Patent Application
20140216228
The present subject matter relates generally to mechanisms and assemblies for supporting tools in elevated positions.
Overhead construction work is increasingly common, especially in the growing field of infrastructure repair and rehabilitation. Specific overhead tasks can include cutting grooves, grinding surfaces, needle scaling, sand blasting, drilling holes, etc. Generally, such overhead tasks are done manually.
Manually completing such tasks can be difficult and have certain drawbacks. For example, a worker can be required to lift a heavy tool into an overhead position. This can require significant strength to not only support the tool but also control the tool during use. Further, certain overhead tasks require significant time to complete. Thus, the worker can be required to support the tool in the overhead position for extended periods of time. Supporting the tool in the overhead position can also require the worker to assume an un-ergonomic position for extended periods of time.
When a worker is operating a tool while holding it in the overhead position, dust and debris created by operation of the tool can negatively affect the worker's performance, especially while having to support and guide the tool in an overhead position. The tool can also vibrate significantly while operating—further increasing the difficulty and potentially the worker's performance.
Accordingly, an assembly for supporting tools in an overhead position would be useful. In particular, an assembly for supporting tools in an overhead position and guiding motion of the tools in the overhead position would be useful.
The present subject matter provides a tool support assembly for working on a surface. The tool support assembly includes a track and a carriage movably mounted on the track. A connector link extends between and couples a tool to the carriage. The tool support assembly also includes a biasing mechanism for urging the tool towards the surface. Additional aspects and advantages of the subject matter will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice of the subject matter.
In a first exemplary embodiment, a tool support assembly for overhead work on a surface is provided. The tool support assembly defines a vertical direction, a longitudinal direction, and a transverse direction. The vertical, longitudinal, and transverse directions are mutually perpendicular. The tool support assembly includes a track that extends along the longitudinal direction. A carriage is mounted to the track such that the carriage is movable along the longitudinal direction on the track. The tool support assembly also includes a tool with a surface engagement feature. A connector link extends between and couples the carriage and the tool together such that the tool is pivotable relative to the carriage and the tool follows the carriage when the carriage moves along the longitudinal direction on the track. A biasing mechanism is mounted to at least one of the carriage and the tool. The biasing mechanism is configured for urging the surface engagement feature of the tool upwardly against the surface.
In additional exemplary embodiments, the tool may include a blade that is rotatable about an axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The blade of the tool may have a plurality of cutting teeth, and at least one of the plurality of cutting teeth may be positioned above the surface engagement feature of the tool by a height along the vertical direction. In addition, the biasing mechanism may have a length of travel along the vertical direction. The length of travel of the biasing mechanism may be greater than the height of the at least one of the plurality of cutting teeth.
In other exemplary embodiments, the biasing mechanism may include a spring or an air bladder, and the tool may include a circular saw or a scarifier. Further, the surface engagement feature of the tool may include a pair of rollers spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction. Also, the carriage may include a pair of bearing blocks spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction. The bearing blocks may be slidably mounted to the track. Optionally, the bearing blocks may be augmented with hard rollers to transmit the vertical load.
In further exemplary embodiments, the connector link may extend between a proximal end portion rotatably mounted to the carriage and a distal end portion rotatably mounted to the tool. The proximal end portion of the connector link may be spaced apart from the distal end portion of the connector link along the longitudinal direction. Further, the proximal end portion of the connector link may be positioned above the distal end portion of the connector link along the vertical direction.
In a second exemplary embodiment, a tool support assembly for overhead work is provided. The tool support assembly defines a vertical direction and longitudinal direction. The longitudinal direction is perpendicular to the vertical direction. The tool support assembly includes a track that extends along the longitudinal direction between a first end portion and a second end portion. A carriage is mounted to the track such that the carriage is movable along the longitudinal direction between the first end portion of the track and the second end portion of the track. A connector link extends between a proximal end portion and a distal end portion. The connector link is mounted to the carriage at the proximal end portion of the connector link. A tool is pivotally mounted to the carriage with the connector link. The connector link is attached to the tool at the distal end portion of the connector link. A biasing mechanism extends between the carriage and the tool. The biasing mechanism is configured for urging the tool upwardly along the vertical direction.
In additional exemplary embodiments, the biasing mechanism may include at least one of a spring and an air bladder, and the tool may include a circular saw or a scarifier.
In other exemplary embodiments, the tool may have a surface engagement feature and a material removal device. The biasing member may urge the tool upwardly along the vertical direction such that the surface engagement feature of the tool is in contact with a surface to be cut by the material removal device of the tool. In addition, the surface engagement feature of the tool may include a pair of rollers spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction, and the material removal device of the tool may include a blade that is rotatable about an axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Further, a portion of the material removal device of the tool may be positioned above the surface engagement feature of the tool along the vertical direction. The portion of the material removal device may have a height along the vertical direction. Also, the biasing mechanism may have a length of travel along the vertical direction. The length of travel of the biasing mechanism may be greater than the height of the portion of the material removal device.
