US2719553A - Portable power plane - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 4, 1955 w. R. BALLARD PORTABLE POWER PLANE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 22, 1951 William R Ballard JNVENTOR.

9 BY Wm Aflomejs Get. 4, 1955 w R BALLARD 2,719,553

PORTABLE POWER PLANE Filed May 22, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 William R. Ballard INVENTOR.

BY all/Fun; 19%

Fig. 2

Oct. 4, 1955 w. R. BALLARD 2,719,553

PORTABLE POWER PLANE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 22, 1951 Fig. 8 I

William R. Ballard IN VEN TOR.

BY MM 3% Oct. 4, 1955 w, BALLARD 2,719,553

PORTABLE POWER PLANE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 22, 1951 /4a/ Fig. /2 280 276 286 A 274 272 gm ID 492 Fig. /4

Wi/liam R. Ba/lara' IN VEN TOR.

BY Q /11% United States Patent Ofi ice 2,719,553 Patented Oct. 4, 1955 PORTABLE POWER PLANE William R. Ballard, Kansas City, Mo., assignor of onehalf to Lillie Ballard and one-half to Doris Jean Bailard, Kansas City, Mo.

Application May 22, 1951, Serial No. 227,710

6 Claims. (Cl. 145-4) This invention relates to an improved power tool.

An object of this invention is to provide a portable plane of improved construction, the plane including a base with sides rising, therefrom, the sides supporting the pivotal connection for a motor support which is located above the base plate, the motor support also constituting a means of retaining a cutter holder, the cutter holder having a means associated therewith which is connected to the motor for operation and also a means of pivotally adjusting the support whereby upon manual operation of a convenient handle the holder and cutter support may be raised and lowered so as to project or retract a selected amount of the cutters located on the cutter holder through the cutter receiving opening in the base plate.

Ancillary objects and features of importance will become apparent in following the description of the illustrated forms of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of the device;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the device in Figure 1 as viewed from above;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the structure of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on a line 44' of Figure 3 and in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on a line 6-6 of Figure 4 and in the direction of the arrows;

' Figure 7 is an elevational view of the improved handle and switch, portions being broken away in section to illustrate internal detail;

Figure 8 is a top view of a modified form of the invention, parts being broken away in section to illustrate internal detail;

Figure 9 is a top view of another modification with portions being broken away to illustrate internal detail;

Figure 10 is an exploded perspective view of a' cutting tool and its holder employed in the embodiment disclosed in Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a plan view of the invention in modified formand with the casing broken away for the convenience of explanation;

Figure 12 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 12- 12 of Fig- Inc 11;

Figure 13 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 13-13 of Figure 11; and,

Figure 14 is a plan view of the invention in further modified form and showing the casing broken away for the convenience of explanation.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated a portable planing tool 19 which includes a base inthe form of a casing 12. This base includes a base plate 14 which is provided with a cutter receiving opening 16 intermediate the front and rear ends thereof. Vertical sides 18 and 20 respectively are fixed to and rise from side edges of the base plate 14. There is a front panel 22 having a wood chip passage 24, and a back panel 26 having a handle 28 fastened thereto, the handle being preferably of a curved form as disclosed in Figure 3. A cover plate 30 is fastened to the sides 18 and 20 by standard fastening means, as the screws 32 so that the cover 38 may be removed for access to the interior of the casing 12. In order to cooperate with the handle 28, there is a hand receiving knob 36 fastened by standard means to the cover 30 and located in proper spaced relationship with respect to the handle 28.

A support 38 is located between the sides 18 and 20 and above the base plate 14. The support comprises a frame 40 of generally rectangular form and including side members 42 and 44 together with end members 46 and 48, there being cross members 50 and 52 connected at their ends to the side members 42 and 44. The cross member 52 constitutes a mounting element for the motor 54 this motor being held in place by means of a standard bracket 56 which is bolted or otherwise rigidly fastened to the cross member 52.

The rear end of the support 38 and, specifically, the frame 48 thereof is mounted for pivotal and swinging movement. Anti-friction bearings 58 and 60, each located in the housing, are fastened by means of brackets and. rivets or screws, to the sides 18 and 20 of the base. Arms 62 and 64, each having a trunnion 65 and 66 extending therefrom are used to hold the frame 40 spaced from the base plate 14 and in such arrangement that it is capable of swinging movement. The trunnions 65 and 66 are passed through openings in the housings which support the anti-friction bearings 58 and 60, whereby the outer ends of the trunnions are mounted for rotation in the anti-friction bearings. The lower ends of the arms 62 and 64 are fixed to the frame 40 in order to actually hold the one end of the frame 40 in its proper position within the casing 12.

A horizontal shaft 70 is mounted in bearings 71 and 72, the bearings being carried by the frame members 42 and 44 respectively. There is a cutter holder 74 including the cutter blades 76, fastened to the shaft 70 so that upon rotation of the shaft, the cutter holder 74 rotates. The cutter holder 74 and shaft 70 are located above the opening 16 so that if the support 38 is raised or lowered, the cutter holder 74 is so adjusted as to project the cutter blades 7 6 through the opening 16 a selected amount.

There is a means for obtaining such adjustment. This means is operable from the exterior of the casing 12 and includes a handle 78 disposed on the end of a shaft 80, this shaft being mounted in bearings in the sides 18 and 20 and extending transversely across and spaced vertically above the base plate 14. Beveled gears 82 and 84 are fixed to the shaft 88 and are enmeshed with beveled gears 86 and 88 which are fixed to the upper ends of screws 89 and 90, the screws passing through openings in the brackets 92 and 94 which are fixed to the sides 18 and 20. The brackets act as thrust bearings preventing the screws from moving downwardly inasmuch as the collars 95 and 96 which extend from the gears 88 and 86 bear against the top surface thereof. The lower ends of the screws are connected to assemblies associated with the sides 18 and 2t) and also with the frame 40 to cause the frame to be raised and lowered in response to rotation of the handle 76. Inasmuch as the two assemblies associated. with the screws 89 and are identical, a discussion of the specific structure of one will, of necessity, lead to a complete understanding of the structure of the other. In this regard, attention is invited to Figure 6 where a fragmentary part of the side 18 is illustrated, this fragmentary part of the side having an opening 98 therein accommodating the trunnion 100, this trunnion extending from the rear surface of the base 102 of a guideway 104. This guideway includes L-shaped tracks 106 and 108 in which a T-shaped slide or slide block 110 is located. The slide block has a threaded opening therein accommodating the screw 89 whereby upon rotation of the shaft 80, the screw being operated through the beveled gears 84 and 88 causes the slide 110 to be raised or lowered. Inasmuch as the slide is fastened by means of a mounting bracket 112 to the front end of the support 38, the support may be raised or lowered at the front end thereof causing the rear end to swing inasmuch as it is mounted by pivotal assemblies as detailed in Figure 5.

For each embodiment of the invention an identical handle 28 is used. The handle 28 has a trigger 114 adapted to fit in the hand of the user of the device, this trigger being pivoted by means of a pin 116 at its upper end within a recess 118. The opposite end of the trigger has a spring 120 fastened thereto at one end, the other end being located in a well 122 formed in the handle 28. The function of the spring is to oppose the operation of the trigger 114 in one direction and to cause operation in the other direction.

When the trigger 114 is pulled toward the outer part of the handle 28, as by squeezing the handle and trigger, the upper end of the handle is swung toward a fixed contact 126 which is located in the recess 118. Since the upper end of the handle 28 supports a pair of contacts 128 which are arranged to touch and straddle the contact 126, a circuit including the motor 54 may be made and broken in accordance with actuation of the trigger 114. This is accomplished through the medium of the wiring 130 and 132, the former extending from a plug which is adapted to connect with a suitable source of current and the latter being connected to the motor 54.

