Abstract: A nozzle assembly for use in a drill bit includes a nozzle body having a nozzle oriented at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle body and a positioning ring that is rotationally and axially locked to the nozzle body. The nozzle body includes a plurality of facets extending between a pair of retention surfaces. The positioning ring has a plurality of teeth and is operatively disposed between the retention surfaces to axially retain the ring on the nozzle body. When positioned between the retention surfaces, the teeth engage the facets to rotationally lock the ring to the nozzle body. The positioning ring may have a longitudinal split, to allow the ring to ratchet relative to the nozzle body, and a pair of spanner-receiving apertures. In operation, the ring is coupled to the nozzle body and the resultant assembly is coupled to the drill bit. Any misalignment is noted and the assembly is removed from the drill bit.

Abstract: A wear prevention device for use with roadmilling or trenching machine blocks which hold rotatable cutting bits. The wear prevention device includes a substantially cylindrical retainer sleeve with a longitudinally directed slot running the length of the sleeve. The wear prevention device also includes a substantially circular wear washer with a radially inwardly directed key which is adapted to fit within the sleeve slot, thereby interlocking the sleeve and the wear washer. The retainer sleeve is adapted to receive a shank of a cutting bit and is placed within a bore in a machine block. The machine block bore may further include a keyway, or the machine block may include a boss surrounding the machine block bore with the keyway The retainer sleeve may further include a radially outwardly directed key adapted to fit within the machine block bore keyway, thereby further interlocking the retainer sleeve with the machine block.

Abstract: An anvil for use in ultra high pressure presses capable of operating in the pressure ranges where diamonds, polycrystalline diamond composites and cubic boron nitride are stable, fabricated by diffusion bonding together a plurality of cemented tungsten carbide layers. The anvil has a working layer adjacent to the highest pressure of the press with the remaining plurality of layers behind the working layer for support. The working layer has a higher hardness than the supporting layers and the supporting layers each have higher toughness than the working layer.

Abstract: A cutting tool is decarburized by placing the tool in a protective environment, heating in this environment to a temperature of 600.degree.-1100.degree. C., and maintaining this temperature for a period of 15-120 minutes. The cutting tool may be a cemented carbide microdrill which contains primary cutting edges which form an angular surface on the forward end of a rake surface at the cutting tip, and a radius surface which extends from the angular surface to a flank surface which extends from an outer diameter of the cutting tip to an axis of symmetry of the tool.

Abstract: A drill but having a drill body with a cutting tip, an axis of symmetry, and a plurality of flutes wherein said flutes have a rake surface at said cutting tip. The cutting tip includes a plurality of side blades between said flutes and joined at a web, a plurality of flank surfaces extending from an outer diameter of said cutting tip to said axis of symmetry, and a plurality of primary cutting edges at the intersection of said flank surfaces with said rake surfaces. Both the rake and flank surfaces have extensions which would intersect each other at an intersection. The primary cutting edges include an angular surface formed on the forward end of said rake surfaces which is located such that the length of said extension of said rake surface measured between said angular surface and said intersection is a first predetermined value and the length of said extension of said flank surface measured between said angular surface and said intersection is a second predetermined value.

Abstract: A bit holder block is provided composed of a foot portion for being received in a seat of a rotary member and a bit holder portion for releasably holding a cutter bit with respect to a bit bore therein. The bit bore has a forward opening at a bit abutment face of the bit holder block. The cutter bit is provided with an annular abutment surface for abutting the bit abutment face. A bit retainer port is provided in the bit holder block located at, and communicates with, a rear opening of the bit bore for therein securing a retainer clip to an annular groove in the cutter bit. A rear segment of the bit holder block provides a strong reinforcing structure for the area around the rear opening of the bit bore which counters a fulcrum force generated at the rear opening of the bit bore, the fulcrum force arising during operation due to a resultant force acting on the cutter bit being directed below the axis of the cutter bit, rather than above it, as was previously believed in the art.

