Abstract: An improved chop saw may include a base assembly, a blade assembly including a blade having a center and a motor for driving the blade, an arm pivotally attached to the base assembly and carrying the blade assembly, the blade assembly being movable between a lower position for engaging and cutting a workpiece disposed on the base, and an upper position not engaging the workpiece. The chop saw further includes a vise for holding the workpiece in place, the vise including a vise screw, a latch support supporting the vise screw, and a vise jaw disposed at the end of the vise screw. Preferably, the maximum distance between the vise jaw and the latch support is about equal or shorter than the distance between the blade center and the latch support, when the blade assembly is at the lower position. Further the chop saw includes a substantially horizontal handle connected to the blade assembly.

Abstract: An improved chop saw may include a base assembly, a blade assembly including a blade having a center and a motor for driving the blade, an arm pivotally attached to the base assembly and carrying the blade assembly, the blade assembly being movable between a lower position for engaging and cutting a workpiece disposed on the base, and an upper position not engaging the workpiece. The chop saw further includes a vise for holding the workpiece in place, the vise including a vise screw, a latch support supporting the vise screw, and a vise jaw disposed at the end of the vise screw. Preferably, the maximum distance between the vise jaw and the latch support is about equal or shorter than the distance between the blade center and the latch support, when the blade assembly is at the lower position. Further the chop saw includes a substantially horizontal handle connected to the blade assembly.

Abstract: An improved chop saw may include a base assembly, a blade assembly including a blade having a center and a motor for driving the blade, an arm pivotally attached to the base assembly and carrying the blade assembly, the blade assembly being movable between a lower position for engaging and cutting a workpiece disposed on the base, and an upper position not engaging the workpiece. The chop saw further includes a vise for holding the workpiece in place, the vise including a vise screw, a latch support supporting the vise screw, and a vise jaw disposed at the end of the vise screw. Preferably, the maximum distance between the vise jaw and the latch support is about equal or shorter than the distance between the blade center and the latch support, when the blade assembly is at the lower position. Further the chop saw includes a substantially horizontal handle connected to the blade assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for limiting deflection of the armature shaft 38, 38', 103 of an electrically powered tool, such as a hand held saw 10 or drill 91. In saw 10, the armature shaft 38, 38'extends as a cantilever from the motor 14 and has a geared connection 58, 60 to an arbor 44 for driving the saw blade 18. An arrangement for limiting the deflection of the armature shaft 38, 38' comprises a pilot member 72, 84 and a socket 68, 82 associated, respectively, with one and the other of the armature shaft and a motor housing supported wall. The socket 68, 82 is larger in cross-section than that of the pilot member 72, 84 and limits transverse deflection of the armature shaft 38, 38' away from its axis of rotation A. If the saw 10 stalls in the material being cut, force is transmitted from the geared connection 58, 60 to the armature shaft 38, 38'.

Abstract: An apparatus for limiting deflection of the armature shaft 38, 38', 103 of an electrically powered tool, such as a hand held saw 10 or drill 91. In saw 10, the armature shaft 38, 38' extends as a cantilever from the motor 14 and has a geared connection 58, 60 to an arbor 44 for driving the saw blade 18. An arrangement for limiting the deflection of the armature shaft 38, 38' comprises a pilot member 72, 84 and a socket 68, 82 associated, respectively, with one and the other of the armature shaft and a motor housing supported wall. The socket 68, 82 is larger in cross-section than that of the pilot member 72, 84 and limits transverse deflection of the armature shaft 38, 38' away from its axis of rotation A. If the saw 10 stalls in the material being cut, force is transmitted from the geared connection 58, 60 to the armature shaft 38, 38'.

Abstract: A hammer drill may be set for operation in a hammer mode or a drill mode through a mode selector 41. In the drill mode, output shaft 25 is locked in a forwardly biased position and is rotatably driven through spur gears 29, 31. In the hammer drill mode, output spindle 25 is rotatably driven by spur gears 29, 31 and is axially reciprocated by hammer clutch 55. An output clutch plate 57 of clutch 55 is axially and rotatably fixed to spindle 25 and has a first annular tooth array 63 on rear face 61. An input clutch plate 59 of clutch 55 is axially and nonrotatably fixed in tool housing 15 and has a second annular tooth array 67 on a forwardly inclined front face 65. Tooth arrays 63, 67 are engageable in the hammer mode. Output clutch plate 57 is shiftable in use in the hammer mode to position the rear face 61 generally parallel to the front face 65.

Abstract: A field subassembly is assembled by positioning two coil supports adjacent respective core end faces of a ferromagnetic core. The core-engaging surfaces of the coil supports and the core end faces have respective surfaces which are uninterrupted by projections. During the assembly of the field, fasteners are pushed into the respective coil supports and the core such that the fasteners engage mounting holes in the coil support with a press-fit. After the field is wound, a brush holder subassembly is also pressed onto the fasteners and the resultant core subassembly is connected to a field housing by driving the fasteners in a conventional fashion. In the preferred embodiment, the fasteners provide a three-point contact with mounting holes formed in the coil supports and the brush holder subassembly.

