Stump grinding tooth having collision interceptor

A tree stump grinding tooth assembly comprising:

• a shank extending along and generally centered about a longitudinal tooth axis, said shank being generally cylindrical and having opposite ends, a head attached to one end of said shank and screw threads formed in the other end of said shank, said head including a carbide cutting tip, said cutting tip having a circular periphery centered about said tooth axis and defining an outer cutting edge, said cutting tip having a tooth face set inside said outer cutting edge,
• a nut operatively threaded onto said screw threads of said shank,
• a hermetic spring operatively disposed on said shank adjacent said nut, said hermetic spring being fabricated from an elastomeric material, said hermetic spring having a nose, said hermetic spring having a foot adapted to engage said nut, a bellows section disposed between said nose and said foot,
• said tooth face of said cutting tip including a collision interceptor in the form of an atoll inset from said cutting edge, said atoll comprising an uninterrupted annular ridge, said tooth face further including an annular dish located concentrically between said outer cutting edge and said atoll.

A tree stump grinding tooth comprising:

• a shank extending along and generally centered about a longitudinal tooth axis, said shank being generally cylindrical and having opposite ends, a head attached to one end of said shank and screw threads formed in the other end of said shank, said shank including a generally frustoconical interface directly adjacent said head, said head having three flats arranged in an equilateral triangular pattern, said head including a carbide cutting tip, said cutting tip having a circular periphery centered about said tooth axis and defining an outer cutting edge, said cutting tip having a tooth face set inside said outer cutting edge, said cutting tip having a base opposite said tooth face, said base including a locator nub centered on said tooth axis,
• said tooth face including a collision interceptor, said collision interceptor comprising an atoll inset from said cutting edge, said atoll comprising an uninterrupted annular ridge, said tooth face including a basin inset from said atoll, said basin being generally flat and oriented perpendicular to said tooth axis, said tooth face including an annular dish located concentrically between said outer cutting edge and said atoll, said cutting tip having a body thickness (IT), said dish having a depth (AD) between about 10-25% of said body thickness (IT), said atoll having a crest centered about said tooth axis and inset concentrically with respect to said outer cutting edge, said crest standing proud of said outer edge, the position of said outer cutting edge being indicated by a radial measure (RCT), said atoll having a radially inner flank running from said crest to said basin, said atoll having a radially outer flank extending from said crest to said dish, said inner flank having a straight conical slope of approximately 45 degrees relative to said tooth axis, said outer flank having an ogee shape.