Replaceable mounting apparatus for reducing elements

A holding block for supporting a rotary cutting tool on a drum, the holding block being mounted on the drum at an acute cutting angle, the holding block comprising:

• a main body including:
• a cylindrical tool mounting aperture having a center line and a diameter, the cylindrical tool mounting aperture defining an axis of rotation of the rotary cutting tool;
• a front face, a rear face, and a bottom face, the bottom face having a planar portion that extends between the front and rear face, the rear face including a pair of parallel rails that define a channel, the cylindrical tool mounting aperture being adapted to receive a reducing element such that the reducing element is positioned at the front face of the main body of the holding block;
• a first fastener opening that extends through the main body from the front face to the rear face;
• and
• a second fastener opening adjacent the first fastener opening that extends from the front face to the rear face;
• a third fastener opening adjacent the first fastener opening and the bottom face that extends from the front face to the rear face;
• and
• a fourth fastener opening adjacent the second fastener opening and the bottom face that extends from the front face to the rear face;
• wherein the first, second, third and fourth fastener openings are parallel to the centerline of the cylindrical tool mounting aperture, the first, second, third, and fourth fastener openings being disposed on the same side relative to the cylindrical tool mounting aperture such that there is no reinforcement structure on an opposite side of the cylindrical tool mounting aperture, the first and third fastener openings being disposed on a first side of the center line and the second and fourth fastener openings being disposed on an opposite, second side of the center line, the first, second, third, and fourth fastener openings being adapted to receive block fasteners for replaceably mounting the holding block to a support mount;
• and
• wherein the rear face has a planar surface that interfaces with a block mounting surface of the support mount when the holding block is mounted to the support mount.

A replaceable holding block comprising:

• a main body having a front face and a rear face, the replaceable holding block defining a first fastener opening, a second fastener opening, and a tooth opening that extends through the replaceable holding block from the front face to the rear face, the tooth opening being adapted to receive a reducing element such that the reducing element is positioned at the front face of the main body of the replaceable holding block;
• wherein the first fastener opening is parallel to the second fastener opening;
• wherein the first and second fastener openings are disposed on the same side of the tooth opening such that there is no reinforcement structure on an opposite side of the tooth opening, one of the first and second fastener openings being spaced farther from the tooth opening than another one of the first and second fastener openings;
• the rear face including a pair of parallel rails that define a channel, the channel including a recess for resisting twisting or torque caused by a side or lateral load being applied to a reducing element;
• wherein each of the first and second fastener openings is adapted to receive a block fastener for securing the replaceable holding block to a support mount;
• wherein the rear face has a planar surface that interfaces with a block mounting surface of the support mount when the replaceable holding block is mounted to the support mount;
• and
• wherein the tooth opening is parallel to the first and second fastener openings.

A replaceable holding block comprising:

• a main body having a front face and a rear face, the replaceable holding block defining a first fastener opening, a second fastener opening, and a tooth opening that extends through the replaceable holding block from the front face to the rear face, the tooth opening being adapted to receive a reducing element such that the reducing element is positioned at the front face of the main body of the replaceable holding block;
• wherein the first fastener opening is parallel to the second fastener opening;
• wherein the first and second fastener openings are disposed on the same side of the tooth opening such that there is no reinforcement structure on an opposite side of the tooth opening, one of the first and second fastener openings being spaced farther from the tooth opening than another one of the first and second fastener openings;
• wherein each of the first and second fastener openings is adapted to receive a block fastener for securing the replaceable holding block to a support mount;
• wherein the rear face has a planar surface that interfaces with a block mounting surface of the support mount when the replaceable holding block is mounted to the support mount;
• and
• wherein the first and second fastener openings of the replaceable holding block each include a first portion having a first diameter and a second portion having a second diameter, the first diameter being larger than the second diameter, the first portions extending from the front face of the replaceable holding block to the second portions, and the second portions extending from the first portions to the rear face of the replaceable holding block.

A replaceable holding block comprising:

• a main body having a front face and a rear face, the replaceable holding block defining a first fastener opening, a second fastener opening, and a tooth opening that extends through the replaceable holding block from the front face to the rear face, the tooth opening being adapted to receive a reducing element such that the reducing element is positioned at the front face of the main body of the replaceable holding block;
• wherein the first fastener opening is parallel to the second fastener opening;
• wherein the first and second fastener openings are disposed on the same side of the tooth opening such that there is no reinforcement structure on an opposite side of the tooth opening, one of the first and second fastener openings being spaced farther from the tooth opening than another one of the first and second fastener openings;
• wherein each of the first and second fastener openings is adapted to receive a block fastener for securing the replaceable holding block to a support mount;
• wherein the rear face has a planar surface that interfaces with a block mounting surface of the support mount when the replaceable holding block is mounted to the support mount;
• wherein the replaceable holding block defines a third fastener opening and a fourth fastener opening;
• and
• wherein the first fastener opening, the second fastener opening, the third fastener opening, the fourth fastener opening, and the tooth opening of the replaceable holding block have center axes that are parallel.