Abstract: A drill bit, system and method for penetrating a material such as a mineral bearing rock or the like. The system comprises a drill bit comprising a cutting face comprising at least one cutting tool, an emitter of microwaves positioned behind the cutting face, wherein at least a portion of the microwaves are emitted in a direction away from the cutting face, and a reflector for directing the portion to the cutting face. In operation the emitted microwaves irradiate the material prior to the irradiated material being removed by the at least one cutting tool.

Abstract: Pneumatic tires made of a flexible elastomer material are well established for vehicles on paved roads. However, in many instances paved roads are in the minority, a rarity, or non-existent. Further many applications of motorized vehicles occur permanently off paved or unpaved surfaces where terrain is not solid but loose. Elsewhere compacted snow, very low temperatures, rocky environments, and mud present issues to pneumatic tires as does increasing vehicle weight which requires the load to be distributed across multiple wheels. It would be beneficial to have a tire that allowed for an expansion of the design space for tires that addresses the issues discussed above in a wide range of lunar and planetary environments with high load bearing. Such a tire is presented employing flexible particulate filled designs for improved drawbar pull, lateral resistance, hill climb potential, rolling resistance, and terrain accommodation.

Abstract: An instrumented ball for collecting data in an industrial mill comprising a durable sphere defining an enclosed cavity and having a substantial thickness, the sphere manufactured from a resilient material able to withstand pressures exerted by a working industrial mill, electronics disposed in the cavity comprising: a plurality of devices for sensing physical conditions inside the mill, wherein each of the sensing devices outputs a series of sensed values, the devices comprising at least an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a thermocouple, a microphone and a wear sensor, a memory for storing the sensed values, and a communication port for transmitting the sensed values to an external device located outside of the mill, and a power source disposed in the cavity for powering the electronics.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting erosion of a wear surface of a component, particularly a liner attached to the mill shell of a rotating grinding mill. The sensor comprises a conductive element embedded in the component, the conductive element comprising a first end positioned at a first distance from the wear surface, at least one conductive loop comprising a wear portion positioned at a second distance from the wear surface proximate to the first end and a circuit coupled to the at least one element for determining a continuity of the conductive loop.

Abstract: An instrumented ball for collecting data in an industrial mill comprising a durable sphere defining an enclosed cavity and having a substantial thickness, the sphere manufactured from a resilient material able to withstand pressures exerted by a working industrial mill, electronics disposed in the cavity comprising: a plurality of devices for sensing physical conditions inside the mill, wherein each of the sensing devices outputs a series of sensed values, the devices comprising at least an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a thermocouple, a microphone and a wear sensor, a memory for storing the sensed values, and a communication port for transmitting the sensed values to an external device located outside of the mill, and a power source disposed in the cavity for powering the electronics.

Abstract: A drill bit, system and method for penetrating a material such as a mineral bearing rock or the like is disclosed. The system comprises a drill bit comprising a cutting face comprising at least one cutting tool, an emitter of microwaves positioned behind the cutting face, wherein at least a portion of the microwaves are emitted in a direction away from the cutting face, and a reflector for directing the portion to the cutting face. In operation the emitted microwaves irradiate the material prior to the irradiated material being removed by the at least one cutting tool.

Abstract: There is provided a method for increasing the critical speed of a rotating disk and disk using same. The method comprises the steps of providing a disk and fastening at least one heat sensitive insert to the disk. The insert exerts a tensile stress on the disk when an insert temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature. The disk could be a saw blade. Also, there is provided a saw blade and method having a reduced kerf at high speeds, the blade having a serrated cutting edge. The blade comprises at least one insert attached to the blade, the at least one insert exerting a tensile stress on the blade when an insert temperature reaches a predetermined temperature, the exerted tensile stresses opposite to those induced by the blade temperature.