Abstract: A toolholder and cutting insert for a toolholder assembly wherein the cutting insert has a tapered shank which provides a resilient interference fit with a tapered section of a bore extending within the toolholder. Additionally, a rearwardly facing face on the cutting insert abuts with a forwardly facing surface on the toolholder to properly locate the cutting insert within the toolholder.

Abstract: A shot tube for the introduction of molten metal into a die cavity has a casing with a first end, a second end and a bore extending through the casing. The first end is adapted to be connected to the die cavity and a sleeve protrudes from the second end of the casing. The sleeve has a pour opening for the introduction of molten metal. A hard lubricious coating may also be applied to the interior surface of the shot tube to reduce sticking of cooled metal within the shot tube. A method for producing the shot tube described above is also disclosed.

Abstract: A rotary tapered tool holder includes a body or shank including a front contact portion and a rear contact portion. An adapter sleeve is disposed about a portion of the shank. The adapter sleeve includes slits that allow radial expansion and contraction of the adapter sleeve. The adapter sleeve includes an inner surface formed at a first non-zero taper angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the shank, and an outer surface formed at a second non-zero taper angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shank. The second taper angle is different than the first taper angle such that an interference fit between the shank and the inner surface of the adapter sleeve forces the outer surface of the adapter sleeve into positive contact with a tapered bore of a spindle of the rotary tapered tool holder.

Abstract: A cutting insert rotated about its axis may be utilized during a metalworking operation and applied against the rotating workpiece to enhance tool performance. A method, including an assembly with a rotatable insert mounted to a toolholder may be utilized to achieve this result.

Abstract: A rotary tool holder includes a shank having a flange, a tapered outer surface, and front and rear contact portions. The tapered outer surface corresponds to the tapered bore of a spindle, and flexible circular cantilevers are provided at one or both contact portions such that a free end of the cantilevers expands radially due to centrifugal force to maintain contact with the tapered bore. The shank can be formed from an inner member and a sleeve disposed thereover, in which portions of the sleeve form the circular cantilevers. The circular cantilevers can also be formed by a cavity created in the shank. Alternatively, instead of circular cantilevers, the shank of the tool holder can have a taper which is optimized for a certain speed, wherein the taper of the shank has a first taper at rest and a different, optimized taper at a desired speed.

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 protuberance means adequately separate the insert within the slot and permit braze flow between the insert and slot.

Abstract: Methods for making abrasive water jet mixing tubes with superhard materials are presented. Also presented are methods for making a tubular elongate superhard material bodies.

Abstract: The invention relates to abrasive water jet systems including an abrasive water jet mixing tube having a longitudinal bore lined with a superhard material, including such systems which use cubic boron carbide (CBN), diamond, or other materials with a hardness greater than that of alumina as the abrasive material. The invention also includes methods of using an AWJ system having a mixing tube having a longitudinal bore lined with a superhard material. Some embodiments include AWJ mixing tubes which include a plurality of connected components. Such connections may be disconnectable.

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 protuberance means adequately separate the insert within the slot and permit braze flow between the insert and slot.

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 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: The invention relates to abrasive water jet systems comprising an abrasive water jet mixing tube having a longitudinal bore lined with a superhard material, including such systems which use cubic boron carbide (CBN), diamond, or other materials with a hardness greater than that of alumina as the abrasive material. The invention also comprises methods of using an AWJ system having a mixing tube having a longitudinal bore lined with a superhard material. Some embodiments include AWJ mixing tubes comprised of a plurality of connected components. Such connections may be disconnectable.

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 protuberance means adequately separate the insert within the slot and permit braze flow between the insert and slot.

Abstract: The invention relates to abrasive water jet systems comprising an abrasive water jet mixing tube having a longitudinal bore lined with a superhard material, including such systems which use cubic boron carbide (CBN), diamond, or other materials with a hardness greater than that of alumina as the abrasive material. The invention also comprises methods of using an AWJ system having a mixing tube having a longitudinal bore lined with a superhard material. Some embodiments include AWJ mixing tubes comprised of a plurality of connected components. Such connections may be disconnectable.

Abstract: The invention relates to abrasive water jet systems comprising an abrasive water jet mixing tube having a longitudinal bore lined with a superhard material, including such systems which use cubic boron carbide (CBN), diamond, or other materials with a hardness greater than that of alumina as the abrasive material. The invention also comprises methods of using an AWJ system having a mixing tube having a longitudinal bore lined with a superhard material. Some embodiments include AWJ mixing tubes comprised of a plurality of connected components. Such connections may be disconnectable.

Abstract: The invention relates to abrasive water jet systems comprising an abrasive water jet mixing tube having a longitudinal bore lined with a superhard material, including such systems which use cubic boron carbide (CBN), diamond, or other materials with a hardness greater than that of alumina as the abrasive material. The invention also comprises methods of using an AWJ system having a mixing tube having a longitudinal bore lined with a superhard material. Some embodiments include AWJ mixing tubes comprised of a plurality of connected components. Such connections may be disconnectable.

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: A hard member for use as a wear part or a hard insert for a point attack style of tool or a rotary style of tool. The hard member having a composition of between about 5 volume percent and about 40 volume percent binder alloy, and between about 60 volume percent and about 95 volume percent tungsten carbide. The tungsten carbide has an average grain size between about 1 micrometer and about 30 micrometers. The binder alloy comprises an alloy of nickel and chromium wherein the nickel ranges between about 70 weight percent and less than 93 weight percent and the chromium ranges between greater than 7 weight percent and about 30 weight percent.

Abstract: A rotatable cutting bit for penetrating an earth formation wherein the rotatable cutting bit includes an elongate bit body having a forward end and a rearward end. The bit body further defines a peripheral surface. The bit body has a first cutting insert affixed thereto at the axially forward end thereof. The first cutting insert has a first leading cutting edge and a first side clearance cutting edge. The first cutting insert is attached to the bit body so that the first side clearance cutting edge radially extends past the peripheral surface of the bit body so as to engage the earth formation.

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.