Abstract

Vibration dampening and heat sink mechanism for a reciprocating hand-held saw has a carrier guide with limited axial and radial movement positively controlled by an eccentric. The carrier guide serves both as a counterweight and a heat sink. A drive shaft for an eccentric to provide such limited axial and radial movement also drives a wobble mechanism for reciprocating a saw blade carrier slidably mounted in the carrier guide. The center of gravity of the carrier guide travels in an elliptical path. The relative movement of the carrier guide with respect to the saw blade carrier and their relative weights are such that a substantial or near perfect balance may be obtained when aggressive orbital action of the saw blade and saw blade carrier is used as in the case of cutting wood. The location and mass of the carrier guide effects a heat sink for the heat generated by friction due to relative reciprocating motion of the slidably mounted saw blade carrier.Lag angle is defined as the angular difference if any, between the position of the eccentric shaft and the wobble shaft which results in the delay of the opposing axial movement of the carrier guide with respect to the saw blade carrier. The following examples will demonstrate this: when the Lag Angle is 0°, the axial movement of the carrier guide is opposite (180° out of phase) that of the saw blade carrier. The relative weight of the carrier guide and the saw blade carrier in conjunction with the relative motion described produce near perfect axial balance. When the Lag Angle is 30°, the opposing axial movement of the carrier guide lags by 30° (210° out of phase) that of the saw blade carrier. This results in a small sacrifice of the axial counterbalancing effect of the carrier guide.