There is a means drivingly connecting the motor 54 and the shaft 70, this means being seen best in Figure 2. A beveled gear is fastened to the shaft 142 of the motor 54 and is meshed with a beveled gear 141 located at the inner end of a lay shaft 144, the lay shaft being supported by bearings 146 and 148 carried by the support 38. The opposite end of the lay shaft has a gear 150 secured thereto which is engaged with a gear 152, the latter gear being fixed to a shaft 154 having a gear 156 at its opposite end. Suitable bearings 158 and 160 which are carried by the support 38 mount the shaft 154 for rotation, and the gear 156 of the shaft 154 is engaged with a gear 166 which is fixed to the shaft 70. Therefore, when the motor 54 is energized by operation of the trigger 114, the shafting and gears described immediately above cause rotation of the shaft 70. When it is desired to raise or lower the tool holder 74, it is necessary only to operate the handle 78 which causes the front end of the support 38 to be elevated or lowered with respect to the base plate 14.

The embodiments of Figures 8-10 differ from the previously described embodiment, particularly in the means of holding the cutters 1'76 and the means of drivingly connecting the motor with the tool holders. Attention is first invited to Figures 8 and 10 where there is illustrated a base comprised of a casing 178, this casing having sides 179 and 180 which are similar to the sides 18 and 20. A support 182 is mounted for adjustment similar to the support 38 and there is a motor 184 carried by the support and which includes a motor shaft 186. The motor shaft is provided with a sprocket 188 around which a chain 190 extends, this chain also extending around a sprocket 192 which is fixed to a shaft 194. The shaft 194 extends transversely across the frame 182 and it is mounted in bearings 196 and 198 which are carried by side members of the support 182. There is a locking element 200 fixed to the shaft 194 and the locking element 200 is in the shape of the frustum of a cone but is provided with a tongue 202 which rises from the wall thereof. The tongue is adapted to fit in a slot 206 which is formed in the conical seat 208 provided at one end of the cylindrical tool holding block 210, this block raving a central passage through which the shaft 194 extends. A second locking element 212, also in the shape of a frustum of a cone, is fitted on the shaft 194 and arranged to be located in the conical seat 214 formed on the opposite end of the tool holding block 210. A tongue 216 rises from the wall of the locking element 212 and is arranged to be fitted in the slot 218 formed in the wall of the seat 214 when the locking element is located in the seat. There are passages 220 formed longitudinally within the substantially cylindrical tool holding block 210 in order to accommodate screws 222 which are passed through openings in the blades 176 in order to hold the blades locked in place, but yet hold them in such a way that they may be released for replacement, sharpening and the like. The precise operation of this form of the invention is the same as the modification disclosed in Figure 2 although different types of cutters 176 are accommodated.

Attention is now invited to Figure 9 where there is a casing 230 having a frame 232 mounted in a manner similar to the frame 38 and capable of the same type of adjustment. The motor 234 of this embodiment is disposed so that its shaft 236 extends longitudinally of the base plate 238 and is offset with respect to the longitudinal axis of the casing. A transverse shaft 240 is carried by bearings 242 and 244 located on the frame 232 and the shaft 240 has locking elements 246 and 248 fixed thereto, the locking elements 246 and 248 being identical to the locking elements 200 and 212. The tongues 250 and 252 of the locking elements 246 and 248 are adapted to be fitted in slots formed in conical seats at the ends of a substantially cylindrical tool holding block 254 which is fitted on the shaft 240. The tool holding block is in two pieces, one adapted to bear against one side surface of a saw blade 256 and the other adapted to bear against the opposite surface of the saw blade 256 in order to hold it fixed for operation; the saw blade 256 constituting the cutter or cutter blade in this instance. It is to be noted that the blocks 210 and 254 may be splined on the shafts 194 and 240 respectively and the same holds true of the locking elements 200, 212, 246 and 248.

In the embodiment of Figure 9, the shaft 240 is provided with a spiral gear 260 which is enmeshed with a spiral gear 262, the latter being fixed to the shaft 236 of the motor 234. Accordingly, upon operation of the motor 234, the shaft and hence the cutter holder is operated through the enmeshed gears 260 and 262 and their respective shafts.

