GB2051184A - Cutter Tool Assembly for Mining, Road Working or Earth Moving Machinery - Google Patents

Abstract

A cutter tool assembly for affixing a tool mounting means 30 onto a base member 31 in such manner that substantially no wear occurs between the mounting means 30 and base member 31. The mounting means 30 has a tapered portion 32 which is wedgingly received within a correspondingly tapered cavity 33 provided in the base member 31, and that part of the base member which defines the tapered cavity completely surrounds that part of the tapered portion which is seated therein. The mounting means 31 is also provided with a perforation or socket 34 to receive the shank or body portion 35 of a cutting element 36 which has a relatively sharp cutting point or edge 37 provided thereon. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Mounting Means, Base Members and Bits, and Combinations thereof, for Mining, Road Working or Earth Moving Machinary Technical Field This invention has particular use in the mining, road planing and earth digging fields. More specifically the invention relates to arrangements by which a tool mounting means, such as mining machine bit holder having a socket therein to receive a bit, is located in a base member, such as used in mining machines, without any relative movement between the mounting means and base member, whereby to prevent wear of both the mounting means and base member. These arrangements are readily adapted for use in the operation of mining, road planing or earth moving equipment.

Background Art The present invention is especially applicable to mining machines and the like of the type having a primary drive member to which is affixed one or more base members each adapted to receive a bit holder which in turn receives a bit or cutting tool. The drive member, which in turn is driven by appropriate mechanisms, may take a number of forms such as a chain, a rotating wheel, a rotating drum or a rotating arm. The bits or cutting tools, which may also be those found in other machinary such as road working and earth moving equipment, may also take various forms such as mining machine cutter bits, road ripping elements, digger teeth and the like. All of the bits, cutting tools and the like contemplated for use in the arrangements of the present invention are characterized by having a body portion or shank provided with a cutting tip at at least one end.All of the various mounting means contemplated for use with this invention are provided with sockets or shank receiving perforations adapted to receive the body portion or shank of the bit, cutting tool and the like. Means are provided to retain the shank of the bit, cutting tool and the like in its respective mounting means during the mining, road working or earth digging operation. Means are also provided to maintain the mounting means on its respective base member which in turn is either affixed to, or made an integral part of, the drive member earlier mentioned.

Prior art workers have used many means to secure cutting tool shanks in shank receiving perforations provided in various mounting means.

Set screws and other mechanical latching or locking devices have been used. A number of other arrangements, including various resilient retaining means and the like, which enabled, for example, the provision of a "knock-in", "pry-out" engagement between the cutting tool shank and the shank receiving perforation of the mounting means, have also been developed. Such a resilient retaining means is taught in United States Letters Patent 3,1 14,537. United States Patent No.

2,965,365 also discloses quite satisfactory arrangements for accomplishing this.

Furthermore, means for retaining a rotatable bit within a lug of a mining machine in such a manner that the bit may be readily replaced are shown in United States Patent No. 3,397;012. In United States Patent No. 3,622,206 still other means are shown for enabling quick and easy removal of a non-rotatable cutting tool from its mounting means.

Prior art workers also recognized the importance of providing arrangements by means of which the mounting means itself could be easily and readily removed from the respective base member on which it was mounted. A number of "pin-on", "wedge-on" and other arrangements were developed for accomplishing that result. The present invention has particular application to those arrangements generally classified as "wedge-on". Although no search of the United States prior art has been made with respect to the particular means employed for securing a mounting means to its base member, there are known United States Patents which do disclose various means of a "wedge-on" type for quickly and easily removing and replacing worn mounting means. Figure 13 of United States Patent No. 3,342,531 shows such a means in connection with a particular type of cutting tool or bit.Figure 14 of United States Patent 3,834,764 shows another type of wedging means. Other wedge arrangements are also disclosed in United States Patent No. 4,057,294. United States application Serial No. 936,840 filed August 25, 1978 in the name of the same inventor and entitled "Means for Removably Affixing a Cutter Bit Mounting Lug to a Base Member on the Driven Element of a Mining Machine or the Like", discloses further wedge arrangements.

The instant invention resides in an improved relationship among the mounting means, cutting tool or bit, and base member which vastly cuts down wear on both the mounting means and base member so that it is seldom necessary to remove the mounting means from the base member for replacement due to wear between the mounting means and base member.

Disclosure of the Invention This invention resides in a novel wedge arrangement for affixing a tool mounting means onto a base member in such manner that substantially no relative movement occurs between the mounting means and base member, thus vastly improving the working lives of both the mounting means and the base member. This invention is especially well suited for, and is directed to, mining, road planing or earth moving machines.

In the wedge arrangement of this invention the mounting means is provided with a tapered portion and the base member is provided with a tapered cavity to receive said tapered portion.

