Multi-Faced Cutting Tool

Abstract

A rotatable cutting tool for use in impinging earth strata includes a cutting tool body having a central longitudinal axis, the cutting tool body including a head portion, a shank portion axially rearward of the head portion and a hard cutting tip affixed to the head portion of the cutting tool body. The head portion includes a first head section adjacent to an axial forward end of the head portion, wherein the first head section includes a plurality of first side faces such that adjacent first side faces meet to form a corresponding plurality of first common edges. The head portion further includes a second head section adjacent to an axial rearward end of the head portion, the second head section having a plurality of second side faces wherein adjacent second side faces meet to form a corresponding plurality of second common edges.

1 . A rotatable cutting tool for use in impinging earth strata, the rotatable cutting tool comprising:
 a cutting tool body having a central longitudinal axis, the cutting tool body including a head portion, a collar portion axially rearward of the head portion, and a shank portion axially rearward of the collar portion; and   a hard cutting tip affixed to the head portion of the cutting tool body,   wherein the head portion includes:
 a first head section adjacent to an axial forward end of the head portion, the first head section comprising a plurality of first side faces wherein adjacent first side faces meet to form a corresponding plurality of first common edges; and 
 a second head section adjacent to an axial rearward end of the head portion, the second head section comprising a plurality of second side faces wherein adjacent second side faces meet to form a corresponding plurality of second common edges, wherein the plurality of first side faces are offset from the plurality of second side faces such that none of the plurality common edges are aligned with any of the plurality of second common edges. 
   
     
     
         2 . The rotatable cutting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first side faces extend around a perimeter of the first head section. 
     
     
         3 . The rotatable cutting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of second side faces extend around a perimeter of the second head section. 
     
     
         4 . The rotatable cutting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the first head section and the second head section meet to form a sectional boundary therebetween. 
     
     
         5 . The rotatable cutting tool of  claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of first common edges extend from the axial forward end of the head portion to the sectional boundary. 
     
     
         6 . The rotatable cutting tool of  claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of second common edges extend from the axial rearward end of the head portion to the sectional boundary. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The rotatable cutting tool of  claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of first common edges of the first head portion are generally aligned with a longitudinal centerline of corresponding adjacent second side faces of the second head portion. 
     
     
         9 . The rotatable cutting tool of  claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of second common edges of the second head portion are generally aligned with a longitudinal centerline of corresponding adjacent first side faces of the first head portion. 
     
     
         10 . The rotatable cutting tool of  claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of second common edges of the second head portion forms a raised projection adjacent the sectional boundary. 
     
     
         11 . The rotatable cutting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the first head section and the second head section meet to form a sectional boundary therebetween such that each of the plurality of first side faces extend from the axial forward end of the head portion to the sectional boundary and each of the plurality of second side faces extend from the axial rearward end of the head portion to the sectional boundary. 
     
     
         12 . The rotatable cutting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first side faces each extend longitudinally in a first plane at a first angle relative to the central longitudinal axis of the cutting tool body and the plurality of second side faces each extend longitudinally in a second plane at a second angle relative to the central longitudinal axis, wherein the first angle that contains the first plane is substantially the same as the second angle that contains the second plane. 
     
     
         13 . The rotatable cutting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first side faces each extend longitudinally in a first plane at a first angle relative to the central longitudinal axis of the cutting tool body and the plurality of second side faces each extend longitudinally in a second plane at a second angle relative to the central longitudinal axis, wherein the first angle that contains the first plane is different than the second angle that contains the second plane. 
     
     
         14 . A rotatable cutting tool for use in impinging earth strata, the rotatable cutting tool comprising:
 a cutting tool body having a central longitudinal axis, the cutting tool body including a head portion and a shank portion axially rearward of the head portion; and   a hard cutting tip affixed to the head portion of the cutting tool body,   wherein the head portion includes:
 a first head section adjacent to an axial forward end of the head portion, the first head section comprising a plurality of first side faces wherein adjacent first side faces meet to form a corresponding plurality of first common edges; and 
 a second head section adjacent to an axial rearward end of the head portion, the second head section comprising a plurality of second side faces wherein adjacent second side faces meet to form a corresponding plurality of second common edges, 
 wherein the plurality of first side faces each extend longitudinally in a first plane at a first angle relative to the central longitudinal axis of the cutting tool body and the plurality of second side faces each extend longitudinally in a second plane at a second angle relative to the central longitudinal axis, and wherein the plurality of first side faces are offset from the plurality of second side faces such that none of the plurality of first common edges are aligned with any of the plurality of second common edges. 
   
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The rotatable cutting tool of  claim 14 , wherein the first angle that contains the first plane is different than the second angle that contains the second plane. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A rotatable cutting tool for use in impinging earth strata, the rotatable cutting tool comprising:
 a cutting tool body having a central longitudinal axis, the cutting tool body including a head portion and a shank portion axially rearward of the head portion; and   a hard cutting tip affixed to the head portion of the cutting tool body,   wherein the head portion includes:
 a first head section adjacent to an axial forward end of the head portion, the first head section comprising a plurality of first side faces wherein adjacent first side faces meet to form a corresponding plurality of first common edges; and 
 a second head section adjacent to an axial rearward end of the head portion, the second head section comprising a plurality of second side faces wherein adjacent second side faces meet to form a corresponding plurality of second common edges, 
 wherein the plurality of first side faces are offset from the plurality of second side faces such that none of the plurality of first common edges are aligned with any of the plurality of second common edges. 
   
     
     
         18 . The rotatable cutting tool of  claim 17 , wherein the first head section and the second head section meet to form a sectional boundary therebetween such that each of the plurality of first common edges extend from the axial forward end of the head portion to the sectional boundary and each of the plurality of second common edges extend from the axial rearward end of the head portion to the sectional boundary. 
     
     
         19 . The rotatable cutting tool of  claim 18 , wherein each of the plurality of second common edges of the second head portion forms a raised projection adjacent the sectional boundary. 
     
     
         20 . The rotatable cutting tool of  claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of first common edges of the first head portion are generally aligned with a longitudinal centerline of corresponding adjacent second side faces of the second head portion and each of the plurality of second common edges of the second head portion are generally aligned with a longitudinal centerline of corresponding adjacent first side faces of the first head portion.