Tree stump grinding tooth

Abstract

A tree stump grinding tooth includes a front side, rear side, outer side, inner side, top side, and bottom side. The outer side includes a neck portion that is substantially covered by an elongate cutting bit. The front side of the tree stump grinding tooth includes an arcuate beveled edge that is wider at the bottom side as compared to the top side when viewed from an outer side elevation. The inner side of the tree stump grinding tooth includes a substantially planar section. A portion of the elongate cutting bit that is distal to the top side is angled relative to the face of the elongate cutting face. Both an outer side and an inner side of the neck portion are tapered. Tungsten carbide grit is applied to portion of the top side, a portion of the front side and a portion of the outer side.

Description

Atty. Dkt. No. ETS-56711.01TREE STUMP GRINDING TOOTHCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Prov. App. Ser. No. 63 / 722,997 filed November 20, 2024, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0002] Field of Invention

[0003] The present disclosure relates to tree stump grinding teeth and, more particularly, to tree stump grinding teeth that are adapted to be affixed to tree stump grinding wheel assemblies.

[0004] Brief Description of Related Art

[0005] Conventional tree stump grinding machines include a tree stump grinding wheel assembly that comprises a vertically oriented wheel having a plurality of grinding teeth (which are sometimes also referred to in the art as “cutting teeth”) mounted on both side surfaces thereof. The wheel is typically mounted on an extension arm or boom of a grinding machine, which rotates the wheel at relatively high speed in a forward direction relative to the grinding machine. An operator of the grinding machine moves the rotating wheel in plunging and sweeping motions relative to a tree stump to be removed, which causes the grinding teeth mounted thereon to make contact with the tree stump. The grinding teeth grind mounted to the rotating wheel impact against the tree stump and thereby cut or otherwise pummel the tree stump into chips, chunks or pieces until it is removed, typically below the grade of the surrounding soil. During tree stump removal operations, the grinding teeth are subjected to very large impact and abrading forces. Over time, these forces can cause one or more of the grinding teeth to break off and / or to wear out. When this occurs, one or more of the grinding teeth must be replaced.

[0006] In some prior art tree stump grinding wheel assemblies, the grinding teeth are positioned directly into contact with a side surface of the wheel and are fastened directly thereto using fasteners such as bolts. An example of such a prior art assembly is shown in Gossett, U.S. Pat. No. 7,918,252 B2 (hereafter, the ‘“252 Patent”), which is assigned to the same assignee as the present disclosure. The ‘252 Patent discloses tree stumpAtty. Dkt. No. ETS-56711.01 grinding teeth that are adapted to be affixed to a grinding wheel using at least one bolt, which passes through a bore in a mounting base of each grinding tooth. The mounting base has a substantially flat surface from which one or more cleats project. The cleats are adapted to be received in corresponding bores formed in the grinding wheel. A resilient impact pad is positioned between the mounting base of the grinding tooth and the wheel. The resilient impact pad protects the surface of the wheel from impact forces applied to the grinding tooth. The present disclosure provides several improvements to the tree stump grinding teeth disclosed in the '252 Patent.BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present disclosure provides a tree stump grinding tooth that comprises a body having a front side, a rear side, an outer side, an inner side, a top side, and a bottom side. In one embodiment, the outer side comprises a neck portion on which an elongate cutting bit is affixed. In another embodiment, the front side of the tree stump grinding tooth includes an arcuate beveled edge that is wider at the bottom side as compared to the top side when viewed from an outer side elevation. In another embodiment, the inner side of the tree stump grinding tooth includes a substantially planar section. In another embodiment, the elongate cutting bit extends along almost the entire full face of the neck portion. In another embodiment, the portion of the elongate cutting bit that is distal to the top side is angled at an angle y relative to the face of the elongate cutting face. In another embodiment, both an outer side and an inner side of the neck portion are tapered. In another embodiment, tungsten carbide grit is applied to portion of the top side, a portion of the front side and a portion of the outer side.