Attention is now directed to Figures ll, 12 and 13 wherein there is disclosed the present invention in modified form. In this embodiment, the casing or base 14a houses a supporting frame 40a carrying bearings 71a and 72a in which the ends of a shaft 70a are rotatably mounted.

One end of the shaft 70a enters a casing 264 and is secured to a vaned impeller 266 that is mounted for rotation in the casing 264. The casing 264 is formed with upper and lower nipples 268 and 270 that form an inlet and an outlet, respectively, for the casing 264. The outlet 270 is attached to an outlet elbow 271 on the casing.

The handle 272 of the casing 14a is formed with an opening that registers with an opening in the rear wall of the casing 14a, and a tube 274 is mounted in this opening. A nipple 276 rises from the tube 274 and communicates with nipple 268 through the medium of a hose 278 that enters the casing 14a through an aperture in the rear wall of the casing.

The rear end of the tube 274 is connected to an air compressor, not shown, by a flexible tubing 280 and the tube 274 slidably supports therein, a valve member 282 having a conical end 284 that is urged into a centrally apertured disk 286, fixed in tube 274, by a spring 288 disposed in front of the valve member 282 and located in tube 274..

A trigger 290 is pivoted to the handle 272 and tcrminates in a yoke 292 that is pivoted to member 282 and which is slidably received in a slot in tube 274. A spring 294 urges the lower end of the trigger 290 forwardly so that as the lower end of the trigger is pulled rearwardly, the valve member will be moved to its open position, whereby air from the air compressor may enter nipple 268 to impart rotation to the impeller 266 and the shaft 700.

The cutter holder 74a is mounted on the shaft 70a and supports blades 76a. The cutter holder 74 and frame 40a are adjusted as a unit toward and away from the bottom wall of casing 14 in the manner previously described so that the blades 76a may be exposed from the opening in the bottom wall of the casing 14a.

Figure 14 illustrates a still further modified means for rotating the cutter holder 74b, in this embodiment, the frame 40b supports an electric motor 300 within the casing 146 and the shaft 302 of motor 300 carries a worm 304 that meshes with a gear 306 on one end of the cutter holder supporting shaft 70b.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a portable plane, a base plate, sides fastened to said base plate, and end panels fixed to said sides and said base plate, a handle fastened to one end panel, a tool holder, a support for the tool holder disposed between said sides and above said base plate, said base plate being provided with an opening in vertical alignment with the tool holder, arms fastened to said support and mounted for swinging movement on said sides, and means connected together and slidable and pivotal on said sides for raising and lowering one end of said support to thereby adjust the distance between said opening and said tool holder, a motor carried by said support, means drivingly connecting said motor and said tool holder, and a switch for said motor carried by said handle, said support adjusting means including a screw adjacent each side, a pair of slide blocks in which said screws are threaded, means fastening said slide blocks to said support, means connected with said screws for rotating said screws as a unit, means connected with said screws for preventing axial displacement of said screws, and means constituting guideways for said slide blocks and carried by said sides.

2. A power plane comprising an elongated casing having a bottom Wall and a pair of spaced side walls, said bottom wall and said side walls each having a forward end portion and a rear end portion, an open substantially rectangular frame member disposed within the casing and extending longitudinally of the casing, said frame member also having a rear end portion and a forward end portion, a pair of arms fixed to the rear end portion of said frame member and extending upwardly from the frame member, a trunnion fixed to and projecting laterally from each arm, said trunnions being coaxial with each other and disposed transversely of the frame member, antifriction bearings carried by the rear end portions of said side walls receiving said trunnions therein, slides fixed to and extending upwardly from the forward end portion of said frame member, each of said slides having an internally threaded bore in their upper ends, guide tracks pivotally attached to the forward end portions of said side walls and slidably receiving said slides, bearing brackets fixed to the forward end portions of said side walls above the slides and guide tracks, rods journaled for rotation in said brackets and having lower threaded ends receivably engaged in said bores, beveled gears fixed to the upper ends of said rods and resting upon said brackets, a transverse shaft journaled for rotation on said side walls and disposed perpendicular to said rods, a pair of beveled gears fixed on said shaft meshing with the gears on said rods, a crank handle attached to one end of, said shaft, said forward end portion of said bottom wall having a transverse opening therein, a power driven surface engaging member supported transversely of the frame at the forward end thereof in registry with the opening, and a motor supported on the rear end of the frame within the casing and operatively connected to the surface engaging member.

