Abstract: An article of footwear with a multi-directional sole structure including a flex groove system is disclosed. The flex groove system includes a plurality of longitudinal flex grooves and lateral flex grooves that divide the sole structure into a plurality of segments. The flex groove system also includes a plurality of diagonal flex grooves that intersect the corners of the plurality of segments. The flex grooves system can provide enhanced flexibility for the sole structure and can enhance multi-directional flexing.

Abstract: A method of blasting rock, in mining for recoverable material, comprising drilling blastholes in a blast zone, loading the blastholes with explosives and then firing the explosives in the blastholes in a single cycle of drilling, loading and blasting. The blast zone comprises a high energy blast zone in which blastholes are partially loaded with a first explosive to provide a high energy layer of the high energy blast zone having a powder factor of at least 1.75 kg of explosive per cubic meter of unblasted rock in the high energy layer and in which at least some of those blastholes are also loaded with a second explosive to provide a low energy layer of the high energy blast zone between the high energy layer and the adjacent end of those blastholes, said low energy layer having a powder factor that is at least a factor of two lower than the powder factor of said high energy layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a knife assembly for slicing woodwool, comprising a knife with a chip surface (1), a clearance surface (2) and a cutting edge (3), defined by the intersection between both surfaces. The knife assembly is characterized by guiding ribs (4) extending perpendicularly to the cutting edge (3) and joining the chip surface (1) with an end (5) that substantially coincides with the cutting edge (3) and with the guiding surface joining said end and rising there towards. The guiding ribs (4) can be formed integrally with the knife.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for producing sideways curved wood wool fibers. The apparatus comprises a flat rotatable disc (2), in the surface of which is provided at least one knife assembly (7) comprising a thickness knife (8) which projects slightly above the surface of the disc (2) and which has a cutting edge extending substantially radially and further comprising width knives (9) positioned as seen in the direction of rotation of said disc (2), ahead of said thickness knife (8) and having a cutting edge extending substantially tangentially. The width knives (9) are positioned in the immediate vicinity of the thickness knife (8), whereas their cutting edge may engage the thickness knife (8). Further the apparatus is provided with at least one feeding device (5) for feeding the disc (2) with wood blocks (6) to be cut up into fibers. Further a run-up guide may be positioned ahead of the width knives.