Depth gauge for cutter

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6446534
  • Patent Number
    6,446,534
  • Date Filed
    Friday, April 28, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, September 10, 2002
    22 years ago
Abstract
A cutter device has a cutter portion which is led by a depth gauge. The depth gauge is mounted on and extends upwardly from a substantially planar main body section. The depth gauge has a forward, or first section which extends upwardly from the main body, and when viewed from above is disposed at an angle relative to the central plane of the main body diverging therefrom on progressing rearwardly. The rear end of the first section is connected at a juncture section to a second section which progresses rearwardly and is disposed at an angle converging toward the central plane. The second section may extend across the plane of the body and diverge from the opposite side thereof on progressing rearwardly. The upper surface of the depth gauge presents a sweeping curve as viewed from the front of the cutter which is a multiple of the thickness of the body to which it is attached to provide effective cut control for the following cutter.
Description




BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to an improved depth gauge to be used with a cutter.




Cutters for cutting devices movable along a path for cutting a kerf in a workpiece, such as may be found in a saw chain or saw blades for cutting wood, often have a cutter portion with a leading cutting edge and a depth gauge portion spaced forwardly of the cutting edge to control the depth of cut taken by the cutter. In powered devices the depth gauge is instrumental in reducing the possibility of kick-back during operation of the saw on which the cutter runs.




Depth gauges in the past generally have included a single thickness of cutter material which extends upwardly in a region spaced forwardly from the cutter edge as disclosed in Silvon, U.S. Pat. No. 4,353,277. These prior devices generally have presented to the kerf little more width than the thickness of the plate material from which the cutter or depth gauge is formed.




Other prior devices have included cantilever-style bent-over depth gauge portions such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,085,113 and 4,989,489 to Pinney, U.S. Pat. No. 4,911,050 to Nitschmann and U.S. Pat. No. 4,841,825 to Martin.




A single thickness upright depth gauge as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,353,277 may have a tendency to dig into the workpiece and not provide consistent cutting depth control. Bent-over depth gauges in the past often have had weaknesses at the bend and had a tendency to break in operation. Although prior bent-over depth gauge devices provide depth of cut control, they can produce excessive friction and drag and also inhibit the free flow of chips produced by the cutters. Explaining further, if chips produced by the cutter are not allowed to flow easily under the top plate of the cutter, they will continue to build up in the kerf, and the depth gauge and cutter will tend to ride thereover producing inefficient cutting.




An object of the present invention is to provide a novel depth gauge for a cutter which overcomes the disadvantages of prior devices in an efficient and cost-effective manner.




In one embodiment of the invention, the depth gauge extends upwardly from a substantially planar body portion and when viewed from the side has an upwardly rounded forward-facing surface. However, as viewed from above, it has a rippled, or laterally deformed configuration. The lateral deformation is such as to extend to opposite sides of the main body of the depth gauge, such that when viewed from the front, it has an apparent overall width, as seen by the workpiece, which is considerably wider than the material from which the depth gauge is manufactured.




Further, the laterally deformed, or rippled, depth gauge has all portions thereof extending substantially upwardly from the main body of the depth gauge. Thus it has no bent-over, cantilevered portions which in prior devices have produced weaknesses having a tendency to break. Instead, it's laterally deformed curvilinear configuration adds strength to the depth gauge.




The depth gauge of the present invention is simple to produce, since it can be blanked from plate material to define a selected initial outline, and then deformed laterally to the offset configuration desired to provide a forward ramping configuration which produces advantageous depth gauge control characteristics for a cutter with which it is used. An added advantage of this is that an upwardly curved top surface contour is provided producing more efficient operation for the depth gauge, as opposed to previously used bent-over cantilever depth gauges which generally have substantially flat upper surfaces.




Another advantage of the present invention over previous bent-over depth gauges comes in the filing of the depth gauge to have a proper height relative to a following cutter to maintain desired depth gauge setting. With an upwardly extending, non bent-over configuration as provided by the present invention, filing to maintain desired depth gauge setting should result in no reduction in strength of the part. Conversely, in a bent-over depth gauge such filing may reduce the cross sectional thickness of the material of the depth gauge substantially weakening it.




In one embodiment of the present invention, the depth gauge extends upwardly from a body portion with a forward region, as viewed from above, being disposed at a first angle greater than 2° relative to the plane of its underlying body portion and a second section positioned rearwardly of the first section which, as viewed from above, is disposed at a second angle, also greater than 2° relative to the plane.




