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 cutting tool assembly mounted on a rotating drum and having a base block, a wear sleeve and a cutting bit wherein a seal is located between the base block and wear sleeve is disclosed. A fluid passage spans from the rotating drum to a discharge location between the wear sleeve and the shank of the cutting bit. The fluid lubricates the shank of the cutting bit and bore of the wear sleeve allowing the cutting bit to rotate freely within the wear sleeve. Rotation of the cutting bit promotes even wear and long life of the bit.

Abstract: A cutting tool assembly mounted on a rotating drum and having a base block, a wear sleeve and a cutting bit wherein a seal is located between the base block and wear sleeve is disclosed. A fluid passage spans from the rotating drum to a discharge location between the wear sleeve and the shank of the cutting bit. The fluid lubricates the shank of the cutting bit and bore of the wear sleeve allowing the cutting bit to rotate freely within the wear sleeve. Rotation of the cutting bit promotes even wear and long life of the bit.

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 pedestal assembly for an asphalt cutter and/or a longwall shearer includes a cutting bit detachably secured in a tool body mounted within a block with the block fixedly secured to a pedestal. The first end of the pedestal has a recess to overlap the second end of an adjacent pedestal when the pedestals are mounted on the outer surface of a drum of the cutter. The first end of the pedestal further includes a lateral flat surface portion for deflecting material made loose by the cutting bit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rotary cutting bit for use in road milling, mining and/or excavating applications that includes a split wear ring which is harder than the steel cutting bit body. The cutting bit has a cutting tip made of hard material such as tungsten carbide brazed into a nose portion of the steel tool body. The split wear ring is positioned in an annular channel in the tool body near the steel nose of the tool body. In one embodiment, the split wear ring is positioned so that the inner diameter of the split wear ring is smaller than the outer diameter of the cutting tip. Such a configuration allows the split wear ring to be tucked under the outer diameter of the cutting tip, decreasing tool body wear that could otherwise occur, thus providing longer tool life and reduced operating costs. The split wear ring pieces may be retained in place by a retainer such as banding rings, epoxies, tape or wire.

Abstract: A pedestal assembly for an asphalt cutter and/or a longwall shearer includes a cutting bit detachably secured in a tool body mounted within a block with the block fixedly secured to a pedestal. The first end of the pedestal has a recess to overlap the second end of an adjacent pedestal when the pedestals are mounted on the outer surface of a drum of the cutter. The first end of the pedestal further includes a lateral flat surface portion for deflecting material made loose by the cutting bit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rotary cutting bit for use in road milling, mining and/or excavating applications that includes a split wear ring which is harder than the steel cutting bit body. The cutting bit has a cutting tip made of hard material such as tungsten carbide brazed into a nose portion of the steel tool body. The split wear ring is positioned in an annular channel in the tool body near the steel nose of the tool body. In one embodiment, the split wear ring is positioned so that the inner diameter of the split wear ring is smaller than the outer diameter of the cutting tip. Such a configuration allows the split wear ring to be tucked under the outer diameter of the cutting tip, decreasing tool body wear that could otherwise occur, thus providing longer tool life and reduced operating costs. The split wear ring pieces may be retained in place by a retainer such as banding rings, epoxies, tape or wire.

Abstract: A drilling bit for use in conjunction with a holder that has a bore wherein the drilling bit has a drilling bit body that has an axial forward end and an axial rearward end. The drilling bit body further includes a reduced diameter portion adjacent to the axial rearward end thereof so as to define a reduced diameter surface. A hard insert is affixed to the drilling bit body at the axial forward end thereof. A resilient retainer sleeve has a first thickness and presents an interior surface. The retainer sleeve is carried by the drilling bit body within the reduced diameter portion. The resilient retainer sleeve is in an expanded condition when the drilling bit is not within the bore of the holder and the resilient retainer sleeve is in a compressed condition when the drilling bit being within the bore of the holder.

Abstract: A drilling bit for use in conjunction with a holder that has a bore wherein the drilling bit has a drilling bit body that has an axial forward end and an axial rearward end. The drilling bit body further includes a reduced diameter portion adjacent to the axial rearward end thereof so as to define a reduced diameter surface. A hard insert is affixed to the drilling bit body at the axial forward end thereof. A resilient retainer sleeve has a first thickness and presents an interior surface. The retainer sleeve is carried by the drilling bit body within the reduced diameter portion. The resilient retainer sleeve is in an expanded condition when the drilling bit is not within the bore of the holder and the resilient retainer sleeve is in a compressed condition when the drilling bit being within the bore of the holder.