Abstract: A contact includes an arcuately-shaped member having opposite end portions which are joined by an intermediate U-shaped portion. The end portions are slotted to form bifurcations which include contact-engaging surfaces. A contact element includes elongated first and second portions which are joined by an intermediate portion. A lanced-out tab is formed in, and forms an acute angle with, the first portion with the tab opening toward the intermediate portion.

Abstract: A field subassembly is assembled by positioning two coil supports adjacent respective core end faces of a ferromagnetic core. The core-engaging surfaces of the coil supports and the core end faces have respective surfaces which are uninterrupted by projections. During the assembly of the field, fasteners are pushed into the respective coil supports and the core such that the fasteners engage mounting holes in the coil support with a press-fit. After the field is wound, a brush holder subassembly is also pressed onto the fasteners and the resultant core subassembly is connected to a field housing by driving the fasteners in a conventional fashion. In the preferred embodiment, the fasteners provide a three-point contact with mounting holes formed in the coil supports and the brush holder subassembly.

Abstract: Two pairs of contact strips are mounted on the respective bridge members of an integral web portion of the molded field case of a power tool or other motor-driven device. The forward ends of the contact strips are cantilever mounted and automatically engage the respective terminals on the field, as the field is inserted into the field case and is secured therein. An annular wire harness is mounted on the rear bearing boss of the field case. Spaced contacts are carried by the wire harness and engage the respective ends of the first pair of contact strips. The respective ends of the second pair of contact strips are connected to terminals on the ends of the brush shunts. In a reversing embodiment, a third pair of contact strips is mounted on the bridge, and a rotatable reversing subassembly is mounted on the rear bearing boss in lieu of the wire harness.

Abstract: Two pairs of contact strips are mounted on the respective bridge members of an integral web portion of the molded field case of a power tool or other motor-driven device. The forward ends of the contact strips are cantilever mounted and automatically engage the respective terminals on the field, as the field is inserted into the field case and is secured therein. An annular wire harness is mounted on the rear bearing boss of the field case. Spaced contacts are carried by the wire harness and engage the respective ends of the first pair of contact strips. The respective ends of the second pair of contact strips are connected to terminals on the ends of the brush shunts. In a reversing embodiment, a third pair of contact strips is mounted on the bridge, and a rotatable reversing subassembly is mounted on the rear bearing boss in lieu of the wire harness.

Abstract: Two pairs of contact strips are mounted on the respective bridge members of an integral web portion of the molded field case of a power tool or other motor-driven device. The forward ends of the contact strips are cantilever-mounted and automatically engage the respective terminals on the field, as the field is inserted into the field case and is secured in it. An annular wire harness is mounted on the rear bearing boss of the field case. Spaced contacts are carried by the wire harness and engage the respective ends of the first pair of contact strips. The respective ends of the second pair of contact strips are connected to terminals on the ends of the brush shunts. In a reversing embodiment, a third pair of contact strips is mounted on the bridge, and a rotatable reversing subassembly is mounted on the rear bearing boss in lieu of the wire harness.

Abstract: A switch has a body mounted directly on the rear bearing boss of the integral web portion of a molded plastic field case for a power tool or other motor-driven device. The switch has a pair of spaced contacts engaging the respective rearward end portions of a complementary pair of contact elements carried by the web portion of the field case. The respective forward end portions of the contact elements are connected to respective terminals on the field.

Abstract: A field subassembly is assembled by positioning two coil supports adjacent respective core end faces of a ferromagnetic core. The core-engaging surfaces of the coil supports and the core end faces have respective surfaces which are uninterrupted by projections. During the assembly of the field, fasteners are pushed into the respective coil supports and the core such that the fasteners engage mounting holes in the coil support with a press-fit. After the field is wound, a brush holder subassembly is also pressed onto the fasteners and the resultant core subassembly is connected to a field housing by driving the fasteners in a conventional fashion. In the preferred embodiment, the fasteners provide a three-point contact with mounting holes formed in the coil supports and the brush holder subassembly.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a rotary power machine, such as a hand-held power tool, includes a housing-mounted locking pin manually actuatable from a retracted position to an extended, operative position in which the lock pin is received within a pin-receiving bore formed in one of the power transmitting components of the machine. A wedge-like cam or ramp is positioned adjacent to the pin-receiving bore to engage the extended end of the lock pin when the rotating components of the machine are in motion to lift the lock pin away from the pin-receiving bore to prevent accidental engagement of the locking mechanism while machine components are moving. In the preferred embodiment, an output gear is provided with a plurality of ramps and associated pin-receiving bores and is formed as a unitary part using powdered metal fabricating techniques.