In a preferred embodiment on progressing rearwardly in the device the first section diverges at the first angle from the body plane and the second section joins the first section at a juncture section at the rear end of the first section, and then the second section on progressing rearwardly converges toward the body plane. The juncture section may define the greatest distance to which the depth gauge extends to one side of the plane, and the second section may extend across the plane, terminating at the opposite side thereof from the juncture section.




In various embodiments, the first and second sections of the depth gauge may be bent relative to each other about a line that extends upwardly from the body or may be substantially conoid having a central axis which extends upwardly from the body.




In a cutter employing such a depth gauge, a following cutting portion may be spaced rearwardly of the depth gauge, with a forwardly facing cutting edge extending transversely of the cutter at a selected elevation slightly above the highest portion of the depth gauge and with a side cutting edge spaced laterally outwardly of a laterally outward extremity of the deformed depth gauge. The configuration of the depth gauge described herein, may be produced such that the highest portion of the depth gauge is disposed substantially centrally of the side-to-side dimension of the transversely extending cutter edge.




Another advantage of the present invention is that the open space provided between the angularly disposed first and second sections of the depth gauge is able to efficiently gather and carry chips from the kerf. Raised or indented lines or other formations may be formed on the inner surfaces of the first or second sections to assist in carrying chips out of the kerf.




It has been observed that there is a substantially direct correlation between the amount of top surface area which the depth gauge presents to the workpiece and the kick-back protection provided. The present invention provides a substantial increase in top surface area over previously known upstanding depth gauges, and thus produces the added advantage of reduced kick-back potential.




In summary, the invention provides a depth gauge for a cutter having laterally deformed depth gauge sections which provide a top surface which sweeps a far wider area of the kerf than the thickness of the material from which the part is made when moving through the cut. It provides a depth gauge surface which substantial apparent dynamic width relative to the cutter during operation and increased top surface area.




These and other objects and advantages will become more fully apparent as the following description is read in conjunction with the drawings.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a side elevation view of a section of a saw chain incorporating cutters with depth gauges according to an embodiment of the invention;





FIG. 2

is an enlarged perspective view of a cutter link removed from the chain of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 3

is a top plan view of the cutter of

FIG. 2

;





FIG. 4

is an enlarged front end elevation view of the cutter of

FIG. 2

;





FIG. 5

is a side elevation view of the cutter of

FIG. 2

;





FIG. 6

is a side elevation view of a section of a saw chain in which certain links bear cutter elements and leading center drive link elements pivotally connected thereto have depth gauge portions according to an embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 7

is an enlarged top plan view taken generally along the line


7





7


in

FIG. 6

;





FIG. 8

is a top plan view of an alternate embodiment of a cutter link according to an embodiment of the invention;





FIG. 8A

is a top plan view of a cutter link somewhat similar to

FIG. 8

, but with the depth gauge portion deformed oppositely to that illustrated in

FIG. 8

;





FIG. 9

is a top plan view of a cutter link having a depth gauge according to another embodiment of the invention;





FIG. 10

is a front elevation view of the cutter of

FIG. 9

;





FIG. 10A

is a front elevation view similar to

FIG. 10

, but with a wiped-style enlarged top surface;





FIG. 11

is a side elevation view of the cutter link of

FIG. 9

;





FIG. 12

is a perspective view of the cutter link of

FIG. 9

;





FIG. 13

is a front elevation view of another embodiment of the invention;





FIG. 14

is an enlarged perspective view of a forward portion of the cutter link illustrated in

FIG. 13

;





FIG. 15

is a top plan view of the cutter link shown in

FIG. 13

;





FIG. 16

is a partial side elevation view of a circular saw disk having cutter elements according to the present invention secured to its peripheral edge;





FIG. 17

is a partial side elevation view of a circular saw having cutters formed according to an embodiment of the invention in the peripheral edge of the cutter disk; and





FIG. 18

is a side elevation view of a portion of a hand saw, the blade of which bears cutters with depth gauge portions formed according to an embodiment of the invention.











DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




Referring to the drawings, and first more specifically to

FIG. 1

, at


10


is indicated generally a section of a cutter chain, or cutter device, for use with a chain saw to cut a kerf in a workpiece. The chain includes left- and right-hand cutter links


12


,


14


, center drive links


16


and connector links


18


. All of these links have bores such as that indicated generally at


20


, extending therethrough adjacent opposite ends. Rivets


22


, acting as pivot pins, extend through aligned bores in the links to pivotally interconnect the cutter, drive, and connector links together.




