Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080202814 | Earth-boring tools and cutter assemblies having a cutting element co-sintered with a cone structure, methods of using the same - Methods of forming cutter assemblies for use on earth-boring tools include sintering a cone structure to fuse one or more cutting elements thereto. In some embodiments, one or more green, brown, or fully sintered cutting elements may be positioned on a green or brown cone structure prior to sintering the cone structure to a final density. Cutter assemblies may be formed by such methods, and such cutter assemblies may be used in earth-boring tools such as, for example, earth-boring rotary drill bits and hole openers. | 08-28-2008 |
20080223622 | Earth-boring tools having pockets for receiving cutting elements therein and methods of forming such pockets and earth-boring tools - Methods of forming cutting element pockets in earth-boring tools include machining at least one recess to define at least one surface of a cutting element pocket using a cutter oriented at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the cutting element pocket. Methods of forming earth-boring tools include forming a bit body and forming at least one cutting element pocket therein using a rotating cutter oriented at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the cutting element pocket being formed. Earth-boring tools have a bit body comprising a first surface defining a lateral sidewall of a cutting element pocket, a second surface defining an end wall of the cutting element pocket, and another surface defining a groove located between the first and second surfaces that extends into the body to enable a cutting element to abut against an area of the lateral sidewall and end wall of the pocket. | 09-18-2008 |
20080236899 | Shrink fit sleeve assembly for a drill bit, including nozzle assembly and method thereof - A shrink-fit sleeve assembly comprising a bit body includes at least one sleeve port with a substantially tubular sleeve disposed therein and interferingly engaged therewith. The sleeve port includes an internal surface of substantially circular cross-section, and the tubular sleeve includes an internal nozzle port and an external surface of substantially circular cross-section. A lateral dimension of the external surface is equal to or greater than the first dimension at ambient temperature. A nozzle assembly and a method of manufacturing or retrofitting a drill bit are also disclosed. | 10-02-2008 |
20090031863 | BONDING AGENTS FOR IMPROVED SINTERING OF EARTH-BORING TOOLS, METHODS OF FORMING EARTH-BORING TOOLS AND RESULTING STRUCTURES - Methods for forming earth-boring tools include providing a metal or metal alloy bonding agent at an interface between a first element and a second element and sintering the first element, the second element, and the boding agent to form a bond between the first element and the second element at the interface. The methods may be used, for example, to bond together portions of a body of an earth-boring tool (which may facilitate, for example, the formation of cutting element pockets) or to bond cutting elements to a body of an earth-boring tool (e.g., a bit body of a fixed-cutter earth-boring drill bit or a cone of a roller cone earth-boring drill bit). At least partially formed earth-boring tools include a metal or metal alloy bonding agent at an interface between two or more elements, at least one of which may comprise a green or brown structure. | 02-05-2009 |
20090032310 | EARTH-BORING TOOLS HAVING PARTICLE-MATRIX COMPOSITE BODIES, METHODS FOR WELDING PARTICLE-MATRIX COMPOSITE BODIES AND METHODS FOR REPAIRING PARTICLE-MATRIX COMPOSITE BODIES - Methods for welding a particle-matrix composite body to another body and repairing particle-matrix composite bodies are disclosed. Additionally, earth-boring tools having a joint that includes an overlapping root portion and a weld groove having a face portion with a first bevel portion and a second bevel portion are disclosed. In some embodiments, a particle-matrix bit body of an earth-boring tool may be repaired by removing a damaged portion, heating the particle-matrix composite bit body, and forming a built-up metallic structure thereon. In other embodiments, a particle-matrix composite body may be welded to a metallic body by forming a joint, heating the particle-matrix composite body, melting a metallic filler material forming a weld bead and cooling the welded particle-matrix composite body, metallic filler material and metallic body at a controlled rate. | 02-05-2009 |
20090032571 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR WELDING PARTICLE-MATRIX COMPOSITE BODIES - Methods and associated systems for welding a particle-matrix composite body to another body are disclosed. In some embodiments, a particle-matrix bit body may be welded to a metal coupler. In one embodiment, a heating torch may heat a first localized volume of the particle-matrix composite body to a temperature below the melting temperature of the matrix material of the particle-matrix composite body. A welding torch may simultaneously melt a second localized volume proximate the first localized volume to a temperature above the melting temperature of the matrix material of the particle-matrix composite body to weld the particle-matrix composite body to another body. | 02-05-2009 |
