Abstract: A SiAlON armor ceramic made from a starting powder mixture including silicon nitride powder. The armor ceramic includes a ceramic body that has between about 64 weight percent and about 90 weight percent alpha SiAlON phase that contains an alpha SiAlON-bound rare earth element. The ceramic body also has between about 5 weight percent and about 35 weight percent of a beta SiAlON phase of the formula Si6?zAlzOzN8?z wherein the value of “z” ranges between about 0.10 and about 0.35. The alpha SiAlON-bound rare earth element in the alpha SiAlON phase is present as a result of the starting powder mixture that contains between about 1 weight percent and about 7 weight percent of an oxide of the alpha SiAlON-bound rare earth element. The ceramic body has a fracture toughness (KIC) greater than about 6.00 MPa·m1/2 and a Vickers hardness (HVN) equal to greater than about 19.3 GPa.

Abstract: An assembly of a rotatable cutting tool and a tool holder is provided. The rotatable cutting tool includes a cutting tool body having a head portion at an axial forward end and a collar portion axially rearward of the head portion, and a shank portion axially rearward of the collar portion. Also included is a cap member positioned on the cutting tool body wherein the cap member has a base portion and a hard cutting tip affixed to the base portion. The tool holder includes a tool holder body containing a bore having a forward end and a rearward end. The rotatable cutting tool is rotatably retained in the bore of the tool holder body. In one aspect, the shank portion of the rotatable cutting tool is received in the bore of the tool holder body and means for lubricating the shank portion of the cutting tool body is provided. In another aspect, means for securing the cap member to the head portion is provided, for example magnetically securing the cap member to the head portion.

Abstract: A rotatable cutting tool for use in impinging earth strata such as, for example, asphaltic roadway material, coal deposits, mineral formations and the like. The rotatable cutting tool includes a cutting tool body having a through coolant channel and a two-piece head portion, e.g., the head portion of the cutting tool body having a base portion and a nose portion with a hard tip cutting insert affixed to the nose portion. The through coolant provides for cooling the hard tip cutting insert during operation of the cutting tool. In addition, the through coolant also provides for suppressing dust created by the rotatable cutting tool during operation.

Abstract: A hard alloy material comprising tungsten carbide in an amount of less than 50 weight percent of the material, titanium carbide in an amount of at least about 30 weight percent, and a binder material of cobalt and nickel. In other aspects of the invention, molybdenum and/or chromium are included to further lower the thermal conductivity of the material. The thermal conductivity of the material of the invention is about 12 Watt/m° K. or less.

Abstract: A thermal energy method (TEM) machine for deburring and deflashing work pieces, the TEM machine having an explosion load bearing frame. The frame comprises spaced apart coparallel first and second frame walls and a lateral structural member spacing apart the first and second frame walls. The top portion of the TEM combustion chamber is supported by the lateral structural member. The first and second frame walls are adapted to support a vertical displacement means. The first and second frame walls, the lateral structural member, and the vertical displacement means cooperate to contain vertically-directed explosion forces exerted upon the combustion chamber during the operation of the combustion chamber. Methods for deburring and/or deflashing using such TEM machines are also disclosed.

Abstract: A kinetic energy penetrator is provided comprising a consolidated body of a metal nanoparticles phase comprising metal nanoparticles and a metal carbide nanoparticles phase comprising metal carbide nanoparticles. Methods for making a kinetic energy penetrator as well as material compositions comprising a consolidated body of a metal nanoparticles phase comprising metal nanoparticles and a metal carbide nanoparticles phase comprising metal carbide nanoparticles are also provided.

Abstract: A loader assembly for a TEM machine having a retractable arm that is moveable between a retracted position and an extended position. A hoop portion of the retractable arm also moves between the retracted position and the extended position. A lower closure for holding a part to be processed in the TEM machine is removably positioned in the hoop portion. A ram piston of the TEM machine is movable between a load position and a process position. When the ram piston moves from a load position to a process position the ram piston contacts the lower closure and extends through the hoop of the retractable arm to move the lower closure to the process position. A thermal chamber receives the lower closure when the ram piston moves to the process position.

Abstract: A cutting tool body that includes an elongate steel body, which has an axial forward end and an axial rearward end. The elongate steel body contains at the axial forward end thereof a cold-headed socket. The cold-headed socket has an axial forward open end, an axial rearward closed surface, and a side socket surface extending between the axial forward open end and the axial rearward closed surface. The side socket surface contains an undercut adjacent the axial rearward closed surface.

Abstract: A block and non-rotating wear sleeve for holding a cutting tool used with mining and construction is disclosed. A key is used to intersect with notches in the wear sleeve and block at a rear face of the wear sleeve and block to prevent rotational movement between the wear sleeve and block. Locating the key and notches at the rear face provides an easily manufactured anti-rotation means which is also sheltered from the most of the abrasion experienced by the block and wear sleeve.

Abstract: A thermal energy machining (“TEM”) machine is designed with interchangeable components for processing different sized parts within a single frame. The frame weldment includes a base, an upper mounting plate and intermediate mounting plates. In one embodiment, a TEM machine for processing short parts includes a ram cylinder directly secured to the base, a chamber spacer directly secured to the upper mounting plate and a thermal chamber directly secured to the chamber spacer. In another embodiment, a TEM machine for processing long parts includes a thermal chamber directly secured to the upper mounting plate, a ram spacer directly secured to the base, and a ram cylinder directly secured to the ram spacer.

Abstract: A device for the thermal deburring of workpieces. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

Abstract: A stump cutter tooth held by a pocket member, which has first and second edge, and the pocket member being operatively attached to a driven wheel, which has opposite first and second side surfaces. The stump cutter tooth includes an elongate tooth body that has an axial forward end. A first hard region is at the axial forward end of the tooth body and defines at least one distinct cutting edge that has an orientation to engage the stump during operation. A second hard region is at the axial forward end of the tooth body and is distinct from the first hard region. The second hard region provides protection to at least a portion of the pocket member.

Abstract: A roof drill bit has an elongate roof drill bit body, which has a forward end and a rearward end. The roof drill bit body contains a slot at the forward end. The roof drill bit body contains a dust port wherein the dust port has a central longitudinal dust axis. The roof drill bit further has a hard insert received within the slot wherein the hard insert has a leading surface. The leading surface of the hard insert is rotationally forward of the central longitudinal dust axis of the dust port.

Abstract: A rotatable cutting tool that is useful for impingement upon a substrate and is adapted to be rotatably retained within the bore of a holder. The rotatable cutting tool includes an elongate cutting tool body, which has an axial forward end and an axial rearward end, as well as a socket at the axial forward end thereof. The rotatable cutting tool also includes a hard cutting member that is affixed to the cutting tool body within the socket. The hard cutting member has an axial forward end and an axial rearward end. The hard cutting member has a superhard axial forward portion at the axial forward end thereof wherein the superhard axial forward portion has a maximum transverse dimension. The hard cutting member further has a hard axial rearward portion contiguous with and axial rearward of the superhard axial forward portion. The hard axial rearward portion has a maximum transverse dimension.

Abstract: A cutting tool that includes an elongate body that has a forward end and a rearward end. The elongate body has a fluted portion that beginning near and extends in a rearward direction from the forward end. The fluted portion has a flute that defines a cutting edge. The flute presents a concave cutting face wherein the concave cutting face is defined by a first radius. The flute further presents a concave core surface adjacent to the concave cutting face wherein the concave core surface is defined by a second radius. The flute presents a convex heel surface adjacent to the concave core surface wherein the convex heel surface is defined by a fourth radius.

Abstract: A blade, which is useful on a tool that impinges earth strata, that has a blade body with a leading surface. The blade body has a first portion defining at least a part of the leading surface and a second portion. The first portion is made of a first material composition and the second portion is made of a second material composition.

Abstract: A thermal energy machining (“TEM”) machine gas handling system in which the improvement is a fluid-controlled pressure regulation subsystem for controlling the dispensing of a TEM process gas via the regulation of the pressure of the TEM process gas. Such subsystems include a pressure regulator, a pressure transducer, and a digital controller working in combination to control the process gas outlet pressure of the pressure regulator. The pressure regulator's diaphragm that controls the valve that regulates the process gas outlet pressure is mechanically acted upon by the piston of a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder. Controlling the pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder regulates the output pressure of the process gas. The pressure transducer and the digital controller work in combination to adjust the feed pressure of the pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, which in turn regulates the pressure of the process gas at the outlet of the pressure regulator.

Abstract: A road milling drum assembly that is for use with a road milling machine. The road milling drum includes a core portion carrying a first road planing bit assembly wherein the core portion detachably connects to the road milling machine. The first road planing bit assembly has a first milling width. The assembly further including one of the following components selected from the group of: (1) a protective cover that detachably connects to the core portion and the road milling machine; or (2) a milling extension segment carrying a second road planing bit assembly wherein the milling extension segment detachably connects to the core portion and the road milling machine. The second road planing bit assembly has a second milling width wherein the road milling drum has a milling width equal to the sum of the first milling width and the second milling width.

Abstract: A cutting tool assembly mounted on a rotating drum and having a base block, a wear sleeve and a cutting bit wherein a seal is located between the base block and wear sleeve is disclosed. A fluid passage spans from the rotating drum to a discharge location between the wear sleeve and the shank of the cutting bit. The fluid lubricates the shank of the cutting bit and bore of the wear sleeve allowing the cutting bit to rotate freely within the wear sleeve. Rotation of the cutting bit promotes even wear and long life of the bit.