That part of the base member which defines the cavity completely surrounds that part of the tapered portion which is seated therein, for at least a portion of the length of the tapers. The base member, mounting means and cutting element are so arranged that the resultant cutting forces encountered during operation of the equipment serve to urge the tapered portion of the mounting means into its seated position within the tapered cavity of the base member. No relative movement occurs between the mounting means and base member when the mounting means is so seated.

The wedge arrangement of this invention is 3600 in scope in the sense that the base member completely surrounds the mounting means tapered portion. Contact between the tapered portion and the base member within the cavity is such that there is no rotation, wobble or other relative movement between the two when the tapered portion is properly seated in the tapered cavity. Such contact may also be 3600 in scope in the sense that there may be contact between the tapered portion and base member cavity wall about the entire periphery of the tapered portion for a part, or all, of its length.Portions, at least, of those exterior sides of the mounting means which are received within the base member cavity, regardless of the cross-sectional configuration of the mounting means as taken through those sides, are tapered, and the interior walls defining the base member cavity are correspondingly tapered.

The base member may be a part which is permanently secured to the basic mining, road planing or earth digging machine, or it may in fact be the machine itself, or some integral part thereof. As indicated, the base member is provided with a tapered cavity to just nicely receive the mounting means with a wedging action.

The mounting means is provided with a perforation or socket to receive the shank or body portion of the cutting tool or bit, road ripping element, digger tooth or the like. These cutting elements are provided with relatively sharp cutting points or edges and with shanks that are received within the mounting means perforation or socket These mounting means may also be referred to variously as lugs, bit holders, blocks, socket members and the like.

It is a feature of this invention that the relationship among the base member and its cavity, the mounting means and its perforation, and the cutting elements and their shanks or body portions, is such that when the cutting element is properly seated within its respective shank receiving perforation provided in the mounting means, and when the mounting means is properly located in the tapered cavity provided for it in the base member, the body portion or shank of the cutting element will extend not only into its respective perforation but also it may extend, while still being seated with such perforation, within the confines of the base member cavity; in all instances the cutting tool body portion or shank will at least be brought closer to, if not within, the base member, thus making for an overall arrangement which is: (a) easy and less expensive to manufacture; (b) capable of being used in restricted areas; (c) stronger; and (d) capable of utilizing means which permit easy replacement of the cutting element.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in cross section, illustrating a base member, mounting means and cutting element, all as arranged in accordance with the teachings of this invention.

Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 but illustrating a modification of the relationship among the base member and its cavity, the mounting means and its perforations, and the cutting element.

Figure 3 is a sectioned side elevational view of another modification of the base member and mounting means arrangement.

Figure 4A is an end view of the mounting means depicted in Figure 4B.

Figure 4B is a sectional view taken on the line 4B-4B of Figure 4A.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view depicting another mounting means adapted for use in this invention.

Figure 6A is a view illustrating one manner in which a cutting element may be retained in a mounting means used in this invention.

Figure 6B is a perspective view of a retainer adapted for use with the arrangement of Figure 6A.

Figure 7A is a view illustrating another manner in which a cutting tool may be retained in a mounting means adapted for use in this invention.

Figure 7B is a perspective view of a retainer adapted for use in the arrangement of Figure 7A.

Figure 8A is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, of a modified base member, mounting means and cutting element combination in accordance with this invention.

Figure 8B is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating one way in which the mounting means may be retained in the base member cavity.

Figure 8C is another fragmentary view illustrating a different arrangement for retaining the mounting means within the base member cavity.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in section, showing another manner in which a base member, mounting means and cutting element may be arranged in accordance with the teaching of this invention.

Figure 1 OA is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in section, illustrating a means for retaining a mounting means within a base member in accordance with the teaching of this invention.

Figure lOB is a perspective view of the retaining means employed with the arrangement illustrated in Figure 10A.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in section, illustrating another means by which the mounting means may be retained in the base member cavity in accordance with the teachings of this invention.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in section, depicting a modification of the retaining arrangement of Figure 11.

Figure 1 2A is a perspective view of a portion of the retaining means used in the arrangement of Figure 12.

Figure 1 3A is a fragmentary, side elevational view of a base member, mounting means, bit combination in accordance with this invention and utilizing certain means for retaining the mounting means in the base member cavity.

Figure 1 3B is a perspective view of a retainer adapted for use in the combination depicted in Figure 13A.

Figure 1 3C is a perspective view illustrating a modified retainer also adapted for use in the combination depicted in Figure 13A.

Figure 14 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in cross section, illustrating the base member, mounting means, cutting element combination of this invention as used with modified means for retaining the mounting means within the base member cavity.

Figure 15 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the combination of this invention as depicted with still other means for retaining the mounting means within the base member cavity.

