Cutting device with tapered cutting element

A cutting head for a mining machine, the cutting head comprising:

• a boom configured to be supported on a frame;
• a drive mechanism;
• and
• a cutting device supported on the boom and driven by the drive mechanism, the cutting device including
• a disc supported for rotation about an axis of rotation, the disc including a peripheral edge extending around the axis of rotation, the peripheral edge including a plurality of bores spaced apart along the peripheral edge of the disc, each of the plurality of bores including a countersink opening, and
• a plurality of cutting elements, each of the cutting elements including a base portion, a cutting portion including a cutting edge, and a transition portion including a tapered surface positioned between the base portion and the cutting portion, the plurality of cutting elements received within the plurality of bores, the tapered surfaces of the plurality of cutting elements engaging the countersink openings of the plurality of bores to distribute loads exerted on the cutting portions across a periphery of the countersink openings, the cutting edge extending at least partially across a width of the cutting portion.

A cutting device for engaging a rock face, the cutting device comprising:

• a disc supported for rotation about an axis of rotation, the disc including a peripheral edge extending around the axis of rotation, the peripheral edge including a plurality of bores spaced apart along the peripheral edge of the disc, each of the plurality of bores including a countersink opening;
• and
• a plurality of cutting elements each of the cutting elements including a base portion, a cutting portion including a cutting edge, and a transition portion including a tapered surface positioned between the base portion and the cutting portion, the plurality of cutting elements received within the plurality of bores, the tapered surfaces of the plurality of cutting elements engaging the countersink openings of the plurality of bores to distribute loads exerted on the cutting portions across a periphery of the countersink openings,
• wherein each cutting portion includes a first planar surface, a second planar surface, a third planar surface, and a fourth planar surface,
• each of the first planar surface, second planar surface, third planar surface, and fourth planar surface extending between a shoulder and the cutting edge,
• each of the first planar surface and third planar surface oriented at a first angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the cutting element, and
• each of the second planar surface and fourth planar surface oriented at a second angle different than the first angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the cutting element.