Abstract: A cutting tool assembly having a holder block mounting scheme which effectively and accurately positions the cutting tip point at its designed angle of attack. The connection assembly limits undesirable shifting during attachment of the holder block to a cutting drum. The holder block connection assembly of the present invention includes a separate mounting plate that is positioned between the bit holder block and drum/pedestal for accurately aligning the bit holder block onto to the drum/pedestal. Once the bit holder block is aligned into position by the plate as designed the bit holder block is welded to the drum/pedestal.

Abstract: A center vacuum rotary drill bit including a rotary drill bit body and an insert. The bottom surface of the slot has a projecting key that cooperates with a depression keyway of the insert. Generally vertical sidewall surfaces of a depression keyway and vertical surfaces of a projection key provide mechanical resistance against lateral movement of the cutting insert. This mechanical resistance reduces displacement of the insert with respect to the bit body during brazing and thus a high quality, accurately aligned drill bit assembly is provided by applicants' invention. The depression keyway is designed so as to minimize the effect of the axial load on the insert by avoiding sharp corners which tend to amplify nominal stress and provides an insert of a proper carbide density after pressing. Integral bit body protuberances adequately separate the insert within the slot and permit braze flow between the insert and slot.

Abstract: A cutting insert for a gauge row of a percussion drill bit includes a generally cylindrical mounting portion extending along a central axis and a cutting head extending from the mounting portion. The cutting head has an exposed surface forming a non-symmetrical dome shape such that the working portion of the cutting head is enlarged with respect to a standard dome shape and a trailing portion of the cutting head is reduced with respect to a standard dome shape. The cutting head has an inner edge and an outer edge. The exposed surface is non-symmetrical along a central plane which bisects the working portion and the trailing portion. The exposed surface is symmetrical in a second plane perpendicular to the central plane such that the exposed surface forms an arc of constant radius from the inner edge to the outer edge in the second plane.

Abstract: A cutting tool has a flute and land, which follow a helix angle, wherein the flute and land are connected to one another with a convex heel to provide a smooth contour to the tool surface and to provide improved performance. A grinding wheel for producing a cutting tool, along with a method for using such a grinding wheel, is also disclosed. Finally, a crush roll for dressing such a grinding wheel is also disclosed.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit for penetrating earth strata wherein the drill bit includes a drill bit body that has an axial forward end. The drill bit body has a hard insert, which is preferably monolithic, that is affixed to the drill bit body at the axial forward end thereof. The hard insert presents at least three discrete leading cutting edges for cutting the earth strata.

Abstract: Tungsten powder is mixed with a second powder metal and a binder to be used as small arms projectiles and shot pellets for use in shot guns which is cost effective to produce and which can perform ballistically. Ballistic performance equal to or superior to that of lead would be offered by a material having a specific gravity equal to or greater than lead. The non-toxic projectiles are manufactured in a cost-effective process; yet still produces projectiles and shot pellets that can perform ballistically. This projectile composition can perform substantially as well as lead and lead alloys or better without the need to fabricate the composition from a high temperature molten state which requires large amounts of energy input. In one particular embodiment of the invention, the tungsten powder is blended with iron powder and Portland Cement for constructing projectiles. The tungsten, iron and Portland Cement (W/Fe Portland cement) shot provides a satisfactory substitute for lead shot.

Abstract: A product having a chromium carbide based cemented carbide composition with a nickel and/or chromium based binder is disclosed. It possesses excellent corrosion resistance in combination with good strength and hardness/abrasion resistance. The average chromium carbide grain size is less than 10 &mgr;m.

Abstract: According to the present invention a bit holder block that can be durably connected to both a driven chain and rotary drum is disclosed. The bit holder block is designed to enable it to be welded or fused by other well-known methods to either a rotary drum or driven chain. The invention includes a bottom surface for welding to either a drum or chain. The bottom surface includes a central arcuate surface and flanking flat surfaces at opposite ends of the central arcuate surface. On the flat plate of driven chain cutting machinery the flanking flat surfaces sit squarely on the flat plate. When welded to a drum the base's bottom surface makes two lines of contact with the drum limiting the likelihood of undesirable.

Abstract: An assembly that includes a rotatable cutting tool and a tool holder. The rotatable cutting tool has an integral enlarged dimension portion mediate which has a periphery and a rearwardly facing surface which defines a generally planar shoulder. The tool holder includes a bore and has an integral mating surface which surrounds the forward end of the bore. The mating surface has a peripheral edge. The rotatable cutting tool is rotatably retained in the bore of the tool holder body so that the shoulder of the elongate cutting tool body contacts the mating surface of the tool holder body and the periphery of the enlarged dimension portion of the elongate cutting tool body extends radially outwardly past the peripheral edge of the mating surface.

Abstract: A grinding wheel for producing a cutting tool having a flute and a land with a margin which follow a helix angle is disclosed along with a method for using such a grinding wheel. Additionally, a crush roll for dressing such a grinding wheel is disclosed.