The chain is supported for travel on a guidebar, a portion of which is indicated at


26


, having a groove


28


in which depending tang portions of drive links


16


slidably move. The undersides of the cutter links and connector links ride slidably along supporting guide rails such as that indicated generally at


26




a


, along opposite sides of groove


28


.




The direction in which the chain is driven under power to cut a kerf in a workpiece, such as wood, is indicated generally at


29


. The kerf is indicated generally in dashed line at


30


. As used in describing elements herein forwardly, or front, will mean in the direction of arrow


29


, and rear, or rearwardly, will be in a direction opposite arrow


29


.




Referring to

FIGS. 2-5

, a left-hand cutter link


12


is shown in an enlarged form to illustrate an embodiment of the present invention. The cutter, or cutter link,


12


includes a substantially planar upright body portion


32


having a center plane noted generally at


33


. Opposed face surfaces


32




a


,


32




b


of the body are parallel to each other.




A pair of spaced-apart rivet receiving bores


20


extend through the rear, or heel, region


32




a


and the front, or toe, region


32




b


, respectively. The centers of bores


20


are aligned on a center line


39


which is generally parallel to the guide rails


26




a


on which the chain runs.




As best seen in

FIG. 1

, the underside of toe portion


32




b


in the toe region adjacent the front of a cutter is spaced further from center line


39


than is the underside of the cutter body under the rear bore in heel portion


32




a


. Thus, when the center lines of the rivets are aligned as illustrated in

FIG. 1

, the forward, or toe portions of the cutters will rest on side rail


26




a


, whereas the underside of the heel portion will be spaced a short distance thereabove. This distance preferably is in a range of 0.01 to 0.08 inch. This distance will vary in relation to the size and style of cutter used, however.




The rear end region of the body has a cutter portion


40


thereon. The cutter portion includes a top plate portion


42


and a side plate portion


43


. The top plate portion has a forwardly facing, laterally extending cutting edge


42




a


which joins with a vertically extending side cutting edge


43




a


at the forward edge of side plate portion


43


.




As is best seen in

FIGS. 2 and 4

, side plate portion


43


is deformed to lie in a plane parallel to, but spaced laterally to one side of, center plane


33


of the body portion. The cutter top plate portion


42


is bent-over at substantially a right angle relative to side plate portion


43


and overlies body portion


32


. The top plate cutting edge


42




a


extends transversely of the plane of the body portion and overlies the body portion.




In

FIG. 4

a line


44


has been placed on the figure to denote generally the transition region between body portion


32


and cutter portion


40


. A dimension line


46


denotes a selected spacing at which the top plate cutting edge


42




a


of top plate


42


is spaced above the body portion. Dimension line


47


denotes the horizontal distance to which top plate cutter edge


42


extends laterally to one side of central plane


33


of the cutter and dimension line


48


denotes the horizontal distance to which cutting edge


42




a


extends laterally to the opposite side of plane


33


. The total width of the top plate is the sum of dimensions


47


and


48


.




A depth gauge, or depth gauge portion,


52


is mounted on and extends upwardly from the front end region


32




b


of the body portion. The depth gauge is formed from the same material and is integral, or monolithically-formed, with the body and cutter portion, having generally upwardly extending opposed parallel face surfaces


53


,


55


, and substantially the same thickness throughout as thickness


54


denoted for the body portion


32


in FIG.


4


. The depth gauge extends generally upwardly from body portion


32


and although it is deformed from the plane of body portion


32


, it will be seen that it is not bent over in a substantially normal cantilevered fashion as has been used in bent-over depth gauges as discussed earlier.




The upper surface, or edge,


58


of the depth gauge has a width that extends between the substantially parallel opposite face surfaces of the depth gauge, wherein the width is substantially equal to the thickness


54


of the body portion


32


as shown if

FIG. 3

, and wherein the upper surface


58


progresses substantially continuously upwardly from the forward region of the depth gauge in a convex arcuate curve. The upper, or top, surface of the plate material from which the cutter is formed thus provides the surface for the depth gauge portion which will engage the workpiece during operation.




The depth gauge, although a monolithic whole, will be described herein as having a first, or front, section


52




a


, a second, or rear, section,


52




b


, and an intermediate, or juncture, section


52




c


. As viewed from above in

FIG. 3

, the upper region of first section


52




a


on progressing rearwardly is disposed at an angle A diverging from one side of center plane


33


. Angle A may be in a range of from 2° to 90°. Preferably this angle will be in a range of from 10° to 80°.




