Abstract: A stump cutter assembly that has a driven wheel with first and wheel side surfaces, and a first stump cutter tooth assembly operatively attaches to the first wheel side surface and a second stump cutter tooth assembly operatively attaches to the second wheel side surface. The first stump cutter tooth assembly includes a first stump cutter tooth and a first bi-directional pocket member that non-rotatably retains the first stump cutter tooth. The second stump cutter tooth assembly includes a second stump cutter tooth and a second bi-directional pocket member that non-rotatably retains the second stump cutter tooth. The first stump cutter tooth assembly is in general transverse alignment with the second stump cutter tooth assembly.

Abstract: A system for excavating and/or trenching hard and soft ground material includes a support block having a bore with a cylindrical portion and a non-cylindrical portion with flat surfaces and a cutting tool mounted in the bore, which may be a non-rotatable cutting tool having a shank with flat surfaces or a rotatable cutting tool having a shank with a cylindrical portion. The non-cylindrical portion of the bore rotatably engages the cylindrical portion of the rotatable cutting tool and the flat surfaces of the bore engage the flat surfaces of the non-rotatable cutting tool. A further embodiment includes a support block having a bore with flat surfaces along the entire length of the bore that engage the flat surfaces of the shank of the non-rotatable cutting tool and which bore receives the cylindrical portion of the shank of the rotatable cutting tool but does not restrain rotation thereof.

Abstract: A bi-directional pocket member that retains a stump cutter tooth. The pocket affixes to a selected wheel side surface of a driven wheel, which has a first wheel side surface and a second wheel side surface. The pocket member has a pocket body, which has a first pocket edge, a second pocket edge, a first pocket side surface, a second pocket side surface, a radial inward pocket portion and an integral radial outward pocket portion. The radial inward pocket portion contains attachment bores used to operatively attach the pocket member to the driven wheel. The radial outward portion contains a retention bore used to retain the stump cutter tooth.

Abstract: A stump cutter assembly that has a driven wheel with first and wheel side surfaces, and a first stump cutter tooth assembly operatively attaches to the first wheel side surface and a second stump cutter tooth assembly operatively attaches to the second wheel side surface. The first stump cutter tooth assembly includes a first stump cutter tooth and a first bi-directional pocket member that non-rotatably retains the first stump cutter tooth. The second stump cutter tooth assembly includes a second stump cutter tooth and a second bi-directional pocket member that non-rotatably retains the second stump cutter tooth. The first stump cutter tooth assembly is in general transverse alignment with the second stump cutter tooth assembly.

Abstract: A stump cutter tooth held by a pocket member, which has first and second edge, and the pocket member being operatively attached to a driven wheel, which has opposite first and second side surfaces. The stump cutter tooth includes an elongate tooth body that has an axial forward end. A first hard region is at the axial forward end of the tooth body and defines at least one distinct cutting edge that has an orientation to engage the stump during operation. A second hard region is at the axial forward end of the tooth body and is distinct from the first hard region. The second hard region provides protection to at least a portion of the pocket member.

Abstract: A bi-directional pocket member that retains a stump cutter tooth. The pocket affixes to a selected wheel side surface of a driven wheel, which has a first wheel side surface and a second wheel side surface. The pocket member has a pocket body, which has a first pocket edge, a second pocket edge, a first pocket side surface, a second pocket side surface, a radial inward pocket portion and an integral radial outward pocket portion. The radial inward pocket portion contains attachment bores used to operatively attach the pocket member to the driven wheel. The radial outward portion contains a retention bore used to retain the stump cutter tooth.

Abstract: A system for excavating and/or trenching hard and soft ground material includes a support block having a bore with a cylindrical portion and a non-cylindrical portion with flat surfaces and a cutting tool mounted in the bore, which may be a non-rotatable cutting tool having a shank with flat surfaces or a rotatable cutting tool having a shank with a cylindrical portion. The non-cylindrical portion of the bore rotatably engages the cylindrical portion of the rotatable cutting tool and the flat surfaces of the bore engage the flat surfaces of the non-rotatable cutting tool. A further embodiment includes a support block having a bore with flat surfaces along the entire length of the bore that engage the flat surfaces of the shank of the non-rotatable cutting tool and which bore receives the cylindrical portion of the shank of the rotatable cutting tool but does not restrain rotation thereof.

Abstract: A stump cutter tooth held by a pocket member, which has first and second edge, and the pocket member being operatively attached to a driven wheel, which has opposite first and second side surfaces. The stump cutter tooth includes an elongate tooth body that has an axial forward end. A first hard region is at the axial forward end of the tooth body and defines at least one distinct cutting edge that has an orientation to engage the stump during operation. A second hard region is at the axial forward end of the tooth body and is distinct from the first hard region. The second hard region provides protection to at least a portion of the pocket member.

