Rotatable cutting bit assembly with wedge-lock retention assembly

A cutting bit comprising:

• a bit body having a forward end and a rearward end, the bit body containing a seat at the forward end thereof, and the bit body containing a bore intersecting the seat wherein a bore wall defines the bore;
• a cutting insert being received by the seat wherein the cutting insert presents a side surface facing the bore;
• a wedge having a generally longitudinal seating surface, and the wedge having a support surface opposite to the longitudinal seating surface;
• the wedge being received within the bore so that the longitudinal seating surface of the wedge contacts the side surface of the cutting insert and for at least a portion of the length of the wedge substantially all of the support surface contacts the bore wall so as to frictionally retain the cutting insert in the seat;
• and
• wherein the longitudinal seating surface presents a plurality of projections which deform against the side surface of the cutting insert when the wedge is in position so as to frictionally retain the cutting insert in the seat.

A cutting bit comprising:

• a bit body having a forward end and a rearward end, the bit body containing a seat at the forward end thereof, and the bit body containing a bore intersecting the seat wherein a bore wall defines the bore;
• a cutting insert being received by the seat wherein the cutting insert presents a side surface facing the bore;
• a wedge having a generally longitudinal seating surface, and the wedge having a support surface opposite to the longitudinal seating surface;
• the wedge being received within the bore so that the longitudinal seating surface of the wedge contacts the side surface of the cutting insert and for at least a portion of the length of the wedge substantially all of the support surface contacts the bore wall so as to frictionally retain the cutting insert in the seat;
• wherein the side surface of the cutting insert contains a groove, the longitudinal seating surface of the wedge presenting a projection, and the projection being complimentary in shape to the groove so that the projection registers in the groove when the wedge is in position so as to fictionally retain the cutting insert in the seat;
• and
• wherein the projection extends along substantially the entire length of the longitudinal seating surface.

A cutting bit comprising:

• a bit body having a forward end and a rearward end, the bit body containing a seat at the forward end thereof, the bit body containing a bore intersecting the seat wherein a bore wall defines the bore, and the bit body defining a passageway;
• a cutting insert being received by the seat wherein the cutting insert presents a side surface facing the bore;
• a wedge having a generally longitudinal seating surface, and the wedge having a forward end and a rearward end;
• the wedge being received within the bore so that the longitudinal seating surface of the wedge contacts the side surface of the cutting insert so as to frictionally retain the cutting insert in the seat;
• and
• when the wedge is in position so as to frictionally retain the cutting insert in the seat, the passageway providing access to the rearward end of the wedge.

A wedge for use in connection with a bit body to contact a side surface of a cutting insert within a seat in the bit body as to frictionally retain the cutting insert within the seat, the bit body having a bore intersecting the seat, the bore having a central longitudinal axis, and when the cutting insert is retained in the seat the bore being disposed relative to the side surface of the cutting insert at a first included bore angle (d), the wedge comprising:

• an elongate wedge body presenting a longitudinal seating surface and a support surface opposite to the longitudinal seating surface;
• and
• the wedge being received within the bore so that the longitudinal seating surface of the wedge contacts the side surface of the cutting insert and for at least a portion of the length of the wedge the entire support surface contacts the bore wall so as to frictionally retain the cutting insert in the seat;
• and
• wherein the longitudinal seating surface presents a plurality of projections which deform upon contact against the side surface of the cutting insert.

A wedge for use in connection with a bit body to contact a side surface of a cutting insert within a seat in the bit body as to frictionally retain the cutting insert within the seat, the bit body having a bore intersecting the seat, the bore having a central longitudinal axis, and when the cutting insert is retained in the seat the bore being disposed relative to the side surface of the cutting insert at a first included bore angle (d), the wedge comprising:

• an elongate wedge body presenting a longitudinal seating surface and a support surface opposite to the longitudinal seating surface;
• and
• the wedge being received within the bore so that the longitudinal seating surface of the wedge contacts the side surface of the cutting insert and for at least a portion of the length of the wedge the entire support surface contacts the bore wall so as to frictionally retain the cutting insert in the seat;
• wherein the seating surface presents a projection that registers with a groove in the side surface of the cutting insert when the wedge is in a position so as to frictionally retain the cutting insert in the seat;
• and
• wherein the projection extends along substantially the entire length of the longitudinal seating surface.

A cutting bit body comprising:

• a forward end and a rearward end;
• the bit body containing a seat at the forward end thereof wherein the seat receives a cutting insert;
• the bit body containing a bore intersecting the seat, and a bore wall defining the bore;
• and
• the bore receives a wedge having a forward end and rearward end and which frictionally retains the cutting insert in the seat;
• and
• the bit body defining a passageway providing access to the rearward end of the wedge when the wedge is in a position so as to frictionally retain the cutting insert in the seat.