Abstract: The invention provides components for an electric fence. The components are made of a composite material including a derivative or a combination of minerals and a polymeric material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for managing contracts for consumption type services which includes smoothing requests for enactment of UE contracts, by determining a time-to-live in respect of each UE contract, determining an estimate of the number of concurrent requests for contracts to occur at predetermined future time intervals, and modifying the actual issued time-to-live in respect of at least some of the enacted UE contracts to minimize network load. The method also extends to determining a trust-rating for at least some of the UE's contracted to a service provider for the consumption type service and modifying the trust-rating for such UE over time to more accurately reflect the actual trustworthiness of contract requests emanating from such UE.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for managing contracts for consumption type services which includes smoothing requests for enactment of UE contracts, by determining a time-to-live in respect of each UE contract, determining an estimate of the number of concurrent requests for contracts to occur at predetermined future time intervals, and modifying the actual issued time-to-live in respect of at least some of the enacted UE contracts to minimize network load. The method also extends to determining a trust-rating for at least some of the UE's contracted to a service provider for the consumption type service and modifying the trust-rating for such UE over time to more accurately reflect the actual trustworthiness of contract requests emanating from such UE.

Abstract: A cutting tool component which has an ultra-thin layer of ultra-hard material bonded to a cemented carbide substrate. The ultra-thin layer of ultra-hard material has a thickness of no greater than 0.2 mm. This cutting tool is used to cut workpieces under roughing and/or interrupted cut conditions. Where the workplace is a wood product or wood composite the invention extends to cutting such workpieces in general. The ultra-hard material is preferably PCD or PCBN.

Abstract: Polycrystalline diamond abrasive elements having a fine grained microstructure are produced from fine grained diamond particles and a catalyst solvent material, at least a portion of which is in the form of nanosized particles. The abrasive elements exhibit high homogeneity and exhibit significant increases in toughness and improved wear resistance.

Abstract: The invention provides a tool component comprising a first layer of polycrystalline cBN material which has a rake (working) surface and a flank surface and comprises less than 70 vol % cBN; and a secondary layer across the rake surface or at least partially across the rake surface and comprising a refractory material and optionally a binder phase and optionally cBN, wherein the secondary layer has a higher resistance to crater formation than the first layer of cBN material and has a lower affinity towards iron than cBN.

Abstract: A superhard insert for a machine tool, comprising a superhard cutter structure 20 defining a rake face 22, a flank 24 and a rounded cutting edge 26 formed by the transition between the rake face 22 and the flank 24; the flank 24 comprising a convex arcuate surface portion 28 extending away from the cutting edge 26, the arcuate surface portion 28 having a radius of curvature R2.

Abstract: The invention provides for a method of machining a substrate which includes the step of machining the substrate in an interrupted machining, impact machining or combination thereof operation using a tool which includes a tool component comprising a layer of polycrystalline diamond (12) having a working surface (16), a softer layer (20) containing a metal and bonded to the working surface (16) of the polycrystalline diamond layer (12) along an interface, the region (22) of the layer of polycrystalline diamond (12) adjacent the interface containing some metal from the softer layer (20).

Abstract: Polycrystalline diamond abrasive elements having a fine grained microstructure are produced from fine grained diamond particles and a catalyst solvent material, at least a portion of which is in the form of nanosized particles. The abrasive elements exhibit high homogeneity and exhibit significant increases in toughness and improved wear resistance.

Abstract: The invention provides for a tool component comprising a layer of polycrystalline diamond (12) having a thickness of up to 100 microns and a working surface (16). A softer layer (20) containing a metal selected from molybdenum, tantalum and niobium is bonded to the working surface (16) of the polycrystalline diamond layer (12) along an interface. The metal of the softer layer (20) is in the form of the metal carbide, the metal or a combination thereof and is present in the region (22) of the layer of polycrystalline diamond (12) adjacent the interface.

Abstract: The invention provides for a method of machining a workpiece made of a material selected from a metal, metal matrix composite, wood, synthetic, ceramic and stone and synthetic construction materials which includes the step of machining the workpiece using a tool which includes a tool component comprising a layer of polycrystalline diamond (12) having a working surface (16), a softer layer (20) containing a metal and bonded to the working surface (16) of the polycrystalline diamond layer (12) along an interface, the region (22) of the layer of polycrystalline diamond (12) adjacent the interface containing some metal from the softer layer (20).

Abstract: The invention provides a tool component comprising a first layer of polycrystalline cBN material which has a rake (working) surface and a flank surface and comprises less than 70 vol% cBN; and a secondary layer across the rake surface or at least partially across the rake surface and comprising a refractory material and optionally a binder phase and optionally cBN, wherein the secondary layer has a higher resistance to crater formation than the first layer of cBN material and has a lower affinity towards iron than cBN.

Abstract: A layer of a refractory material produced and bonded in situ to a surface of a CBN compact during the high temperature/high pressure manufacture of the CBN compact.

Abstract: A cutting tool component (10) comprising a body comprising a cemented carbide substrate (12) and having at least one working surface (14), the at least one working surface presenting a cutting edge or area (16) for the body, the at least one working surface (14) comprises PCBN adjacent the cutting edge or area (16) and extending to a depth of no greater than 0.2 mm from the at least one working surface and wherein the substrate (12) has a thickness of 1.0 to 40 mm.

Abstract: A cutting tool component which has an ultra-thin layer of ultra-hard material bonded to a cemented carbide substrate. The ultra-thin layer of ultra-hard material has a thickness of no greater than 0.2 mm. This cutting tool is used to cut workpieces under roughing and/or interrupted cut conditions. Where the workpiece is a wood product or wood composite the invention extends to cutting such workpieces in general. The ultra-hard material is preferably PCD or PCBN.

Abstract: The invention discloses an antenna system, which includes an array structure provided with a plurality of radiator elements being adapted to transmit and receive radiated electromagnetic waves. Each of the radiator elements are provided with at least two transverse interconnecting slots forming an aperture. An array feed network is operatively associated with each radiator element and is adapted to transmit a signal to and receive a signal from each radiator element and is further adapted to provide at least one common feed point for the array structure. A phase shifting unit operatively joins each radiator element to its associated feed point, the phase shifting unit being adapted to selectively adjust a phase of the electromagnetic waves associated with each radiator element. Operation of each phase shifting unit is regulated by control means for controlling the generation of a radiation pattern.

Abstract: A camouflage surface for concealment from, and deception of, a herbivorous animal comprises a camouflage pattern made up of at least two different types of regions which reflect electromagnetic radiation in the near-infra-red range of the electromagnetic spectrum. All the regions of each type reflect the near-infra-red radiation in the same fashion as one another and in a fashion different from the fashion in which the regions of each other type reflect the radiation. The different types of regions all have, in the near-infra-red range, spectral reflectance curves having reflectance maxima at wavelengths of at least 680 nm. Each spectral reflectance curve which the surface has in the visible light range of the electromagnetic spectrum is without a reflectance maximum in the wavelength range between 480 and 680 nm and each spectral reflectance curve which the surface has in the visible light range has a reflectance maximum at a wavelength of at most 480 nm.