Figure 1 5A is a different view of the basic arrangement of Figure 1 5 but showing further modified means for retaining the mounting within the base member cavity.

Figure 15B is another view depicting a still different arrangement for retaining the mounting means within the base member cavity.

Figures 1 6A, 1 6B and 1 6C are cross sectional views diagramatically illustrating the fact that the tapered portion of that part of the mounting means which is received in the correspondingly tapered cavity of the base member may take any shape desired, including, but without limitation, circular, rectangular and irregular.

Figure 1 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in section, illustrating an embodiment of this invention wherein a non rotatable bit is utilized in the combination.

Figure 1 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view illustrating another arrangement by which a different sort of tapered mounting means may be retained on a somewhat different base member having, however, the necessary tapered cavity.

Figure 19 is an elevational view, partly in section, illustrating the base member as being affixed to a drum and the like, the mounting means again having a tapered portion received in a tapered cavity provided in the base member, with means to retain the mounting means in the base member cavity, and showing a non rotatable bit as a part of the combination.

Figure 20 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, depicting a base member as attached to a drum and the like, again illustrating a mounting means having a tapered portion received in a correspondingly tapered cavity provided in the base member, the mounting means being shown as accepting a rotatable bit as part of the combination.

Figure 21 is illustrative of that facet of the invention wherein the base member may be an integral part of the mining, road planing or earth digging equipment, in this case ths base member tapered cavity being provided directly in the drum, retaining means for securing the mounting means within the cavity being illustrated, the mounting means in this instance receiving a non rotatable bit as part of the combination.

Figure 22 is a rather semi-schematic depiction of the fact that the objectives of this invention may be achieved whether or not the taper imparted to that part of the mounting means which is seated within the correspondingly tapered cavity of the base member is continuous, either longitudinally or circumferentially.

Detailed Description of the Invention Referring first to Figures 1, 1 6A, 1 6B and 1 6C the invention is broadly illustrated as residing in a novel wedge arrangement for affixing a tool mounting means generally indicated at 30 onto a base member generally indicated at 31 in such a manner that substantially no relative movement occurs between the mounting means 30 and base member 31, thus vastly improving the working lives of both the mounting means and the base member. The mounting means is provided with a tapered portion generally indicated at 32 and the base member 31 is provided with a tapered cavity 33 to just nicely receive the mounting means tapered portion 32.As somewhat diagramatically illustrated in Figures 1 6A, 1 6B and 1 6C the tapered mounting means sections can be of any shape such as, by way of example only, the circular rectangular and scolloped shapes indicated in these Figures at 32a, 32b and 32c. It will be understood by those skilled in the art, however, that the sections are not to be limited only to those depicted in these Figures and others; rather, the sections can be of any shape so long as the base member cavity 33 is so shaped as to just nicely receive the various mounting means tapered portions 32 therewithin.

The wedge arrangement of this invention is substantially 3600 in scope in that the base member completely surrounds, for at least a portion of the length of the taper imparted to the mounting means, that part of the tapered portion which is seated within the tapered cavity, so that all relative movement between the mounting means 30 and base member 31 is prevented.

Portions at least of those exterior sides of the mounting means tapered portion 32 which are received within the correspondingly tapered base member cavity 33, regardless of the crosssectional configuration of the mounting means portion 32, are tapered; as noted, interior walls defining the base member cavity 33 are correspondingly tapered.

This invention will be largely described in connection with mining machinary having bit holders and base members joined by the wedge arrangement of this invention and utilizing either rotatable or non-rotatable bits; various arrangements for retaining the tapered portion 32 of the mounting means within the correspondingly tapered cavity 33 of the base member are shown. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that many of these retaining means are interchangeable and do not have to be limited to the particular mounting means-base member combination with which it is illustrated.

Like numerals will be used to designate like parts throughout the description.

Although, as indicated, the detailed description of the invention is in connection with mining equipment, it should be plainly evident to those skilled in the art from what has been said before and from the description to follow, with reference to the drawings and claims, that the wedge arrangement of this invention also has application in other fields, particularly the road planting and earth digging arts.

The base member 31 may be a part which is permanently secured to the basic mining, road planing or earth digging machine,or it may in fact be the machine itself (see, for example, Figure 21 wherein the base member 31 a is depicted as a drum provided with a tapered cavity 33a to receive a mounting means or bit holder 30 of any style), or some integral part thereof. As indicated, it is required in all of these arrangements that the base member 31 be provided with a tapered cavity 33 to just nicely receive the tapered portion 32 of the mounting means 30 with a wedging action.

