Protected spring clip for retaining bits

Abstract

An adapter board has an upper moldboard interfacing portion including a rear flat surface, a front surface, and a plurality of retaining spring clip receiving apertures extending from the front surface to the rear flat surface. A lower tool bit attachment portion of the adapter board terminates in a lower adapter board free end defining a bottom surface that defines a plurality of shank receiving bores. Each one of the plurality of shank receiving bores is in communication with one of the plurality of retaining spring clip receiving apertures.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 .- 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A tool bit comprising:
 a working portion; and   a shank defining a shank free end, including a T-slot spaced away from the shank free end, and a surface of non-revolution that extends from the T-slot.   
     
     
         12 . The tool bit of  claim 11 , wherein the shank includes a partially cylindrical portion extending from the shank free end, the T-slot extends through the partially cylindrical portion, and the surface of non-revolution includes a flat that extends perpendicularly to the T-slot. 
     
     
         13 . The tool bit of  claim 12 , wherein the shank includes a conical portion extending from the partially cylindrical portion toward the working portion. 
     
     
         14 . The tool bit of  claim 13 , wherein the T-slot is spaced away from the conical portion a first predetermined distance, and further comprising a planar surface that is perpendicular to the flat, forming a top extremity of the conical portion. 
     
     
         15 . The tool bit of  claim 14 , wherein the working portion defines a working portion perimeter, the conical portion defines a circular perimeter, and the working portion perimeter surrounds the circular perimeter. 
     
     
         16 . The tool bit of  claim 15 , wherein the conical portion of the shank defines a conical portion minimum diameter, and the partially cylindrical portion of the shank defines a cylindrical diameter that is the same as the conical portion minimum diameter. 
     
     
         17 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A tool bit comprising:
 a working portion;   a shank coupled to the working portion and including a shank free end, and a surface of non-revolution extending between the shank free end and the working portion; and   the shank further including a first side slot and a second side slot each formed between the shank free end and the working portion, and extending from the surface of non-revolution through the shank.   
     
     
         22 . The tool bit of  claim 21  wherein the shank includes a conical portion extending upwardly from the working portion, and a partially cylindrical portion including the surface of non-revolution. 
     
     
         23 . The tool bit of  claim 22  wherein the conical portion includes an upper planar surface extending transversely to the surface of non-revolution. 
     
     
         24 . The tool bit of  claim 23  wherein the shank defines an axis, and the first side slot and the second side slot are spaced axially from the upper planar surface a spacing distance. 
     
     
         25 . The tool bit of  claim 22  wherein the conical portion defines a minimum diameter dimension, and the partially cylindrical portion defines a cylindrical portion diameter that is the same as the minimum diameter dimension. 
     
     
         26 . The tool bit of  claim 21  wherein the working portion includes a plurality of pockets formed therein. 
     
     
         27 . The tool bit of  claim 26  wherein:
 the plurality of pockets include a front pocket and a pair of side pockets; and 
 the tool bit further comprising a front insert, and a pair of side inserts, within the front pocket and the pair of side pockets, respectively. 
 
     
     
         28 . The tool bit of  claim 27  wherein the front insert includes a pair of exposed front insert side surfaces, and the pair of side inserts are located adjacent to the respective exposed front insert side surfaces. 
     
     
         29 . The tool bit of  claim 21  wherein the working portion includes a narrowed taper in a direction of a terminal working portion tip. 
     
     
         30 . The tool bit of  claim 29  wherein:
 the working portion defines a working portion perimeter, and the shank base portion defines a base portion perimeter that is surrounded by the working portion perimeter; and 
 the surface of non-revolution is surrounded by the base portion perimeter in a projection plane. 
 
     
     
         31 . The tool bit of  claim 28  wherein the shank portion defines an axis, and the surface of non-revolution is planar and oriented parallel to the axis. 
     
     
         32 . A tool bit and spring clip assembly comprising:
 a tool bit including a working portion, and a shank having a shank free end, and a surface of non-revolution extending between the shank free end and the working portion; and   a spring clip including a central slot configured to engage with the shank, an adapter board engaging spring arm, and a void formed adjacent to the adapter board engaging spring arm.   
     
     
         33 . The assembly of  claim 32  wherein the spring clip further includes a void filler in the void. 
     
     
         34 . The assembly of  claim 32  wherein:
 the spring clip further includes a second adapter board engaging spring arm, and a second void formed adjacent to the second adapter board engaging spring arm; 
 the shank includes a first side slot and a second side slot each formed between the shank free end and the working portion; and 
 the first side slot and the second side slot extending from the surface of non-revolution through the shank, receiving the spring clip therein and such that the shank is positioned at least partially in the central slot.