Retainer clip for cutter bits

Claim 2

In the combination of a cutter bit and a retainer clip carried by said bit, said bit comprising a forward cutter head, a rearward shank, and a recess on said shank, said clip comprising an annular strip having circumferentially spaced ends defining a gap therebetween, and a plurality of projections projecting outwardly from said strip, said projections being arranged for camming said strip to a radially contracted condition in response to said clip-carrying shank being operable to spring radially outwardly in response to said projections becoming aligned with a retaining groove in said hole, the improvement wherein said projections are arranged to produce radial non-centering movement of said clip relative to said shank in response to forward displacement of said shank in said hole such that said gap approaches the longitudinal axis of said shank.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recess in said shank is bordered at the rear by an abutment portion os said shank which is of larger radius than said recess.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said gap is defined by two circumferentially overlapping extensions of said strip.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said projection means comprises proximate projection means and remote projection means, said proximate projection means comprising at least two proximate projections located on opposite sides of said gap and said remote projection means comprising at least one remote projection located remotely therefrom, said proximate projection means and remote projection means including front surface means facing generally in the direction of said cutter head, said front surface means of said at least two proximate projections being disposed to contact a front wall of said retaining groove prior to said front surface means of said at least one remote projection in response to forward displacement of said shank within the hole.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said front surface means of said at least one remote projection is disposed longitudinally rearwardly relative to said front surface means of said at least two proximate projections.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said front surface means of said remote projection is non-positively oriented and arranged to abut against said wall of said groove upon further forward displacement of said shank, the shank being thereafter forwardly displaceable only upon shearing of said remote projection.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said front surface means of said remote projection is oriented substantially radially.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said front surface means of said remote projection is negatively oriented.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said at least one remote projection comprises two remote projections, and said proximate projections are disposed generally diametrically opposite respective ones of said remote projections.

Claim 11

Apparatus accoarding to claim 4, wherein said front surface means of said remote projection is disposed longitudinally forwardly of a plane which bisects said proximate projections.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said front surface means of said remote projection lies on a plane which bisects said proximate projections.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said remote projection is symmetrical about a transverse plane which bisects said remote projection, and said proximate projections are each symmetrical about said plane.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said at least two proximate projections comprises a first pair of proximate projections located on opposite sides of said gap and defining said front surface means of said proximate projection means, and a second pair of proximate projections disposed longitudinally rearwardly of said first proximate projections and defining rear surface means of said proximate projection means.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein longitudinally forwardmost portions of said front surface means of said proximate and remote projection means lie on a common plane extending perpendicular relative to the axia of said shank.

Claim 16

In the combination of a cutter bit and a retainer clip carried by said bit, said bit comprising a forward cutter head, a rearward shank, and a recess on said shank, said clip comprising an annular strip mounted in said recess and having circumferentially spaced ends defining a gap therebetween, proximate projection means and remote projection means projecting outwardly from said strip, said proximate projection means including at least two projections located on opposite sides of said gap, and said remote projection means located remotely therefrom and defining positively oriented rear surface means, said proximate surface means defining positively oriented rear surface means and positively oriented front surface means, said rear surface mans of said proximate and remote projection mans camming said strip to a radially contracted condition in response to said clip-carrying shank being rearwardly inserted into a hole of a holder, said contracted strip being operable to spring radially outwardly in response to said proximate and remote projection means becoming aligned with a retaining groove in the hole, the improvement wherein said remote projection means defines front surface means disposed longitudinally rearwardly relative to said front surface means of said proximate projection means such that forward displacement of said shank within the hole produces contact between said front surface means of said proximate projection means and a wall of said retaining groove to produce radial non-centering movement of said clip relative to said shank whereby said gap approaches the longitudinal axis of said shank.

Claim 17

In the combination of a cutter bit and a retainer clip carried by said bit, said bit comprising a forward cutter head, a rearward shank, and a recess on said shank, said clip comprising an annular strip mounted in said recess and having circumferentially spaced ends defining a gap therebetween, proximate projection means and remote projection means projecting outwardly from said strip, said proximate projection means including at least two projections located on opposite sides of said gap, and said remote projection means located remotely therefrom and defining positively oriented rear surface means, said proximate surface means defining positively oriented rear surface means and positively oriented front surface means, said rear surface mans of said proximate and remote projection mans camming said strip to a radially contracted condition in response to said clip-carrying shank being rearwardly inserted into a hole of a holder, said contracted strip being operable to spring radially outwardly in response to said proximate and remote projection means becoming aligned with a retaining groove in the hole, the improvement wherein said remote projection means defines front surface means disposed longitudinally rearwardly relative to said front surface means of said proximate projection means such that forward displacement of said shank within the hole produces contact between said front surface means of said proximate projection means and a wall of said retaining groove to produce radial non-centering movement of said clip relative to said shank whereby said gap approaches the longitudinal axis of said shank.

