Patent ID: 6454360
Filing Date: 2002-09-24
Classification: A01B,E21C

Abstract:
A soil-working apparatus comprising:a rotary drum defining a longitudinal center axis; and a plurality of bit assemblies mounted on an outer surface of the drum, each bit assembly comprising: a hollow holder affixed to the outer surface, the holder comprising a tube defining a center axis of the holder and having a substantially cylindrical outer surface, a cutter bit including a front cutting head and a rear shank, the shank extending into the tube, the cutting head projecting longitudinally past a front end of the tube, a retainer retaining the shank within the tube; and a wear sleeve disposed around the outer surface of the tube and having an inner diameter larger than a diameter of the outer surface of the tube to be rotatable relative thereto about the center axis of the tube, the wear sleeve having a thickness measured in a radial direction thereof which is no greater than one-half of a thickness of the tube measured in the same direction; the cutter bit including a laterally outwardly projecting sleeve-retaining portion projecting laterally outwardly with respect to a longitudinal axis of the bit, the sleeve-retaining portion extending laterally past the outer surface of the tube and into overlying relationship to a front end of the wear sleeve to retain the wear sleeve longitudinally on the holder.