Referring still to

FIG. 3

, the upper region of second, or rear, section


52




b


on progressing rearwardly in the depth gauge, is disposed at a second angle B different from the first angle A relative to center plane


33


which may be in a range of from 2° to 90°. Preferably angle B is in a range of from 10° to 80°.




It will be seen in

FIG. 3

that there is a slight curve in the first and second sections as viewed from above. This can assist in reducing frictional contact between the side of the depth gauge and the side wall of the kerf cut. Although a slight curve is shown, it should be understood that such could be substantially straight also.




Sections


52




a


,


52




b


are joined by intermediate, or juncture, section


52




c


. The convex outer surface of juncture section


52




c


defines the greatest distance to which the depth gauge extends to one side of plane


33


. An included angle C is defined between sections


52




a


,


52




b


, which preferably may be in a range of from 4° to 160°.




As is seen in

FIG. 3

, front, or first section


52




a


diverges from plane


33


on progressing rearwardly to extend to one side of plane


33


, and intersects juncture section


52




c


which is farthest to the one side of plane


33


. Rear, or second, section


52




b


progresses rearwardly from juncture section


52




c


converging on plane


33


, and then extends across and beyond plane


33


toward the opposite side of the plane and diverges from the plane on extending rearwardly therefrom. The top surface


58


of the depth gauge extends substantially continuously upwardly until it reaches a region denoted by line


60


from which it may angle somewhat downwardly as illustrated in

FIGS. 4 and 5

. Other embodiments may be formed without this downward inclination adjacent the rear end of the depth gauge.




In

FIG. 4

, a datum line


62


has been provided parallel to center plane


33


and extending directly upwardly from a planar side surface of body portion


32


. This datum line is provided to illustrate that the first section of the depth gauge is bent outwardly from the plane of the body portion at an angle which progressively increases on proceeding rearwardly in the depth gauge to produce divergence of the upper region of the first section from the plane. Explaining further, the forward region of first section


52




a


is disposed generally at a first angle denoted E, whereas on progressing rearwardly to a region adjacent juncture section


52




c


, the angle between datum line


62


(and plane


33


) and the outer surface of first section


52




a


has increased to that illustrated at D which is greater than angle E. Angle E may be in a range of about 1° to 10° and angle D in a range of about 2° to 30°.




The second section, on the other hand, at its forwardmost point joins the juncture section at an angle generally similar to angle D. Then on progressing rearwardly the angle between the second section and the central plane diminishes until the second section converges on plane


33


. After passing the plane


33


the angle of the second section increases.




Referring to

FIGS. 3 and 4

, it will be seen that the lateral deformation of the first and second depth ggauge sections


52




a


,


52




b


respectively, is such that first section


52




a


extends laterally to one side of center plane


33


a distance denoted by dimension line


66


. An outermost side portion of the depth gauge at juncture section


52




c


thus is spaced laterally to one side of the plane of the body which is slightly less than the distance


47


to which top plate cutting edge


42




a


extends toward the side plate cutting edge. In this embodiment rear, or second, depth gauge section


52




b


extends a distance


68


to the opposite side of center plane


33


. This distance


68


is greater than distance


48


to which top plate cutting edge


42




a


extends to that side of plane


33


.




A dimension line


70


denotes the total effective width of the depth gauge which is a combination of dimensions


66


,


68


. Dimension


70


is the effective depth gauge width seen by the material to be cut. This provides the sweep of the depth gauge which is substantially in excess of the thickness


54


of the body


32


. It has been found that it is preferable to have width


70


be at least twice thickness


54


for most effective operation. The width


70


of the depth gauge may be greater than the width (


47


plus


48


) of the cutter and extend beyond dimension


48


. As seen in

FIG. 4

the depth gauge extends farther to one side of the center plane (dimension


68


) than the cutter (dimension


48


).




It has been observed in testing that there is a substantial correlation between the top surface area which a depth gauge presents to the workpiece and the kick-back protection provided. With the present invention, wherein the depth gauge is angled first toward one side and then toward the opposite side in what may be termed a wavy, or rippled, configuration substantially increased top surface area is provided to be presented to the workpiece in operation, over and above that provided in previously known upstanding depth gauges. The substantial increase in top surface area of the depth gauge produces greater control in cutting within the kerf of a workpiece and improves kick-back protection. This increase in surface area is obtained without the structural weakness often associated with cantilever formed, bent-over depth gauges.




