Stump cutter disc with recessed tooth pockets

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . 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 material;   a guard extending a distance D 1  normal to one of the left surface and the right surface, the guard defining a receiving area;   wherein:
 one of the cutter assembly base portions is positioned in the receiving area; 
 the cutter assembly base portion in the receiving area extends a distance D 2  from the one of the left surface and the right surface; the distance D 2  being measured in the orientation that extends along the center axis; 
 the distance D 1  is at least 25% as large as the distance D 2 ; and 
 the guard is fastened to the one of the left surface and the right surface by fasteners. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cutting wheel of  claim 1 , further comprising two guards, one guard extending a distance D 1  from the left surface, and another guard extending the distance D 1  from the right surface. 
     
     
         3 . The cutting wheel of  claim 2 , wherein each of the guards includes at least two guard plates. 
     
     
         4 . The cutting wheel of  claim 3 , wherein each guard covers an outer annular region of the left and right surfaces of the main wheel, respectively, and wherein the outer annular regions extend around the central axis. 
     
     
         5 . The cutting wheel of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving area is at least 0.30 times as large as the base portion of the cutter assembly such that no more than 70 percent of the base portion extends laterally outside of the receiving area. 
     
     
         6 . 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 wheel structure defining an outermost border and concordant outer annular regions associated with the left and right sides of the wheel structure;   a right guard secured to the right side of the wheel structure, and a left guard secured to the left side of the wheel structure, each guard comprising a plate having an arced configuration with an inside edge and an undulating outside edge defining at least one receptacle therein;   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 correspondingly within 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; and   wherein the right guard and the left guard are positioned on respective outer annular regions of the right and left sides of the wheel structure.   
     
     
         7 . The cutting wheel of  claim 6 , wherein each of the left and right guards is generally semi-circular. 
     
     
         8 . The cutting wheel of  claim 7 , wherein the left and right guards each include at least two guard plates, the guard plates being generally semi-circular. 
     
     
         9 . The cutting wheel of  claim 8 , wherein the respective guard plates of the left and right guards are cooperatively secured to the respective left and right sides of the wheel structure to cover the outer annular regions of the wheel structure. 
     
     
         10 . The cutting wheel of  claim 7 , wherein each guard covers an outer annular region of the left and right surfaces of the wheel structure, and wherein the outer annular regions extend around the central axis. 
     
     
         11 . The cutting wheel of  claim 6 , wherein the left and right guards are offset from the outer-most border of the wheel structure. 
     
     
         12 . A cutting wheel, comprising:
 a main wheel having a circumference; the main wheel being rotatable about a center axis and comprising 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 first guard extending along an annular region of one of the left surface and the right surface, the guard comprising a plate having an arced configuration with an inside edge and an undulating outside edge defining at least one receiving area therein; and   a cutter assembly mounted to the wheel structure, the cutter assembly including cutters mounted to cutter holders, the cutter holders including base portions that fit correspondingly within the receiving area, 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, the base portions each defining at least one fastener opening.   
     
     
         13 . The cutting wheel of  claim 12 , wherein the first guard is offset from the outermost border of the main wheel. 
     
     
         14 . The cutting wheel of  claim 12 , wherein the guard extends a distance D 1  normal to the one of the left surface and the right surface. 
     
     
         15 . The cutting wheel of  claim 14 , wherein the cutter assembly base portion in the receiving area extends a distance D 2  normal to the one of the left surface and the right surface. 
     
     
         16 . The cutting wheel of  claim 15 , wherein D 2  is greater than D 1 . 
     
     
         17 . The cutting wheel of  claim 12 , wherein the guard is a semi-circle extending partially along the circumference of the main wheel. 
     
     
         18 . The cutting wheel of  claim 12 , wherein the guard is circular and extends along the circumference of the main wheel, the guard having a central bore formed therein. 
     
     
         19 . The cutting wheel of  claim 12 , further comprising a second guard, wherein the first guard extends along an annular region of the left surface of the main wheel and the second guard extends along an annular region of the right surface of the main wheel. 
     
     
         20 . The cutting wheel of  claim 19 , wherein the first and second guard each include at least two guard plates, and wherein the guard are cooperatively secured to the respective left and right sides of the main wheel to cover the outer annular regions of the main wheel.