Abstract: A cutting tool assembly including a cutting bit having a head and a cylindrical shank portion of substantially constant diameter depending from the head as well as a bit holder including a cylindrical bore for receiving the cylindrical shank portion of the cutting bit. The shank portion includes an annular recessed groove, the cylindrical bore includes a notch corresponding to and disposed opposite the annular recessed groove. The cutting tool assembly further includes a retainer sleeve disposed between the shank portion of the cutting bit and the bore of the bit holder and which closely conforms about the shank portion while allowing the shank portion to rotate within the bore.

Abstract: A gripping tool having a main body with a plurality of gripping ends. A first body arm is integral to and extends outward from the main body at one of the plurality of gripping ends. A first upper jaw is formed on the first body arm with a first clamping arm flexibly mounted to the first body arm by a pivot member. The first clamping arm has a first lower jaw formed thereon. Also, a method for grasping a tool by first applying a compressive force between a fixed arm and a clamping arm on one side of a pivot member to open a set of jaws on the opposite side of the pivot member. The open jaws are then moved in a direction perpendicular to the compressive force to arrange the open jaws around the shaft of a tool such that the tool is grasped when the compressive force is released.

Abstract: A die assembly for plastic pelletizing apparatus of the type including a cooling bath into which the plastic is extruded. The die assembly includes a heated main body having first and second oppositely disposed exterior faces connected by a plurality of relatively small extrusion passageways. A layer of thermal insulation material overlies the second face, and a cover member having an outer surface adapted to be exposed to the cooling bath is positioned over the thermal insulation material and joined to the main body. Wear resistant insert members formed from a material having a higher coefficient of thermal conductivity than the material from which the cover member is made extend from the outer surface of the cover member through the layer of insulation into the main body. Extrusion outlet orifices are formed through the insert members and define continuations of the extrusion passageways of the main body.

Abstract: A quick change tool holder of the block tool type wherein a tool nose assembly is releasably secured to a drive member at an interface plane. A bayonet subassembly extends coaxially from the drive member by some predetermined distance and is receivable in an axially extending socket in the tool nose. The bayonet subassembly is selectively rotatable relative to the drive member between engaged and disengaged conditions with the tool nose socket. The distance that the bayonet subassembly extends from the drive member is selectively adjustable for insuring that the bayonet securely engages with the socket.

Abstract: A quick change tool holder having a cutting head on which a cutting member is attached for attachment to a shank. A lockpin/locknut arrangement provides for quick and safe removal of the cutting head from the shank. The lockpin has radial projections that rotate in response to manual rotation of the lockpin in and out of recesses contained in the opening of the locknut. The lockpin is secured within a bore in the cutting head and extends out of that bore into a bore in the shank in which bore the locknut is secured. A spring and plunger combination is located in the bore of the shank in order to urge the cutting head away from the shank when the radial projections are not within the recesses of the locknut. The shank and the cutting head have corresponding mating teeth in order to prevent rotation of the cutting head relative to the shank when the cutting head and shank are attached.

Abstract: A die assembly for plastic pelletizing apparatus of the type including a cooling bath into which the plastic is extruded. The die assembly includes a heated main body having first and second oppositely disposed exterior faces connected by a plurality of relatively small extrusion passageways. A layer of thermal insulation material overlies the second face, and a cover member having an outer surface adapted to be exposed to the cooling bath is positioned over the thermal insulation material and joined to the main body. Wear resistant insert members formed from a material having a higher coefficient of thermal conductivity than the material from which the cover member is made extend from the outer surface of the cover member through the layer of insulation into the main body. Extrusion outlet orifices are formed through the insert members and define continuations of the extrusion passageways of the main body.

Abstract: A quick change tool holder of the block tool type wherein a tool nose assembly is releasably secured to a drive member or holder. The tool nose includes a bayonet portion extending axially outward from the rear end thereof which is receivable by an axial opening in a locking assembly housed in the drive member. The bayonet portion is positioned behind a locking ring in the locking assembly, and this locking ring is selectively shiftable axially of the drive member between disengaged and engaged conditions against and under the influence of spring biasing means. In the disengaged condition, the bayonet portion is insertable into and removable from association with the locking assembly. In the engaged condition, the spring biasing means acts against the locking ring to, in turn, act against the bayonet portion for moving the tool nose axially toward the drive member to place teeth on these two components in cooperative engagement to thereby effect a secure interconnection therebetween.