Sleeve retention for cutting pick assembly

Abstract

A cutting assembly is configured to be coupled to a drum that is rotatable about an axis. The cutting assembly includes a block having a leading surface and an inner surface. The inner surface forms a block bore extending along an axis through the leading surface and at least partially through the block. The cutting assembly also includes a sleeve having a sleeve shank with an outer surface, a flange, and a sleeve bore extending through the flange and at least partially through the sleeve shank. During installation of the sleeve to the block, an interface between the outer surface of the sleeve shank and the inner surface of the block bore transitions from an interference fit to a clearance fit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cutting assembly configured to be coupled to a drum that is rotatable about an axis, the cutting assembly comprising:
 a block including a leading surface and an inner surface, the inner surface forming a block bore extending along an axis through the leading surface and at least partially through the block;   a sleeve including a sleeve shank having an outer surface, a flange, and a sleeve bore, the sleeve bore extending through the flange and at least partially through the sleeve shank, the sleeve shank positionable within the block bore;   a step positioned on one of the inner surface of the block bore and the outer surface of the sleeve shank; and   a protrusion positioned on the other of the inner surface of the block bore and the outer surface of the sleeve shank, the protrusion engaging the step to maintain the sleeve shank within the block bore.   
     
     
         2 . The cutting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is a sleeve protrusion positioned on the outer surface of the sleeve shank, wherein the inner surface of the block bore includes a block protrusion having the step, wherein the block protrusion includes an inner diameter and the sleeve protrusion includes an outer diameter, and wherein the outer diameter is greater than the inner diameter. 
     
     
         3 . The cutting assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the sleeve protrusion slides past the block protrusion as an interference fit during installation of the sleeve to the block. 
     
     
         4 . The cutting assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the sleeve forms a clearance fit with the block bore after the sleeve protrusion slidably engages the block protrusion. 
     
     
         5 . The cutting assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the sleeve forms a clearance fit with the block bore before the sleeve protrusion slidably engages the block protrusion. 
     
     
         6 . The cutting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is a sleeve protrusion positioned on the outer surface of the sleeve shank, wherein the inner surface of the block bore includes a block protrusion having the step, wherein the sleeve shank includes a recess positioned between the sleeve protrusion and the flange along the axis, and wherein the recess receives the block protrusion. 
     
     
         7 . The cutting assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the inner surface of the block bore includes a portion, wherein the block protrusion is located between the portion and the leading surface along the axis, and wherein the portion receives the sleeve protrusion. 
     
     
         8 . The cutting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the block bore includes a block protrusion having the step, wherein the block protrusion includes a constant inner diameter along the axis. 
     
     
         9 . The cutting assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the block protrusion angularly extends 360-degrees about the axis. 
     
     
         10 . The cutting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is a sleeve protrusion positioned on the outer surface of the sleeve shank, wherein the sleeve protrusion includes a constant outer diameter along the axis. 
     
     
         11 . The cutting assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the sleeve protrusion angularly extends 360-degrees about the axis. 
     
     
         12 . The cutting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is a sleeve protrusion positioned on the outer surface of the sleeve shank, wherein the sleeve includes a notch extending through the sleeve protrusion, and wherein the notch enables resilient movement of the sleeve protrusion during installation of the sleeve to the block. 
     
     
         13 . The cutting assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a bit including a tip, a bit shank, and a shoulder position between the tip and the bit shank, wherein the bit shank is positioned within the sleeve bore, and wherein the shoulder abuts the flange of the sleeve. 
     
     
         14 . A cutting assembly configured to be coupled to a drum that is rotatable about an axis, the cutting assembly comprising:
 a block including a leading surface and an inner surface, the inner surface forming a block bore extending along an axis through the leading surface and at least partially through the block; and   a sleeve including a sleeve shank having an outer surface, a flange, and a sleeve bore extending through the flange and at least partially through the sleeve shank,   wherein during installation of the sleeve to the block, an interface between the outer surface of the sleeve shank and the inner surface of the block bore transitions from an interference fit to a clearance fit.   
     
     
         15 . The cutting assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the clearance fit allows for rotational movement of the sleeve relative to the block about the axis. 
     
     
         16 . The cutting assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the inner surface of the block bore includes a block protrusion and the outer surface of the sleeve shank includes a sleeve protrusion, and wherein the interference fit includes engagement between the block protrusion and the sleeve protrusion. 
     
     
         17 . The cutting assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the outer surface of the sleeve shank includes a recess positioned between the sleeve protrusion and the flange along the axis, and wherein the clearance fit includes the block protrusion received within the recess. 
     
     
         18 . The cutting assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the inner surface of the block bore includes a portion, wherein the block protrusion is positioned between the portion and the leading surface along the axis, and wherein the clearance fit includes the sleeve protrusion received within the portion of the block bore. 
     
     
         19 . The cutting assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising a bit including a tip, a bit shank, and a shoulder position between the tip and the bit shank, wherein the bit shank is positioned within the sleeve bore, and wherein the shoulder abuts the flange of the sleeve. 
     
     
         20 . A cutting assembly configured to be coupled to a drum that is rotatable about an axis, the cutting assembly comprising:
 a block including a leading surface and an inner surface, the inner surface forming a block bore extending along an axis through the leading surface and at least partially through the block; and   a sleeve including a sleeve shank having an outer surface, a flange, and a sleeve bore extending through the flange and at least partially through the sleeve shank,   wherein the sleeve moves from a first position to a second position relative to the block during installation of the sleeve to the block, wherein an interface between the outer surface of the sleeve shank and the inner surface of the block bore provides a compressive force on the sleeve shank when in the first position, and wherein the compressive force is decreased when in the second position.   
     
     
         21 . The cutting assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the inner surface of the block bore includes a block protrusion and the outer surface of the sleeve shank includes a sleeve protrusion, and wherein the compressive force is provided by engagement between the block protrusion and the sleeve protrusion. 
     
     
         22 . The cutting assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the outer surface of the sleeve shank includes a recess positioned between the sleeve protrusion and the flange along the axis, and wherein the compressive force is decreased when the block protrusion is received within the recess. 
     
     
         23 . The cutting assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the inner surface of the block bore includes a portion, wherein the block protrusion is located between the portion and the leading surface along the axis, and wherein the compressive force is decreased when the sleeve protrusion is received within the portion of the block bore. 
     
     
         24 . The cutting assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the second position is a fully inserted position of the sleeve shank within the block bore.