Ultrasonic/Sonic Vibrating/Rotating Tool Bits

An easy-to-implement design concept shows promise for improving the performances of impact tool bits used in abrading surfaces, drilling, and coring of rock and rocklike materials. The concept is especially applicable to tools actuated with a combination of ultrasonic and sonic vibrations, as in the cases described in “Ultrasonic/Sonic Drill/Corers With Integrated Sensors (NPO- 20856), NASA Tech Briefs, Vol. 25, No. 1 (January 2001), page 38. Such tools were originally intended to be used in scientific drilling and coring of rock; they might also be useful for drilling, coring, and surface grinding of rock for art and construction.