Referring again to Figure 1, it will be observed that in this instance the mounting means 30 is provided with a perforation or socket 34 to receive the shank or body portion 35 of the cutting tool or bit 36, it again being pointed out that this tool or bit 36 could be, by way of examples, a road ripping element, a digger tooth, or the like. These cutting elements, whatever they may specifically be, are usually provided with relatively sharp cutting points or edges and with shanks 35 that are received within the mounting means perforation 34; the bit 36 of Figure 1 is rotatable and is provided with a hardened cutting point 37. It should also be noted that these mounting means 30 may be referred to variously as lugs, bit holders, blocks, socket members and the like.

It is a feature of this invention that the relationship among the base member 31 and its tapered cavity 33, the mounting means 30 and its tapered portion 32 and its bit receiving perforation 34, and the cutting element or bit 36 and its shank or body portion 35, is such that when the cutting element 36 is properly seated within the shank receiving perforation 34 provided in the mounting means 30, and when the tapered portion 32 of the mounting means 30 is properly located within the tapered cavity 33 provided for it in the base member 31, the lowermost end 36a of the cutting element 36 will, while properly located within the perforation 34, extend either quite close to, or actually within, the confines of the base member cavity 33.In Figure 1 the cutting element end 36a is depicted as stopping just short of such confines while in Figure 2 the cutting element end 36a is shown as extending well within such confines.

The mounting means 30 of Figure 1 is shown as being provided with a bleed hole 38 which is also large enough to receive some kind of retainer (not shown) by which the cutting element or bit 36 is prevented from being accidentally dislodged from the mounting means. This bleed hole 38 will permit discharge of noxious fines and the like which may accumulate in the shank receiving perforation 34.

The mounting means 30 of Figure 1 is illustrated as being provided with a threaded stem 39 to receive a nut 40 by means of which the mounting means 30 is retained in the base member 31, particularly during those times when the cutting element 36 is not engaged with material being acted upon. As will become apparent as this description proceeds there are many satisfactory means for retaining the mounting means 30 within the base member 31 and a number of these will be illustrated. The invention is not to be limited to such retaining means, however, unless they are specifically made a part of the claims which follow.

The wedge arrangement of Figure 2 is generally like that of Figure 1. In this arrangement the lower end 36a of the cutting element 36 is within the confines of the tapered cavity 33. The bleed hole 38 is also so located. It is preferred, therefore, to provide the base member 31 with a corresponding bleed hole for escape of the noxious fines mentioned above; the bleed hole may be considered as passing through both the base member 31 and mounting means 30. A captive keeper, for example one such as illustrated in United States Patent No. 3,767,266, is shown at 41 for retaining the cutting element 36 within the shank receiving perforation 34 of the mounting means 30.

In Figures 1 and 2 the invention has been illustrated in modifications wherein the combination includes a rotatable cutting element 36. There are other types of rotatable cutting elements which may be employed and there are also non-rotatable cutting elements which may be employed. Some of these will be described. It is again to be understood by those skilled in the art, however, that this invention is susceptible for use with many different kinds of cutting elements and the invention is not to be limited to particular cutting elements except insofar as they may be specifically set forth in the subjoined claims. In this connection it should be noted that, by way of example, the bits 36 engage the abutment surface 42 of the bit holder 30 as defined by the bottom of the perforation 34.

In the mounting means, base member, bit combination of Figure 3 the perforation 34a is shown as extending clear through the bit holder 30; this permits dirt and noxious mine fines to bleed out. This, however, does away with the abutment surface 42 earlier described; such gauge abutment surface, therefore, has been relocated, this time taking the form of a countersunk, conical shoulder 42a provided at the forward end of the bit holder 30. The bit 36, which is of the "plumb-bob" type, has a correspondingly tapered, conical shoulder 36b which engages the abutment surface 42a. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the abutment surface 42a and bit portion 36b could be eliminated, and the gauge abutment means would constitute a shoulder 36c which would engage the forward surface 42c of the bit holder.

In the Figure 3 arrangement that part of the bit holder which extends through and beyond the base member cavity 33 is threaded as indicated at 39a to receive the retaining nut 40. The bit 36 is retained within the bit holder 30 by means of a captive keeper 41 which engages within an annular groove or the like 43 provided in the bit holder 30.

A somewhat modified mounting means or bit lug 30 is illustrated in Figures 4A and 4B. This particular bit lug is to utilize a rotatable bit with a captive resilient retainer similar to those shown, for example, in United States Patent No.

3,767',266. This is necessary because, when the bit lug 30 is properly seated within the base member cavity, the bit lug and enlarged annular area 38 will be entirely enclosed by the base member in the vicinity of the retainer thus making it impossible to utilize a radial installed retainer. A knock-out hole is located in the central portion of the abutment surface or anvil 42 and this hole extends through the threaded end 39a. In addition to the knock-out hole 44, three bleedholes 45, spaced approximately 1200 apart and converging toward the rear or threaded end 39a of the bit lug 30, are provided so as to bleed off any accumulation of dirt that might otherwise clog the hole and prevent the bit from rotating as desired, this number is not critical.