Abstract: A retainer, adapted to engage a recess in a cutting tool for securing the cutting tool to a support block, includes a retainer body having a main portion with first and second ends. The main portion defines a continuous shear zone having first and second ends. The retainer body further includes a protruding portion disposed between the ends of the continuous shear zone and spaced away from the ends of the main portion. The protruding portion extends radially from the main portion and is adapted to overlap the support block when the retainer is engaging the recess.

Abstract: A grinding wheel for producing a cutting tool having a flute and a land along with double margins which follow a helix angle is disclosed along with a method for using such a grinding wheel. Additionally, a crush roll for dressing such a grinding wheel is disclosed.

Abstract: A design is disclosed for promoting the formation of weld between a first member and a second member whereby a fin is introduced at the outer corner portion of the first member to minimize the creation of defects such as runout or rollover. While such a design is applicable to any industrial welding operation, this design is of particular interest for welding bases or bit blocks holding cutting bits onto rotatable drums, wheels or chains used in construction or mining operations.

Abstract: A rotatable cutting tool for impinging the earth strata wherein the cutting tool has a tool body with an axial forward end and an axial rearward end. A hard insert is at the axial forward end and a retainer is carried by a shank portion near the axial rearward end. The hard insert has an axial forward generally conical tip section that presents a tip surface and has a starting included angle of between greater than about 110 degrees and less than about 140 degrees, a transition section (wherein at least a portion of the transition section presenting a convex shape) that is contiguous with and axially rearward of the tip section, a radially outwardly expanding first mediate section that is axially rearward of the convex section, and a base section that is axially rearward of the mediate section.

Abstract: A superhard filler hardmetal having a superhard material filler, binder metal or matrix and in some instances at least a first hard component is disclosed. The superhard filler hardmetal has a porosity rating of substantially A06, B00, C00 or better and may be essentially pore free, i.e., A00, B00, C00. The superhard filler hardmetal is formed by mechanically mixing a superhard material, in some instances at least a first hard component and a binder metal or matrix precursor, shaping the mixture into a green body and consolidating the green body at a preselected temperature, superatmospheric pressure and time at temperature and time at superatmospheric pressure sufficient to form the superhard filler hardmetal. The consolidation preferably occurs without the formation of a liquid in the body and at least a portion of the time at superatmospheric pressure is at the preselected temperature. Diamond filler and boron nitride filler are examples of superhard materials usable as filler.

Abstract: A drill steel-chuck assembly which includes a drill steel which has a plurality of faces and opposite ends. The drill steel has one portion adjacent one of the opposite ends thereof and a mediate portion spaced apart from the one portion. The drill steel further has one transition portion between the one portion and the mediate portion so as to join the one portion and the mediate portion. The one portion of the drill steel presents a first orientation of the faces. The mediate portion of the drill steel presents a second orientation of the faces. The one transition portion of the drill steel presents a twisted orientation of the faces comprising a generally constant twist of the faces from the first orientation of the one portion to the second orientation of the mediate portion. There is a chuck for attachment to the drill steel through engagement with the transition portion of the drill steel.

Abstract: An excavation cutting tool holder includes a cutting tool holder having a holder body portion and a holder shank, the holder shank having a press fit portion and a shank bottom end, the shank press fit portion having a shank press fit dimension and the shank bottom end having a tool holder locator. The excavation cutting tool holder assembly further includes a support block having a block body, the block body having a block bore, the block bore having a block bore press fit portion and a block engagor, the block bore press fit portion having a block bore press fit dimension less than the shank press fit dimension such that the shank press fit portion press fits with the block bore press fit portion while the block engagor engages the tool holder locator so as to orient the cutting tool holder relative to the support block.

Abstract: A cutting bit has a bit body which has a forward end and a rearward end. The bit body contains a seat at the forward end thereof. The bit body contains a bore intersecting the seat wherein a bore wall defines the bore. A cutting insert is received by the seat wherein the cutting insert presents a side surface facing the bore. A wedge has a generally longitudinal seating surface. The wedge has a support surface opposite to the longitudinal seating surface. The wedge is received within the bore so that the longitudinal seating surface of the wedge contacts the side surface of the cutting insert and for at least a portion of the length of the wedge the entire support surface contacts the bore wall so as to frictionally retain the cutting insert in the seat.

Abstract: A cutting tool assembly includes a support block having a concealable outer surface portion, first and second bores, and first and second fluid passages. The first fluid passage is in fluid communication with the first bore and the second fluid passage. The second fluid passage has an axis and extends between the concealable outer surface portion and the second bore. Furthermore, the second bore and the second fluid passage are configured such that the axis may be extended through the second bore and beyond the support block without intersecting the support block. The cutting tool assembly also includes a replaceable spray nozzle having a body that extends into the first bore such that the spray nozzle is in fluid communication with the first fluid passage.

Abstract: A rotatable cutting insert of improved geometry having a shank depending from a head portion and having a hard insert mounted therein, includes an insert having a conically shaped tip section, a base section contiguous with a first intermediate section, a second intermediate section contiguous with both tip and first intermediate section, and where the diameter of the second intermediate section is equal to the maximum diameter of the tip but is smaller than the diameter of the base section.