Abstract: A retainer for use in conjunction with a cutting bit wherein the cutting bit includes a shank that contains a recess therein. The retainer includes a generally cylindrical retainer body that has opposite ends and a central longitudinal axis. The retainer body has a generally arcuate shape that defines an arc between the opposite ends thereof. The retainer body further includes at least one ear that projects in a radial outward direction. The retainer body is made from a material that has a grain direction wherein the direction of the grain runs generally parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the retainer body.

Abstract: According to the present invention a bit holder block that can be durably connected to both a driven chain and rotary drum is disclosed. The bit holder block is designed to enable it to be welded or fused by other well-known methods to either a rotary drum or driven chain. The invention includes a bottom surface for welding to either a drum or chain. The bottom surface includes a central arcuate surface and flanking flat surfaces at opposite ends of the central arcuate surface. On the flat plate of driven chain cutting machinery the flanking flat surfaces sit squarely on the flat plate. When welded to a drum the base's bottom surface makes two lines of contact with the drum limiting the likelihood of undesirable.

Abstract: A retainer, adapted to engage a recess in a cutting tool for securing the cutting tool to a support block, includes a retainer body having a main portion with first and second ends. The main portion defines a continuous shear zone having first and second ends. The retainer body further includes a protruding portion disposed between the ends of the continuous shear zone and spaced away from the ends of the main portion. The protruding portion extends radially from the main portion and is adapted to overlap the support block when the retainer is engaging the recess.

Abstract: According to the present invention a bit holder block that can be durably connected to both a driven chain and rotary drum is disclosed. The bit holder block is designed to enable it to be welded or fused by other well-known methods to either a rotary drum or driven chain. The invention includes a bottom surface for welding to either a drum or chain. The bottom surface includes a central arcuate surface and flanking flat surfaces at opposite ends of the central arcuate surface. on the flat plate of driven chain cutting machinery the flanking flat surfaces sit squarely on the flat plate. When welded to a drum the base's bottom surface makes two lines of contact with the drum limiting the likelihood of undesirable.

Abstract: A retainer clip adapted to engage a recess in a shank of a cutting tool for securing the cutting tool to a support block. The retainer clip includes a clip body having first and second end portions and at least three protruding portions disposed between the end portions. The protruding portions are adapted to extend beyond the shank when the retainer clip is engaging the recess.

Abstract: A cutter tooth assembly for impingement of a material (e.g., a stump, wood, brush or earth strata). The assembly attaches to a driven member (e.g., a rotatable wheel). The assembly includes a cutter tooth which has an elongate body with a leading end and a trailing end, as well as a hard insert at the leading end of the tooth. The assembly also includes a pocket which has a base portion and a holder portion. The pocket attaches to the wheel at the base portion thereof. The cutter tooth is retained to the pocket at the holder portion thereof. The base portion of the pocket has a leading surface and a trailing surface. The cutter tooth is retained by the holder portion of the pocket so that the hard insert extends circumferentially past the leading surface of the base portion of the pocket.

Abstract: A cutting bit assembly which includes a driven member and a cutting bit detachably connected to the driven member by a retainer. The retainer includes a magnetic pin that removably engages at least one of the cutting bit and the driven member.

Abstract: A rotatable cutting tool-holder assembly which has a cutting tool having a forward and a rearward end. The cutting tool contains a groove adjacent to the rearward end thereof. A holder contains a bore therein wherein the bore has a forward opening and a rearward opening. The holder has a rearward surface. The holder presents a rearwardly extending boss from the rearward surface thereof. The cutting tool is carried in the bore so that the groove of the cutting tool extends rearwardly past of the rearward opening of the bore. A retention clip is received within the groove of the cutting tool and the boss engages the retention clip so as to retain the cutting tool within the bore of the holder so that the cutting tool is free to rotate relative to the holder.

Abstract: A tool sleeve rotation limitation system for reducing the rotation of a tool sleeve within a block bore of a support block, the tool sleeve having a sleeve engagement surface and the block bore having a block engagement surface. The tool sleeve rotation limitation system comprises a rotation limitation member located between the tool sleeve and the block bore so as to engage the tool engagement surface and the sleeve engagement surface and reduce rotation of the tool sleeve within the block bore, the rotation limitation member having a member perimeter which conforms to at least one of the sleeve engagement surface and the block engagement surface. Alternatively the tool sleeve rotation limitation system comprises a resilient rotation limitation member located between the tool sleeve and the block bore so as to frictionally engage the tool sleeve and the block bore and reduce rotation of the tool sleeve within the block bore.