The mounting means 30 of Figure 5 is generally like that illustrated in Figure 2 wherein a rotatable cutting element or bit 36 having an abutment surface 36a is received within the shank receiving perforation 34 with the surface 36a abutting the gauge abutment surface 42. The shank 35a is provided with an annular notch 35b.

Instead of locating a captive keeper 41 in the notch 35b, however, the arrangements of either Figures 6A and 6B, or Figures 7A and 7B, are used to retain the bit 36 within the perforation 34. In the arrangement of Figures 6A and 6B a pair of holes 46, roughly defining a portion of a "V", are located in the mounting means 30 so as to intersect the opening 38. A resilient retainer 47 having a relaxed position which is roughly "Vshaped" is inserted through the pair of holes 46.

The retainer 47, when fully inserted, will extend within the annular groove 35b provided in a cutting element 36 thereby to retain such element within the perforation 34. The arrangement of Figures 7A and 7B is quite similar but utilizes only a single hole 46a and a onelegged resilient retainer 47a, it again being noted that the retainer 47a will intersect the opening 38 and pass through the notch 35b of a bit 36 when seated within the mounting means 30. It should be clear to those skilled in the art that either of the retaining means arrangements of Figures 6A, 6B and 7A, 7B could be utilized in place of the captive keeper 41 of Figure 3 so as to retain a shouldered bit within its mounting means.

A somewhat different style of mounting means 30 is depicted in Figures 8A and 8B. Such mounting means, however, also have a tapered portion 32 which seats within the correspondingly tapered cavity 33 of the base member 31. In those instances, like that illustrated in Figure 8A, wherein the tapered portion 32 of the mounting means 30 is circular in cross section, it is desirable to employ positive means to prevent relative, rotational movement between the mounting means portion 32a and the base member 31. In Figure 8A such positive means are represented by the key 48 which extends from the wall of the base member cavity 33 into a slot 32d located in the tapered mounting means portion 32a which, as stated, in this instance is circular in cross section in the manner also indicated in Figure 1 6A.Although not shown it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the rotatable bit 36 may be retained within the perforation 34 by means of a C-shaped clip or the like inserted via the open, notched portion 38a to engage the exposed shank portion 35b.

It is also to be understood that while the key 48 of Figure 8A has been illustrated as being on the base member 31 and the key slot 32d within the mounting means 32a, the reverse of this is perfectly feasable; an alternative arrangement would be to provide matching key slots in both the mounting means and base member with a third member driven into said matching key slots and having a press-fit therein.

Figures 8B and 8C illustrate alternative ways of retaining the mounting means 30 within the base member 31. In Figure 8B the threaded portion 39 and nut 40 of Figure 8A have been replaced by the headed, threaded member 49 having a stem threadedly engaged within the threaded hole 50.

A variation of this arrangement is depicted in Figure 8C wherein a screw 49a passes through a clearance opening 51 provided in the base member 31 so as to engage the threaded hole 50a provided in the mounting means 30.

The arrangement of Figure 9 is generally like that depicted in Figure 8A differing primarily in that the axis of the bit receiving perforation 34 is out of alignment with the axis of the base member cavity 33. Again, if the cross section through the tapered portion 32 of the mounting means 30 is circular as depicted in Figure 1 6a, means such as the key-slot arrangement 48, 32d will be provided to prevent turning of the mounting means 30 within the base member 31.

In this connection it should be understood by those skilled in the art that when such cross section is non-circular in the manner generally depicted at 32b and 32c in Figures 1 6B and 1 6C, means such as those indicated at 32d, 48 will not have to be employed. (The arrangements of Figures 8C, 1 SA and 1 SB also prevent rotation.) As has already been indicated, various means may be employed to retain the tapered portion 32 of the mounting means 30 within the correspondingly tapered cavity 33 of the base member 31. In the arrangement of Figures 1 OA and lOB such means comprises a C-shaped retaining member 52, wedge-shaped in cross section, forced into an annular notch 53 provided in the lower end of the tapered portion 32.

Other retaining means are illustrated in Figures 11 and 12. In Figure 11 a peg or wedge 54 is driven through a tapered hole 55 provided in the lower end of the tapered portion 32 of the mounting means 30 so as to engage the cam surface 56 provided on the base member 31 thereby to produce a deformation 54a which prevents the wedge 54 from coming loose. A variation of this arrangement is depicted in Figure 1 2 wherein the cam surface 56a is provided on a washer 57 engaged about the tapered portion 32 beneath the base member 31.

Still other retaining means are disclosed in Figures 1 3A, 1 3B and 1 3C. The mounting means, base member, bit combination may be generally like that illustrated at, for example, in Figure 1.

