Cutting tool system

1. A cutting tool system, comprising:

a locking collar having a socket configured to mate with a driving shaft in locking engagement to prevent relative rotational movement between the locking collar and the driving shaft, the locking collar being compressible radially inwardly and having a radially outwardly facing outer surface tapering in a longitudinal direction along at least a portion thereof at a first tapering angle;

a bit attachment member having a radially inwardly facing inner surface tapering along at least a portion thereof at a second tapering angle that is approximately equal to the first tapering angle to interface with the outer surface of the locking collar;

a retainer plate; and

fasteners constructed to secure the retainer plate directly to the locking collar and to the driving shaft, and to impart a wedging action between the tapering outer surface and the tapering inner surface that causes inward compression of the locking collar.

2. The cutting tool system of claim 1 , wherein the fasteners comprise:

first fasteners constructed to secure the retainer plate to the locking collar through first fastener holes in the retainer plate and fastener holes in the locking collar; and

second fasteners constructed to secure the retainer plate to the driving shaft through second fastener holes in the retainer plate and fastener holes in the driving shaft.

3. The cutting tool system of claim 2 , wherein the radially inwardly facing inner surface tapers along a tapering first surface portion thereof and extends longitudinally along a second surface portion thereof, the second surface portion having a diameter larger than a diameter of the retainer plate, the radially inwardly facing inner surface further comprising a radially extending abutment shoulder between the tapering first surface portion and the longitudinally extending second surface portion.

4. The cutting tool system of claim 3 , wherein a longitudinal length of the tapering first surface portion is approximately equal to a longitudinal length of the locking collar, wherein a longitudinal length of the second surface portion is approximately equal to a longitudinal length of the retainer plate, and wherein the retainer plate is seatable on the abutment shoulder so as to be circumscribed by the second surface portion.

5. The cutting tool system of claim 1 , wherein the locking collar comprises a split ring comprising a plurality of discrete ring segments that are collectively circumscribable about the driving shaft.

6. The cutting tool system of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of discrete ring segments comprises six discrete ring segments each extending end to end approximately 60degrees.

7. The cutting tool system of claim 1 , wherein the socket of the locking collar is hexagonal in shape to mate with a hexagonal shape of the driving shaft.

8. The cutting tool system of claim 1 , further comprising cutting bits secured directly to a radially outwardly facing outer surface of the bit attachment member.

9. A cutting tool system, comprising:

a locking collar having a socket configured to mate with a driving shaft in locking engagement to prevent relative rotational movement between the locking collar and the driving shaft, the locking collar being compressible radially inwardly and having a radially outwardly facing outer surface tapering in a longitudinal direction along at least a portion thereof at a first tapering angle, the outer surface comprising a substantially longitudinally extending first groove;

a bit attachment member having a radially inwardly facing inner surface tapering along at least a portion thereof at a second tapering angle that is approximately equal to the first tapering angle to receive and interface with the outer surface of the locking collar, the inner surface comprising a substantially longitudinally extending second groove that is alignable with the first groove so that the first and second grooves together form a perimeter of a pin receptacle;

a pin insertable into the pin receptacle to prevent rotation of the locking collar and the bit attachment member relative to one another;

a retainer plate; and

fasteners constructed to secure the retainer plate directly to the locking collar and to the driving shaft, and to impart a wedging action between the tapering outer surface and the tapering inner surface that causes inward compression of the locking collar.

10. The cutting tool system of claim 9 , wherein the fasteners comprise:

first fasteners constructed to secure the retainer plate to the locking collar through first fastener holes in the retainer plate and fastener holes in the locking collar; and

second fasteners constructed to secure the retainer plate to the driving shaft through second fastener holes in the retainer plate and fastener holes in the driving shaft.

11. The cutting tool system of claim 10 , wherein the radially inwardly facing inner surface tapers along a tapering first surface portion thereof and extends longitudinally along a second surface portion thereof, the second surface portion having a diameter larger than a diameter of the retainer plate, the radially inwardly facing inner surface further comprising a radially extending abutment shoulder between the tapering first surface portion and the longitudinally extending second surface portion.

12. The cutting tool system of claim 11 , wherein a longitudinal length of the tapering first surface portion is approximately equal to a longitudinal length of the locking collar, wherein a longitudinal length of the second surface portion is approximately equal to a longitudinal length of the retainer plate, and wherein the retainer plate is seatable on the abutment shoulder so as to be circumscribed by the second surface portion.

13. The cutting tool system of claim 12 , wherein the first groove of the locking collar comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced semi-cylindrical first grooves, wherein the second groove of the bit attachment member comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced semi-cylindrical second grooves, wherein the pin receptacle comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced cylindrical pin receptacles, wherein the first and second grooves are alignable to establish the plurality of circumferentially spaced cylindrical pin receptacles, and wherein said pin comprises a plurality of cylindrical pins insertable into respective ones of the pin receptacles to prevent rotation of the locking collar and the bit attachment member relative to one another.