In further exemplary embodiments, the proximal end portion of the connector link is rotatably mounted to the carriage and the distal end portion of the connector link is rotatably mounted to the tool. In addition, the proximal end portion of the connector link may be positioned above the distal end portion of the connector link along the vertical direction. Also, the distal end portion and the proximal end portion of the connector link may be spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present subject matter will become better understood with reference to the following description. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the subject matter and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the subject matter.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present subject matter, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures.
Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the subject matter, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the subject matter, not limitation of the subject matter. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present subject matter without departing from the scope or spirit of the subject matter. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present subject matter covers such modifications and variations.
Tool support assembly 100 includes a plurality of vertical posts 102. Vertical posts 102 can rest on a lower surface, such as a floor, deck, or the ground, in order to support other components of tool support assembly 100. Vertical posts 102 may also be pressed against the ceiling 106 by an adjustable mechanism such as a shoring jack for added stability. Cross posts 104 extend between and connect or couple pairs of vertical posts 102, e.g., along the transverse direction T. Cross posts 104 are mounted to vertical posts 102 such that vertical positions of cross posts 104 are selectively adjustable. Thus, a user can selectively position cross posts 104 on vertical posts 102, e.g., along the vertical direction V.
Vertical posts 102 and cross posts 104 can be constructed from any suitable material. In the exemplary embodiment shown in
Track 110 is mounted to cross posts 104. Track 110 extends along the longitudinal direction L, e.g., between cross posts 104. In particular, track 110 extends between a first end portion 112 and a second end portion 114 along the longitudinal direction L. First and second end portions 112 and 114 of track 110 are, e.g., linearly, spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction L.
First and second end portions 112 and 114 of track 110 can be spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction L by any suitable distance. For example, first and second end portions 112 and 114 of track 110 may be spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction L, by more than about four feet, more than about six feet, more than about ten feet, or more than about four feet and less than about twenty feet. Track 110 can be constructed from any suitable material. As an example, track 110 may be constructed from aluminum, such as aluminum 80/20 Inc. or Wood rail.
Carriage 120 is, e.g., slidably, mounted to track 110. In particular, carriage 120 is mounted to track 110 such that carriage 120 is movable along the longitudinal direction L on track 110. Carriage 120 may slide on track 110 between about first end portion 112 of track 110 and about second end portion 114 of track 110.
As may be seen in
Carriage 120 also includes a pair of bearing blocks 122 for, e.g., slidably, mounting carriage 120 to rail 110 (
Handles 132 of carriage 120 are also mounted to plate 124, e.g., at bottom surface 128 of plate 124. Handles 132 are configured for assisting a user of tool support assembly 100 with moving carriage 120, e.g., along the longitudinal direction L, as discussed in greater detail below. Carriage 120 further includes a post 130. Post 130 of carriage 120 is mounted to plate 124, e.g., at top surface 126 of plate 124. Post 130 of carriage 120 extends away from top surface 126 of plate 124, e.g., along the vertical direction V. Thus, a distal end portion 131 of post 130 is spaced apart from plate 124, e.g., along the vertical direction V.
Tool support assembly 100 also includes a tool 150, e.g., pivotally, mounted to carriage 120 with a connector link 140. Thus, connector link 140 extends between and couples carriage 120 and tool 150 together. In particular, connector link 140 couples carriage 120 to tool 150 such that tool 150 is pivotable relative to carriage 120, e.g., in a vertical plane that is perpendicular to the transverse direction T. Connector link 140 also connects carriage 120 to tool 150 such that tool 150 follows carriage 120 when carriage 120 moves along the longitudinal direction L on track 110.
Connector link 140 extends between a proximal end portion 142 and a distal end portion 144. Proximal and distal end portions 142 and 144 of connector link 140 are spaced apart from each other, e.g., along the longitudinal direction L. Proximal end portion 142 of connector link 140 is, e.g., rotatably, mounted to carriage 120. In particular, proximal end portion 142 of connector link 140 is rotatably mounted to post 130 of carriage 120 at distal end portion 131 of post 130. Conversely, distal end portion 144 of connector link 140 is, e.g., rotatably, mounted to tool 150.