Claim 18

In a retainer clip for use with a bit of the type comprising a forward cutter head, a rearward shank, and a recess in the shank for receiving the clip, said clip comprising an annular strip having circumferentially spaced ends defining a gap therebetween, at least a pair of proximate projections and at least one remote projection projecting outwardly from said strip, said proximate projections located on opposite sides of said gap, and said at least one remote projection located remotely therefrom, said proximate projections including positively oriented front surfaces, the improvement wherein said at least one remote projection includes a front surface whose forwardmost portion is disposed longitudinally rearwardly relative to forwardmost portions of said front surfaces of said proximate projections.

Claim 19

In a retainer clip for use with a bit of the type comprising a forward cutter head, a rearward shank, and a recess in the shank for receiving the clip, said clip comprising an annular strip having circumferentially spaced ends defining a gap therebetween, at least a pair of proximate projections and at least one remote projection projecting outwardly from said strip, said proximate projections located on opposite sides of said gap, and said at least one remote projection located remotely therefrom, said proximate projections including positively oriented front surfaces, the improvement wherein said at least one remote projection includes a front surface whose forwardmost portion is disposed longitudinally rearwardly relative to forwardmost portions of said front surfaces of said proximate projections.

Claim 20

Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said proximate and remote projections include positively oriented rear surfaces.

Claim 21

Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said front surface of said at least one remote projection is oriented substantially radially.

Claim 22

Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said front surface of said at least one remote projection is negatively oriented.

Claim 23

Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said at least one remote projection comprises two remote projections disposed generally diametrically opposite respective ones of said proximate projections.

Claim 24

Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said front surface of said at least one remote projection is disposed longitudinally forwardly of a plane which bisects said proximate projections.

Claim 25

Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said front surface of said at least one remote projection lies on a plane which bisects said proximate projections.

Claim 26

Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said remote projection is symmetrical about a transverse plane which bisects said remote projection, and said proximate projections are each symmetrical about said plane.

Claim 27

Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said gap is defined by two circumferentially overlapping extensions of said strip.

Claim 28

In a combination of a cutter bit, a bit holder and a retainer clip for securing said bit within said holder, said holder comprising a hole and an annular retaining groove in said hole, said bit comprising a front cutter head, a rear shank disposed in said hole, and an annular recess in said shank, said clip comprising an annular strip disposed in said recess, said strip including spaced ends forming a circumferential gap in said strip, a pair of proximate projections and a pair of remote projections projecting radially from said strip and disposed in said retaining groove, said proximate projections disposed generally diametrically opposite respective ones of said proximate projections, said remote and proximate projections including positively oriented front surfaces facing said cutter head, the improvement wherein said remote projections each include a radially disposed front surface, said radially disposed front surfaces being disposed rearwardly relative to forwardmost portions of said front surfaces of said proximate projections, and forwardly relative to a center plane bisecting said proximate projections such that forward displacement of said shank within said hole produces contact between said front surfaces of said proximate projections and a wall of said retaining groove to produce a radial non-centering movement of said clip whereby said gap approaches the longitudinal axis of said shank.

Claim 29

In a combination of a cutter bit, a bit holder and a retainer clip for securing said bit within said holder, said holder comprising a hole and an annular retaining groove in said hole, said bit comprising a front cutter head, a rear shank disposed in said hole, and an annular recess in said shank, said clip comprising an annular strip disposed in said recess, said strip including spaced ends forming a circumferential gap in said strip, a pair of proximate projections and a pair of remote projections projecting radially from said strip and disposed in said retaining groove, said proximate projections disposed generally diametrically opposite respective ones of said proximate projections, said remote and proximate projections including positively oriented front surfaces facing said cutter head, the improvement wherein said remote projections each include a radially disposed front surface, said radially disposed front surfaces being disposed rearwardly relative to forwardmost portions of said front surfaces of said proximate projections, and forwardly relative to a center plane bisecting said proximate projections such that forward displacement of said shank within said hole produces contact between said front surfaces of said proximate projections and a wall of said retaining groove to produce a radial non-centering movement of said clip whereby said gap approaches the longitudinal axis of said shank.

Claim 32

A method according to claim 26, further including the step of: E. causing contact between a wall of said groove and a non-positively oriented front surface of said remote projection after said clip has been shifted radially, whereupon further forward displacement of said shank is possible only by shearing said remote projection.