Retainer for a Rotating Bit

Abstract

A retainer for a rotating bit and/or pick that includes a slot extending from a forward end of the retainer to a distal end of the retainer and a lead in chamfer extending from a distal end of the retainer to an out surface of the retainer. The slot includes a gap profile formed by the configuration or design of a first radial end surface of the slot and a second radial end surface of the slot. The retainer can also include any of or any combination of a dual corner break, a relief notch extending from the distal end of the retainer, a pair of cutouts, a pair of arms, at least one tab, and a compression slot. The retainer may be used independently with the rotating bit or it may be used in conjunction with nearly butted or solid generally cylindrical hollow spacers and/or washers.

1 . A retainer comprising:
 a generally cylindrical hollow body portion including an axial forward end and an axial distal end;   a first slot extending through a sidewall of the body portion from the axial forward end to the axial distal end; and   a chamfer extending from the axial distal end to an outer surface of the retainer, the chamfer adapted to aid in insertion of one of a bit into a bore of a bit holder and a bit into a bore of a base block.   
     
     
         2 . The retainer of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first angled portion extending from the axial distal end to a first radial end surface of the first slot; and   a second angled portion extending from the axial distal end to a second radial end surface of the first slot opposite the first radial end surface of the first slot.   
     
     
         3 . The retainer of  claim 2 , the first angled portion and the second angled portion forming a dual corner break of the retainer adjacent the axial distal end of the retainer. 
     
     
         4 . The retainer of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an angular notch extending from the axial distal end of the retainer approximately 180 degrees from the first slot of the retainer, the angular notch comprising a variable axial length.   
     
     
         5 . The retainer of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a first angled side of the angular notch extending from a first location at the axial distal end of the retainer to a vertex axially inward from the axial distal end of the retainer; and   a second angled side of the angular notch adjacent the first angled side, the second angled side extending from a second location at the axial distal end of the retainer to the vertex, the first location spaced from the second location at the axial distal end of the retainer.   
     
     
         6 . The retainer of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one tab extending axially, radially, and inwardly towards the axial distal end of the retainer, the at least one tab adapted to engage a flange on a shank of a bit to prevent the retainer from being removed from the shank.   
     
     
         7 . The retainer of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 at least one tab aperture defined by the at least one tab.   
     
     
         8 . The retainer of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 an angular notch extending from the axial distal end of the retainer approximately 180 degrees from the first slot of the retainer; and   a distal end of the at least one tab aperture disposed adjacent a vertex of the angular notch.   
     
     
         9 . The retainer of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one tab comprises one of:
 two tabs disposed approximately 180 degrees from each other, each tab being approximately 90 degrees from the first slot; and   three tabs equally spaced from one another.   
     
     
         10 . The retainer of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 an angular notch extending from the axial distal end of the retainer approximately 180 degrees from the first slot of the retainer, the angular notch comprising a variable axial length; and   a second slot axially extending from a vertex of the angular notch through the sidewall of the retainer to a second slot termination, the second slot comprising a variable axial length and disposed approximately 180 degrees from the first slot, and the second slot termination disposed a predetermined distance from the axial distal end of the retainer.   
     
     
         11 . The retainer of  claim 8 , the second slot termination disposed axially forward of the distal end of the tab aperture located opposite the first slot. 
     
     
         12 . The retainer of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one elongate cutout spatially adjacent to the axial distal end of the retainer, each cutout extending circumferentially through the sidewall of the retainer to a cutout termination adjacent a solid back axial portion opposite the first slot of the retainer, the back axial portion axially extending from the axial distal end of the retainer to the axial forward end of the retainer.   
     
     
         13 . The retainer of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 at least one arm defined by a distal end of each cutout and the axial distal end of the retainer.   
     
     
         14 . The retainer of  claim 13 , the at least one arm extending circumferentially from the back axial portion to a distal end defined by at least one of a first radial end surface of the first slot and a second radial end surface of the first slot. 
     
     
         15 . The retainer of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a second slot disposed approximately 180 degrees from the first slot of the retainer, the second slot comprising:
 a first segment of the second slot axially extending from the axial distal end of the retainer through the sidewall of the retainer; and 
 a second segment of the second slot axially extending from a distal end of the tab located approximately 180 degrees from the first slot to a second slot termination disposed within the tab located approximately 180 degrees from the first slot, the second segment disposed axially forward of the distal end of the tab located opposite the first slot of the retainer. 
   
     
     
         16 . The retainer of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 the second slot extending axially from a slot the axial distal end of the retainer.   
     
     
         17 . The retainer of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a notch opposite the first slot of the retainer, the notch extending inwardly from the axial distal end of the retainer, the notch comprising a variable axial length.   
     
