the outer diameter of that portion is greater than the diameter of the tail portion and the head portion, and the transverse thickness of the legs decreasing towards the central portion.

Abstract: An improved adjustable workpiece-supporting fence assembly for a compound miter saw, or other work-performing device, includes a fixed fence portion fixedly interconnected with the base of the device, with the fixed fence portion being disposed on one side of the saw blade, the workpiece cutter, or other such device for performing a working operation on a workpiece. A movable fence portion is selectively and laterally movably interconnected with the base on the opposite side of the work-performing blade or cutter and is laterally spaced from the fixed fence portion. The base or other portion of the device includes a fence-supporting portion fixedly disposed on the same opposite side of the blade or cutter, and both fixed and movable clamping arrangements are provided for releasably clamping the movable fence portion at any of a number of adjusted lateral positions therein, with the movable clamping arrangement being movable with the movable fence.

Abstract: A braking system for a rotary mower includes a brake element which is secured to an impeller and is urged by a spring normally into braking engagement with a fixed brake friction member. On start-up of a motor of the mower, rotation of the impeller causes axial movement of the brake element against the spring and out of braking engagement. Movement of the brake element may be assisted by mechanical means, for example by a multiple ball and ramp system or arrangement. In this embodiment, four equally spaced balls are normally located in ramped recesses formed in an upper face of an adaptor element, such that on start-up of the motor, the balls ramp up at least partially out of the recesses, and assist in urging a braking element and a friction element out of braking engagement with one another. This assist stops when the motor is turned off, the balls now moving back into their respective lowest positions in the recesses formed in the upper face of the adaptor element.

Abstract: A biscuit joiner 11 has a pair of selectively usable retractable antiskid pin subassemblies 13, 15 for increasing the frictional resistance of the shoe assembly 23 with a workpiece when making a cut in the workpiece. Pins 19, 21 are biased forwardly to an extended position by a spring 45. To permit selective use of the pins 19, 21, a retractor 47 retains pins 19, 21 in a retracted position. Retractor 47 preferably comprises a cam 59 and a cam follower 61 and is actuated and deactuated by rotation of pins 19, 21 within chambers 43. Each pin tip 55 has a plurality of peripheral points 73-76 which are particularly effective for reducing skidding on a workpiece.

Abstract: A circular saw arrangement has a table arrangement which provides a support area for the workpiece to be cut. For cutting the workpiece, a saw unit is provided for chop-saw and rip-saw cutting. The saw unit contains a power saw blade which is pivotally lowered from a raised position in the direction of the support area for chop-saw cutting. The axis of the saw blade is spaced from and parallel to the axis of the armature of the motor, and the pivotable movement of the saw blade is centered about the armature axis of the motor so that the motor remains stationary during the chop-saw movement. Elongate guide rods are supported in a cantilevered manner by a vertical support member connected to the table arrangement wherein the distance between the guide rods and the table arrangement remains constant in all positions of the saw blade, and the saw unit is slidably carried on the elongate guide rods for rip-saw cutting.

Abstract: A circular saw comprises a motor housing 13 and a shoe 15 attached to housing 13. An upper guard 17 fixed to housing 13 shields an upper portion of blade 25. A lower guard is pivotally mounted relative to the blade axis of rotation 27. The lower guard has an extended position (FIG. 1 ) for covering a lower portion of blade and retracted position (FIG. 2 ) for exposing the lower blade portion for cutting. A chip deflector 67 is formed on the radial extremity of the trailing edge 55 of lower guard 19 to prevent the build up of sawdust chips on trailing edge 55 by guiding the chips inwardly toward blade axis 27 and into the path of blade 25.

Abstract: Lawn mower height-adjust systems include three embodiments. Two permit the user to adjust the position of the deck relative to each wheel individually. The third permits the user to adjust the positions of all four wheels simultaneously, aided by a counterbalance system. A modification of the third embodiment is available to automatically bypass the height-adjust mechanism in the event an abnormally high load is placed on the deck. One of the two individual systems permits an operator to adjust the position of a respective wheel simply by removing a single nut and washer from an axle bolt. The second individual height-adjust system permits the operator to adjust the height of an individual wheel by using one hand, and without having to disassemble the mechanism. The system which adjusts all four wheels simultaneously links front and rear axle subassemblies with a connecting rod, and indexes all four wheels simultaneously through a release handle which is recessed in a cavity formed in the lawn mower deck.