Dust collection system for a circular saw

1. A dust collection system for a circular saw having a saw housing and a motor configured to rotationally drive a saw blade, comprising:

a dust collecting member including a body having a first end in which a dust collection opening is defined and a second end operably connectable to an airflow generation device; and

a guide mechanism configured to support the dust collecting member on the saw housing such that the dust collection opening remains adjacent to an outer edge of the saw blade in response to the dust collecting member contacting the workpiece to move the dust collecting member,

wherein the dust collecting member is configured to contact the workpiece as the saw blade moves translationally through a workpiece during a cutting operation to enable the dust collecting member to move past the workpiece and remain adjacent the outer edge of the saw blade, and

wherein the guide mechanism further comprises:

a cam follower pivotably connected to the dust collecting member at a pivot point; and

a cam guide supported by the saw housing and configured to guide the cam follower along a predefined path such that, as the dust collecting member moves upon contact with the workpiece, the cam follower moves the dust collecting member and the dust collecting member pivots about the pivot point so that the dust collection opening remains proximate to an intersection between the outer edge of the saw blade and the workpiece.

2. The dust collection system of claim 1 , wherein:

the cam guide has an arc shape centered about a center of the saw blade and defines a virtual pivot point at the center of the saw blade; and

the cam follower is configured to move along the arc shaped cam guide about the virtual pivot point.

3. The dust collection system of claim 2 , wherein:

the dust collecting member further comprises a pivot projection extending from the body and including a first end portion; and

the dust collection system further comprises a pivot pin pivotably connecting the cam follower to the first end portion of the pivot projection at the pivot point.

4. The dust collection system of claim 3 further comprising:

a biasing member operably connected to a second end portion of the pivot projection and an end of the cam follower opposite the pivot pin, and configured to bias a second end portion of the pivot projection as the cam follower moves along the cam guide such that the first end of the dust collecting member pivots to remain proximate to the intersection between the outer edge of the saw blade and the workpiece.

5. The dust collection system of claim 4 further comprising:

a stop member fixed relative to the saw housing and configured to prevent the second end of the pivot projection from moving relative to the saw housing beyond a predetermined pivoting range.

6. The dust collection system of claim 1 , wherein the dust collecting member further comprises:

an arcuate surface operably connected to a lower side of the body, the arcuate surface being configured to direct a reaction force produced by translationally moving the dust collecting member against the workpiece into an upward force to move the dust collecting member vertically over the workpiece to enable the dust collecting member to pass over the workpiece.

7. The dust collection system of claim 6 , wherein the first end of the dust collecting member has a rounded contour.

8. The dust collection system of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the body of the dust collecting member is coupled to a vacuum source.

9. A circular saw comprising:

a saw housing;

a saw blade rotatably coupled to the saw housing;

a motor supported in the saw housing and configured to rotationally drive the saw blade;

an airflow generation device supported by the saw housing;

a dust collecting member including a body having a first end in which a dust collection opening is defined and a second end operably connected to the airflow generation device; and

a guide mechanism configured to support the dust collecting member on the saw housing such that the dust collection opening remains adjacent to an outer edge of the saw blade in response to the dust collecting member contacting the workpiece to move the dust collecting member,

wherein the dust collecting member is configured to contact the workpiece as the saw blade moves translationally through a workpiece during a cutting operation to enable the dust collecting member to move past the workpiece and remain adjacent the outer edge of the saw blade, and

wherein the guide mechanism further comprises:

a cam follower pivotably connected to the dust collecting member at a pivot point; and

a cam guide supported by the saw housing and configured to guide the cam follower along a predefined path such that, as the dust collecting member moves upon contact with the workpiece, the cam follower moves the dust collecting member and the dust collecting member pivots about the pivot point so that the dust collection opening remains proximate to an intersection between the outer edge of the saw blade and the workpiece.

10. The circular saw of claim 9 , wherein:

the cam guide has an arc shape centered about a center of the saw blade and defines a virtual pivot point at the center of the saw blade; and

the cam follower is configured to move along the arc shaped cam guide about the virtual pivot point.

11. The circular saw of claim 10 , wherein:

the dust collecting member further comprises a pivot projection extending from the body and including a first end portion; and

the dust collection system further comprises a pivot pin pivotably connecting the cam follower to the first end portion of the pivot projection at the pivot point.

12. The circular saw of claim 11 further comprising:

a biasing member operably connected to a second end portion of the pivot projection and an end of the cam follower opposite the pivot pin, and configured to bias a second end portion of the pivot projection as the cam follower moves along the cam guide such that the first end of the dust collecting member pivots to remain proximate to the intersection between the outer edge of the saw blade and the workpiece.

13. The circular saw of claim 12 further comprising:

a stop member fixed relative to the saw housing and configured to prevent the second end of the pivot projection from moving relative to the saw housing beyond a predetermined pivoting range.

14. The circular saw of claim 9 , wherein the dust collecting member further comprises:

an arcuate surface operably connected to a lower side of the body, the arcuate surface being configured to direct a reaction force produced by translationally moving the dust collecting member against the workpiece into an upward force to move the dust collecting member vertically over the workpiece to enable the dust collecting member to pass over the workpiece.

15. The circular saw of claim 14 , wherein the first end of the dust collecting member has a rounded contour.

16. The circular saw of claim 9 , wherein the airflow generation device is a vacuum source.