In this arrangement a pair of retainer receiving perforations 58 and 59, slightly off set with respect to one another, are provided in the bit holder 31 and mounting means 30, respectively.

When a retainer 60, such as indicated in Figure 1 3B, made of semi-rigid, deformable, material is forced through the perforations 58 and 59 it will be compressed so as to frictionally engage with such perforations whereby it won't be accidentally dislodged therefrom, thus keeping the mounting means 30 within the base member 31. A modification of the retainer 60 is indicated in Figure 1 3C wherein the retainer is laminated, having two rigid sections 60a located on either side of a resilient section 60c. Either of the retainers of Figures 1 3B and 1 3C could be provided with a nose diagramatically indicated at 60d which could engage within the slot 59 to further prevent accidental dislodgement of the retainer.

In Figure 14 one manner of bolting the mounting means 30 to the base member 31 is illustrated. The mounting means, base member, bit combination used for purposes of this illustration is generally like that of Figure 1. In the arrangement of Figure 14, however, a hole 61 extends through the tapered portion 32 of the mounting means 30 and a bolt 62 having a head 63 and threaded end 64 passed therethrough.

The underneath side of the bolt head 63 engages the gauge abutment surface 42 and the top side of this head, therefore is that which is actually engaged by the abutment surface 36a of the bit 36. A nut 65 is screwed onto the threaded end 64 of the bolt 62 whereby to secure the mounting means in place on the base member 31. Figures 1 5, 1 SA and 1 5B show modifications of the bolt arrangement generally depicted in Figure 14. In Figure 1 5 the hole 61 a is located outside of the cavity 33 and the mounting means 30 is provided with an extension 66. The head 63a of the bolt 62a engages the shelf 66 and the nut 65a is threaded onto the end of the bolt whereby to hold the members 30 and 31 together.In Figure 15A the means are depicted as comprising a short bolt 62b having its threaded end terminating within a clearance opening 67 sufficiently large enough to permit one to engage a nut 65b on the bolt 62b.

In the Figure 1 sub arrangement the clearance opening 67, or clearance hole 61, 61 a, is replaced by a tapped hole 68 into which the headed screw 69 may be secured.

Figure 1 7 is a somewhat schematic illustration of the fact that bits other than the various rotating bits so far described may be utilized in mounting means, base member combinations embodying this invention. As pointed out in connection with Figure 9, it is not necessary that the axis of the bit receiving perforation 34 of the mounting means 30 and of the base member cavity 33 be in alignment. The non-rotatable bit 36 and keeper means 70 of the Figure 17 arrangement are like those disclosed in United States Patent No.

2,965,365. As indicated, and as will be understood by those skilled in the art, many other styles of bits may be used in the practice of this invention. It is pointed out, as should be apparent to those skilled in the art, that any of the additional retaining means shown and described in connection with the other figures comprising a part of this application may be utilized to retain the tapered portion 32 of the mounting means 30 within the cavity 33 of the base member 31. It is also true of all of these arrangements, however, that the wedge action achieved by this invention, standing alone, may be sufficient to prevent relative movement between the mounting means and base member.In all instances the arrangement will be such as to prevent relative, rotational movement between the mounting means and base member while at the same time retaining the tapered portion 32 in full 360C contact with the base member 31 within the cavity 33.

The retaining arrangement for the mounting means 30 and base member 31 of Figure 18 is somewhat like that depicted in Figure 1 SB in that a tapped hole 68a is engaged by a screw 69a seated within a collar 71 (which replaces the shelf 66, for example, of figure 1 5) provided on the mounting means 30.

Figures 19 and 20 are further illustrations of the fact that the mounting means, base member, bit combinations of this invention may be employed with either non-rotatable bits or rotatable bits. In these Figures the retaining means for securing the tapered portion 32 of the mounting means 30 within the tapered cavity 33 of the base member 31 are those indicated at 39a, 40 in Figure 3 and 39, 40 in Figure 2. In these arrangements of Figures 1 9 and 20, however the base member 31 is depicted as being secured to the outer surface of a drum or the like 72 and, therefore, it is necessary to provide the base member with an access opening 73 for proper securing of the nut 40.

