Brake cartridges and mounting systems for brake cartridges

Abstract

Safety systems for power equipment, components, cartridges and mounting systems for cartridges are disclosed. The safety systems, components, cartridges and mounting systems are specifically applicable for woodworking equipment such as saws. A cartridge system for use in safety systems for power tools might include a cartridge adapted to perform a predetermined action when triggered, where the predetermined action causes the deceleration and/or retraction of a working portion of the power tool, where the cartridge includes a first connector, and where a second connector is mounted in the power tool and adapted to connect to the first connector.

1 . A brake cartridge system for use in safety systems for power tools, the system comprising:
 a brake cartridge configured to mount in a power tool and adapted to brake a working portion of the power tool when triggered; and   a key adapted to secure the brake cartridge in the power tool.   
     
     
         2 . The brake cartridge system of  claim 1 , where the brake cartridge includes an aperture through which at least part of the key passes. 
     
     
         3 . The brake cartridge system of  claim 2 , where the aperture and key are configured so that the key may pass through the aperture in only one orientation. 
     
     
         4 . The brake cartridge system of  claim 2 , where the key is adapted to turn to lock the brake cartridge in the power tool. 
     
     
         5 . The brake cartridge system of  claim 4 , where the brake cartridge and key are configured so that the key can turn only when a predetermined portion of the key has passed through the aperture. 
     
     
         6 . The brake cartridge system of  claim 1 , where the key includes a handle adapted to be grasped by a user. 
     
     
         7 . The brake cartridge system of  claim 6 , where the handle is configured so that a user may turn the key. 
     
     
         8 . A brake cartridge system for use in safety systems for power tools, the system comprising:
 a brake cartridge adapted to brake a working portion of the power tool when triggered;   a mounting pin in the power tool; and   an aperture in the brake cartridge configured so that the brake cartridge can be mounted in the saw by sliding on the mounting pin.   
     
     
         9 . The brake cartridge system of  claim 8 , further comprising a second mounting pin in the power tool and a second aperture in the brake cartridge configured to fit the second mounting pin. 
     
     
         10 . The brake cartridge system of  claim 9 , where the pins are spaced apart. 
     
     
         11 . A brake cartridge system for use in safety systems for power tools, the system comprising:
 a brake cartridge adapted to brake a working portion of the power tool when triggered, where the brake cartridge includes a first connector;   a second connector mounted in the power tool adapted to connect to the first connector in the brake cartridge; and   a mechanism to align the two connectors.   
     
     
         12 . The brake cartridge system of  claim 11 , where the connectors are D-sub connectors. 
     
     
         13 . The brake cartridge system of  claim 11 , where the mechanism to align the two connectors includes at least one projection and at least one receptacle, one being associated with the first connector and the other being associated with the second connector, where the receptacle is configured to receive the projection, and where the first and second connectors can move relative to each other as the projection is received by the receptacle. 
     
     
         14 . A cartridge system for use in safety systems for power tools, the cartridge system comprising:
 a cartridge adapted to be installed in a power tool by a user and further adapted to perform a predetermined action when triggered, where the predetermined action causes the deceleration and/or retraction of a working portion of the power tool;   a first connector associated with the cartridge; and   a second connector mounted in the power tool and adapted to connect to the first connector;   where the first and second connectors are configured so that they automatically connect when a user installs the cartridge in the power tool.   
     
     
         15 . The cartridge system of  claim 14 , where the first and second connectors are D-sub connectors. 
     
     
         16 . The cartridge system of  claim 14  further comprising a mechanism to align the first and second connectors. 
     
     
         17 . The cartridge system of  claim 16 , where the mechanism to align the first and second connectors includes at least one projection and at least one receptacle. 
     
     
         18 . The cartridge system of  claim 17 , where one of the projection and receptacle is associated with the first connector and the other is associated with the second connector, where the receptacle is configured to receive the projection, and where the first and second connectors can move relative to each other as the projection is received by the receptacle.