20090205870 | INSERTABLE DEVICES FOR RETENTION SYSTEMS, STRUCTURES FOR ATTACHMENT AND METHODS OF USE - Insertable devices include a body and at least one substantially circumferential groove in an outer surface of the body. An aperture in a receiving device comprises at least one annular recess extending radially into a sidewall thereof. At least one resilient split ring fits partially into both the at least one substantially circumferential groove of the insertable device and the at least one annular recess in the aperture. Methods of inserting the insertable device into a receiving device and of removing the insertable device from a receiving device are also disclosed. | 08-20-2009 |
20090301786 | METHODS OF FORMING EARTH-BORING TOOLS USING GEOMETRIC COMPENSATION AND TOOLS FORMED BY SUCH METHODS - Geometric compensation techniques are used to improve the accuracy by which features may be located on drill bits formed using particle compaction and sintering processes. In some embodiments, a positional error to be exhibited by at least one feature in a less than fully sintered bit body upon fully sintering the bit body is predicted and the at least one feature is formed on the less than fully sintered bit body at a location at least partially determined by the predicted positional error. In other embodiments, bit bodies of earth-boring rotary drill bits are designed to include a design drilling profile and a less than fully sintered bit body is formed including a drilling profile having a shape differing from a shape of the design drilling profile. Less than fully sintered bit bodies of earth-boring rotary drill bits are formed using such methods. | 12-10-2009 |
20090301787 | METHODS OF ATTACHING A SHANK TO A BODY OF AN EARTH-BORING TOOL INCLUDING A LOAD BEARING JOINT AND TOOLS FORMED BY SUCH METHODS - Earth-boring rotary drill bits including a bit body attached to a shank assembly at a joint. In some embodiments, the joint may be configured to carry at least a portion of any tensile longitudinal and rotational load applied to the drill bit by mechanical interference at the joint. In additional embodiments, the joint may be configured to carry a selected portion of any tensile longitudinal load applied to the drill bit. Methods for attaching a shank assembly to a bit body of an earth-boring rotary drill bit include configuring a joint to carry at least a portion of any tensile longitudinal and rotational load applied to the drill bit by mechanical interference. Additional embodiments include configuring a joint to carry a selected portion of any tensile longitudinal load applied to the drill bit by mechanical interference. | 12-10-2009 |
20090301789 | METHODS OF FORMING EARTH-BORING TOOLS INCLUDING SINTERBONDED COMPONENTS AND TOOLS FORMED BY SUCH METHODS - Methods of forming earth-boring rotary drill bits by forming and joining two less than fully sintered components, by forming and joining a first fully sintered component with a first shrink rate and forming a second less than fully sintered component with a second sinter-shrink rate greater that that of the first shrink rate of the first fully sintered component, by forming and joining a first less than fully sintered component with a first sinter-shrink rate and by forming and joining at least a second less than fully sintered component with a second sinter-shrink rate less than the first sinter-shrink rate. The methods include co-sintering a first less than fully sintered component and a second less than fully sintered component to a desired final density to form at least a portion of an earth-boring rotary drill bit which may either cause the first less than fully sintered component and the second less than fully sintered component to join or may cause one of the first less than fully sintered component and the second less than fully sintered component to shrink around and at least partially capture the other less than fully sintered component. Earth-boring rotary drill bits are formed using such methods. | 12-10-2009 |
20100116094 | Cemented Tungsten Carbide Rock Bit Cone - An earth-boring bit has a steel body and bearing pin for rotatably supporting a cone. The cone has an exterior surface containing rows of cutting elements. The cone and cutting elements are formed of cemented tungsten carbide. The cone may be manufactured by applying pressure to a mixture of hard particles and metal alloy powder to form a billet, then machining the billet to a desired over-sized conical shaped product. Then the conical-shaped product is liquid-phase sintered to a desired density, which causes shrinking to the desired final shape. | 05-13-2010 |
20100155147 | METHODS OF ENHANCING RETENTION FORCES BETWEEN INTERFERING PARTS, AND STRUCTURES FORMED BY SUCH METHODS - A shrink-fit sleeve assembly comprising a bit body includes at least one sleeve port with a substantially tubular sleeve disposed therein and interferingly engaged therewith. The sleeve port includes an internal surface of substantially circular cross-section, and the tubular sleeve includes an internal nozzle port and an external surface of substantially circular cross-section. A lateral dimension of an external surface is equal to or greater than a first dimension at ambient temperature. A nozzle assembly and a method of manufacturing or retrofitting a drill bit are also disclosed. | 06-24-2010 |
20100230176 | EARTH-BORING TOOLS WITH STIFF INSERT SUPPORT REGIONS AND RELATED METHODS - Earth-boring tools comprising bodies with one or more stiff insert support regions and one or more inserts secured to the one or more stiff insert support regions are disclosed. The inserts may each comprise an insert body, which may be secured to the one or more insert support regions of the body. In some embodiments, one or more insert support regions of the body may have an elastic modulus similar the elastic modulus of the insert body of the one or more inserts. In additional embodiments, one or more insert support regions of the body may have an elastic modulus that is greater than the elastic modulus of the insert body of the one or more inserts. In further embodiments, methods of forming earth-boring tools comprising bodies with one or more stiff insert support regions are disclosed. | 09-16-2010 |
20100230177 | EARTH-BORING TOOLS WITH THERMALLY CONDUCTIVE REGIONS AND RELATED METHODS - Earth-boring tools comprising bodies with one or more thermally conductive insert support regions and one or more inserts secured to the one or more insert support regions are disclosed. The inserts may each comprise an insert body, which may be secured to the one or more insert support regions of the body. In some embodiments, one or more insert support regions of the body may have a thermal conductivity similar to the thermal conductivity of the insert body of the one or more inserts. In additional embodiments, one or more insert support regions of the body may have a thermal conductivity that is greater than the thermal conductivity of the insert body of the one or more inserts. In further embodiments, methods of forming earth-boring tools comprising bodies with one or more thermally conductive insert support regions are disclosed. | 09-16-2010 |
20100263935 | EARTH BORING ROTARY DRILL BITS AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURING EARTH BORING ROTARY DRILL BITS HAVING PARTICLE MATRIX COMPOSITE BIT BODIES - Methods of forming bit bodies for earth-boring bits include assembling green components, brown components, or fully sintered components, and sintering the assembled components. Other methods include isostatically pressing a powder to form a green body substantially composed of a particle-matrix composite material, and sintering the green body to provide a bit body having a desired final density. Methods of forming earth-boring bits include providing a bit body substantially formed of a particle-matrix composite material and attaching a shank to the body. The body is provided by pressing a powder to form a green body and sintering the green body. Earth-boring bits include a unitary structure substantially formed of a particle-matrix composite material. The unitary structure includes a first region configured to carry cutters and a second region that includes a threaded pin. Earth-boring bits include a shank attached directly to a body substantially formed of a particle-matrix composite material. | 10-21-2010 |
20100270086 | EARTH-BORING TOOLS AND COMPONENTS THEREOF INCLUDING METHODS OF ATTACHING AT LEAST ONE OF A SHANK AND A NOZZLE TO A BODY OF AN EARTH-BORING TOOL AND TOOLS AND COMPONENTS FORMED BY SUCH METHODS - Earth-boring drill bits include a bit body, an element having an attachment feature bonded to the bit body, and a shank assembly. Methods for assembling an earth-boring rotary drill bit include bonding a threaded element to the bit body of a drill bit and engaging the shank assembly to the threaded element. In additional embodiments, a nozzle assembly for an earth-boring rotary drill bit may include a cylindrical sleeve having a threaded surface and a threaded nozzle disposed at least partially in the cylindrical sleeve and engaged therewith. Methods of forming an earth-boring drill bit include providing a nozzle assembly including a tubular sleeve and nozzle at least partially within a nozzle port of a bit body. | 10-28-2010 |