[0008] According to one aspect, a tree stump grinding tooth comprises a body having a front side, a rear side, an outer side, an inner side, a top side, and a bottom side. The outer side includes a neck portion. An elongate cutting bit is affixed to the neck portion and extends along approximately an entire face of the neck portion. The front side of the body includes an arcuate beveled edge that is wider at the bottom side of the body as compared to the top side of the body when the grinding tooth is viewed from an outer side elevation.Atty. Dkt. No. ETS-56711.01

[0009] According to another aspect, a tree stump grinding tooth comprises a body having a front side, a rear side, an outer side, an inner side, a top side, and a bottom side. The outer side includes a neck portion. An elongate cutting bit is affixed to the neck portion. A metallic grit is applied to a portion of the top side, a portion of the front side and a portion of the outer side of the body.

[0010] The foregoing and other features of the disclosure are hereinafter more fully described below, the following description setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the disclosure, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the present disclosure may be employed.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an exemplary tree stump grinding tooth according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0012] Fig. 2 is a front elevation view of the exemplary tree stump grinding tooth shown in Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrow II.

[0013] Fig. 3 is an outer side elevation view of the exemplary tree stump grinding tooth shown in Fig. 1 in the direction of arrow III.

[0014] Fig. 4 shows a side view of a tree stump grinding wheel to which tree stump grinding teeth according to the present disclosure are affixed.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are merely illustrative and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structures disclosed without departing from the present disclosure. Spatially relative terms may be used to describe an element and / or feature's relationship to another element(s) and / or feature(s) as, for example, illustrated in the figures. Further, any term of degree used herein, such as "substantially" and “approximately”, means a reasonable amount of deviation of the modified word is contemplated such that the end result is not significantly changed. For example, such terms can be construed as allowing a deviation of at least 5% of the modified word if this deviation would not negate the meaning of the word the term of degree modifies.Atty. Dkt. No. ETS-56711.01

[0016] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, Figs. 1-3 illustrate an exemplary tree stump grinding tooth 10 according to the present disclosure. The tree stump grinding tooth 10 has a front or leading side 20, a rear or trailing side 30, an outer side 40 and an inner side 50. The sides 20, 30, 40, 50 generally denote the direction of travel and / or orientation of the tree stump grinding tooth 10 relative to a grinding wheel assembly 400 (see Fig. 4). The front or leading side 20 is the portion of the tree stump grinding tooth 10 that is most inclined to contact with the tree stump during use, whereas the rear or trailing side 30 is the portion of the tree stump grinding tooth 10 that is least likely to contact the tree stump during use. The outer side 40 is oriented on the grinding wheel assembly farther away from the axis of rotation of the grinding wheel assembly 400 as compared to the inner side 30, and thus moves at a higher relative speed during use.

[0017] As shown in Fig. 1 , the tree stump grinding tooth 10 has a top or exterior side 60. And, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the tree stump grinding tooth 10 has a bottom or interior side 70. Interior bosses 80, 90 are extended from the bottom or interior side 70 of the tree stump grinding tooth 10. The interior bosses 80, 90 are adapted to be received in bores provided in the grinding wheel assembly (see Fig. 4 and the ‘252 Patent). As best shown in Fig. 1 , through bores 100, 110 extend through the thickness of the tree stump grinding tooth 10. The through bores 100, 110 are smaller in diameter than the interior bosses 80, 90. The through bores 100, 110 are surrounded by partial bores 120, 130, which create shoulders 140, 150. Fasteners, such as bolts, extend through the through bores 100, 110 and attach each grinding tooth to the grinding wheel 400. The threaded end of bolts (not shown, see the ‘252 Patent) are insertable through the through bores 110, 110 from the top or exterior side 60 into the tree stump grinding wheel assembly 400. The heads of the bolts (see the ‘252 Patent) bear against the shoulders 140, 150. The bolts thus secure the tree stump grinding tooth 10 to the tree stump grinding wheel assembly 400 (see Fig. 4). A variety of fasteners could be used within the scope of the present disclosure, provided such fasteners exhibit sufficient strength to secure the grinding teeth to the wheel.

[0018] According to the present disclosure, the grinding tooth 10 is a one-piece construction that is produced by metallic forging or casting. In a preferred embodiment, aAtty. Dkt. No. ETS-56711.01 metallic forging is made from AMS 4140 steel, but other metallic alloys having suitable mechanical properties are envisioned to be within the scope of the present disclosure. Forging is currently preferred over casting due to the ability to consistently produce grinding teeth of superior strength and durability.

