US3604523A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Silicon carbide seal for an earth boring bit
Assignee: Dresser Industries Inc
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Filing: 1970-06-01
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Granted: 1971-09-14
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Expires: 1990-06-01
Abstract
Abstract A seal for containing lubricant in the bearings of an earthboring bit wherein the bit is used in a highly abrasive environment. At least one seal element encircles the shaft of the bit and retains lubricant in the bearings of the bit. The surface of the seal is silicon carbide and the seal will withstand a highly abrasive and corrosive environment.
Inventors
- 👤 Carl L Lichte
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 01:55
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B10/00; E21B10/08; E21B10/22; E21B10/25; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S277/00; Y10S277/935
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
54 words
An earth-boring bit comprising: a main bit body; a shaft connected to said main bit body; a cutter rotatably mounted on said shaft; bearing means between said shaft and said cutter for facilitating rotation of said cutter; and seal means between said shaft and said cutter, said seal means having a silicon carbide surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
54 words
An earth-boring bit comprising: a main bit body; a shaft connected to said main bit body; a cutter rotatably mounted on said shaft; bearing means between said shaft and said cutter for facilitating rotation of said cutter; and seal means between said shaft and said cutter, said seal means having a silicon carbide surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The bit of claim 1 wherein said seal means is an annular ring with a silicon carbide surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The bit of claim 2 wherein said annular ring is graphite with a silicon carbide coating.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The bit of claim 1 where said seal means includes two annular rings, one ring positioned on each side of said bearing means, said annular rings having a silicon carbide surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The bit of claim 4 wherein said annular rings are graphite with a silicon carbide coating.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The bit of claim 1 wherein said seal means includes four annular rings, two rings positioned on each side of said bearing means, at least two of said annular rings have a silicon carbide surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The bit of claim 5 wherein at least two of said annular rings are graphite with a silicon carbide coating.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The bit of claim 5 wherein all four annular rings are graphite with a silicon carbide coating.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The bit of claim 1 wherein said seaL means includes at least one annular ring with a silicon carbide surface and at least one resilient mounting ring positioned between said cutter and said annular ring.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
133 words
A bit for boring through earth formations by the rotary method, comprising: a main bit body; a multiplicity of shafts connected to said main bit body; a multiplicity of cutter means for disintegrating portions of the formations, said cutter means rotatably mounted on said shafts; a multiplicity of bearing means, said bearing means positioned between said shafts and cutter means for facilitating rotation of said cutter means; a multiplicity of lubricant reservoirs, said lubricant reservoirs positioned between said shafts and said cutter means, each said lubricant reservoir in communication with an individual bearing means; and a multiplicity of seal means, with at least one seal means encircling each shaft between said shaft and said cutter means and positioned to retain lubricant in said lubricant reservoir, said seal means having a silicon carbide surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
133 words
A bit for boring through earth formations by the rotary method, comprising: a main bit body; a multiplicity of shafts connected to said main bit body; a multiplicity of cutter means for disintegrating portions of the formations, said cutter means rotatably mounted on said shafts; a multiplicity of bearing means, said bearing means positioned between said shafts and cutter means for facilitating rotation of said cutter means; a multiplicity of lubricant reservoirs, said lubricant reservoirs positioned between said shafts and said cutter means, each said lubricant reservoir in communication with an individual bearing means; and a multiplicity of seal means, with at least one seal means encircling each shaft between said shaft and said cutter means and positioned to retain lubricant in said lubricant reservoir, said seal means having a silicon carbide surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The bit of claim 10 wherein said seal means includes an annular graphite ring with a silicon carbide coating, said ring positioned near one edge of an individual cutter means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The bit of claim 10 wherein said seal means includes a multiplicity of annular graphite rings, each ring having a silicon carbide coating, one individual ring positioned on each side of a lubricant reservoir.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The bit of claim 10 wherein said seal means includes two annular graphite rings with silicon carbide coatings, affixed to each of said shafts, and two annular graphite rings with silicon carbide coatings, affixed to each individual cutter means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-13 | 1975-03-15 | 1975-09-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-13 | 1979-03-15 | 1979-09-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-13 | 1983-03-15 | 1983-09-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |