Rotatable Cutting Tool With Continuous Arcuate Head Portion

Abstract

A rotatable cutting tool for use in impinging earth strata wherein the rotatable cutting tool includes a cutting tool body and a hard tip affixed to the cutting tool body. The cutting tool body includes a forward end for receiving the hard tip and a rearward end, a head portion, a collar portion, and a shank portion. In one aspect, the head portion includes a continuous arcuate outer surface providing a slim profile.

1 . A rotatable cutting tool for use in impinging earth strata, the rotatable cutting tool comprising:
 a cutting tool body;   a hard tip affixed to the cutting tool body;   the cutting tool body having an axial forward end for receiving the hard tip and an axial rearward end, a head portion axially rearward of the axial forward end, a collar portion axially rearward of the head portion, and a shank portion axially rearward of the collar portion and axially forward of the axial rearward end; and   wherein the head portion includes an axial forward generally circular cross section having an axial forward diameter and an axial rearward generally circular cross section having an axial rearward diameter, wherein the diameter of the head portion decreases non-linearly from the axial rearward diameter to the axial forward diameter.   
     
     
         2 . The rotatable cutting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the axial forward diameter is in the range of about 0.50 centimeters to about 5.50 centimeters. 
     
     
         3 . The rotatable cutting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the axial rearward diameter is in the range of about 0.60 centimeters to about 7.70 centimeters. 
     
     
         4 . The rotatable cutting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the head portion includes a continuous arcuate outer surface extending from the axial forward diameter to the axial rearward diameter. 
     
     
         5 . The rotatable cutting tool of  claim 4 , wherein the continuous arcuate outer surface has a radius of curvature in the range of about 12.0 centimeters to about 130.0 centimeters. 
     
     
         6 . The rotatable cutting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the head portion includes an axial forward periphery and an axial rearward periphery, wherein the head portion further includes a continuous arcuate outer surface extending from the axial forward periphery to the axial rearward periphery. 
     
     
         7 . The rotatable cutting tool of  claim 6 , wherein the continuous arcuate outer surface has a radius of curvature in the range of about 12.0 centimeters to about 130.0 centimeters. 
     
     
         8 . The rotatable cutting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the head portion has an axial length in the range of about 2.0 centimeters to about 16.0 centimeters. 
     
     
         9 . A rotatable cutting tool for use in impinging earth strata, the rotatable cutting tool comprising:
 a cutting tool body;   a hard tip affixed to the cutting tool body;   the cutting tool body having an axial forward end for receiving the hard tip and an axial rearward end, a head portion axially rearward of the axial forward end, a neck portion axially rearward of the head portion, a collar portion axially rearward of the mediate portion and a shank portion axially rearward of the collar portion and axially forward of the axial rearward end; and   wherein the head portion includes an axial forward periphery and an axial rearward periphery, wherein the head portion further includes a continuous arcuate outer surface extending from the axial forward periphery to the axial rearward periphery.   
     
     
         10 . The rotatable cutting tool of  claim 9 , wherein the continuous arcuate outer surface has a radius of curvature in the range of about 12.0 centimeters to about 130.0 centimeters. 
     
     
         11 . The rotatable cutting tool of  claim 9 , wherein the head portion has an axial length in the range of about 2.0 centimeters to about 16.0 centimeters. 
     
     
         12 . The rotatable cutting tool of  claim 9 , wherein a diameter of the head portion decreases non-linearly from the axial rearward periphery to the axial forward periphery. 
     
     
         13 . A rotatable cutting tool body with a central longitudinal axis, the rotatable cutting tool body comprising:
 a head portion, a shank portion, and a collar portion mediate of and contiguous with the head portion and the shank portion;   an axial forward end adjacent to the head portion and an axial rearward end adjacent to the shank portion;   wherein the head portion includes an axial forward periphery and an axial rearward periphery, wherein the head portion further includes a continuous arcuate outer surface extending from the axial forward periphery to the axial rearward periphery.   
     
     
         14 . The rotatable cutting tool body of  claim 13 , wherein the continuous arcuate outer surface has a radius of curvature in the range of about 12.0 centimeters to about 130.0 centimeters. 
     
     
         15 . The rotatable cutting tool body of  claim 13 , wherein the head portion has an axial length in the range of about 2.0 centimeters to about 16.0 centimeters. 
     
     
         16 . The rotatable cutting tool body of  claim 13 , wherein a diameter of the head portion decreases non-linearly from the axial rearward periphery to the axial forward periphery. 
     
     
         17 . The rotatable cutting tool body of  claim 13 , wherein the head portion includes an axial forward generally circular cross section having an axial forward diameter and an axial rearward generally circular cross section having an axial rearward diameter, wherein the diameter of the head portion decreases non-linearly from the axial rearward diameter to the axial forward diameter. 
     
     
         18 . The rotatable cutting tool body of  claim 17 , wherein the axial forward diameter is in the range of about 0.50 centimeters to about 5.50 centimeters. 
     
     
         19 . The rotatable cutting tool body of  claim 17 , wherein the axial rearward diameter is in the range of about 0.60 centimeters to about 7.70 centimeters. 
     
     
         20 . A rotatable cutting tool body with a central longitudinal axis, the rotatable cutting tool body comprising:
 a head portion, a shank portion, and a collar portion mediate of and contiguous with the head portion and the shank portion;   an axial forward end adjacent to the head portion and an axial rearward end adjacent to the shank portion;   wherein the head portion includes an axial forward generally circular cross section having an axial forward diameter and an axial rearward generally circular cross section having an axial rearward diameter, wherein the diameter of the head portion decreases non-linearly from the axial rearward diameter to the axial forward diameter.   
     
     
         21 . The rotatable cutting tool body of  claim 20 , wherein the axial forward diameter is in the range of about 0.50 centimeters to about 5.50 centimeters. 
     
     
         22 . The rotatable cutting tool body of  claim 20 , wherein the axial rearward diameter is in the range of about 0.60 centimeters to about 7.70 centimeters.