Spring clip
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a spring clip which is used to secure the shank of a cutter pick to the drum of a mining machine. 
     The spring clips which are currently used for this purpose have basically a U-shape with spaced legs and a bight portion adjoining the two legs. The extreme ends of the legs are outwardly splayed and there is an outward bulge midway along each leg. In use, the clip is applied to a grooved portion towards the end of the shank, the diameter of the grooved portion being slightly greater than the clear spacing between the outward bulges in the legs. This is achieved by aligning the clip with the grooved portion and hammering it in a direction transverse to the shank of the pick so that the legs are forced apart and the grooved portion is received between the bulges. When this situation is reached, the bight portion is still spaced from the grooved portion with the result that further hammer blows cause further outward splaying of the legs and possible deformation of the clip so that it no longer serves a securing function. 
     The present invention seeks to provide a spring clip which will solve this problem. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A spring clip according to this invention comprises a length of spring wire which has two spaced legs and a bight portion adjoining those legs, the legs being shaped to receive and retain the shank of a cutting pick between them when the clip is aligned with shank and is forced in direction transverse to the shank, wherein there are bearing means associated with the bight portion of the clip which protrude inwardly between the legs to bear upon the shank when the shank is correctly received between the legs. 
     In a preferred form of the invention, the bight portion itself defines inwardly protruding bearing means. However, other forms of the invention may have inwardly protruding bearing means defined by a separate part attached to the bight portion. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a clip according to the invention before installation; and 
     FIG. 2 shows how the clip operates in a cross-sectional view. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT 
     In FIG. 1, a clip according to the invention is designated with the numeral 10. It is formed of spring steel wire and has spaced legs 12 joined together by a bight portion 14. Towards their free ends, the legs 12 are deformed inwardly with their extreme ends being outwardly splayed as shown. The bight portion 14 has a re-entrant part 16 which protrudes inwardly between the legs 12. 
     In order to secure the shank 18 of a cutter pick to a retaining box (not shown), the shank is inserted into the box and the illustrated clip is fitted to the shank in an annular groove 22 at the inner end of the shank which is inside the box. This is achieved by aligning the free ends of the legs 12 with the groove and hammering on the bight portion to move the clip in a direction transverse to the shank. When this is done, the legs move apart from one another to receive the shank between them. 
     When the clip is fully home, the inner end 24 of the part 16 bears upon the base of the groove to prevent further transverse movement of the clip relative to the shank. Thus further hammer blows applied to the bight portion will not result in further splaying of the legs and the shank remains securely engaged by the clip. 
     Note in FIG. 2 that the shank is a snug fit between the inner end 24 of the part 16 and the inwardly deformed portions of the legs 12.