BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a visual indicator for a rotating tool shown installed on a spindle in association with an exemplary stack of cutting elements and a fastener.
FIG. 2 is a static top plan view of the indicator with a breakaway showing a diagrammatic rendering of the opposite side to show that both sides may include markings.
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the indicator and held in place on a spindle by a fastener and diagrammatically illustrating motion for the warning indicia resulting in the appearance of an annular band of color.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As required, detailed embodiments are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.
Referring now to the drawing figures, the reference numeral 1 refers to an embodiment of a visual indicator for a rotating tool, which is depicted in FIG. 1 in association with a spindle 2, a cutting element 3 and a variety of spacers 4. The spindle 2 projects outwardly from a tool [not shown] which may be power operated, or it may be manually operable to cause high speed rotation of the spindle 2 for rotation of the cutting element and spacers 3 and 4. The spindle includes an end positioned in outboard relation to the tool and equipped with threads 5 for receiving a threaded fastener 6, such as a nut or cap.
As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the indicator may be configured in the form of a disc 1, that also serves as a tool cover or guard. The illustrated tool cover disc 1 includes a first surface 10 and an opposite second surface 11 and a central aperture 12 for securing the cover 1 to a the spindle 2. As illustrated, the surfaces 10 and 11 are generally circular and planar. The indicator 1 may also be configured to have an alternate symmetrical planar shape, a solid shape such as a cylinder, sphere, or any other suitable shape having a central aperture 12. It is foreseen that instead of the threaded fastener 6, the disc 1 could be provided with a collar and a set screw (not shown) to retain the disc 1 in place on the spindle 2. It is also foreseen that the aperture 12 could have a non-rounded configuration to conform to a similarly shaped spindle 2 (not shown). The indicator 1 has an outer perimeter margin 13, which does not present sharp angles that could cause injury to a user if encountered during rotation. However, the margin 13 need not be circular and could have a crenated, scalloped, fluted, milled, serpentine or any other suitable configuration.
The tool cover 1 is preferably sized to have a diameter somewhat larger than the adjacent cutting element 3, so that it serves as a guard or shield to prevent direct contact with the cutting element. At least one of surfaces 10 and 11 of the disc 1 includes an indicator mark 14. As illustrated, the disc 1 includes radial pattern of indicator marks or indicia 14 separated by a pattern of spaces 15. The pattern may extend inwardly from the outer perimeter 13 of the disc 1 and stop short of the aperture 12, as depicted in FIGS. 1-3, or it may also extend from the perimeter to the aperture 12, like the spokes of a wheel. The indicia 14 need not be identical, and may also form a secondary pattern in addition to the pattern formed by the indicia 14 and spaces 15. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that in rotating tools, the indicia 14 could also be applied directly to the cutting element 3 or to the spindle 2. Similarly, in certain other reciprocating high speed tools such as band saws, the indicia 14 could be applied to the saw blade (not shown) to show linear motion when the tool is in use.
The indicia 14 may comprise a textured element on the surfaces 10 and 11 of the disc 1, that is formed into the surfaces as by molding, stamping, knurling, etching, scoring, machining, swaging or the like. The indicia 14 may also be applied to the surface of the disc 1 by coating, such as by anodizing, painting or staining. Or the indicia 14 may be applied to the surface as a laminate or a single layer, such as a decal, label or sticker. An applied layer may be constructed of synthetic resin material, paper, fabric or any other material that is held in place by means of an adhesive substance. The indicia 14 may also include combinations of formed or applied compositions, such as, for example, stamping with an applied color coating. The indicia 14 may be brightly colored, glossy, sparkled, prismatic or otherwise textured for reflection of light, or any combination thereof so as to be easily distinguishable by a worker from the spaces 15. In addition, the indicia 14 need not all be identical. For example, all of the indicia 14 may be stamped, and there may be a repeating pattern of overlaid color and texture. The indicia 14 in FIGS. 1-3 are depicted using the standard symbol for orange, although any bright color may be used, such as, for example red, yellow, blue, pink or safety orange or combinations thereof.
As shown in FIG. 1, a tool cover warning disc 1 is installed on the outboard end of a spindle 2 of a rotating tool (not shown). A series of cutting elements 3 are preselected to achieve the desired surface configuration in the material to be processed. The cutting elements 3 are generally mounted on the spindle 2 with spacers 4 in between to provide clearance or desired positioning of the cutter during rotation. Other elements such as rub collars and shims may also be installed to form a desired cutting stack. A warning disc 1 is preselected to have a diameter that exceeds or is greater than that of the largest cutting element 3. The disc 1 is installed on the spindle 2 outboard of the cutting elements 3. The fastener 6 is installed outboard of the disc 1 and engages the threads 5 of the spindle 2 to secure the disc 1 in place during rotation of the spindle 2.
It is also foreseen that a disc 1 may be mounted on either side of one or more of the cutting elements 3. This is especially applicable where the cutting element 3 is mounted on a lateral spindle, such as in a lathe. Additionally, application of the indicia 14 on both surfaces 10 and 11 of the disc 1 makes the disc reversible so that the disc 1 may be positioned on the spindle 2 with either surface 10 or 11 facing in the outboard direction.
In use, the warning disc 1 and its pattern of indicia 14 and spaces 15 rotate along with the spindle 2 and cutting elements 3 when the tool is operated. As diagrammatically shown in FIG. 3, the high speed of rotation makes the indicia 14 appear to merge together so that the spaces 15 are not visible to the human eye. The disc 1 thus forms a single, brightly colored visual impression to an observer. Where the indicia 14 extend inwardly from the perimeter of the disc 1 but do not approach the aperture 12, they will appear to form a single band or stripe around the edge of the disc 1. Sets of radially spaced markings can be applied to form multiple bands or stripes when the disc is rotated. Where the indicia 14 extend from the perimeter to the aperture 12, they will appear to cover the entire surface of the disc 1. In this manner, the indicia 14 provide a visible warning signal that the tool is in use. In addition, because the disc 1 extends radially outwardly from the spindle 2 for a greater distance than the cutting elements 3, the disc 1 serves as a physical barrier or guard against contact by a worker with the cutting elements 3 from the spindle end. Advantageously, the disc 1 also serves to deflect chips from the workpiece away from the spindle end.
When the tool is not in use and the spindle 2 is at rest (FIG. 2), an observer is able to distinguish the pattern of indicia 14 and spaces 15. The observer can verify that the tool is not in operation by noting the visibility of the pattern and the spaces 15. It is also foreseen that the indicia 14 may be positioned on a linearly moving or reciprocating tool or machine element to form a visually discernable image when the element is moving.
It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts described and shown.
Patent Application
20080053364
