Cutting Bit With Split Wear Ring

Abstract

A cutting bit includes an elongate body having a shank portion and a head portion with a forward end. The head portion has an annular channel defined therein adjacent to and rearwardly of the forward end of the head portion. The annular channel has an angled bottom surface. The cutting bit also includes a split wear ring positionable in the annular channel and structured and arranged to be retainably held in the annular channel. The cutting bit further includes a hard cutting tip affixed to the forward end of the head portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cutting bit comprising:
 an elongate body having a shank portion and a head portion with a forward end, wherein the head portion has an annular channel defined therein adjacent to and rearwardly of the forward end of the head portion, the annular channel having an angled bottom surface;   a split wear ring positionable in the annular channel and structured and arranged to be retainably held in the annular channel; and   a hard cutting tip affixed to the forward end of the head portion.   
     
     
         2 . The cutting bit of  claim 1 , wherein the split wear ring has an angled lower surface positioned adjacent to and for cooperating with the angled bottom surface of the annular channel to retainably hold the split wear ring in the annular channel. 
     
     
         3 . The cutting bit of  claim 2 , wherein the annular channel includes an angled top surface generally opposed to the angled bottom surface and a side wall extending between the angled bottom surface and the angled top surface. 
     
     
         4 . The cutting bit of  claim 3 , wherein the split wear ring has an angled upper surface positioned adjacent to and for cooperating with the angled top surface of the annular channel to retainably hold the split wear ring in the annular channel. 
     
     
         5 . The cutting bit of  claim 1 , wherein the angled bottom surface is generally planar and extends in a plane at an angle A to a central longitudinal axis of the elongate body, wherein the angle A is less than 90 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The cutting bit of  claim 5 , wherein the angle A is in the range of 60 degrees to 70 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The cutting bit of  claim 3 , wherein the angled top surface is generally planar and extends in a plane at an angle B to a central longitudinal axis of the elongate body, wherein the angle B is less than 90 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The cutting bit of  claim 7 , wherein the angle B is in the range of 60 degrees to 70 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The cutting bit of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the angled lower surface is generally planar and extends in a plane at an angle C to a center axis of the split wear ring that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis containing the split wear ring, wherein the angle C is less than 90 degrees; and   the angled upper surface is generally planar and extends in a plane at an angle D to a center axis of the split wear ring that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis containing the split wear ring, wherein the angle D is less than 90 degrees.   
     
     
         10 . The cutting bit of  claim 1 , wherein the split wear ring includes two sections. 
     
     
         11 . The cutting bit of  claim 1 , wherein the split wear ring includes adjacent sections that contact each other at abutting faces. 
     
     
         12 . A split wear ring for positioning in an annular channel formed on a head portion of a cutting bit having a central longitudinal axis, the split wear ring comprising:
 an angled lower surface; and   an opposing angled upper surface, wherein the angled lower surface and the opposing angled upper surface are structured and arranged to be retainably held in the annular channel.   
     
     
         13 . The split wear ring of  claim 12 , wherein the angled lower surface is generally planar and extends in a plane at an angle C to a center axis of the split wear ring that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis containing the split wear ring, wherein the angle C is less than 90 degrees. 
     
     
         14 . The split wear ring of  claim 12 , wherein the angled upper surface is generally planar and extends in a plane at an angle D to a center axis of the split wear ring that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis containing the split wear ring, wherein the angle D is less than 90 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . The split wear ring of  claim 12 , wherein the split wear ring includes two sections. 
     
     
         16 . The split wear ring of  claim 12 , wherein the split wear ring includes adjacent sections that contact each other at abutting faces. 
     
     
         17 . An elongate body of a cutting bit adapted to receive a split wear ring, the elongate body comprising:
 a shank portion; and   a head portion with a forward end, wherein the head portion has an annular channel defined therein adjacent to and rearwardly of the forward end of the head portion, the annular channel structured and arranged to retainably hold the split wear ring therein.   
     
     
         18 . The elongate body of  claim 17 , wherein the annular channel includes an angled bottom surface, an angled top surface generally opposed to the angled bottom surface and a side wall extending between the angled bottom surface and the angled top surface. 
     
     
         19 . The elongate body of  claim 18 , wherein the angled bottom surface is generally planar and extends in a plane at an angle A to a central longitudinal axis of the elongate body, wherein the angle A is less than 90 degrees. 
     
     
         20 . The elongate body of  claim 18 , wherein the angled bottom surface is generally planar and extends in a plane at an angle B to a central longitudinal axis of the elongate body, wherein the angle B is less than 90 degrees.