[0019] The outer side 40 features a neck portion 160 on which an elongate cutting bit 170 is affixed. The cutting bit 170 is preferably made of a tungsten carbide material, but alternatively may be made of other metallic alloys having comparable hardness and mechanical strength. In a front elevational view (e.g., as shown in Fig. 2), a longitudinal axis 180 of the elongate cutting bit 170 forms an angle a with respect to the bottom or interior side 70 of the tree stump grinding tooth 10 that is adapted to contact the grinding wheel assembly 400, the angle a being greater than 90° and less than 180°. In some preferred embodiments, the angle a is about 135°. In Figs. 1-3, the elongate cutting bit 170 extends along a face of the neck portion 160. According to one aspect, the cutting bit 170 extends along almost or approximately the entire full face of the neck portion 160. This is in contrast with the prior art wherein the cutting bit was only at the end (see, for example, the ‘252 Patent). The elongate cutting bit 170 provides the dual benefit of providing a large cutting edge for removing stump material while also protecting the neck portion 160 from abrasion and wear. As best shown in Fig. 3, a portion 172 of the cutting bit 170 that is distal to the top side 60 of the tree stump grinding tooth 10 is angled at an angle y relative to the face of the elongate cutting bit 170, where the angle y is greater than 0° and equal to or less than 5°. In one embodiment, the angle y is approximately 5°. The angled face improves the ejection of removed material away from the tree stump grinding tooth 10 and the tree stump grinding wheel assembly (not shown) to which it is attached.

[0020] In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-3, the front or leading side 20 of the tree stump grinding tooth 10 features an arcuate beveled edge 190. The arcuate beveled edge 190 is wider at the bottom or interior side 70 as compared to the top side 60 when viewed from an outer side elevation perspective (e.g., as shown in Fig. 3). The arcuate beveled edge 190 is adapted to urge material that strikes the front of the tree stump grinding tooth 10 during use upwardly and away from the top side of the tree stump grinding tooth 10 rather than allowing the material to directly impact the tree stumpAtty. Dkt. No. ETS-56711.01 grinding tooth 10 at the front and inhibits the accumulation of material at the front of the tree stump grinding tooth 10 in use. In Fig. 3, the arcuate beveled edge forms an angle p with respect to the bottom or interior side 70 of the tree stump grinding tooth 10 that is adapted to contact the grinding wheel assembly 400 (see Fig. 4), the angle being greater than 45° and less than 90°. In some preferred embodiments the angle p is about 75°.

[0021] In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-3, the inner side 50 of the tree stump grinding tooth 10 includes a substantially planar section 200. The planar section 200 extends beyond the neck portion 160 toward the arcuate beveled edge 190, and extends approximately half way down the neck portion 160 toward the rear or trailing side 30. In the prior art, this portion of the stump grinding tooth was bulbous (see, for example, the ‘252 Patent). The planar section 200 is configured to reduce drag and provide less surface area for material to strike during use of the grinding wheel assembly 400.

[0022] As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, both the outer side 210 and the inner side 220 of the neck portion 160 are tapered to reduce drag on the tree stump grinding tooth 10 during rotation. The tapering on the outer side 210 and the inner side 220 of the neck portion 160 reduces the likelihood that the neck portion 160 contacts the stump to be removed during operation of the grinding wheel assembly 400.

[0023] In another improvement over prior art grinding teeth, metallic grit 226 (shown in cross-hatching) is applied to portions of the front side 20, the outer side 40 and the inner side 50. In a preferred embodiment, the metallic grit is a 16-24 mesh tungsten carbide. The metallic grit 226 is preferably applied at a thickness of about 1 / 4", and is particularly beneficial when applied from the base of a face filet section 230 to the front body for anti-wear resistance. In Fig. 3, the metallic grit 226 is preferably installed from the exterior side 60 to substantially half the thickness of a portion 240 of the grinding tooth body in an outer side elevation view of the grinding tooth 10, the portion 240 extending from the neck portion 160 to the top side 20 for anti-wear resistance. The metallic grit decreases wear on the tree stump grinding tooth 10 during use.