Figure 21 illustrates a modification of this invention earlier mentioned wherein the base member is the basic mining, road planing or earth digging machine itself, as distinguished from other arrangements wherein the base member is a separate part which is permanently fastened to such a machine. In Figure 21 the base member generally indicated at 31a may be a mining machine drum, or other drive member (in turn driven by separate mechanisms) associated with mining, road planing or earth digging machinery, and the tapered cavity 33a is located directly in such member 31 a. Although Figure 21 shows the invention as applied to a mounting means carrying a non-rotatable cutting element, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that any of the cutting elements, non-rotatable or rotatable, depicted in the other Figures may be employed.In this arrangement of Figure 21 the mounting means 30 is secured within the tapered cavity 33a of the machine (base member) 31 a by means of an elongated member 74 which passes through a clearance hole 75 provided in the member 31 a so that it extends through the shelf 66a. The member 74 has a hook portion 76 which engages the member 31 a while a nut 77 is screwed onto that end of the member 74 which projects beyond the shelf 66a. As indicated the mounting means 30 may be of any style and may accomodate any kind of bit, and various of the means for securing the mounting means within the base member 31 a may be employed.And while the machine generally indicated at 31 a in this Figure 21 has been described as a mining machine drum with tapered holes 33a, those skilled in the art will understand that this machine may be another mining machine or machines such as used in the road planing and earth digging arts.

Figure 22 illustrates the fact that while the wedge arrangement of this invention is 3600 in scope in the sense that part of the mounting means tapered portion 32 which is received within the correspondingly tapered cavity 33 of the base member is thereby completely surrounded by the base member, the taper for such part does not have to extend completely around, or completely through the length of, such part. This figure shows that the tapered portion 32 may be interrupted by one or more flats or grooves 80, for example extending through the length of the tapered portion, or by an annular flat, groove or other interruption 81, extending completely around the tapered portion.Such flats, grooves or other interruptions, however, whether cosidered as around the periphery of, or along the length of, the mounting means tapered portion, need not extend completely around, or completely along, such portion. In any event that part of the tapered portion 32 which is received within the tapered cavity 33 is completely surrounded by the base member, and contact between that part and the base member within the cavity is such as to prevent any rotation, nutation, wobble or other relative movement between such part and the base member.

Several means have been shown and described for retaining the tapered portion of the mounting means within the tapered cavity of the base member. Such means, in addition to preventing accidental dislodgement, for example, of the mounting means from the base member, may also serve to urge the tapered portion to its seated position within such cavity, thus further insuring that there will be no relative movement between the mounting means and base member.

Furthermore, while in some instances separate means have been described for the purpose of preventing rotation of the mounting means tapered portion within the tapered cavity of the base member, as for example when the cross sections of such portion and cavity are circular, such separate means may not be required; it may be that the 3600 wedging action (as defined herein) standing alone, will suffice. This action may also be sufficient to retain the tapered portion with the tapered cavity.

From the foregoing it should be plainly evident that this invention, which is directed to the mining, road planing and earth digging arts, resides in a novel wedge arrangement by which mounting means carrying a cuttting element is affixed to a base member in such manner that substantially no relative movement occurs between the mounting means and base member.

The wedge arrangement of this invention is 3600 in scope. Those exterior sides of the mounting means which are received within the base member cavity provided therefor, regardless of the cross-sectional configuration of the mounting means as taken through these sides, are tapered, the interior base member walls which define the base member cavity also being correspondingly tapered.

It is a further feature of this invention that the cutting element carried by the mounting means will be located closer to the base member than is obtainable by anything in these arts previously known to the skilled worker therein.

Modifications may be made in this invention without departing from the scope and spirit thereof. While the invention has been shown and described in terms of certain particular structures and arrangements, the invention is not to be limited to those particular structures and arrangements except insofar as they are specifically set forth in the subjoined claims.

Claims (1)

1. Claims

   1. In a mounting means base member combination for use in mining, road planing or earth moving equipment, the combination comprising a mounting means provided with a body portion to be engaged with the base member and with a shank receiving perforation to receive the shank of a cutting element, and a base member provided with a cavity to receive the said body portion of the mounting means, the improvement which is characterised by: said body portion being tapered and by said cavity being correspondingly tapered so as to just nicely receive said body portion therein with a wedge action whereby to prevent relative movement between said body portion and said base member, said base member completely surrounding that part of said tapered body portion which is received in said tapered cavity.

   2. The combination of claim 1 in which said tapered body portion is circular in cross section.

   3. The combination of claim 1 in which the said tapered body portion is other than circular in cross section.

   4. The combination of claim 1 in which an end of said shank receiving perforation extends within said tapered cavity.

   5. In a combination of a mounting means and a base member, said mounting means having a shank receiving perforation to receive the shank of a cutting element therein, the improvement which comprises: a tapered portion on said mounting means, said base member having a correspondingly tapered cavity, said base member completely surrounding that part of said tapered portion which is seated in said tapered cavity.

   6. The combination of claim 5 including retaining means to hold said tapered portion in its seated position within said tapered cavity.

   7. The combination of claim 6 in which said mounting means has an extension extending through the bottom of said tapered cavity and beyond said base member and said retaining means comprises a threaded portion on said extension and a nut on said threaded portion in engagement with said base member.

   8. The combination of claim 6 in which said mounting means has an extension extending through the bottom of said tapered cavity and beyond said base member, and said retaining means comprises a spring-clip which engages said extension and said base member.

