Patent ID: 6848485

Claim:
A stump grinding apparatus comprising: a disc defining a direction of rotation and a center axis, the disc including axially spaced side surfaces and a generally circular outer peripheral surface, the outer peripheral surface defining an outer circumference of the disc, the outer circumference having a maximum diameter substantially larger than an axial thickness of the disc, there being at least eight recesses formed in the outer peripheral surface and spaced circumferentially apart, each recess including leading and trailing walls spaced circumferentially apart and a generally radially outwardly facing floor interconnecting the leading and trailing walls; and peripheral cutting assemblies mounted in respective ones of the recesses, each cutting assembly comprising: a holder disposed in the respective recess and fixed to the disc, the holder having leading and trailing end surfaces spaced circumferentially apart and facing the leading and trailing walls of its respective recess, the holder further including radially outer and inner surfaces through which a hole extends, the radially inner surface facing generally toward the floor of the recess and including an open pocket; a cutter tooth mounted in the holder and including a shank extending through the hole, wherein a threaded first end portion of the shank extends within the pocket, the cutter tooth further including a cutter head disposed at a second end portion of the shank; and a nut threaded onto the first end of the shank and seated within the pocket to be shielded during a cutting operation.