Referring again to

FIG. 4

, dimension line


72


denotes the maximum distance, or elevation, to which the depth gauge extends above the body and illustrates that it is less than the elevation of the top plate cutting edge denoted by dimension line


46


. Thus, the selected distance difference


74


between the elevation of the top plate cutting edge and the top of the depth gauge is the effective depth gauge setting for the top plate, and the difference between horizontal dimensions


47


and


66


provides the side plate depth gauge setting for the cutter.




As illustrated in

FIG. 4

, the highest point for the depth gauge in this embodiment is disposed intermediate the opposite ends of top plate cutting edge


42




a


to provide effective depth of cut control.




A plurality of upwardly directed lines, or carrying elements,


76


as seen in

FIGS. 4 and 5

are formed on the inner side surface of the rear section


52




b


. These lines may be formed as depressions or projections from the face surface. Their purpose is to assist in carrying chips from the kerf. Explaining further, chips of material cut from the workpiece by the cutters build up in the somewhat enclosed kerf cut. If these chips are not cleared from the kerf, they can produce an impediment to efficient cutting and depth of cut control. By providing carrying elements, such as lines


76


, which may be either depressed or project outwardly from the face surface of the depth gauge, they can frictionally assist the depth gauge in carrying chips from the kerf.




Formation of such a cutter and depth gauge can be easily performed. A piece of flat metal plate stock having parallel, opposed side surfaces, or faces, conforming generally to the thickness


54


of body section


32


is blanked, or cut-out, to a desired initial shape. The plate section then has appropriate portions deformed to provide the offset between the body section and side plate


43


, with the top plate portion then being bent-over substantially at a right angle relative thereto. During these operations, the bores


20


are formed and the depth gauge sections


52




a


,


52




b


are deformed from the plane of the body section to the configuration illustrated. The depth gauge thus is formed from a plate element having opposed substantially parallel face surfaces. The depth gauge sections extend generally upwardly from the body portion with an upwardly facing upper plate edge, or surface, extending between the face surfaces. The upper surface as viewed from a side of the cutter as in

FIG. 5

, is formed in an arc which progresses substantially continuously upwardly through the first section and into the second section. When viewed from the top, as in

FIG. 3

, the first, or front, section diverges to one side of the central plane of the body portion to the juncture section, and then the second, or rear, section converges at an angle toward the center plane and crosses thereover to extend outwardly to the opposite side of the plane.




The first and second sections are bent relative to each other about a line in the juncture section which extends substantially upwardly from the body section.




The cutter thus described is of a hooded style having the bent-over cutter top plate with laterally extending and upright cutting edges


42




a


,


43




a


positioned on the rear portion of the cutter as noted.




The leading depth gauge portion as viewed from the front as shown in

FIG. 4

presents to the kerf an effective depth gauge which is substantially wider than the thickness of the material from which the cutter is formed, and in this case at least twice the thickness, and has increased top surface area.




As seen in

FIG. 5

, the top surface


58


of the forward section of the depth gauge is substantially continuously angled upwardly progressing in a smooth arc from the first section into the second section of the depth gauge. The manner in which the first section angles outwardly to one side of the cutter provides a smooth transition to the furthest outside edge at the convex curvature of the juncture section


52




c


to provide a side cutting depth gauge setting which is the difference between dimensions


47


and


66


as noted in FIG.


4


. As the second section of the depth gauge, on progressing rearwardly, converges toward and then passes the center plane of the cutter body it provides an upper depth gauge portion at the region of line


60


which is intermediate the opposite ends of transverse cutting edge


42




a


to provide an effective depth gauge setting noted by dimension


74


.




Reference is now made to the embodiment illustrated in

FIGS. 6 and 7

. In this embodiment of the invention, each cutter link


80


in the cutter chain, or cutter device, has a cutter portion


40


with a bent-over top plate


42


and an upstanding side plate


43


having sharpened leading edges


42




a


,


43




a


, respectively. Bores


20


at the front and rear sections of the cutter provide receiving apertures for rivets


22


to connect the cutter link to adjacent links in the chain.




The forward portion of cutter link


80


does not have a depth gauge thereon. The top of the forward portion of cutter link


80


, noted at


80




a


in dashed line is substantially the top of the main body portion.