     
         18 . The retainer of  claim 17 , wherein the notch is arcuate. 
     
     
         19 . A bit comprising:
 a body portion;   a generally cylindrical shank axially depending from a bottom of the body portion; and   a retainer disposed circumferentially about the shank, the retainer comprising:
 a generally cylindrical hollow body portion including an axial forward end and an axial distal end; 
 a first slot extending through a sidewall of the body portion from the axial forward end to the axial distal end; and 
 a chamfer extending from the axial distal end to an outer surface of the retainer, the chamfer adapted to aid in insertion of one of the bit into a bore of a bit holder and the bit into a bore of a base block. 
   
     
     
         20 . The bit of  claim 19 , the retainer further comprising:
 a first angled portion extending from the axial distal end to a first radial end surface of the first slot; and   a second angled portion extending from the axial distal end to a second radial end surface of the first slot opposite the first radial end surface of the first slot.   
     
     
         21 . The bit of  claim 20 , the retainer the first angled portion and the second angled portion forming a dual corner break of the retainer adjacent the axial distal end of the retainer. 
     
     
         22 . The bit of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 an angular notch extending from the axial distal end of the retainer approximately 180 degrees from the first slot of the retainer, the angular notch comprising a variable axial length.   
     
     
         23 . The bit of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a first angled side of the angular notch extending from a first location at the axial distal end of the retainer to a vertex axially inward from the axial distal end of the retainer; and   a second angled side of the angular notch adjacent the first angled side, the second angled side extending from a second location at the axial distal end of the retainer to the vertex, the first location spaced from the second location at the axial distal end of the retainer.   
     
     
         24 . The bit of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 at least one tab extending axially, radially, and inwardly towards the axial distal end of the retainer, the at least one tab adapted to engage a flange on the shank of the bit to prevent the retainer from being removed from the shank.   
     
     
         25 . The bit of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 at least one tab aperture defined by the at least one tab.   
     
     
         26 . The bit of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 an angular notch extending from the axial distal end of the retainer approximately 180 degrees from the first slot of the retainer, the angular notch comprising a variable axial length; and   a distal end of the at least one tab aperture disposed adjacent a vertex of the angular notch.   
     
     
         27 . The bit of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one tab comprises one of:
 two tabs disposed approximately 180 degrees from each other, each tab being approximately 90 degrees from the first slot; and   three tabs equally spaced from one another.   
     
     
         28 . The bit of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 an angular notch extending from the axial distal end of the retainer approximately 180 degrees from the first slot of the retainer, the angular notch comprising a variable axial length; and   a second slot axially extending from a vertex of the angular notch through the sidewall of the retainer to a second slot termination, the second slot comprising a variable axial length and disposed approximately 180 degrees from the first slot and the second slot termination disposed a predetermined distance from the axial distal end of the retainer.   
     
     
         29 . The bit of  claim 28 , the second slot termination disposed axially forward of the distal end of the tab aperture located opposite the first slot. 
     
     
         30 . The bit of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 at least one elongate cutout spatially adjacent to the axial distal end of the retainer, each cutout extending circumferentially through the sidewall of the retainer to a cutout termination adjacent a solid back axial portion opposite the first slot of the retainer, the back axial portion axially extending from the axial distal end of the retainer to the axial forward end of the retainer.   
     
     
         31 . The bit of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 at least one arm defined by a distal end of each cutout and the axial distal end of the retainer.   
     
     
         32 . The bit of  claim 31 , the at least one arm extending circumferentially from the back axial portion to a distal end defined by at least one of a first radial end surface of the slot and a second radial end surface of the first slot. 
     
     
         33 . The bit of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 a second slot disposed approximately 180 degrees from the first slot of the retainer, the second slot comprising a variable axial length, the second slot comprising:
 a first segment of the second slot axially extending from the axial distal end of the retainer through the sidewall of the retainer; and 
 a second segment of the second slot axially extending from a distal end of the tab located approximately 180 degrees from the first slot to a second slot termination disposed within the tab located approximately 180 degrees from the first slot, the second segment disposed axially forward of the distal end of the tab located opposite the first slot of the retainer. 
   
     
     
         34 . The bit of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 the second slot extending axially from the axial distal end of the retainer.   
     
     
         35 . The bit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a notch opposite the first slot of the retainer, the notch extending inwardly from the axial distal end of the retainer, the notch comprising a variable axial length.   
     
     
         36 . The bit of  claim 35 , wherein the notch is arcuate. 
     
     
         37 . The bit of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 at least one spacer disposed circumferentially about the shank between the bottom of the body portion and the axial forward end of the retainer.   
     
     
         38 . The bit of  claim 37 , the at least one spacer comprising one of a nearly butted annular hollow spacer and a solid annular hollow spacer. 
     