3. A wood working tool comprising a base which includes a base plate provided with an opening, and sides connected to said base plate, a support disposed between said sides, means pivotally connecting one end of said support to said sides, a cutter holder disposed at the opposite end of said support, a pair of members slidably mounted on said sides and connected to said support, a pair of vertical adjusting bolts rotatably supported on the sides and threadingly engaged with said members, a horizontal operating shaft rotatably supported by the casing and operatively engaged with the bolts for rotating the same as a unit for raising and lowering the latter end of said support, and a motor secured to the pivoted end of said support and operatively connected with said cutter holder.

4. In a portable plane, a base plate, sides fastened to said base plate, and end panels fixed to said sides and said base plate, a handle fastened to one end panel, a tool holder, 21 support for the tool holder disposed between said sides and above said base plate and carrying the holder at one of its ends, said base plate being provided with an opening in vertical alignment with the tool holder, arms fastened to and extending upwardly from said support and mounted for swinging movement on said sides, and means connected together and slidably and pivotally mounted on said sides for raising and lowering one end of said support to thereby adjust the distance between said opening and said tool holder, said means including a pair of members fixed to the support, guides on the sides slidably receiving the members, a pair of vertically disposed bolts rotatably supported on the sides and threadingly engaged with the members, and an operating shaft operatively connected to both bolts for rotating the same as a unit, a motor carried by said support remote from the holder, means drivingly connecting said motor and said tool holder, and a switch for said motor carried by said handle.

5. The combination of claim 4 and said tool holder including a shaft with a tool holding block disposed thereon, and fastening elements attached to said shaft and engaged with said block, said fastening elements being adapted to impart rotation of said shaft to said block.

6. A power plane comprising an elongated casing having a bottom wall and a pair of spaced side walls, said bottom wall and said side walls each having a forward end portion and a rear end portion, an open substantially rectangular frame member disposed within the casing and extending longitudinally of the casing, said frame member also having a rear end portion and a forward end portion, a pair of arms fixed to the rear end portion of said frame member and extending upwardly from the frame member, a trunnion fixed to and projecting laterally from each arm, said trunnions being coaxial with each other and disposed transversely of the frame member, antifriction bearings carried by the rear end portions of said side walls receiving said trunnions therein, slides fixed to and extending upwardly from the forward end portion of said frame member, each of said slides having an internally threaded bore in their upper ends, guide tracks pivotally attached to the forward end portions of said side walls and slidably receiving said slides, bearing brackets fixed to the forward end portions of said side Walls above the slides and guide tracks, rods journaled for rotation in said brackets and having lower threaded ends receivably engaged in said bores, beveled gears fixed to the upper ends of said rods and resting upon said brackets, a transverse shaft journaled for rotation on said side walls and disposed perpendicular to said rods, a pair of beveled gears fixed on said shaft meshing with the gears on said rods, a crank handle attached to one end of said shaft, said forward end portion of said bottom wall having a transverse opening therein, and a power driven surface engaging member supported on the forward end portion of said frame member in registry with the opening.

Evans Apr. 28, 1891 Magerkurth Feb. 1, 1916 8 Broward Sept, 17, Bloodgood Mar. 11, Clarke Oct. 19, Clarke Feb. 21, Dernbach Mar 28, Wagner Dec. 5, Bloodgood June 5, Medholdt Apr. 26, Cole et a1 May 13, Egar Mar. 7, Kelton Sept. 21,

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