Stump cutter

A stump cutter is disclosed having a rotatable shank upon which a transverse support bar is attached. Tool holders are mounted in a distributed relation on the support bar and replaceable cutter bits are mounted in the tool holders. Mounted on the forward end of either the shank or support bar is a pilot member that holds the stump cutter engaged to the stump during cutting operations.

I claim:

1. A stump cutter comprising: shank means rotatable about its longitudinal axis and adapted on one end to be driven in rotation; support means edge transversely attached to said shank means and having a leading edge in the direction or rotation; tool holders mounted on said support means and distributed on said support means radially outwardly from said shank means so that the cutting path of one cutter bit overlaps the cutting path of another cutter bit, said tool holders being located nearest the leading edge of the support means at the outermost radius from said shank means and progressing farther back from the leading edge as the locating radius from said shank means decreases, said tool holders adapted for receiving replaceable cutter bits; and a pilot member extending forwardly from one of said means for engagement with a stump, and means on said pilot member that urges the stump cutter into engagement with the stump when said shank is rotated.

2. A stump cutter according to claim 1 wherein said pilot member is substantially concentric and parallel with the longitudinal axis of said shank.

3. A stump cutter according to claim 1 in which replaceable cutter bits are mounted in said tool holder.

4. A stump cutter according to claim 3 in which said cutter bits comprise flat type cutter bits having flat surfaces facing the direction of rotation.

5. A stump cutter according to claim 4 in which said tool holders and cutter bits are mounted and arranged so that the cut path of one cutter bit overlaps the cut path of another cutter bit.

6. A stump cutter according to claim 5 in which said tool holders are arranged so that no two of said cutter bits cut exactly the same cutter path.

7. A stump cutter according to claim 1 in which said means on said pilot member are threads that advance the cutter bits into the stump as the shank is rotated.

8. A stump cutter according to claim 7 in which said pilot member comprises a cork screw spiral.

9. A stump cutter according to claim 4 in which said cutter bits on said transverse support means are distributed near the leading edge at the outermost diameter and progressively farther back from the leading edge as the diameter decreases.