     
         39 . The bit of  claim 37 , a distal end of the at least one spacer contacting the axial forward end of the retainer. 
     
     
         40 . The bit of  claim 38 , further comprising:
 a first spacer radial end surface of the nearly butted annular hollow spacer; and   a second spacer radial end surface of the nearly butted annular hollow spacer opposite the first spacer radial end surface, the first spacer radial end surface spaced from the second spacer radial end surface.   
     
     
         41 . The retainer of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a gap profile defined by a first radial end surface of the first slot and a second radial end surface of the first slot opposite the first radial end surface of the first slot.   
     
     
         42 . The retainer of  claim 1 , at least one of a first radial end surface of the first slot and the second radial end surface of the first slot opposite the first radial end surface being at least one of linear, parallel, serpentine, arcuate, angular, and zig-zagged. 
     
     
         43 . The retainer of  claim 41 , the gap profile of the first slot being at least one of linear, parallel, serpentine, arcuate, angular, and zig-zagged. 
     
     
         44 . The bit of  claim 19 , the retainer further comprising:
 a gap profile defined by a first radial end surface of the first slot and a second radial end surface of the first slot opposite the first radial end surface of the first slot.   
     
     
         45 . The bit of  claim 43 , at least one of the first radial end surface and the second radial end surface of the first slot of the retainer being at least one of linear, parallel, serpentine, arcuate, angular, and zig-zagged. 
     
     
         46 . The bit of  claim 43 , the gap profile of the first slot being at least one of linear, parallel, serpentine, arcuate, angular, and zig-zagged. 
     
     
         47 . The bit of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a washer disposed circumferentially about the shank adjacent the bottom of the body portion.   
     
     
         48 . The retainer of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a second slot axially extending from the angular notch through the sidewall of the retainer to a second slot termination, the second slot comprising a variable axial length and the second slot termination disposed a predetermined distance from the axial distal end of the retainer.   
     
     
         49 . The retainer of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a second slot disposed approximately 180 degrees from the first slot of the retainer, the second slot extending from the notch through the sidewall of the retainer, the second slot comprising a variable axial length; and   a second slot termination of the second slot disposed a predetermined distance from the axial distal end of the retainer along an axial length of the retainer.   
     
     
         50 . The retainer of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second slot disposed approximately 180 degrees from the first slot of the retainer, the second slot extending from the axial distal end of the retainer through the sidewall of the retainer, the second slot comprising a variable axial length; and   a second slot termination of the second slot disposed a predetermined distance from the axial distal end of the retainer along an axial length of the retainer.   
     
     
         51 . The retainer of  claim 50 , the second slot further comprising:
 a first segment of the second slot axially extending from the axial distal end of the retainer through the sidewall of the retainer, the second slot termination located approximately 180 degrees from the first slot of the retainer; and   a second segment of the second slot axially extending from a distal end of the tab located approximately 180 degrees from the first slot to the second slot termination.   
     
     
         52 . The bit of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a second slot axially extending from the angular notch through the sidewall of the retainer to a second slot termination, the second slot comprising a variable axial length and the second slot termination disposed a predetermined distance from the axial distal end of the retainer.   
     
     
         53 . The bit of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a second slot disposed approximately 180 degrees from the first slot of the retainer, the second slot extending from the axial distal end of the retainer through the sidewall of the retainer, the second slot comprising a variable axial length; and   a second slot termination of the second slot disposed a predetermined distance from the axial distal end of the retainer along an axial length of the retainer.   
     
     
         54 . The bit of  claim 53 , the second slot further comprising:
 a first segment of the second slot axially extending from the axial distal end of the retainer through the sidewall of the retainer, the second slot termination located approximately 180 degrees from the first slot of the retainer; and   a second segment of the second slot axially extending from a distal end of the tab located approximately 180 degrees from the first slot to the second slot termination.   
     
     
         55 . The bit of  claim 35 , further comprising:
 a second slot disposed approximately 180 degrees from the first slot of the retainer, the second slot extending from the notch through the sidewall of the retainer, the second slot comprising a variable axial length; and   a second slot termination of the second slot disposed a predetermined distance from the axial distal end of the retainer along an axial length of the retainer.   
     
     
         56 . The retainer of  claim 16 , the second slot positioned along a central portion of the solid back axial portion of the retainer, the back axial portion axially extending from the axial distal end of the retainer to the axial forward end of the retainer. 
     
     
         57 . The bit of  claim 34 , the second slot of the retainer positioned along a central portion of a solid back axial portion of the retainer opposite the first slot of the retainer, the back axial portion axially extending from the axial distal end of the retainer to the axial forward end of the retainer.