Cutting tooth splitter apparatus and method

A splitter for a cutting assembly comprising:

• a body having a mounting portion and a cutting portion;
• said body having a leading face and an opposed trailing face;
• said mounting portion having a first lateral face, a second lateral face, and a generally curved, U-shaped convex bottom;
• said cutting portion having a first splitting face extending at an angle from an upper end of said first lateral face and a second splitting face extending at an angle from an upper end of said second lateral face, whereby said first and second splitting faces come together to form a splitting edge;
• and
• said body defining a threaded bore for receiving a fastener, said bore extending from said leading face to said trailing face and being generally centered therethrough.

A method of cutting brush, comprising the steps of:

• providing a machine having a generally cylindrical rotating drum with cutting teeth and splitters disposed thereon, wherein at least one tooth includes a first linear cutting edge disposed in a transverse direction parallel with an axis of rotation of said cylindrical rotating drum in order to cut in a tangential direction with respect to a surface of said drum, and at least one said splitter includes a second cutting edge disposed between said first cutting edge and said drum, wherein said second linear cutting edge is positioned tangentially with respect to said cylindrical rotating drum in order to cut in an outward, radial direction with respect to said cylindrical surface of said drum;
• utilizing said first cutting edge to cut a section of matter,
• providing an angled surface on an underside of said first cutting edge so that said angled surface directs said cut section of matter onto said second cutting edge;
• utilizing the second cutting edge to split the section of matter into smaller pieces of matter, so that said second cutting edge directs the cut section of matter outwardly and around lateral sides of said cutting teeth.