Cutting device with tapered cutting element

1. A cutting device for engaging a rock face, the cutting device comprising:

a disc supported for rotation about an axis of rotation, the disc including a peripheral edge extending around the axis of rotation; and

a plurality of cutting elements secured to the disc, the plurality of cutting elements spaced apart along the peripheral edge of the disc and positioned in a cutting plane spaced from the disc, each of the cutting elements including a base portion, a cutting portion including a cutting edge, and a longitudinal axis extending through the cutting edge, the cutting portion having a width that is larger than a width of the base portion, the cutting edge aligned in the cutting plane that is generally orthogonal relative to the axis of rotation.

2. The cutting device of claim 1 , wherein the peripheral edge is formed at a junction between an end surface of the disc and a peripheral surface of the disc extending around the axis of rotation, the peripheral edge having a circular profile.

3. The cutting device of claim 1 , wherein each cutting element further includes a transition portion extending between the base portion and the cutting portion, the transition portion including a tapered surface, a width of the transition portion proximate the cutting portion being larger than a width of the transition portion proximate the base portion.

4. The cutting device of claim 3 , wherein the base portion of each cutting element is received within an associated one of a plurality of bores positioned on the peripheral edge, the cutting portion protruding from the bore, the transition portion engaging a tapered surface extending around an opening of the bore.

5. The cutting device of claim 1 , wherein the disc includes a main support and a ring secured to the main support, the ring including the peripheral edge, the ring including a plurality of sections removably coupled to the main support, each section supporting at least one of the cutting elements.

6. The cutting device of claim 1 , wherein the cutting disc includes a plurality of bores, each bore receiving the base portion of an associated one of the cutting elements, each bore being in communication with a removal opening for receiving a tool to apply a force on the cutting portion and remove the associated one of the cutting elements from the cutting disc.

7. The cutting device of claim 1 , wherein the base portion has a circular cross-section defining a first diameter and the cutting portion includes a shoulder having a circular profile defining a second diameter larger than the first diameter.

8. The cutting device of claim 1 , wherein each cutting element further includes a tapered transition portion extending between the base portion and the cutting portion, and the cutting portion includes a cylindrical shoulder including a constant diameter positioned between the tapered transition portion and the cutting edge, wherein the tapered transition portion engages a tapered surface of a bore of the disc and the shoulder protrudes from the disc.

9. The cutting device of claim 8 , wherein the shoulder has a width that is larger than a width of the base portion and is larger than a length of the cutting edge.

10. The cutting device of claim 1 , wherein each cutting portion includes a first planar surface, a second planar surface, a third planar surface, and a fourth planar surface, each of the first, second, third, and fourth surfaces extending between a shoulder and the cutting edge, each of the first and third surfaces oriented at a first angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the cutting element, each of the second and fourth surfaces oriented at a second angle different than the first angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the cutting element, the first planar surface coupled to the second planar surface by a first rounded surface, the second planar surface coupled to the third planar surface by a second rounded surface, the third planar surface coupled to the fourth planar surface by a third rounded surface, and the fourth planar surface coupled to the first planar surface by a fourth rounded surface.

11. A cutting head for a mining machine, the cutting head comprising:

a boom configured to be supported on a frame;

a drive mechanism; and

a cutting device supported on the boom and driven by the drive mechanism, the cutting device including

a disc supported for rotation about an axis of rotation, the disc including a peripheral edge extending around the axis of rotation, and

a plurality of cutting elements secured to the disc, the plurality of cutting elements spaced apart along the peripheral edge of the disc and positioned in a cutting plane spaced from the disc, each of the cutting elements including a base portion, a cutting portion including a cutting edge, and a longitudinal axis extending through the cutting edge, the cutting portion having a width that is larger than a width of the base portion, the cutting edge aligned in the cutting plane that is generally orthogonal relative to the axis of rotation.

12. The cutting head of claim 11 , wherein the peripheral edge is formed at a junction between an end surface of the disc and a peripheral surface of the disc extending around the axis of rotation, the peripheral edge having a circular profile.

13. The cutting head of claim 11 , wherein each cutting element further includes a transition portion extending between the base portion and the cutting portion, the transition portion including a tapered surface, a width of the transition portion proximate the cutting portion being larger than a width of the transition portion proximate the base portion.

14. The cutting head of claim 13 , wherein the base portion of each cutting element is received within an associated one of a plurality of bores positioned on the peripheral edge, the cutting portion protruding from the bore, the transition portion engaging a tapered surface extending around an opening of the bore.

15. The cutting head of claim 11 , wherein the disc includes a main support and a ring secured to the main support, the ring including the peripheral edge, the ring including a plurality of sections removably coupled to the main support, each section supporting at least one of the cutting elements.

16. The cutting head of claim 11 , wherein the cutting disc includes a plurality of bores, each bore receiving the base portion of an associated one of the cutting elements, each bore being in communication with a removal opening for receiving a tool to apply a force on the cutting portion and remove the associated one of the cutting elements from the cutting disc.

17. The cutting head of claim 11 , wherein the base portion has a circular cross-section defining a first diameter and the cutting portion includes a shoulder having a circular profile defining a second diameter larger than the first diameter.

18. The cutting head of claim 11 , wherein each cutting element further includes a tapered transition portion extending between the base portion and the cutting portion, and the cutting portion includes a cylindrical shoulder including a constant diameter positioned between the tapered transition portion and the cutting edge, wherein the tapered transition portion engages a tapered surface of a bore of the disc and the shoulder protrudes from the disc.

19. The cutting head of claim 18 , wherein the shoulder has a width that is larger than a width of the base portion and is larger than a length of the cutting edge.

20. The cutting head of claim 11 , wherein each cutting portion includes a first planar surface, a second planar surface, a third planar surface, and a fourth planar surface, each of the first, second, third, and fourth surfaces extending between a shoulder and the cutting edge, each of the first and third surfaces oriented at a first angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the cutting element, each of the second and fourth surfaces oriented at a second angle different than the first angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the cutting element, the first planar surface coupled to the second planar surface by a first rounded surface, the second planar surface coupled to the third planar surface by a second rounded surface, the third planar surface coupled to the fourth planar surface by a third rounded surface, and the fourth planar surface coupled to the first planar surface by a fourth rounded surface.