The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 15, 1991
Filed:
Sep. 17, 1990
Michael S Oliver, Lafayette, LA (US);
Chris E Cawthorne, The Woodlands, TX (US);
Gary Erpenbeck, Costa Mesa, CA (US);
Smith International, Inc., Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
Sealed bearing rotary cone drill bits are subject to seal wear from detritus or debris generated during operation of the drill bit in a borehole. The debris invades the seal gland area resulting in premature cone bearing failure. A shale burn plug secured in the leg back face and positioned between the base of the rotary cone and the leg back face has a shale or detritus diverting ridge formed in the face of the plug. Additionally, the burn plug is energized to urge the ridged face of the burn plug against the base of the rotary cone; the ridge being radially oriented to divert debris away from the seal gland.