[0024] In Fig. 4, the grinding teeth 10 are mounted to a surface of the grinding wheel assembly 400 via the fasteners. The tree stump grinding wheel assembly 400 is adapted to be mounted to a stump grinding machine (not shown) that rotates the wheel assemblyAtty. Dkt. No. ETS-56711.01400 at relatively high speed in a forward direction relative to the stump grinding machine (i.e., in the direction shown by arrow on the peripheral edge of the wheel in Fig. 4). An operator of the grinding machine moves the rotating wheel assembly 400 in plunging and sweeping motions relative to a tree stump to be removed, which causes cutting bits 170 mounted to the grinding teeth 10, to make contact with the tree stump. The cutting bits 170 cut or otherwise pummel the tree stump into small chips, chunks or pieces until the tree stump is removed (typically until the stump has been ground away below the grade of the surrounding soil).

[0025] It will be appreciated that the improvements can be employed individually or in any combination. Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the disclosure in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and illustrative examples shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

Atty. Dkt. No. ETS-56711.01What is claimed is:1 . A tree stump grinding tooth comprising: a body having a front side, a rear side, an outer side, an inner side, a top side, and a bottom side, the outer side including a neck portion; and an elongate cutting bit affixed to the neck portion and extending along approximately an entire face of the neck portion, wherein the front side of the body includes an arcuate beveled edge that is wider at the bottom side of the body as compared to the top side of the body when the grinding tooth is viewed from an outer side elevation.

2. The tree stump grinding tooth of claim 1 , wherein the arcuate beveled edge forms an angle [3 with respect to the bottom side, the angle [3 being greater than 45° and less than 90°.

3. The tree stump grinding tooth of claim 1 , wherein the inner side of the body includes a substantially planar section.

4. The tree stump grinding tooth of claim 1 , wherein the elongate cutting bit extends along the entire full face of the neck portion.

5. The tree stump grinding tooth or claim 1 , wherein a portion of the elongate cutting bit that is distal to the top side is angled at an angle y relative to the face of the elongate cutting face, wherein the angle y is greater than 0° and equal to or less than 5°6. The tree stump grinding tooth of claim 1 , wherein both an outer side and an inner side of the neck portion are tapered.

7. The tree stump grinding tooth of claim 1 , wherein a metallic grit is applied to a portion of the top side, a portion of the front side and a portion of the outer side of the body.Atty. Dkt. No. ETS-56711.

018. The tree stump grinding tooth of claim 7 wherein the metallic grit is a tungsten carbide grit.

9. The tree stump grinding tooth of claim 7, wherein the metallic grit is applied at a thickness of about 1 / 4".

10. The tree stump grinding tooth of claim 7, wherein the metallic grit is applied from an exterior side of the body to substantially half the thickness of a portion of the body in the outer side elevation view of the grinding tooth.11 . The tree stump grinding tooth of claim 10, wherein the portion of the body extends from the neck portion to the top side.

12. A tree stump grinding tooth comprising: a body having a front side, a rear side, an outer side, an inner side, a top side, and a bottom side, the outer side including a neck portion; an elongate cutting bit affixed to the neck portion; and a metallic grit applied to a portion of the top side, a portion of the front side and a portion of the outer side of the body.

13. The tree stump grinding tooth of claim 12, wherein the metallic grit is applied from an exterior side of the body to substantially half the thickness of a portion of the body in an outer side elevation view of the grinding tooth.

14. The tree stump grinding tooth of claim 12, wherein the elongate cutting bit extends along approximately an entire face of the neck portion.

15. The tree stump grinding tooth of claim 12, wherein the front side of the body includes an arcuate beveled edge that is wider at the bottom side of the body as compared to the top side of the body when the grinding tooth is viewed from an outer side elevation,Atty. Dkt. No. ETS-56711.01 wherein the arcuate beveled edge forms an angle p with respect to the bottom side, the angle p being greater than 45° and less than 90°.

16. The tree stump grinding tooth or claim 12, wherein a portion of the elongate cutting bit that is distal to the top side is angled at an angle relative to the face of the elongate cutting face, wherein the angle y is equal to or less than 5°.

17. The tree stump grinding tooth of claim 12, wherein both an outer side and an inner side of the neck portion are tapered.

18. The tree stump grinding tooth of claim 12, wherein the inner side of the body includes a substantially planar section.

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