Connected to the forward portion of cutter link


80


is a center drive link


84


. The center drive link has a substantially planar main body portion


86


with a depending tang


86




a


which rides in bar groove


26


and may be engaged by a drive sprocket of a chain saw power head. It also has bores adjacent its forward and rearward ends to receive connecting rivets


22


.




In this embodiment, depth gauge portion


90


is mounted on the center drive link


84


and extends upwardly from main body portion


86


. The depth gauge portion includes a first, or front, section


90




a


, and a second, or rear, section


90




b


. These are joined by a juncture section


90




c


, best seen in the top view of FIG.


7


.




As in the embodiment discussed in regard to

FIGS. 1-5

, the top surface of the front section


90




a


extends substantially continuously upwardly from the main body portion in a convex curve as it progresses rearwardly in the link to join with the second section


90




b


. The first section diverges from central plane


92


of the link at an angle A in a range of 2° to 90°, and more preferably in a range of 10° to 80°. From juncture section


90




c


which is formed in a convex outer curve, the second, or rear, section


90




b


extends rearwardly at an angle denoted generally at B to converge toward plane


92


. Angle B may be in a range of 2° to 90°, and more preferably in a range of 10° to 80°.




In this embodiment, the outer side surface of juncture section


90




c


must be displaced somewhat further from plane


92


than in the embodiment illustrated in

FIGS. 1-5

to provide adequate side plate depth cut control. However, this means merely that the plate element from which the center drive link is formed need merely be deformed more than that shown in the previously described embodiment.




The formation and operation of the depth gauge


90


on center drive link


84


is substantially similar to that on the embodiment illustrated in

FIGS. 1-5

. Explaining further, the depth gauge leads the cutter


40


and provides a depth gauge which ramps substantially continuously upwardly from the main body portion of link


84


to provide a depth gauge, as seen by the kerf cut in the workpiece which is substantially greater in width than the thickness of the material from which it is formed. It also provides an uppermost, or top, depth gauge surface which is intermediate the side-to-side dimensions of the hooded top plate on the cutter and provides good side plate cutting depth gauge control at juncture section


90




c.







FIGS. 8 and 8A

are top plan views of cutters somewhat similar to that illustrated in FIG.


3


. In

FIG. 8

a cutter link


96


has a main body with a central plane denoted generally at


97


. The link includes a cutter portion


98


mounted at the rear end thereof, and a depth gauge portion


100


mounted at the forward end thereof. As seen from above, the forward, or first, section,


100




a


is bent outwardly from the plane


97


of the body to diverge therefrom in the direction of the side plate cutter portion of the trailing cutter


98


. As will be recalled, the depth gauge portions


52




a


,


52




b


of the cutter illustrated in

FIG. 3

had a slight curvature thereto. The first section


100




a


and second section


100




b


of the depth gauge shown in

FIG. 8

, on the other hand, have substantially straight sides as viewed at their top surfaces. Again, juncture section


100




c


between sections


100




a


,


100




b


provides a convexly curved outer side surface which is the point at which the depth gauge extends furthest to one side of plane


97


.




Referring to

FIG. 8A

, a cutter


104


, somewhat similar to that previously described at


96


is illustrated. However, in this embodiment the depth gauge


106


has a first section


106




a


which diverges on progressing rearwardly from central plane


108


away from the side plate cutting edge


104




a


of the cutter, as opposed to toward the side plate cutting edge, as in the previously described embodiments. First section


106




a


proceeds rearwardly to a juncture section


106




c


from which rear section


106




b


then converges toward plane


108


, to cross plane


108


to its end terminus point


106




d


. The end point


106




d


stops short of the lateral position of side cutting edge


104




a


by a distance denoted


107


, to provide a side plate depth setting.




In

FIGS. 9-12

, a cutter


112


constructed according to another embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The main body portion


114


again has a substantially central plane denoted at


116


. A rear-mounted cutter portion


118


has a laterally extending top plate cutting edge


118




a


and an upright side plate cutting edge


118




b


. A forwardly-mounted depth gauge portion


120


extends generally upwardly from main body


114


and is deformed laterally to one side of plane


116


. Although the depth gauge could be deformed to either side of the plane (as is indicated by the reverse designs shown in

FIGS. 8 and 8



a


) in this instance it is shown deformed to the side of the cutter away from side cutting edge


118




b.






