Abstract: An apparatus for use on a portion of a milling or mining drum may include a base portion and a cutter bit. The cutter bit may include a tip region, a flange having a nut-like gripping surface, and a shank portion. At least a distal end of the shank portion may include a threaded portion. The shank portion may be received in an opening of the base portion. The opening of the base portion may be internally threaded to engage the threaded portion of the shank portion of the cutter bit. The base portion may include a lower region having a second threaded portion of smaller diameter than the threaded portion engaging the shank portion of the cutter bit. A retainer may be internally threaded into the opening of the base portion and threadably engaged in the second threaded portion.

Abstract: An apparatus can include a base mounted to a mining drum. The base can include an opening including a seat. The apparatus also can include an insert including a bore and an exterior surface. The apparatus also can include a cutter bit including a cutting tip and a shank extending from the cutting tip. The shank can include a threaded portion and a transition positioned between the cutting tip and the threaded portion. The apparatus also can include a retainer including a threaded portion. A portion of the exterior surface of the insert facing the base can be dimensioned to engage the seat of the base. A region of the bore of the insert can be dimensioned to engage the transition of the cutter bit. The threaded portion of the retainer can be configured to engage the threaded portion of the cutter bit.

Abstract: A system and method to remove quickly an insert, especially an insert with a damaged gripping portion, from a base portion of a mining and/or milling drum. The insert can have a threaded portion engageable with the base portion opening. The insert can define an interior bore configured to receive a cutter bit, and an opening configured to receive an apparatus engageable with the insert opening to facilitate the removal of the insert from the base portion. The insert opening may be polygonal or may include at least one planar surface and/or a rounded corner. An apparatus can engage with the polygonal opening and/or a fastener can engage with the shafted fastener. In both cases, the apparatus and/or fastener is rotated with a force to disengage the threaded portion of the insert from the opening of the base portion.

Abstract: An endless chain for cutting and removing spoil from a trench includes a plurality of links pivotally coupled together. A plurality of flight plates are secured to the plurality of links. A pattern of openings extends through each flight plate between the under surface and the outer surface. A plurality of wear plates is positioned over the outer surface of the plurality of flight plates. A plurality of fasteners pass from the under surface of the flight plate through at least some of the pattern of openings in the flight plate and into the wear plate to secure the wear plate to the flight plate. The fasteners securing the wear plates to the flight plates can have outer ends that terminate short of the outer surface of the wear plates in openings in the under surface of the wear plate. Sockets, which include bores receiving cutting elements, can be fixed to the wear plates with a bottom surface of the socket either angled with respect to or flush with the wear plate outer surface.

Abstract: A cutting tool holder, a cutting bit, and a retainer maintaining the cutting bit at a prescribed position relative to the tool holder. The cutting bit is received in a slot located in a first lateral surface that extends through the top surface. The retainer is received in an opening included in the first lateral surface that intercepts the slot. The retainer includes a planar tapered surface that contacts an upwardly and laterally facing oblique surface on a lower end of the cutting bit to hold the lower end of the cutting tool in contact with a lower surface of the slot.

Abstract: A cutter assembly includes a cutting bit, a replacable wear surface in the form of a washer, and a sleeve. The cutting bit has a forward cutting tip, a rearward extending shank adapted to be received in a tool holder, and a rearward facing shoulder. The sleeve surrounds the shank and includes a forward edge. The washer includes a central hole receiving the cutting bit shank, a front surface and a back surface joined by an outer asymmetrical edge of angularly variable radius. A portion of the washer front surface is in sliding contact with the rearward facing bit shoulder. The washer back surface includes a lip extending rearward from only a segment of the asymmetric edge for engaging an outer shoulder of a holder to inhibit rotation of the washer relative to the holder.

Abstract: A portable concrete saw apparatus includes a motor having a rotatable shaft and a saw blade coupled to the shaft for rotation by the motor. A plate is coupled to the motor for supporting the motor. A housing surrounds the plate, motor and blade, the housing having a pair of tracks receiving opposite ends of the plate for sliding vertical movement relative to the housing. The housing includes a perimeter defining an opening in a lower side of the enclosure plane. A powered actuator is coupled between the housing and the plate for displacing the plate along the tracks between a fully retracted position wherein the blade is fully enclosed within the housing and an extended position wherein the blade projects from the housing through the opening defined by the perimeter to cut material from a work area within the perimeter and contiguous to the housing, the housing retaining the material cut by the blade from the work area.

Abstract: Cutting bit holding elements removably receiving cutting bits are secured to a cutting assembly used in a roadway surface reclaiming machine. The cutting assembly includes a driven member having a surface, typically cylindrical, rotatable in a cutting direction. The surface includes a plurality of recesses arranged in a preselected pattern, each recess being defined by a generally circular upper edge and including a bottom surface depressed below the driven member rotatable surface. Each cutting bit holding element has a body portion having at least one aperture receiving the cutting bit and a lower portion having a generally cylindrical outer surface sized to be received in only one of said recesses The lower portion has a reference lower end abutting the recess bottom surface with a locating element engaging the cutting bit holder element lower end with a niche within said recess for orienting the cutting bit holder with respect to said cutting direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for a roadway surface reclaiming drum is disclosed that includes a plurality of flighting sections generally helically attached to a cylindrical surface of the drum at an included angle of about 40.degree. to about 60.degree.. During rotation of the drum about its cylindrical axis, a plurality of cutter bits mounted to openings defined in the flighting sections loosen roadway surface and the flighting sections transport loosened roadway material axially along the drum and between the flighting sections towards a lateral center portion of the drum. A plurality of teeth received in recesses defined in walls of the flighting sections facilitate transport of loosened roadway material between adjacent flighting sections towards the lateral center portion of the drum and reduce wear of the flighting sections. Cutter bit inserts for receiving the cutter bits are mounted to base portions attached to the outermost portions of the flighting sections, and define interior bores.

Abstract: A cutting drum adapted to be mounted in a roadway surface reclaiming machine includes a cylindrical surface rotatably driven about its axis in a cutting direction. A plurality of cutter bit holding elements are distributed in a pattern over and fixed to the cylindrical surface, each cutter bit holding element having a base portion including a first opening and a second opening. A first cutter bit is received in the first opening and a second cutter bit is received in the second opening. The first and second openings are positioned so that the second cutter bit trails immediately behind and is aligned with the first cutter bit when the cylindrical surface is rotated in the cutting direction, the first and second cutter bits being inclined forwardly in the cutting rotation direction. The first and second openings are situated at two different heights so that the second cutter bit is situated at a greater radial distance from the rotation axis of the cylindrical surface than is the first cutter bit.

Abstract: A rotary drive cutter for use on the rodway surface reclaiming machines is disclosed which includes spiral flighting fixed to an axially rotatable drum, the flighting includes a plurality of regularly spaced recesses for receiving tool holders each being removably mounted within the flighting recess such that an edge of the tool holder projects laterally outward beyond the side of the flighting a distance sufficient to protect the flighting section from abrasion and thereby extend the life thereof.