Dresser Industries, Inc.

James W Langford, Jr

Robert Delwiche

Wilbur S Keller

Hardfacing to protect wear surfaces of drill bits and other downhole tools having coated diamond particles dispersed within and bonded to a metallic matrix deposit. The coating on the diamond particles may be formed from materials and alloys such as particles, tungsten carbide, and tungsten carbide/cobalt and cermets such as metal carbides and metal nitrides. The coated diamond particles are preferably sintered and have a generally spherical shape. The coated diamond particles are pre-mixed with selected materials such that welding and cooling will form both a metallurgical bond and a mechanical bond within the solidified metallic matrix deposit. A welding rod is prepared by placing a mixture of coated diamond particles, hard particles such as tungsten carbide/cobalt, and loose filler material into a steel tube. A substrate is hardfaced by progressively melting the welding rod onto a selected surface of the substrate and allowing the melted material to solidify, forming the desired hardfacing with coated diamond particles dispersed therein on the substrate surface.

Hardfacing with coated diamond particles

Hardfacing to protect wear surfaces of drill bits and other downhole tools having coated diamond particles dispersed within and bonded to a metallic matrix deposit. The coating on the diamond particles may be formed from materials and alloys such as particles, tungsten carbide, and tungsten carbide/cobalt and cermets such as metal carbides and metal nitrides. The coated diamond particles are preferably sintered and have a generally spherical shape. The coated diamond particles are premixed with selected materials such that welding and cooling will form both a metallurgical bond and a mechanical bond within the solidified metallic matrix deposit. A welding rod is prepared by placing a mixture of coated diamond particles, hard particles such as tungsten carbide/cobalt, and loose filler material into a steel tube. A substrate is hardfaced by progressively melting the welding rod onto a selected surface of the substrate and allowing the melted material to solidify, forming the desired hardfacing with coated diamond particles dispersed therein on the substrate surface.

An improved drill bit seal arrangement, including a seal ring having a boronized outer annular surface which is fabricated separate and apart from the journal bearing structure of the drill bit arm. The seal ring boronized surface is polished to define a smooth non-abrading surface for the elastomeric seal. The seal arrangement enhances the wear resistance of the seal between the drill bit arm and the cutting cone, thereby increasing the life span of the drill bit.

Drill bit wear resistant surface for elastomeric seal

A rolling cutter earth drilling bit in which integral one-piece pilot bushings provide both radial and thrust load sliding surfaces which incorporate an anti-galling material. A roller cone bit has three downwardly extending arm members which terminate in cylindrical spindles for the rolling cutters. Each spindle has a stepped configuration providing an enlarged journal section which is stepped down to provide an annular thrust shoulder and a reduced pilot pin which projects from the thrust shoulder. The rolling cutter mounted on the spindle has an enlarged rearward bearing recess which receives the journal section of the spindle and a reduced forward bearing recess which receives the spindle pilot pin. An annular thrust face corresponding generally to the spindle shoulder is between the recesses. The pilot bushing has a sleeve portion extending into the reduced forward recess of the rolling cutter in an interference fit and an integral annular rim portion extending outwardly from the sleeve portion over the thrust face. The outer surface of the rim portion contacts the annular spindle shoulder in a thrust load relationship, and the inner surface of the sleeve portion receives the pilot pin in a radial load relationship. These surfaces incorporate an anti-galling material.

Roller drill bit having radial-thrust pilot bushing incorporating

A composite sintered rock bit insert for use in a rolling cutter is fabricated from two tungsten carbide components. The first component is formed of a tungsten carbide composite that is less wear resistant, but tougher, than the second component. The two components are joined at a parting plane which extends to an earth-engaging surface of the insert. The insert is mounted on a rolling cutter such that the component having the lower wear resistant properties is on the leading face of the insert. With this combination, the wear pattern of the insert maintains a crest-like configuration at its rock engaging surface.

Wear compensating rock bit insert

A rotary drill bit for drilling earth formations is disclosed having a plurality of cutting elements mounted on the head portion of the bit. The bit further includes a plurality of individual protrusions projecting from the head portion more than the extension of the cutting elements. The protrusions are fabricated of a metal more readily abraded by the earth formation than any of the cutting elements. The protrusions protect the cutting elements during handling of the bit and entry of the bit into a borehole; and, the protectors are abraded away to expose the cutting elements during drilling.

Abradable cutter protection

A sealing system acts as a barrier to the drilling fluid, pulverized cuttings and other materials in the borehole preventing the materials from entering the bearing area of an earth boring bit and retains lubricant inside the bearing area. At least one bearing pin extends from the body of an earth boring bit and a rolling cone cutter is mounted on the bearing pin. A seal assembly is located in the mouth of the cutter between the cutter and the bearing pin. The seal assembly includes an annular rigid ring, an elastomeric ring and a deformable ring means mounted to rotate with said rolling cone cutter. The elastomeric ring is attached to the annular rigid ring. The elastomeric ring has a lip with a wiping surface that contacts the bearing pin. The deformable ring means is connected to the lip and maintains contact between the wiping surface and the bearing pin.

Sealing system for a rolling cone cutter earth boring bit

An asymmetric insert has a formation contacting crest thereby decreasing the loading on the insert and increasing the lifetime of the cutter. The insert has a shape prior to assembly in the cutter that includes a base integrally joined to an asymmetric head. The base is mounted in a socket in the cutter body. The head projects from the surface of the cutter and includes a crest positioned to contact the formations with substantially its entire length.

Asymmetric insert for inner row of an earth boring cutter

An asymmetric gage row insert provides a larger amount of wall contacting surface thereby decreasing the wear on the gage insert and increasing the ability of the earth boring apparatus to maintain a full gage hole. The insert has a shape prior to assembly onto the earth boring apparatus that includes a base integrally joined to an asymmetric head. The base is mounted in a socket in the earth boring apparatus. The head projects from the earth boring apparatus and includes an extended gage cutting surface. The gage cutting surface is the largest plane surface on the head. The gage cutting surface contacts the wall of the hole with the majority of the length of its extended surface and with the same angle as the gage angle of the bit.

Asymmetric gage insert for an earth boring apparatus

Drill cuttings are effectively removed from the bottom of a bore before they can adversely affect the operation of the bit. The bit includes a body member rotatably supporting individual cutter members. A shield means projects from the body member proximate the cutter members. A first portion of the shield means has an outside diameter substantially equal to the outside diameter of the cutter means and substantially equal to the diameter of the bore and a second portion having an outside diameter substantially less than the outside diameter of the cutter members and substantially less than the diameter of the bore. A first passage extending through the bit is adapted to provide communication with a vacuum source to assist in removing the drill cuttings. A second passage extending through the bit is adapted to provide communication with a gas pressure source to assist in removing the drill cuttings.

Growing community of inventors

Red Oak, TX, United States of America

James W Langford, Jr