The first, or forward, section


120




a


extends generally upwardly from main body section


114


. The first section has a forwardmost portion which lies in the plane of body


114


. On progressing rearwardly from this forwardmost portion an upper portion of the first section diverges from plane


116


at an angle indicated generally at A.




Second, or rear, section


120




b


converges toward plane


116


at an angle indicated generally at B. Sections


120




a


and


120




b


are interconnected by a juncture section


120




c


. Second section


120




b


extends across plane


116


to a terminal end portion


120




d


. This terminal end


120




d


is spaced a distance


122


from side plate cutting edge


118




b


to provide a side plate depth gauge setting. Again, the upper surface, or edge,


123


of the depth gauge as shown in

FIG. 10

presents a depth gauge sweep in the kerf which is substantially wider than the thickness of the material from which it is formed and is a short distance below top plate cutting edge


118




a


to provide a top plate depth gauge control setting. Further, as shown in

FIG. 11

surface


123


is formed in a substantially arcuate configuration extending upwardly on progressing rearwardly in the depth gauge.




In the embodiment illustrated in

FIGS. 9-12

, and as more clearly shown in

FIG. 9

, the angle at which the diverging portion of the front section


120




a


is disposed relative to plane


116


is greater than that illustrated for prior embodiments. As shown here, angle A is approximately 70° but could approach 90°. Further, since section


120




a


is disposed at a greater angle relative to plane


116


this shifts junction section


120




c


further forward in the cutter, and thus farther away from cutting edge


118




a


which can improve the cutting performance of the device.




Referring to

FIG. 10A

, a front view of a cutter somewhat similar to

FIG. 10

, is illustrated with similar portions of the cutter given like numbers. However, here the upper surface of the depth gauge is deformed to one side in what may be termed a mechanical wiping, rolling, or swaging, operation to produce a wider flared top surface with greater surface area to engage the workpiece.




Explaining further, the depth gauge portion indicated at


126


has forward, rearward and junction sections


126




a


,


126




b


,


126




c


, respectively.




The difference here is that during the manufacturing process, as the major portion of the depth gauge is being deformed laterally of plane


116


, a further deformation of the upper surface may be produced by a wiping action of a hardened tool pressed against and moved laterally across the upper surface


130


in a direction perpendicular to plane


116


and to the left in FIG.


10


A. This wiping action further deforms the upper surface


130


of the depth gauge in the region of juncture


126




c


, to produce a flared portion which is wider than body material


114


. This forming process results in greater top surface area for the depth gauge to provide additional advantages as set out above that result from increased top surface area.




As indicated above, a flared upper surface for the depth gauge could be produced by other production methods also, such as by rolling or swaging.





FIGS. 13

,


14


, and


15


illustrate another embodiment of the invention. Here again, a cutter


140


has a substantially planar body section


142


with a central plane


144


. The depth gauge portion


146


has forward and rearward sections


146




a


,


146




b


respectively, with an upper surface


150


. The depth gauge is substantially conoid in configuration. The major portions of first and second sections


146




a


,


146




b


are deformed in a substantially conical configuration about a substantially upright central axis


152


which extends upwardly from main body


142


. The upper surfaces in the region of juncture section


146




c


are formed at a radius noted R


1


.




The forward portion of section


146




a


may be deformed in a somewhat conical form about another axis


154


which is at a low angle relative to the horizontal.




Although the invention has been described thus far in the form of cutter links and center drive links for saw chain, it should be understood that a depth gauge thus formed could be provided on tie straps as well as cutter and drive links in a cutting chain. Further, although the embodiments shown and described herein illustrate, as in

FIG. 9

, a first bend of the forward section outwardly and away from the plane of the body, and a second bend at the juncture section, so that the second section converges toward the plane of the body, it should be recognized that additional bends may be provided to produce a more rippled, or wavy, design without departing from the spirit of the invention.




Various additional uses of cutters and depth gauges according to embodiments of the invention are illustrated in

FIGS. 16-18

. Here, the cutters and depth gauges are not mounted on a cutter chain for a chain saw. Instead, in

FIG. 16

, a circular saw disk


160


has left and right hand cutters


162


,


164


secured thereto by rivets


166


. These cutters may have any of the configurations illustrated and described herein or as covered by a following claim.





FIG. 17

illustrates that a saw disk


170


may have formed on the periphery thereof (rather than merely being attached thereto) a plurality of cutters


172


which are led by depth gauge portions


174


. Again, these may be formed as described in any of the previously discussed embodiments or any that are covered by the appended claims.




