US4372404A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cutting teeth for rolling cutter drill bit
Assignee: Reed Rock Bit Co
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Filing: 1980-09-10
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Granted: 1983-02-08
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Expires: 2000-09-10
Abstract
Abstract Cutting teeth for rolling cutter bits, including cutter inserts, cutter teeth formed in place, or formed separately and welded in place, etc., are formed by powder metallurgy as a densified powder metallurgical composite of at least two varying phases, said composite having a substantially continuous mechanical property gradient therethrough. One of said phases is preferably a refractory compound and another phase is a binder metal or alloy. The gradient is from one mixture of said phases in one region having hardness or wear resistant properties to another mixture of said phases in another region having toughness properties.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric F. Drake
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 10:14
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B10/00; E21B10/46; E21B10/50; E21B10/52; B; B22; B22F; B22F7/00; B22F7/06; B23; B23P; B23P15/00; B23P15/28; E21B10/58; B22F2999/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A cutting element for attachment to a rolling cutter which is rotatably mounted on a drill bit, said cutting element comprising: a root portion adapted for engagement in a bit cutter; and, a cutting portion on said root portion adapted to protrude from a bit cutter in a cutting orientation; wherein said cutting element comprises a portion of substantial thickness comprising a densified powder metallurgical composite of at least two varying phases, said composite having a substantially continuous mechanical property gradient through said cutting portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
A cutting element for attachment to a rolling cutter which is rotatably mounted on a drill bit, said cutting element comprising: a root portion adapted for engagement in a bit cutter; and, a cutting portion on said root portion adapted to protrude from a bit cutter in a cutting orientation; wherein said cutting element comprises a portion of substantial thickness comprising a densified powder metallurgical composite of at least two varying phases, said composite having a substantially continuous mechanical property gradient through said cutting portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The cutting element of claim 1 wherein at least one of said phases is a refractory compound and at least one other phase is a binder metal or alloy.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The cutting element of claim 2 wherein said refractory compound is a transition metal carbide and said binder metal or alloy is iron, cobalt, nickel or copper.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
127 words
The cutting element of claim 3 wherein said transition metal carbide comprises tungsten carbide with the volume fraction of tungsten carbide comprising said one phase ranging from about 0 percent to about 95 percent and the volume fraction of said binder metal or alloy comprising said other phase being from about 100 percent to about 5 percent, at least part of the surface of said cutting portion comprising a large volume fraction of said tungsten carbide and a small volume fraction of said binder metal or alloy and another portion of said cutting portion comprising a substantially lesser volume fraction of said tungsten carbide and a substantially greater volume fraction of said binder metal or alloy than on said surface portion, with a continuous composition gradient therebetween.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
The cutting element of claim 2, 3, or 4 wherein the cutting portion of said cutting element is chisel-shaped, said one phase is concentrated relative to said other phase at the surface of said cutting portion, and said other phase is more concentrated relative to said one phase in the interior of said cutting element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The cutting element of claim 5 comprising in addition a vertical planar region comprising a large volume fraction of said one phase and small volume fraction of said other phase extending transversely through the interior of said element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The cutting element of claims 2, 3, or 4 wherein said cutting element has a generally cylindrical base portion with a substantially conical truncated cutting portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The cutting element of claim 7 wherein said one phase is concentrated relative to said other phase at the outermost end of said cutting portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The cutting element of claim 7 wherein said one phase is concentrated relative to said other phase along the central longitudinal axis of said cutting element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The cutting element of claim 1, 2 or 3 in which said composite gradient varies from one mixture of said phases having wear and deformation resistant properties at one point to another mixture of said phases having toughness properties at another point.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
The cutting element of claim 1, 2 or 3 in which said composite gradient varies from one mixture of said phases having wear and deformation resistant properties at one surface of at least part of said cutting portion to another mixture of said phases having toughness properties in another portion thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
The cutting element of claim 1, 2 or 3 in which said composite gradient varies from one mixture of said phases having wear and deformation resistant properties at the exterior surface of said cutting portion to another mixture of said phases having toughness properties in another part thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
117 words
An insert for use in an insert-type rolling cutter drill bit, said insert comprising: a geometric base portion for insertion into a matching hole in a drill bit cutter; and, a tapered, geometrical cutter portion formed on said base portion and adapted to protrude from said hole in a drill bit cutter; wherein said insert cutter portion comprises a densified powder metallurgical composite of at least two varying phases, said composite having one portion in which one phase is present in a large volume fraction relative to the other phase, another portion in which said other phase is present in larger volume fraction relative to said one phase and having a substantially continuous mechanical property gradient therebetween.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
117 words
An insert for use in an insert-type rolling cutter drill bit, said insert comprising: a geometric base portion for insertion into a matching hole in a drill bit cutter; and, a tapered, geometrical cutter portion formed on said base portion and adapted to protrude from said hole in a drill bit cutter; wherein said insert cutter portion comprises a densified powder metallurgical composite of at least two varying phases, said composite having one portion in which one phase is present in a large volume fraction relative to the other phase, another portion in which said other phase is present in larger volume fraction relative to said one phase and having a substantially continuous mechanical property gradient therebetween.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The insert of claim 13 wherein said base portion is substantially conical and said one phase comprises a transition metal carbide and said other phase comprises a binder metal or alloy.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The insert of claim 13 wherein said base portion is substantially cylindrical and said one phase comprises a transition metal carbide and said other phase comprises a binder metal or alloy.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The insert of claim 14 or 15 wherein said transition metal carbide comprises tungsten carbide and said binder metal or alloy is selected from the group of iron, nickel, cobalt and copper.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
56 words
The insert of claims 13, 14, or 15 wherein said one phase of said powder metallurgical composite is concentrated relative to said other phase along the central longitudinal axis of said insert and said other phase is concentrated relative to said one phase near the outer surface of said insert, with a radially oriented gradient therebetween.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
The insert of claims 13, 14 or 15 wherein the outermost end of said protruding portion of said insert has one phase concentrated relative to the other phase, and the base portion has the other phase concentrated relative to said one phase, with a longitudinal gradient therebetween.
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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) | 1986-02-07 | 1986-08-09 | 1987-02-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-02-07 | 1990-08-09 | 1991-02-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-02-07 | 1994-08-09 | 1995-02-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |