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:
Dec. 20, 2011
Filed:
May. 10, 2011
Michael R. Reese, Houston, TX (US);
Gilles Gallego, Ibos, FR;
Scott Buteaud, Spring, TX (US);
Alan K. Harrell, New Waverly, TX (US);
Steven W. Drews, Cypress, TX (US);
Michael R. Reese, Houston, TX (US);
Gilles Gallego, Ibos, FR;
Scott Buteaud, Spring, TX (US);
Alan K. Harrell, New Waverly, TX (US);
Steven W. Drews, Cypress, TX (US);
Varel Europe S.A.S., Pau, FR;
Abstract
An apparatus and method for manufacturing a down hole tool that reduces manufacturing costs and enhances the tool's performance. A belted mold assembly includes a casting assembly, a belt assembly, and a mid-belt. The belted mold assembly is used to fabricate a casting that allows for a larger diameter blank to be used which displaces the more expensive casting material and for using a smaller outer diameter thin-walled mold. The casting assembly is disposed within the belt assembly and the mid-belt is loaded in the volume created between the casting assembly's outer surface and the belt assembly's inner surface. The mid-belt provides a bracing for the casting assembly during the casting process. Optionally, a cap can be disposed on top of the blank for preventing metallurgical bonds from forming between the binder material and the upper portion of the blank. This allows for the excess binder material to remain high in purity so that it can be reprocessed. The cap can be used with the belted mold assembly or with a casting assembly known in the prior art.