Abstract:
A stump cutting apparatus including a cutting wheel with a plurality of tool holders secured to the cutting wheel. A plurality of apertures located in each of the tool holders. Each of said apertures having a cutting tool or tooth mounted therein whereby each tool holder supports more than one cutting tool or tooth.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/886523 filed on May 3, 2013 claiming the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/643,059, filed May 4, 2012. This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/798,653, filed Mar. 15, 2013. The disclosures of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to a stump cutting apparatus and, more specifically, to a stump cutting apparatus having a wheel, tool holder and cutting tool. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Various types of stump cutting devices are known. One type includes a rotatable wheel or disk having a plurality of cutting tools fastened adjacent a peripheral edge. A second type includes a rotatable drum having a plurality of cutting tools fastened adjacent to or on an outer circumferential surface. During operation, as the wheel or drum rotates the cutting tools engage and cut the stump. Each type uses a multitude of various cutting tool styles and configurations. A cutting tool typically includes a tool holder secured to the cutting wheel or drum and a cutting tooth secured to the tool holder. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    A stump cutting apparatus including a cutting wheel with a plurality of tool holders secured to the cutting wheel. Each cutting tool includes a plurality of apertures. A cutting tooth mounted in each aperture whereby each tool holder supports more than one cutting tooth. 
         [0007]    The stump cutting apparatus may include a pair of tool holders secured to the cutting wheel. The tool holders positioned diametrically opposite each other. 
         [0008]    Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a stump cutting apparatus according to the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a stump cutting apparatus according to the present invention; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is an end view of a stump cutting apparatus according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0013]    The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. 
         [0014]      FIGS. 1-3  illustrate a stump cutting apparatus, seen generally at  10 , according to one embodiment of the present invention. The stump cutting apparatus  10  generally includes a wheel  12 , tool holders  14 , holder blocks  16 , and a plurality of cutting tools or cutting teeth  18  secured to the tool holder  14 . As illustrated, the cutting tools  18  are located about the periphery or peripheral edge  20  of the wheel  12 . 
         [0015]    In one example of the present invention, the wheel  12  is a plate-like member mounted for rotation about an axis  22  in the direction of the arrow  24 . The wheel  12  includes side surfaces  12   a  and  12   b  and a pair of radially extending arms or tool support segments  26 . As illustrated, the tool support segments  26  extend radially outward along radius or radial  28 . Each tool support segment  26  includes an outer surface  30  at the periphery or peripheral edge  20  of the wheel  12 . The wheel  12  rotates in a generally circular pattern. 
         [0016]    The wheel  12  further includes a central aperture  32  surrounded by a plurality of smaller apertures  34  suitable for securing the wheel  12  to a stump grinding machine. As used herein the term hub  36  refers to the area or portion of the wheel  12  located about or around the central aperture. While shown as a one-piece, integral member, the wheel  12  may be fabricated or formed of two or more pieces; for example, a hub  36  and at least one outwardly extending member or tool support segment  26  attached to the hub  36 . 
         [0017]    As used the term “wheel” broadly refers to any member rotated about a hub in a manner similar to a wheel and is not limited to a circular disk. For example, the outwardly extending support members  26  rotate about the axis  22  in a manner similar to a wheel. One or more radially extending tool support segments  26  connected to the hub  36  would comprise a “wheel.” Further, conventional stump cutting nomenclature refers to the portion of the stump cutter that rotates with the cutting teeth as the “wheel.” 
         [0018]    As illustrated, the outer surface  30  forms the distal end of the tool support segment  26 . In the disclosed example, the outer surface includes a swept back or curved portion  38  that may have a curvature somewhat associated with the circumference of the wheel  12  established by rotating the peripheral edge  20  about the axis  22 . The curvature may change such that it lies under the circumference of the wheel  12 . The configuration of the outer surface  28  of the tool support segment  26  may be something other than curved. 
         [0019]    Each tool support segment  26  includes a forward facing support surface or mounting surface  40  extending outwardly from the axis  22 . As disclosed further, the tool holder  14  is connected to the wheel  12  at the support or mounting surface  40 . The support or mounting surface  40  is a flat or planar surface extending between the respective sides  12   a,    12   b  of the wheel  12 . The plane of the support or mounting surface  30  lies in or is parallel to the axis  22  of rotation. The support or mounting surface  30  is a forward facing surface regarding the rotation direction  24  of wheel  12 . In the illustrated example, a plane extending along the radial  28  passes or extends through and is parallel to the axis  22  or centerline of the wheel  12  with the support or mounting surfaces  30  of the respective tool support segments  26  on or forward of the plane. In an alternative example, the support surface  40  of the tool support segment  26  may be angled, canted or skewed regarding the plane. The distal end of the support or mounting surface  40 , the end at the intersection of the support or mounting surface  40  and the outer surface  30  of the tool support segment  26 , remains at or forward of the plane. The terms forward and rearward are based upon the direction of rotation of the wheel  12  during the cutting operation. Since the wheel rotates in the direction  24  about the axis  22  of the plane rotates in the same direction  24  wherein the area to the left of the plane is forward and the area to the right is rearward. The proximal end of the support or mounting surface  40  may be located forward or rearward of the plane. 
         [0020]    While the support or mounting surface  40  and illustrated as planar, it may be V-shaped, stepped, serrated, elliptical, concave or convex. Since the tool holder  14  is secured to the support or mounting surface  40 , the tool holder  14  should have a corresponding or complementary shape to that of the support or mounting surface  40 . The support or mounting surface  40  may have a width greater than the width or thickness of the wheel  12 . The width or thickness of the wheel being the distance between the respective side surfaces  12   a,    12   b  of the wheel  12  at a location spaced from the support surface  40 . For example, the support or mounting surface  40  may extend laterally outwardly whereby it has a width substantially equal to the width of the tool holder  14  whereby the width or thickness of the support surface  30  then tapers inwardly until it reaches the width or thickness of the wheel  12 . Increasing the width or lateral thickness of the support or mounting surface  40  provides additional support to the tool holder  14 . 
         [0021]    The tool support portions  26  take the shape of a cantilevered member thus reducing the overall size and weight of the tool support portions  26  necessary to support the tool holders  14 . 
         [0022]    Further, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  the respective mounting surfaces  40  are both on the same plane extending along the radius  28  and passing through the center point or axis of rotation  22 . In this example, the wheel  12  is substantially symmetrical about a plane extending along a radial or radius  50  and parallel to the rotational axis  22  and perpendicular to the plane extending along the radial  28 . Making the wheel  12  symmetrical in this manner balances the weight and correspondingly aids in reducing vibration resulting from the wheel being out of balance. Reducing the overall wheel  12  size correspondingly reduces the weight and the horsepower needed to rotate the wheel whereby the horsepower can be transferred directly to the cutting operation rather than used to rotate the wheel  12 . 
         [0023]    The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.