Finally,

FIG. 18

illustrates a hand saw


180


, having a blade


182


with cutters


184


which are led by depth gauges


186


according to the present invention.




While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it should be obvious to those skilled in the art that variations, modifications, and added uses are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention as set out in the appended claims.



Claims
  • 1. In a cutter device having a sharpened cutting edge, the improvement comprising a depth gauge leading said cutting edge for limiting depth of cut of said cutting edge, said depth gauge in an upright position comprising a body portion having a defined thickness and a substantially upright central plane, a first section which projects upwardly from said body portion and a second section rearwardly of said first section, said first and second sections providing an upwardly facing work-engaging upper surface having a generally constant width substantially equal to the thickness of said body portion, wherein in said first section said upper surface is disposed at a first angle greater than 2 degrees relative to said plane, and in said second section said upper surface is disposed at a second angle greater than 2 degrees relative to said plane, and on progressing rearwardly said first section upper surface diverges from said plane, joins with said second section upper surface and said second section upper surface converges toward said plane, said first and second section upper surfaces being formed such that on progressing rearwardly they progress substantially upwardly through said first section and into said second section.
  • 2. The cutter device of claim 1, wherein said first and second sections are joined by an intermediate juncture section disposed to one side of said plane and a portion of said juncture section defines the greatest distance to which said depth gauge extends to said one side of the plane.
  • 3. The cutter device of claim 2, wherein an outer surface of said juncture section facing away from said plane is formed in a convex curve.
  • 4. The cutter device of claim 1, wherein said second section intersects said plane.
  • 5. The cutter device of claim 1, wherein said first angle at which the first section diverges from said plane is in a range of from 2° to 90°.
  • 6. The cutter device of claim 1, wherein said first angle at which the first section diverges from said plane is in a range of from 10° to 80°.
  • 7. The cutter device of claim 1, wherein the second angle at which the second section converges toward said plane is in a range of from 2° to 90°.
  • 8. The cutter device of claim 1, wherein the second angle at which the second section converges toward said plane is in a range of from 10° to 80°.
  • 9. The cutter device of claim 1, wherein said first and second sections are bent relative to each other about a line that extends upwardly from said body.
  • 10. The cutter device of claim 1, wherein said first and second sections are substantially conoid, each having a central axis which extends upwardly from said body.
  • 11. The cutter device of claim 1, wherein said first section upper surface has a forwardmost portion occupying said plane, and diverges from said plane on proceeding rearwardly to a first position disposed laterally to one side of said plane, said second section upper surface on proceeding rearwardly converges on said plane from said one side and crosses said plane to a second position at the opposite side of said plane.
  • 12. The cutter device of claim 1, wherein said first and second sections define an included angle therebetween in a range of about 4° to 160°.
  • 13. The cutter device of claim 12, in which said first and second sections have face surfaces at the inner side of said included angle and at least one of said faces has a plurality of carrying elements formed thereon to assist in moving chips cut from a workpiece along the kerf.
  • 14. The cutter device of claim 13, wherein said carrying elements comprise depressed lines formed into said face extending generally upwardly in said face.
  • 15. The cutter device of claim 13, wherein said carrying elements comprise spaced projections extending outwardly from said face.
  • 16. The cutter device of claim 1, which is formed from a plate element having opposed substantially parallel face surfaces extending generally upwardly from said body portion with an upwardly facing work-engaging upper surfaces extending between said face surfaces, said upper surfaces as viewed from a side of said depth gauge being formed in an arc which progresses substantially continuously upwardly through said first section and into said second section.
  • 17. The cutter device of claim 16, wherein the upper surfaces extend transversely of said central plane to produce an effective depth gauge width as viewed from the front of the depth gauge which is at least twice the distance between said face surfaces.
  • 18. The cutter device of claim 1, which has opposed substantially parallel face surfaces and an upwardly facing surface extending therebetween defining said work-engaging upper surface and said first and second sections are joined by an intermediate juncture section, a portion of which juncture section defines the greatest distance to which said first section extends to said one side of said plane, and the upwardly facing surface in the region of said juncture section is further deformed to said one side of said plane by a compressional wiping action imposed thereon in the forming process to extend such surface portion beyond remainder portions to said one side of the plane.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/812,742, filed Mar. 6, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,058,825, which is incorporated herein by reference.

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Continuations (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 08/812742 Mar 1997 US
Child 09/561446 US