Tool support assembly 100 further includes a biasing mechanism 170 configured for urging tool 150 upwardly along the vertical direction V. As may be seen in
Biasing mechanism 170 can be any suitable mechanism for lifting tool 150 upwardly, e.g., along the vertical direction V. For example, biasing mechanism 170 may be an air bladder 172 as shown in the exemplary embodiment of
In the exemplary embodiment shown in
For this exemplary embodiment, tool 150 includes a material removal device 156, such as a blade, grinding wheel, wire brush, drill bit, etc. Material removal device 156 is rotatable about an axis, e.g., that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L. Tool 150 also has a surface engagement feature 152. Surface engagement feature 152 can assist with properly positioning tool 150, e.g., in the vertical direction V. In particular, biasing mechanism 170 can urge surface engagement feature 152 of tool 150 upwardly against a surface (e.g., a ceiling or wall), and surface engagement feature 152 can ride, roll, or slide along the surface as carriage 120 moves along the longitudinal direction L. In such a manner, surface engagement feature 152 can assist with proper positioning of material removal device 156 and, e.g., hinder excessive cutting by material removal device 156.
Surface engagement feature 152 can be any suitable mechanism for assisting with such positioning. For example, in the exemplary embodiment shown in
As discussed above, tool support assembly 100 is configured assisting overhead work on a surface, such as ceiling 106. As an example, tool support assembly 100 can be utilized to support and guide tool 150 as material removal device 156 of tool 150 cuts a slot or channel in ceiling 106. To cut such slot or channel, vertical and cross posts 102 and 104 are first positioned beneath ceiling 106 and track 110 is supported on and mounted to cross posts 104. Optionally, the vertical posts 102 are pressed firmly against the ceiling 106 by a variable length mechanism such as a shoring jack. Further, cross posts 104 may be adjusted or moved on vertical posts 102 in order to position track 110 at a suitable distance beneath ceiling 106. Carriage 120 is then mounted to track 110 such that carriage 120 can slide or move on track 110 as discussed above.
Tool 150 can require electricity to operate. Similarly, air bladder 172 can require compressed air to operate. Tool 150 can also include a dust collection system 162. Thus, with track 110 and carriage 120 properly positioned, regulator 174 of air bladder 172 can be connected to an air compressor (not shown), dust collection system 162 can be connected to a vacuum (not shown), and tool 150 can be connected to a power supply (not shown), such as a generator or power outlet. With tool support assembly 100 assembled, tool support assembly 100 may be adjusted in order to properly position material removal device 156 of tool 150 for cutting the slot on ceiling 106.
To begin cutting the slot, tool 150 is activated, e.g., such that material removal device 156 is rotating and ready to remove material from ceiling 106. Biasing mechanism 170 is then activated to urge tool 150 upwardly. As may be seen in
To cut the slot in ceiling 106, carriage 120 is moved along the longitudinal direction L on track 110 as shown in
With the cutting of the slot in ceiling 106 complete, carriage 120 is positioned as shown in
Turning back to
Material removal device 156 also includes a peak 160 that corresponds to a vertically highest point of material removal device 156. Peak 160 of material removal device 156 can be spaced apart from surface engagement feature 152 of tool 150, e.g., along the vertical direction V. In particular, peak 160 of material removal device 156 and surface engagement feature 152 of tool 150 can be spaced apart by a height H. Height H can correspond to a depth of cuts made by material removal device 156 during operation of tool 150. In certain exemplary embodiments, at least one of cutting teeth 158 can be positioned at peak 160 and be positioned above surface engagement feature 152 of tool 150 by the height H, e.g., along the vertical direction V.
Turning back to
In one embodiment, as may be seen in
As one can see from
In additional exemplary embodiments, track 110 can be constructed form multiple components spliced together to form track 110. In such a manner, track 110 can be constructed with any suitable length along the longitudinal direction L. For example, splicing sufficient components together to form track 110 can permit very long cuts or other operations on a surface, such as ceiling 106. For very long cuts, additionally intermediate supports 102 may be used.
It should be understood that tool support assembly 100 can be used to support tool 150 during cutting surfaces other than ceiling 106. Thus, in other exemplary embodiments, tool support assembly 100 can be configured for supporting tool 150 while tool 150 is used on any suitable vertically or horizontally oriented surface. For example, track 110 may be vertically oriented to cut slots in vertically oriented walls, columns, or sides of beams.
It should also be understood that tool support assembly 100 can be supported on any suitable surface or structure. For example, tool support assembly 100 can rest on a lower surface, such as a floor or deck, as discussed above. In alternative exemplary embodiments, tool support assembly 100 may be mounted to an adjacent structure, or tool support assembly 100 may be attached or mounted to a structure that is being cut by tool 150, e.g., ceiling 106 (or column or wall).
In one embodiment, the tool may also be moved in the traverse and the longitudinal directions simultaneously to create a diagonal, sinusoidal, or other non-linear cuts.
This written description uses examples to disclose the presently disclosed subject matter, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the presently disclosed subject matter, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. While the presently disclosed subject matter has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing may readily adapt the present technology for alterations or additions to, variations of, and/or equivalents to such embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is by way of example rather than by way of limitation, and the subject disclosure does not preclude inclusion of such modifications, variations, and/or additions to the presently disclosed subject matter as would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61759481 | Feb 2013 | US |
