Shield assembly for router

Claim 2

A shield assembly for a router having a headstock and spindle carrier mounting a spindle and chuck with a routing tool therein, the combination comprising a generally tubular upper section, means for anchoring the upper section to the headstock in confining relation, a generally tubular lower section conformingly telescoped with respect to the upper section to define an enclosure surrounding the tool, means for coupling together the spindle carrier and the lower section so that the lower section moves upwardly and downwardly with the spindle carrier with the result that the enclosure not only surrounds the tool but extends to follow the axial movements of the tool, means for continuously evacuating the enclosure, and a brush along the lower edge of the lower section with bristles extending downwardly as a skirt therefrom so that as the spindle carrier is advanced to bring the tool into engagement with the workpiece the bristles yield, with the spaces between the bristles serving to admit air to the chamber thereby tendIng to maintain the area surrounding the tool clear of chips.

Claim 3

A shield assembly for a router having a headstock and spindle carrier mounting a spindle and chuck with a routing tool therein, the combination comprising a generally tubular upper section, means for anchoring the upper section to the headstock in confining relation, a generally tubular lower section which serves with the upper section to define an enclosure surrounding the tool, the lower section being relatively movable with respect to the upper section, means for coupling the lower section to the spindle carrier so that the lower section moves upwardly and downwardly therewith with the result that the enclosure not only surrounds the tool but extends to follow the axial movements of the tool as it moves into engagement with a workpiece, means for continuously evacuating the enclosure, and a porous resilient skirt element mounted along the lower edge of the lower section and extending downwardly therefrom so that as the spindle carrier is advanced to bring the tool into engagement with the workpiece the element yields while serving to admit air to the evacuated chamber thereby tending to maintain the area surrounding the tool clear of chips.

Claim 4

A shield assembly for a router having a headstock and spindle carrier mounting a spindle and chuck with a routing tool therein, the combination comprising a generally tubular upper section, means for anchoring the upper section to the headstock in confining relation, a generally tubular lower section which serves with the upper section to define an enclosure surrounding the tool, the lower section being relatively movable with respect to the upper section, means for coupling the lower section to the spindle carrier so that the lower section moves upwardly and downwardly therewith with the result that the enclosure not only surrounds the tool but extends to follow the axial movements of the tool as it moves into engagement with a workpiece, means for continuously evacuating the enclosure, and a porous resilient skirt element mounted along the lower edge of the lower section and extending downwardly therefrom so that as the spindle carrier is advanced to bring the tool into engagement with the workpiece the element yields while serving to admit air to the evacuated chamber thereby tending to maintain the area surrounding the tool clear of chips.

Claim 5

A shield assembly for a router having a headstock and spindle carrier mounting a spindle and chuck with a routing tool therein, the combination comprising a generally tubular upper section, means for anchoring the upper section to the headstock in confining relation, a generally tubular lower section conformingly telescoped with respect to the upper section to define an enclosure surrounding the tool, a set of springs and stops for biasing the lower section upwardly into a stopped reference postion, a ledge on the lower section arranged in the axial path of movement of the spindle carrier so that as the spindle carrier is advanced toward the work the enclosure is extended to follow the axial movement of the tool, means for continuously evacuating the enclosure, and a porous resilient skirt element arranged along the lower edge of the lower section and extending downwardly therefrom so that as the tool and lower section are advanced the resilient element yields upon engagement with the workpiece while admitting air to the chamber thereby tending to maintain the area surrounding the tool clear of chips, the upper section being closely fitted to the headstock and the sections being closely fitted to one another so that the air which enters the enclosure is primarily that which passes through the porous resilient element adjacent the surface of the workpiece.

Claim 6

A shield assembly for a router having a headstock and spindle carrier mounting a spindle and chuck with a routing tool therein, the combination comprising a generally tubular upper section, means for anchoring the upper section to the headstock in confining relation, a generally tubular lower section conformingly telescoped with respect to the upper section to define an enclosure surrounding the tool, a set of springs and stops for biasing the lower section upwardly into a stopped reference postion, a ledge on the lower section arranged in the axial path of movement of the spindle carrier so that as the spindle carrier is advanced toward the work the enclosure is extended to follow the axial movement of the tool, means for continuously evacuating the enclosure, and a porous resilient skirt element arranged along the lower edge of the lower section and extending downwardly therefrom so that as the tool and lower section are advanced the resilient element yields upon engagement with the workpiece while admitting air to the chamber thereby tending to maintain the area surrounding the tool clear of chips, the upper section being closely fitted to the headstock and the sections being closely fitted to one another so that the air which enters the enclosure is primarily that which passes through the porous resilient element adjacent the surface of the workpiece.

Claim 7

The combination as claimed in claim 3 in which the lower tubular section is fitted with a window of transparent material for viewing the area surrounding the tool thereby to monitor the movement of the tool with respect to the workpiece.

Claim 8

A shield assembly for a router having headstock and spindle carrier mounting a spindle and chuck with a routing tool therein, the combination comprising a generally tubular upper section, means for anchoring the upper section to the headstock in confining relation, a generally tubular lower section which is movable with respect to the upper section and which with the upper section defines an enclosure surrounding the tool, means biasing the lower section upwardly to a reference position, a ledge member mounted within the lower section and arranged in the path of movement of the spindle carrier so that as the spindle carrier is moved downwardly to feed the tool into engagement with the workpiece the lower section moves downwardly with the tool, the ledge member being adjustable in the axial direction with respect to the lower section so that the lower section may accommodate tools of different axial lengths, means for continuously evacuating the enclosure, a resilient skirt element along the lower edge of the lower section for yielding upon engagement with the workpiece as the tool is advanced into engagement with the workpiece, and means for admitting air to the encLosure at the area of the workpiece which surrounds the tool thereby tending to maintain such area clear of chips.

Claim 9

A shield assembly for a router having headstock and spindle carrier mounting a spindle and chuck with a routing tool therein, the combination comprising a generally tubular upper section, means for anchoring the upper section to the headstock in confining relation, a generally tubular lower section which is movable with respect to the upper section and which with the upper section defines an enclosure surrounding the tool, means biasing the lower section upwardly to a reference position, a ledge member mounted within the lower section and arranged in the path of movement of the spindle carrier so that as the spindle carrier is moved downwardly to feed the tool into engagement with the workpiece the lower section moves downwardly with the tool, the ledge member being adjustable in the axial direction with respect to the lower section so that the lower section may accommodate tools of different axial lengths, means for continuously evacuating the enclosure, a resilient skirt element along the lower edge of the lower section for yielding upon engagement with the workpiece as the tool is advanced into engagement with the workpiece, and means for admitting air to the encLosure at the area of the workpiece which surrounds the tool thereby tending to maintain such area clear of chips.

Claim 10

The combination as claimed in claim 5 in which the ledge member is of horseshoe shape.

Claim 11

The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which the brush has a bendable longitudinal backing which is bent to conform to the shape of the lower section and which is removably clamped in place thereon to permit substitution of brushes having different bristle lengths depending upon the desired degree of insertion of the tool into the workpiece.