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 mining drum assembly for use in the mining of a substrate that has a drum. A plurality of bars, each one of the bars has a plurality of laterally-spaced apart mining bit assemblies connected thereto, are affixed to the surface of the drum. The bars define first and second regions of discrete bars equi-spaced about the circumference of the drum. The bars of the first region being circumferentially and laterally spaced-apart from the bars of the second region.

Abstract: An article comprised of a first material and at least one additional material incorporates a sacrificial constraint. For example, a cutter bit has a bit body that contains a concavity and a sacrificial constraint in a axially first end. A cutter insert or a plurality of cutter inserts are brazed to the bit body at the periphery and in an annular channel or pocket defined by a first surface at the periphery of the concavity, a second surface radially outward form the first surface and radially inward from a sacrificial constraint that extends radially outward at the open end of the concavity. The sacrificial constraint may be removed from the article either prior to use by, for example, machining, or during use by, for example, attrition.

Abstract: A mining drum assembly for use in the mining of a substrate that has a drum. A plurality of bars, each one of the bars has a plurality of laterally-spaced apart mining bit assemblies connected thereto, are affixed to the surface of the drum. The bars define first and second regions of discrete bars equi-spaced about the circumference of the drum. The bars of the first region being circumferentially and laterally spaced-apart from the bars of the second region.

Abstract: A mining drum assembly for use in the mining of a substrate that has a drum. A plurality of bars, each one of the bars has a plurality of laterally-spaced apart mining bit assemblies connected thereto, are affixed to the surface of the drum. The bars define first and second regions of discrete bars equi-spaced about the circumference of the drum. The bars of the first region being circumferentially and laterally spaced-apart from the bars of the second region.

Abstract: A concave cutter bit which has a bit body that contains a concavity in the axially forward end thereof. A plurality of cutter inserts are brazed to the bit body at the periphery of the open end of the concavity. The cutter inserts are spaced-apart in such a fashion so that a gap exists between adjacent cutter inserts that is of sufficient size to prevent the formation of a continuous braze joint between any adjacent cutter inserts.

Abstract: A cutting bit useful for cutting various earth strata and the cutting insert, which may be made from a polycrystalline diamond composite, for such a cutting bit. The cutting bit has at least one pocket at the axially forward end thereof which receives its corresponding cutting insert. The cutting insert has at least one exposed cutting edge which is of an arcuate shape.

Abstract: A cutting bit including a conical nose and an integral depending cylindrical shank. The conical nose includes a tip having a hard wear resistant insert and a flange positioned between the tip and the shank and having a diameter greater than the shank. The flange has a planar underside including at least one undercut extending radially inward from the exterior peripheral surface of the flange to provide in cooperation with the face of a cutting bit block a resistance surface for insertion of a tine of a cutting bit removal tool.

Abstract: A replaceable digging tooth for an earth auger including a generally oblong body member and a shank depending from the body member and receivable in a support block of the earth auger. The body member includes an elongated leading surface, an elongated trailing surface and first and second side surfaces. The leading surface, trailing surface and first and second side surfaces terminate in a forward working face having a plurality of inserts. Each insert has a generally cylindrical portion integral a top portion which tapers to a point to form a conical tip. The tips of the inserts are aligned to define a linear cutting line which is inclined with respect to a reference plane perpendicular to the axis of the shank and the axes of the inserts are aligned parallel to form a cutting plane which is inclined with respect to the reference plane.

Abstract: A rotatable cutting tool for impacting and fragmenting a substrate. The tool has a tool body containing a valve seat in the forward end thereof wherein a hard insert affixes to the tool body within the valve seat. The hard insert comprises an integral tip segment and an integral axially rearward segment joined to the tip segment by an integral mediate segment. A trio of generally vertically disposed flanges project radially outward from the mediate segment. The flanges are integral with the mediate portion. Each flange presents at least one side surface. During operation, the substrate fragments impinge against the side surface to urge the tool to rotate about its central longitudinal axis.