   9. The combination of claim 6 in which said mounting means has an extension extending through the bottom of said tapered cavity and beyond said base member, and said retaining means comprises a pin extending through said extension.

   10. The combination of claim 9 in which said base member has a cam surface and said pin has a cam-lock portion in engagement with said cam surface.

   11. The combination of claim 9 including a washer on said extension against said base member and said washer has a cam surface, and said pin has a cam-lock portion in engagement with said cam surface.

   12. The combination of claim 6 in which said mounting means and said base member are provided with holes which are slightly out of alignment when said tapered portion is seated in said tapered cavity, and said retaining means comprises a resilient member having an interference fit in said holes.

   13. The combination of claim 6 in which said retaining means comprises a threaded member screwed into said mounting means, said threaded member having a head engaging said base member.

   14. The combination of claim 6 in which said retaining means comprises a bolt passing through a clearance hole in said base member and threadedly engaged in said mounting means, the bolt having a head which engages said base member.

   1 5. The combination of claim 6 in which said retaining means comprises a bolt having a head engaged with said mounting means and a threaded portion extending through said base member, and a nut on said threaded portion in engagement with said base member.

   1 6. The combination of claim 6 in which said retaining means comprises a headed screwmember engaging said mounting means and screwed into said base member.

   1 7. The combination of claim 1 including a cutting element having a shank in said perforation, and means to retain said shank in said perforation.

   18. The combination of claim 1 7 in which said shank is rotatable within said perforation.

   1 9. The combination of claim 1 7 in which said shank is non-rotatable within said combination.

   20. The combination of claim 17 in which said shank, while in said perforation, extends within said tapered cavity.

   21. The combination of claim 17 in which said shank, while in said perforation, is in close proximity to said tapered cavity.

   22. A base member for use in a mounting means, base member combination wherein the mounting means is wedgingly seated within said base member against relative movement with respect thereto, said base member comprising: a block of material having tapered walls which define a tapered cavity therein, said tapered cavity being adapted to receive a portion at least of a correspondingly tapered mounting means therein, said block of material being arranged to completely surround that tapered mounting means wedgingly seated therein.

   23. A mounting means for use in a mounting means, base member combination wherein the mounting means is wedgingly seated within said base member against relative movement with respect thereto, said mounting means comprising: a first portion provided with a shank receiving perforation adapted to receive the shank of a cutting element therein; a second portion adapted to be received within a tapered cavity provided in a base member, said second portion being tapered so as to wedgingly engage within the correspondingly tapered cavity of a base member, a portion at least of said second portion being adapted to be completely surrounded by such a base member when so seated in the base member cavity.

   24. The base member of claim 22 in which a cross section through said walls which define the tapered cavity is circular.

   25. The base member of claim 22 in which a cross section through said tapered walls which define the tapered cavity is other than circular.

   26. The base member of claim 22 including means associated with said block of material to enable said base member to retain a mounting means tapered portion within the said tapered cavity.

   27. The base member of claim 22 including additional means associated with said block of material to prevent relative movement between said base member and that mounting means tapered portion seated in said tapered cavity.

   28. The base member of claim 22 including further means associated with said block of material to urge that mounting means tapered portion seated in said tapered cavity to remain so seated.

   29. The mounting means of claim 23 in which a cross section through said second portion is circular 30, The mounting means of claim 23 in which a cross section through said second portion is other than circular.

   31. The mounting means of claim 23 including means on said mounting means to enable said mounting means to be retained within the base member cavity.

   32. The mounting means of claim 23 including additional means on said mounting means to prevent relative movement between said portion and that correspondingly tapered base member cavity in which said portion is seated.

   33. The mounting means of claim 23 including further means on said mounting means to urge said portion to remain seated within that correspondingly tapered base member cavity in which said portion is seated.

   34. The combination of claim 1 including additional means to prevent relative movement between (a) that part of said tapered body portion which is seated within said correspondingly tapered cavity and (b) said base member.

   35. The combination of claim 1 including further means to urge that part of said tapered body portion which is seated within said tapered cavity to remain seated in said tapered cavity.

   36. The combination of claim 1 in which said shank receiving perforation is so disposed within said mounting means that when said tapered body portion is seated within said correspondingly tapered cavity, said shank receiving perforation is in close proximity to said tapered cavity.

   37. The combination of claim 5 in which said tapered portion is seated within said tapered cavity so that said shank receiving perforation is disposed in close proximity to said tapered cavity.

   38. The combination of claim 5 in which said tapered portion is seated within said tapered cavity with a wedge fit whereby to prevent relative movement between said mounting means and said base member.

   39. A mounting means base member combination substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

   40. A base member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

   41. A mounting means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.