20100276205 | METHODS OF FORMING EARTH-BORING ROTARY DRILL BITS - Methods of forming earth-boring rotary drill bits include providing a bit body, providing a shank that is configured for attachment to a drill string, and attaching the shank to the bit body. Providing a bit body includes providing a green powder component having a first region having a first composition and a second region having a second, different composition, and at least partially sintering the green powder component. Other methods include providing a powder mixture, pressing the powder mixture to form a green component, and sintering the green component to a final density. A shank is provided that includes an aperture, and a feature is machined in a surface of the bit body. The aperture is aligned with the feature, and a retaining member is inserted through the aperture. An earth-boring bit includes a bit body comprising a particle-matrix composite material including a plurality of hard particles dispersed throughout a matrix material. A shank is attached to the bit body using a retaining member. | 11-04-2010 |
20100288563 | METHODS OF USE OF PARTICULATE MATERIALS IN CONJUNCTION WITH BRAZE ALLOYS AND RESULTING STRUCTURES - A component brazed to another, constraining component such as sleeve assembly brazed in a bore of a bit body. The braze joint includes particulate material in the gap between the components. | 11-18-2010 |
20100319492 | METHODS OF FORMING BODIES OF EARTH-BORING TOOLS - Methods for forming bodies of earth-boring drill bits and other tools include milling a plurality of hard particles and a plurality of particles comprising a matrix material to form a mill product comprising powder particles, separating the particles into a plurality of particle size fractions. Some of the particles from the fractions may be combined to form a powder mixture, which may be pressed to form a green body. Additional methods include mixing a plurality of hard particles and a plurality of particles comprising a matrix material to form a powder mixture, and pressing the powder mixture with pressure having an oscillating magnitude to form a green body. In yet additional methods a powder mixture may be pressed within a deformable container to form a green body and drainage of liquid from the container is enabled as the powder mixture is pressed. | 12-23-2010 |
20110073377 | EARTH BORING TOOLS AND COMPONENTS THEREOF INCLUDING BLOCKAGE RESISTANT INTERNAL FLUID PASSAGEWAYS, AND METHODS OF FORMING SUCH TOOLS AND COMPONENTS - Earth-boring drill bits include a bit body including a blockage-resistant internal fluid passageway. The blockage-resistant internal fluid passageway includes at least one internal fluid passageway formed in the bit body and a cuttings filtering feature formed in the at least one internal fluid passageway configured to prevent at least some cuttings from flowing through the at least one internal fluid passageway. In one embodiment, the cuttings filtering feature includes at least one lateral member extending transversely across the at least one internal fluid passageway. In another embodiment, the cuttings filtering feature includes forming a central portion of the at least one internal fluid passageway with a width along a lateral axis thereof less than an average width of a fluid path extending through a nozzle disposed at least partially within the at least one internal fluid passageway. Methods of forming the blockage-resistant internal fluid passageway are also disclosed. | 03-31-2011 |
20110186354 | METHODS OF ATTACHING A SHANK TO A BODY OF AN EARTH-BORING TOOL INCLUDING A LOAD BEARING JOINT AND TOOLS FORMED BY SUCH METHODS - Earth-boring rotary drill bits including a bit body attached to a shank assembly at a joint. In some embodiments, the joint may be configured to carry at least a portion of any tensile longitudinal and rotational load applied to the drill bit by mechanical interference at the joint. In additional embodiments, the joint may be configured to carry a selected portion of any tensile longitudinal load applied to the drill bit. Methods for attaching a shank assembly to a bit body of an earth-boring rotary drill bit include configuring a joint to carry at least a portion of any tensile longitudinal and rotational load applied to the drill bit by mechanical interference. Additional embodiments include configuring a joint to carry a selected portion of any tensile longitudinal load applied to the drill bit by mechanical interference. | 08-04-2011 |
20120103691 | METHODS OF COUPLING COMPONENTS OF DOWNHOLE TOOLS, DOWNHOLE TOOLS AND COMPONENTS OF DOWNHOLE TOOLS - Methods of coupling a bearing assembly to a downhole tool include forming at least a portion of a downhole component from a diamond-enhanced material, applying a metal material to a surface of the downhole component using an ultrasonic molten metal process, and coupling at least a portion of the surface of the downhole component to at least another component of the downhole tool. Downhole tools include at least one component of a bearing assembly that is configured to move relative to a portion of the downhole tool. The at least one bearing component comprises a diamond-enhanced material and is coupled to a portion of the downhole tool by an ultrasonic molten metal process. | 05-03-2012 |