Abstract: A milling machine for milling a paved surface having milling tools connected to an underside of a body of the machine and at least one metal detector attached to a front end of the machine. The metal detector has at least one electrically conductive coil disposed within a magnetically conductive, electrically insulating trough. Electronic equipment is in communication with the metal detector, the equipment being adapted to interpret feedback from the detector.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, an outer diameter (O.D.) centerless grinding machine for use in grinding a diamond workpiece has a grinding wheel positioned parallel to a regulating wheel which is adapted to press a cylindrical workpiece into the grinding wheel as the regulating wheel rotates. Electronic equipment may be adapted to adjust a pressure of the regulating wheel against the grinding wheel. Also, a carrier may be adapted to house the workpiece, the carrier being attached to a translation mechanism adapted to move the carrier between the wheels such that the workpiece is in contact with both wheels.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, an apparatus for reconditioning a paved surface, has a vehicle adapted to traverse the paved surface. The vehicle has a manifold with a plurality of high pressure nozzles adapted to indent the paved surface. At least one nozzle is formed in a nozzle body with a distal end having a hard material with a hardness of at least 2,000 HK. The at least one nozzle is also in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir through a fluid pathway. The apparatus has a pressurizing mechanism and a heating mechanism for pressurizing and heating fluid in the fluid pathway.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for the extraction of water from air incorporated into a wall of a building has a cavity formed in the wall. The cavity has an air inlet and an air outlet. A condensing surface is disposed within the cavity and is adapted to direct condensed water to a water storage unit. In another aspect of the present invention, the cavity is formed between two different building walls.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle comprises a deceleration mechanism adapted to decelerate a wheel of the vehicle and adapted to drive an air compressor attached to the vehicle from the wheel deceleration. An engine of the vehicle comprises at least one cylinder assembly having a cylinder with an air in-take opening, and the cylinder assembly being adapted to rotate at least in part a crankshaft which is adapted to apply torque to the wheel of the vehicle. An air passage connects the compressor directly to the in-take opening, and the compressor comprises a flow regulator adapted to control an amount of air which passes from the compressor into the cylinder through the in-take valve.

Abstract: A rotary shaft impactor, has a rotor assembly connected to a rotary driving mechanism. The rotor assembly has an axis of rotation, an inlet, and an outlet, and is disposed within a chamber with an inner wall. A wear path has a portion of the inner wall and a channel connecting the inlet and the outlet. At least a portion of the wear path has a diamond surface.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, an apparatus for directional degradation of a surface comprises an attachment assembly connected to a motorized vehicle comprising at least one degradation tool. The at least one degradation tool comprises a substantially cylindrical rotary degradation element having a substantially cylindrical working surface formed about a rotational axis. A plurality of cutting inserts is embedded within the substantially cylindrical working surface and is adapted to degrade a surface in a direction substantially normal to the rotational axis. At least one of the plurality of cutting inserts comprises a superhard material bonded to a cemented metal carbide substrate at a non-planar interface. The superhard material comprises a substantially pointed geometry with an apex comprising a 0.050 to 0.160 inch radius and a 0.100 to 0.500 inch thickness from the apex to the non-planar interface.

Abstract: An apparatus for reconditioning a paved surface includes a vehicle adapted to traverse the paved surface. The vehicle has a manifold with a plurality of jets disposed within a surface adjacent the paved surface and at least one of the jets has a high temperature, high pressure nozzle. The high temperature, high pressure nozzle has a hard material with a hardness of at least 2,000 HK. The jets are in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir through a fluid pathway, and the fluid pathway has a pressurizing mechanism and a heating mechanism for bringing the fluid to a high temperature and a high pressure.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a cone crusher has at least one crushing surface disposed on either a cone and/or an inverted bowl of the crusher. The crushing surface has at least one insert having an impact head with a stem protruding from a base end of the head. The stem has a smaller cross sectional thickness than the head.

