Earth boring bit bearing system having a pitted bearing surface

Claim 2

An improved bearing that promotes rotation between a pair of relatively rotatable members, comprising: a rough bearing surface on one of the relatively rotatable members, said bearing surface having a roughness of greater than 50 R.M.S.; lubricant between said pair of relatively rotatable members; and anti-galling material entrained in said lubricant.

Claim 3

The bearing of claim 1 wherein said bearing surface roughness is in the range of from 50 to 200 R.M.S.

Claim 4

The bearing of claim 1 wherein said bearing surface roughness is in the range of from 100 to 175 R.M.S.

Claim 5

The bearing of claim 1 wherein said bearing surface roughness is in the range of from 110 to 150 R.M.S.

Claim 6

The bearing of claim 1 wherein the anti-gallinG material is entrained articulate particles of an anti-galling substance.

Claim 7

The bearing of claim 5 wherein the particles of an anti-galling substance are particles of metal selected from the class represented by silver, copper and aluminum.

Claim 8

The bearing of claim 5 wherein said particles are silver particles in a ratio of approximately 5 percent silver to approximately 95 percent lubricant by weight.

Claim 9

The bearing of claim 5 wherein said particles are copper particles in a ratio of approximately 5 percent copper to approximately 95 percent lubricant by weight.

Claim 10

The bearing of claim 5 wherein said particles are aluminum particles in a ratio of approximately 5 percent aluminum to approximately 95 percent lubricant by weight.

Claim 11

The bearing of claim 5 wherein said entrained articulate particles are a combination of metal particles, the metals being selected the class represented by silver, copper and aluminum.

Claim 12

The bearing of claim 5 including means for introducing the lubricant between said pair of relatively rotatable members.

Claim 13

The bearing of claim 11 wherein said means for introducing the lubricant is a lubricant reservoir connected to said bearing.

Claim 14

The bearing of claim 5 wherein the particles of an anti-galling substance are particles of anti-galling material selected from the class represented by silver, copper, aluminum, lead, zinc, tin, babbitt metal and graphite.

Claim 15

A bearing system, comprising: a journal; a rotatable member, rotatably mounted on said journal and having a bearing surface with a roughness greater than 50 R.M.S.; lubricant between said bearing surface and said journal; and anti-galling material entrained in said lubricant.

Claim 16

A bearing system, comprising: a journal; a rotatable member, rotatably mounted on said journal and having a bearing surface with a roughness greater than 50 R.M.S.; lubricant between said bearing surface and said journal; and anti-galling material entrained in said lubricant.

Claim 17

The bearing system of claim 14 wherein the anti-galling material is a quantity of entrained particles of an anti-galling substance.

Claim 18

The bearing system of claim 15 wherein said bearing surface roughness is in the range of from 50 to 200 R.M.S.

Claim 19

The bearing system of claim 16 wherein the anti-galling substance is selected from the class represented by silver, copper, aluminum, lead, zinc, tin, babbitt metal and graphite.

Claim 20

The bearing system of claim 17 including means for supplying said lubricant to the area between said bearing surface and said journal.

Claim 21

The bearing system of claim 18 including seal means for preventing contamination of lubricant and for preventing lubricant from escaping from the area between said bearing surface and said journal.

Claim 22

A bearing system for an earth boring bit, comprising: a bit body adapted to be connected to a rotary drill string; at least one journal connected to said bit body, with said at least one journal including a journal bearing surface; a rotatable cutter mounted on said at least one journal, with said rotatable cutter including a cutter bearing surface; a quantity of indentations on said cutter bearing surface giving said cutter bearing surface a roughness greater than 50 R.M.S.; a lubricant reservoir in fluid communication with the area between said bearing surfaces; and a lubricant in said reservoir, said lubricant containing entrained particles of anti-galling material.

Claim 23

A bearing system for an earth boring bit, comprising: a bit body adapted to be connected to a rotary drill string; at least one journal connected to said bit body, with said at least one journal including a journal bearing surface; a rotatable cutter mounted on said at least one journal, with said rotatable cutter including a cutter bearing surface; a quantity of indentations on said cutter bearing surface giving said cutter bearing surface a roughness greater than 50 R.M.S.; a lubricant reservoir in fluid communication with the area between said bearing surfaces; and a lubricant in said reservoir, said lubricant containing entrained particles of anti-galling material.

Claim 24

The bearing system of claim 20 including seal means connected to said cutter for sealing the area between said journal and said cutter.

Claim 25

The bearing system of claim 21 wherein said cutter bearing surface has a roughness in the range of from 75 to 175 R.M.S.

Claim 26

The bearing system of claim 22 wherein the entrained particles of anti-galling material are particles of material selected from the class of materials represented by silver, copper and aluminum.

Claim 27

The bearing system of claim 23 including means for equalizing the pressure in the area between the bearing surfaces and the external pressure.