Abstract: An improved portable wood planing machine for the surface planing of wooden planks or boards is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the planing machine includes a carriage assembly locking mechanism for locking the carriage assembly relative to a plurality of vertical support columns to thereby vertically fix the carriage assembly. In one form, the carriage assembly locking mechanism includes a plurality of levers which cooperate to engage the support columns of the carriage assembly. The exemplary embodiment further includes a depth stop adjustment mechanism which allows the operator to accurately select a minimum workpiece depth from one or more predetermined depths and a material removal indicator assembly operable for enabling the user of the planing machine to accurately determine the amount of material to be removed during each pass of the workpiece.

Abstract: An adjustable rip fence for a machine tool has a fence which is movable with respect to the cutting tool due to a rack and pinion. The rail assembly supporting the fence include a pair of stationary rails which are secure to the machine tool. A movable rail telescopically engages each stationary rail and the movement of each rail is accomplished by the rotation of a pair of pinion gears each of which engages a respective rack on the movable rails. The simultaneous rotation of the pinion gears is the result of both pinion gears being secured to a common pinion shaft which is rotatably secured to the machine tool. The telescoping nature of the rails allows for adjustment of the fence beyond the working surface of the machine tool.

Abstract: A drill press including a vertically disposed support post and a pivot assembly supported upon the support post is disclosed. A table is supported on the pivot assembly. The pivot assembly is pivotable about a first substantially horizontal axis, with the table pivoting about the first horizontal axis jointly with the pivot assembly. The table also is pivotable relative to the pivot assembly about a second substantially horizontal axis. The pivot assembly also may be pivoted around a vertical axis defined by the post and may be raised and lowered along the vertical post. A clamp plate is adjustable secured to the table and a telescoping extension arm is fixably secured relative to the table by the clamp plate. A guide fence is slidably disposable along the upper surface of the table and may be secured at various locations. A clamp may be adjustably secured either directly to the table or to the guide fence to vertically clamp a workpiece on the table.

Abstract: A compound miter saw includes a table on which a workpiece is placed, a miter saw unit supporting a saw blade, and a housing pivotally supporting the miter saw unit related to the table in such a manner that the miter saw unit is at least laterally pivotable. Further, the miter saw includes a bevel mechanism for selectively determining the lateral position of the miter saw unit at any of a plurality of pivoted positions, including a vertical position where the saw blade is positioned substantially vertically relative to the table, and leftward and rightward pivoted positions where the blade is inclined laterally leftwardly and laterally rightwardly from the vertical position. The bevel mechanism includes a movable rod and three fixed stop members, the rod being operable to move between a first rod position abutting one of the fixed stop members and a second rod position not abutting the one of the fixed stop members so as to permit the lateral pivotal movement of the miter saw unit.

Abstract: A cutting machine has a work table which defines a working surface and has a cutting tool which is attached to and movable with respect to the work table. The position of the cutting tool with respect to the working surface is controlled by a mechanism which elevates the cutting tool with respect to the working surface and angulates the cutting tool with respect to the working surface. The cutting tool is mounted to a support plate which is pivotably attached to the work table. The elevating mechanism includes a threaded rod and a nut which engages a pivoting link. The pivoting link also engages the cutting tool. Rotation of the threaded rod pivots the link which in turn raises and lowers the cutting tool. A spring biases the cutting tool towards its lower position to remove play between the components. The angulating mechanism includes a lever, two cams and a locking rod. Rotation of the lever moves the locking rod longitudinally due to the action between the two cams.

Abstract: A table saw or other cutting machine includes carrying members on an underside of the work table generally adjacent the flanged table edge in order to provide an increased gripping surface area to be grasped by the operator when lifting and transporting the cutting machine. The machine is preferably equipped with invertible extension support assemblies for supporting a workpiece extending horizontally beyond the work table. Such support assemblies include support members slidably extendable horizontally on rods toward and away from the work table. A dust deflection skirt extends from a lower surface of the work table into the generally hollow dust-receiving cavity portion of a dust shroud located within the saw's enclosed base. This skirt deflects dust or chips into the interior of the hollow dust-receiving cavity. Anti-kickback spacers are preferably sealed-end blind rivets mounted on the anti-kickback pawls at intermediate locations thereon.

Abstract: A dust or chip collection and diversion system is provided for a device having a cutting tool for performing a working operation on a workpiece. The position and orientation of the dust-receiving or dust-collecting opening remains constant with respect to the cutting tool regardless of the position or configuration of the device, the device having a movable blade or other cutting tool, thus greatly enhancing the dust collection effectiveness in any of a number of operational configurations. Such position and orientation of the dust-receiving opening is also independent of the movement or position of any adjustable or movable guard or workpiece-supporting fence.

Abstract: An improved portable wood planing machine for the surface of wooden planks or boards is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the planing machine includes a carriage assembly locking mechanism for locking the carriage assembly relative to a plurality of vertical support columns to thereby vertically fix the carriage assembly. In one form, the carriage assembly locking mechanism includes a plurality of levers which cooperate to engage the support columns of the carriage assembly. The exemplary embodiment further includes a depth stop adjustment mechanism which allows the operator to accurately select a minimum workpiece depth from one or more predetermined depths and a material removal indicator assembly operable for enabling the user of the planing machine to accurately determine the amount of material to be removed during each pass of the workpiece.

Abstract: A scroll saw with an adjustable tensioning mechanism includes a housing having an inner surface and a pivoting arm having a rearward end disposed within an opening in the housing. A first blade clamp is disposed at the forward end of the pivoting arm and secures the upper end of a saw blade. The lower end of the saw blade is secured in a second blade clamp disposed at the forward end of a lower arm. A wedge is disposed within the housing, in contact with the inner surface of the housing. The wedge also is disposed in contact with and translatable along a surface of the pivoting arm. A rod is linked to the wedge at one end and extends through the pivoting arm. The rod includes an upwardly turned arm. A cam having a spiral track is rotatably mounted at the front of the pivoting arm with the upwardly turned arm disposed in the track.

Abstract: A drill press including a vertically disposed support post and a pivot assembly supported upon the support post is disclosed. A table is supported on the pivot assembly. The pivot assembly is pivotable about a first substantially horizontal axis, with the table pivoting about the first horizontal axis jointly with the pivot assembly. The table also is pivotable relative to the pivot assembly about a second substantially horizontal axis. The pivot assembly also may be pivoted around a vertical axis defined by the post and may be raised and lowered along the vertical post. A clamp plate is adjustably secured to the table and a telescoping extension arm is fixably secured relative to the table by the clamp plate. A guide fence is slidably disposable along the upper surface of the table and may be secured at various locations. A clamp may be adjustably secured either directly to the table or to the guide fence to vertically clamp a workpiece on the table.

Abstract: A workpiece-supporting fence has a pair of movable fences movably attached to a fixed fence which is secured to a base of the device in which the fence is being used. The pair of movable fences are located on opposite sides of a working tool such as a saw blade. A fixed clamping arrangement is associated with each movable fence and provides a single point actuation member for each movable fence to clamp the movable fence to the fixed fence such that the movable fence is vertically aligned and flush with the fixed fence. In one embodiment, each movable fence is provided with a gap-filling flap which is pivotably secured to the movable fence to be movable between a lower and an upper position. In its lower position, the gap-filling flap minimizes the gap between the movable fence and the working tool. In its upper position, the gap-filling flap provides additional support when working with taller or thicker workpieces.

Abstract: An adjustable rip fence for a machine tool has a fence which is movable with respect to the cutting tool due to a rack and pinion. The rail assembly supporting the fence include a pair of stationary rails which are secure to the machine tool. A movable rail telescopically engages each stationary rail and the movement of each rail is accomplished by the rotation of a pair of pinion gears each of which engages a respective rack on the movable rails. The simultaneous rotation of the pinion gears is the result of both pinion gears being secured to a common pinion shaft which is rotatably secured to the machine tool. The telescoping nature of the rails allows for adjustment of the fence beyond the working surface of the machine tool.

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: The cylindrical plug of a low-voltage, high current capacity connector assembly has an axially positioned sleeve wiping contact and a transversely positioned U-shaped channel member to provide two pairs of planar wiping contact surfaces parallel to the plug axis and substantially perpendicular to the plug housing surface. The socket component, which will accept standard low-voltage, low current car appliance plugs, includes an internally mounted, closed face pin contact and a barrel contact having depending ears positioned to engage the protruding sides of the plug U-shaped channel member. The socket also has an internal boss and housing lip to prevent electrical activation of a standard automotive cigarette lighter plug, and the plug component of the connector assembly has the sleeve contact recessed to prevent contact following insertion into a conventional cigarette lighter socket.