Abstract: A milling machine for milling a paved surface has milling tools connected to an underside of a body of the machine. At least one ferrous metal detector is attached to a front end of the machine. Electronic equipment is disposed within the machine and is in communication with the metal detector, the equipment being adapted to interpret feedback from the detector.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, an asphalt recycling machine has a passageway in communication with a fluid source secured to a motorized vehicle and a fogging nozzle. The fogging nozzle is connected to an underside of the motorized vehicle. The fogging nozzle is also proximate a rotary degradation element connected to the underside of the motorized vehicle. The rotary degradation element has an axis of rotation nonparallel with a paved surface.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a cone crusher has at least one crushing surface disposed on either a cone and/or an inverted bowl of the crusher. The crushing surface has at least one insert having an impact head with a stem protruding from a base end of the head. The stem has a smaller cross sectional thickness than the head.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a rotary impact mill has a milling chamber defined by a housing with an inlet, an outlet, and at least one wall. A plurality of impact hammers located within the milling chamber are fastened to and longitudinally disposed along a rotor assembly that is connected to a rotary driving mechanism. At least one of the impact hammers has a plurality of inserts arranged adjacent one another in a row and attached to a body of the hammer, wherein a first end of at least one insert is complementary to a second end of an adjacent insert.

Abstract: A drill bit has a bit body intermediate a working face and a shank end adapted for connection to a downhole drill string. The working face has at least three fixed blades converging towards a center of the working face and diverging towards a gauge of the bit, at least one blade having a cone region adjacent the center of the working face. The cone region increases in height away from the center of the working face and towards a nose portion of the at least one blade. An opening is formed in the working face at the center of the bit along an axis of the drill bit's rotation, the opening leading into a chamber with at least one wall. An indenting member is disposed within and extends from the opening, is substantially coaxial with the axis of rotation, and is fixed to the wall of the chamber.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention a trenching machine for degrading natural and man-made formations, comprising a plurality of roller assemblies exteriorly mounted to a trenching boom or wheel. The rollers comprising a plurality of pointed inserts radially arranged along the wheel's outer diameter. The inserts are adapted to degrade the formation when the boom or wheel is activated.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a downhole tool string component comprises a tubular body with a first and a second tool joint adapted to connect to adjacent tool string components, and a central bore adapted to pass drilling mud between the joints. A sleeve circumferentially disposed about an outer surface of the tubular body. The sleeve is rigidly attached to the outer surface at first and second sleeve ends and forming at least three stabilizer blades. A nuclear source and at least one nuclear detector are disposed within a gap formed between the inner surface of the sleeve and the outer surface of the tubular body.

Abstract: A pavement degradation machine has a motorized vehicle adapted to traverse a paved surface. At least one piston apparatus has a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end adapted for attachment to an underside of the motorized vehicle and the distal end extending towards the paved surface and comprising a rotary bit. The piston apparatus has a shaft disposed within a sleeve. The sleeve is adapted for axial motion and the shaft is adapted for rotational motion independent of the sleeve.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a roller assembly on an excavator for degrading natural and man-made formations has a plurality of pointed inserts disposed along its outer diameter. The inserts have a tip adapted to impact the formation and at least one of the tips has polycrystalline diamond bonded to a cemented metal carbide segment. The diamond also has a substantially conical geometry with a 0.50 to 0.200 inch radius and a thickness greater that 100 inches at the apex. The diamond also has a volume that is 75 to 150 percent of a volume of a carbide substrate.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, an outer diameter (O.D.) centerless grinding machine for use in grinding a diamond workpiece has a grinding wheel positioned parallel to a regulating wheel which is adapted to press a cylindrical workpiece into the grinding wheel as the regulating wheel rotates. Electronic equipment may be adapted to adjust a pressure of the regulating wheel against the grinding wheel. Also, a carrier may be adapted to house the workpiece, the carrier being attached to a translation mechanism adapted to move the carrier between the wheels such that the workpiece is in contact with both wheels.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a roller assembly has an axle that supports opposing faces of a cylindrical body that has a plurality of pointed inserts disposed along an outer diameter of the cylindrical body. At least one of the inserts has a tip with a polycrystalline diamond bonded to a cemented metal carbide segment. The diamond has a substantially conical geometry with a 0.50 to 0.200 inch radius apex and comprises a thickness greater than 0.100 inches at the apex. The roller assembly has an internal lubrication mechanism adapted to apply lubrication between the axle and the cylindrical body.