# US 2014/0196818 A1 · Stump cutter disc with recessed tooth pockets > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196818 A1 - Document ID: US20140196818A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/147,277 - Filed: 2014-01-03 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-11 - Assignees: Vermeer Manufacturing Company - Applicants: Vermeer Manufacturing Company - Inventors: Clint WEINBERG; Louis C. HARTKE - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196818A1 ## CPC - A01G 23/067: {by comminuting the tree stumps} - A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12) ## Abstract One stump cutter cutting wheel disclosed herein includes a wheel structure having left and right sides and being rotatable about a central axis extending between the left and right sides. The left and right sides define receptacles having depths measured in an orientation extending along the axis. Cutter assemblies are mounted to the wheel structure and include cutters mounted to cutter holders. The cutter holders include base portions that fit within the receptacles, and the base portions each define at least one fastener opening. The base portions further define base thicknesses measured in the orientation extending along the axis. The receptacle depths are at least 0.25 times as large as the base thicknesses such that no more than 75 percent of the base thicknesses extend laterally outside the receptacles. Fasteners secure the cutter holders to the wheel structure and extend through the fastener openings defined by the base portions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A stump cutter cutting wheel comprising: a wheel structure having a left side and a right side, the wheel structure being rotatable about a central axis that extends through the wheel structure between the left and right sides, the left and right sides of the wheel structure defining a plurality of receptacles having receptacle depths measured in an orientation that extends along the central axis; a plurality of cutter assemblies mounted to the wheel structure, the cutter assemblies including cutters mounted to cutter holders, the cutter holders including base portions that fit within the receptacles, the base portions each defining at least one fastener opening, the base portions defining base thicknesses measured in the orientation that extends along the central axis, the receptacle depths being at least 0.25 times as large as the base thicknesses such that no more than 75 percent of the base thicknesses extend laterally outside of the receptacles; and fasteners for securing the cutter holders to the wheel structure, the fasteners extending through the fastener openings defined by the base portions of the cutter holders. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The stump cutter cutting wheel of claim 1, wherein the receptacle depths are at least 0.30 times as large as the base thicknesses such that no more than 70 percent of the base thicknesses extend laterally outside of the receptacles. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The stump cutter cutting wheel of claim 1, wherein the receptacle depths are at least 0.35 times as large as the base thicknesses such that no more than 65 percent of the base thicknesses extend laterally outside of the receptacles. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The stump cutter cutting wheel of claim 1, wherein the receptacle depths are at least 0.40 times as large as the base thicknesses such that no more than 60 percent of the base thicknesses extend laterally outside of the receptacles. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The stump cutter cutting wheel of claim 1, wherein the receptacle depths are at least 0.45 times as large as the base thicknesses such that no more than 55 percent of the base thicknesses extend laterally outside of the receptacles. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The stump cutter cutting wheel of claim 1, wherein the receptacles define receptacle outlines, wherein the base portions define base portion outlines, and wherein a majority of each receptacle outline has a clearance of at least 0.2 inches with respect to the base portion outline of a corresponding one of the base portions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The stump cutter cutting wheel of claim 1, wherein the wheel structure includes a main wheel having a left surface and a right surface, wherein the wheel structure includes a left guard mounted to the left surface and a right guard mounted to the right surface, and wherein the left and right guards define openings that at least partially define the receptacles. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The stump cutter of claim 7, wherein the left and right guards each include at least one guard plate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The stump cutter cutting wheel of claim 8, wherein the guard plates are fastened to the main wheel by fasteners. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The stump cutter cutting wheel of claim 7, wherein the left and right guards each include at least two guard plates. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The stump cutter cutting wheel of claim 7, wherein the openings are notches having open sides that face radially outwardly from the central axis. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The stump cutter cutting wheel of claim 7, wherein the left and right guards cover outer annular regions of the left and right surfaces of the main wheel, and wherein the outer annular regions extend around the central axis. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The stump cutter cutting wheel of claim 12, wherein the left and right guards do not cover inner annular regions of the left and right surfaces of the main wheel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The stump cutter cutting wheel of claim 7, wherein the left and right guards cover 20-60 percent of the total areas defined by the left and right surfaces of the main wheel. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The stump cutter cutting wheel of claim 14, wherein the left and right surfaces of the main wheel are defined between inner and outer diameters of the main wheel. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The stump cutter cutting wheel of claim 12, wherein the left and right guards each include first and second plates that cooperate to cover the outer annular regions. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The stump cutter cutting wheel of claim 16, wherein the first and second plates are each generally semi-circular. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The stump cutter cutting wheel of claim 1, wherein the cutter holders have holder portions that project outwardly from the base portions. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The stump cutter cutting wheel of claim 18, wherein the cutter holders have leading sides and trailing sides, wherein cutter fastener openings extend through the cutter holders from the leading sides to the trailing sides, wherein cutting heads of the cutters are positioned at the leading sides of the cutter holders and fasteners of the cutters extend though the cutter fastener openings. ### Claim 20 A stump cutter cutting wheel comprising: a main wheel having a left side and a right side, the main wheel being rotatable about a central axis that extends through the main wheel between the left and right surfaces; guard structures mounted to the left and right surfaces of the main wheel, the guard structures being formed by plates fastened to the main wheel, the plates defining openings that define receptacles, the receptacles having inner and outer ends, the receptacles having depths that extend from the inner ends to the outer ends of the receptacles, the depths being measured in an orientation that extends along the central axis of the main wheel, the inner ends being closed by the left and right surfaces of the main wheel and outer ends being open; a plurality of cutter assemblies including cutters mounted to cutter holders, the cutter holders including base portions that fit within the receptacles, the base portions each defining at least one fastener opening; and fasteners for securing the cutter holders to the main wheel, the fasteners extending through the fastener openings defined by the base portions of the cutter holders and engaging the main wheel. ### Claim 21 A cutting wheel, comprising: a main wheel rotatable about a center axis; the main wheel having a generally planar left surface, a generally planar right surface, and an outermost border; the left surface being generally parallel to the right surface; a plurality of cutter assemblies extending from the main wheel beyond the outermost border, each cutter assembly having a base portion and a cutter configured for reducing a tree stump; a first guard plate extending a distance D1 from the left surface, the distance D1 being measured in an orientation that extends along the center axis, the first guard plate defining a first receiving area within the distance D1; wherein one of the cutter assembly base portions is positioned in the first receiving area and extends a distance D2 from the left surface, the distance D2 being measured in the orientation that extends along the center axis; and wherein the distance D1 is at least 25% as large as the distance D2. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The cutting wheel of claim 21, wherein the first receiving area defines a receptacle outline that follows a shape of at least part of the cutter assembly base portion positioned in the first receiving area. ### Claim 23 A cutting wheel, comprising: a main wheel rotatable about a center axis; the main wheel having a generally planar left surface, a generally planar right surface, and an outermost border; the left surface being generally parallel to the right surface; a plurality of cutter assemblies extending from the main wheel beyond the outermost border, each cutter assembly having a base portion and a cutter configured for reducing a tree stump; first and second guard plates each extending a distance D1 from the left surface, the distance D1 being measured in an orientation that extends along the center axis, the first guard plate defining a first receiving area within the distance D1, the second guard plate defining a second receiving area within the distance D1, a third receiving area being defined within the distance D1 between the first and second guard plates; wherein one of the cutter assembly base portions is positioned in the first receiving area, another one of the cutter assembly base portions is positioned in the second receiving area, and still another one of the cutter assembly base portions is positioned in the third receiving area; wherein the cutter assembly base portions in the first, second, and third receiving areas each extend a distance D2 from the left surface; the distance D2 being measured in the orientation that extends along the center axis; and wherein the distance D1 is at least 25% as large as the distance D2.