Patent US4073548A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4073548A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sealing system for a rotary rock bit
Assignee: Dresser Industries Inc
•
Filing: 1976-11-01
•
Granted: 1978-02-14
•
Expires: 1996-11-01
Abstract
Abstract A sealing system acts as a barrier to the drilling fluid, pulverized cuttings and other materials in the borehole to prevent the materials from entering the bearing area of a rotary rock bit. The bit body and the base of the cone cutter cooperate to retain the seal unit. The seal is located in a groove and an effective seal is provided without reducing the bearing capacity of the bit's bearing system. The sealing system allows excessive pressures in the lubricant to be relieved.
Inventors
- 👤 D. F. Walters
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 10:10
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B10/00; E21B10/08; E21B10/22; E21B10/25; F; F16; F16C; F16C19/00; F16C19/52; F16C33/00; F16C33/72; F16C33/76; F16C33/78; F16J; F16J15/00; F16J15/16; F16J15/32; F16J15/34; F16J15/3436; F16J15/3456; F16C2352/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
150 words
A drill bit for drilling in a fluid filled borehole, comprising: a bit body, said bit body including a bearing pin; a roller cutter adapted to be rotatably mounted on said bearing pin; bearing means supporting said roller cutter on said bearing pin; a seal element located between said bit body and said roller cutter; a lubricant reservoir in said bit body; lubricant passages extending from said lubricant reservoir to said bearing means; lubricant in said lubricant reservoir, lubricant passages and between said bearing pin and roller cutter; pressure equalization means within said lubricant reservoir for pressure equalization of said lubricant and said fluid in said borehole, said pressure equalization means encountering volume expansion of said lubricant; and a groove for retaining said seal element, said groove having a wedge shaped sidewall surface that allows the volume expansion of said lubricant to move said seal element outward in said wedge.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
150 words
A drill bit for drilling in a fluid filled borehole, comprising: a bit body, said bit body including a bearing pin; a roller cutter adapted to be rotatably mounted on said bearing pin; bearing means supporting said roller cutter on said bearing pin; a seal element located between said bit body and said roller cutter; a lubricant reservoir in said bit body; lubricant passages extending from said lubricant reservoir to said bearing means; lubricant in said lubricant reservoir, lubricant passages and between said bearing pin and roller cutter; pressure equalization means within said lubricant reservoir for pressure equalization of said lubricant and said fluid in said borehole, said pressure equalization means encountering volume expansion of said lubricant; and a groove for retaining said seal element, said groove having a wedge shaped sidewall surface that allows the volume expansion of said lubricant to move said seal element outward in said wedge.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
148 words
An earth boring bit for drilling in a fluid filled borehole, comprising: an earth boring bit body, said earth boring bit body including a bearing pin; a roller cutter rotatably mounted on said bearing pin; an annular seal element positioned over said bearing pin and located between said earth boring bit body and said roller cutter; a lubricant reservoir in said bit body; lubricant passages extending from said lubricant reservoir to said bearing means; lubricant in said lubricant reservoir, lubricant passages and between said bearing pin and roller cutter; pressure equalization means within said lubricant reservoir for pressure equalization of said lubricant and said fluid in said borehole, said pressure equalization means encountering volume expansion of said lubricant; and a groove for retaining said seal element, said groove having a wedge shaped sidewall, wherein the volume expansion of said lubricant moves said seal element outward in said wedge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
148 words
An earth boring bit for drilling in a fluid filled borehole, comprising: an earth boring bit body, said earth boring bit body including a bearing pin; a roller cutter rotatably mounted on said bearing pin; an annular seal element positioned over said bearing pin and located between said earth boring bit body and said roller cutter; a lubricant reservoir in said bit body; lubricant passages extending from said lubricant reservoir to said bearing means; lubricant in said lubricant reservoir, lubricant passages and between said bearing pin and roller cutter; pressure equalization means within said lubricant reservoir for pressure equalization of said lubricant and said fluid in said borehole, said pressure equalization means encountering volume expansion of said lubricant; and a groove for retaining said seal element, said groove having a wedge shaped sidewall, wherein the volume expansion of said lubricant moves said seal element outward in said wedge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
137 words
An earth boring bit for boring in a fluid filled borehole, comprising: a bit body; a roller cutter rotatably mounted on said bit body, said roller cutter having a central axis; an O-ring seal positioned between the roller cutter and the bit body; a lubricant retained within the earth boring bit; pressure equalization means within said earth boring bit for pressure equalization of said lubricant and said fluid in said borehole, said pressure equalization means encountering volume expansion of said lubricant; and a groove for retaining said O-ring seal, said groove having a sloping sidewall sloping toward the central axis of the roller cutter whereby material in the well bore will force the O-ring seal into the wedge surface and internal pressure of lubricant within the bit will force the O-ring seal outward from the wedge surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
137 words
An earth boring bit for boring in a fluid filled borehole, comprising: a bit body; a roller cutter rotatably mounted on said bit body, said roller cutter having a central axis; an O-ring seal positioned between the roller cutter and the bit body; a lubricant retained within the earth boring bit; pressure equalization means within said earth boring bit for pressure equalization of said lubricant and said fluid in said borehole, said pressure equalization means encountering volume expansion of said lubricant; and a groove for retaining said O-ring seal, said groove having a sloping sidewall sloping toward the central axis of the roller cutter whereby material in the well bore will force the O-ring seal into the wedge surface and internal pressure of lubricant within the bit will force the O-ring seal outward from the wedge surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-02-13 | 1981-08-15 | 1982-02-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-02-13 | 1985-08-15 | 1986-02-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-02-13 | 1989-08-15 | 1990-02-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |