Rotating Bit with Integral Washer Feature

Abstract

A bit including a bit body and a shank depending from a bottom of the bit body. The bit body including an integral washer portion that extends to a rear annular flange and a tapered portion adjacent the rear annular flange. A diameter of the bit body axially and radially extending to a transition adjacent an outer diameter of the washer portion. The tapered portion includes an angle that is complementary to an angle of a countersink at a forward end of a bore of a bit holder, such that the matching contacting angles of the tapered portion and the countersink radially align the bit concentric with the bore of the bit holder. The bit includes a retainer disposed circumferentially about the shank, allowing the bit to be securely mounted in the bore of the bit holder while still allowing the bit to freely rotate within the bore. The rear annular flange of the washer portion seats against a front face of the bit holder, forming a close coupling between the rear annular flange and the front face of the bit holder, allowing minimal space between the two surfaces and reducing cutting fines and water slurry from migrating into the space between the outer diameter of the bit shank and the inner diameter of the retainer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bit comprising:
 a unitary body portion comprising a washer portion adjacent a distal end of the unitary body portion, the washer portion integrally formed as part of the unitary body portion;   the unitary body portion axially and radially extending to a transition adjacent an outer diameter of the washer portion; and   a generally cylindrical shank depending from a bottom of the body portion.   
     
     
         2 . The bit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a tapered portion adjacent a rear annular flange of the washer portion, the tapered portion adapted to contact a countersink at a forward end of a bore of a bit holder to radially align the bit with the bore of the bit holder.   
     
     
         3 . The bit of  claim 2 , the tapered portion comprising a first angle that is adapted to be complementary to a second angle of the countersink of the bore of the bit holder. 
     
     
         4 . The bit of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a transition radius of the washer portion extending from the rear annular flange to the tapered portion.   
     
     
         5 . The bit of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a transition radius of the tapered portion extending from a shoulder at a distal end of the tapered portion to a forward end of the shank.   
     
     
         6 . The bit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a rear annular flange of the washer portion adapted to form a close coupling with an annular surface at a forward end of a bit holder.   
     
     
         7 . The bit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a generally cylindrical hollow retainer disposed circumferentially about the shank.   
     
     
         8 . The bit of  claim 7 , the retainer further comprising:
 a first slot extending through a sidewall of the retainer from an axial forward end of the retainer to an axial distal end of the retainer;   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.   
     
     
         9 . The bit of  claim 8 , 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. 
     
     
         10 . The bit of  claim 8 , the retainer further comprising:
 a chamfer adjacent the axial distal end of the retainer, the chamfer extending to an outer surface of the retainer.   
     
     
         11 . The bit of  claim 8 , the retainer further comprising:
 a notch opposite the axial forward end of the retainer, the notch extending inwardly from the axial distal end of the retainer.   
     
     
         12 . The bit of  claim 11 , the retainer further comprising:
 a second slot axially extending from the notch through the sidewall of the retainer to a second slot termination, the second slot disposed approximately 180 degrees from the first slot.   
     
     
         13 . The bit of  claim 8 , the retainer further comprising:
 at least one tab disposed on the sidewall of the retainer, the at least one tab extending axially and radially inwardly, 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.   
     
     
         14 . The bit of  claim 13 , the retainer further comprising:
 at least one tab aperture defined by the at least one tab; and   a second slot axially extending from the notch through the sidewall of the retainer to a distal end of one of the at least one tab apertures.   
     
     
         15 . The bit of  claim 11 , wherein the notch is arcuate. 
     
     
         16 . The bit of  claim 8 , the retainer further comprising:
 an angular notch extending from the axial distal end of the retainer approximately 180 degrees from the first slot of the retainer.   
     
     
         17 . The bit of  claim 16 , the retainer 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 of the angular notch 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.   
     
     
         18 . The bit of  claim 8 , the retainer further comprising:
 a gap profile of the retainer defined by the first radial end surface and the second radial end surface of the first slot.   
     
     
         19 . The bit of  claim 8 , at least one of the first radial end surface and the second radial end surface of the first slot being at least one of linear, parallel, serpentine, arcuate, angular, and zig-zagged. 
     
     
         20 . The bit of  claim 18 , the gap profile of the first slot being at least one of linear, parallel, serpentine, arcuate, angular, and zig-zagged. 
     
     
         21 . A bit and bit holder combination comprising:
 a bit holder comprising:
 a bit holder body portion comprising a front face at a forward end of the bit holder; 
 a generally cylindrical hollow bit holder shank axially depending from a bottom of the bit holder body portion; and 
 a bore axially extending from the front face of the bit holder body portion to a distal end of the bit holder shank; and 
   a bit comprising:
 a unitary bit body portion comprising a washer portion adjacent a distal end of the unitary body portion, the washer portion integrally formed as part of the unitary body portion; 
 the unitary body portion axially and radially extending to a transition adjacent an outer diameter of the washer portion; and 
 a generally cylindrical bit shank depending from a bottom of the body portion, the bit shank disposed within the bore of the bit holder adjacent the front face of the bit holder. 
   
     
     
         22 . The bit and bit holder combination of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a tapered portion adjacent a rear annular flange of the washer portion.   
     
     
         23 . The bit and bit holder combination of  claim 22 , the tapered portion comprising a first angle that is complementary to a second angle of the countersink of the bore of the bit holder. 
     
     
         24 . The bit and bit holder combination of  claim 22 , the tapered portion of the washer portion contacting the countersink of the bore of the bit holder to radially align the bit with the bore of the bit holder. 
     
     
         25 . The bit and bit holder combination of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a transition radius of the washer portion extending from the rear annular flange to the tapered portion.   
     
     
         26 . The bit and bit holder combination of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a transition radius of the tapered portion extending from a shoulder at a distal end of the tapered portion to a forward end of the bit shank.   
     
     
         27 . The bit and bit holder combination of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a rear annular flange of the washer portion forming a close coupling with an annular surface at a forward end of the bit holder   
     
     
         28 . The bit and bit holder combination of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a generally cylindrical hollow retainer disposed circumferentially about the bit shank.   
     
     
         29 . The bit and bit holder combination of  claim 28 , the retainer further comprising:
 a first slot extending through a sidewall of the retainer from an axial forward end of the retainer to an axial distal end of the retainer;   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.   
     
     
         30 . The bit and bit holder combination of  claim 29 , 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. 
     
     
         31 . The bit and bit holder combination of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 a chamfer adjacent the axial distal end of the retainer, the chamfer extending to an outer surface of the retainer.   
     
     
         32 . The bit and bit holder combination of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 a notch opposite the axial forward end of the retainer, the notch extending inwardly from the axial distal end of the retainer.   
     
     
         33 . The bit and bit holder combination of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 a second slot axially extending from the notch through the sidewall of the retainer to a second slot termination, the second slot disposed approximately 180 degrees from the first slot.   
     
     
         34 . The bit and bit holder combination of claim  39 , further comprising:
 at least one tab disposed on the sidewall of the retainer, the at least one tab extending axially and radially inwardly, the at least one tab adapted to engage a flange on the bit shank of the bit to prevent the retainer from being removed from the bit shank.   
     
     
         35 . The bit and bit holder combination of  claim 34 , further comprising:
 at least one tab aperture defined by the at least one tab; and   a second slot axially extending from the notch through the sidewall of the retainer to a distal end of one of the at least one tab apertures.   
     
     
         36 . The bit and bit holder combination of  claim 32 , wherein the notch is arcuate. 
     
     
         37 . The bit and bit holder combination of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 an angular notch extending from the axial distal end of the retainer approximately 180 degrees from the first slot of the retainer.   
     
     
         38 . The bit and bit holder combination of  claim 37 , 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 of the angular notch 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.   
     
     
         39 . The bit and bit holder combination of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 a gap profile of the retainer defined by the first radial end surface and the second radial end surface of the first slot.   
     
     
         40 . The bit and bit holder combination of  claim 29 , at least one of the first radial end surface and the second radial end surface of the first slot being at least one of linear, parallel, serpentine, arcuate, angular, and zig-zagged. 
     
     
         41 . The bit and bit holder combination of  claim 39 , the gap profile of the first slot being at least one of linear, parallel, serpentine, arcuate, angular, and zig-zagged. 
     
     
         42 . The bit of  claim 1 , a diameter of the washer portion being at least a diameter of a front face of a bit holder at a forward end of the bit holder. 
     
     
         43 . The bit and bit holder combination of  claim 21 , a diameter of the washer portion being at least a diameter of the front face of the bit holder. 
     
     
         44 . The bit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one of an angular body portion and a radial body portion of the unitary body portion extending axially and radially outward, a distal end of the at least one of the angular body portion and the radial body portion adjacent to an outer diameter of the washer portion.   
     
     
         45 . The bit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an annular flange at a distal end of the washer portion including a diameter that is at least a diameter of a front face of a bit holder at a forward end of the bit holder.   
     
     
         46 . A bit comprising:
 a unitary bit body comprising a body portion and a washer portion adjacent a distal end of the body portion, the washer portion integrally formed as part of the unitary bit body;   the body portion axially and radially extending to a transition adjacent an outer diameter of the washer portion; and   a generally cylindrical shank depending from a bottom of the unitary bit body.