Patents by Inventor Bala Durairajan

Bala Durairajan has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20220112773
    Abstract: A cutting element may include a substrate and an ultrahard layer. A top surface of the ultrahard layer includes a peripheral edge extending around the cutting element, a cutting crest extending across a major dimension of the cutting element from a cutting edge at a first portion of the peripheral edge to a modified region at a central axis of the ultrahard layer, and a lateral portion extending across a minor dimension of the cutting element from the peripheral edge to the modified region. The modified region along the major dimension includes a concave cross-sectional shape. The lateral portion along the minor dimension from the peripheral edge to the modified region includes one or more of a linear shape and a convex shape, and the modified region along the minor dimension includes a planar shape perpendicular to the central axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Inventors: Chen Chen, Huimin Song, Liang Zhao, Youhe Zhang, Michael G. Azar, Xiaoge Gan, Madapusi K. Keshavan, Zhijun Lin, Bala Durairajan, Michael L. Stewart
  • Patent number: 11215012
    Abstract: A cutting element may include a substrate, an upper surface of the substrate including a crest, the crest transitioning into a depressed region, and an ultrahard layer on the upper surface, thereby forming a non-planar interface between the ultrahard layer and the substrate. A top surface of the ultrahard layer includes a cutting crest extending along at least a portion of a diameter of the cutting element, the top surface having a portion extending laterally away from the cutting crest having a lesser height than a peak of the cutting crest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chen Chen, Huimin Song, Liang Zhao, Youhe Zhang, Michael G. Azar, Xiaoge Gan, Madapusi K. Keshavan, Zhijun Lin, Bala Durairajan, Michael L. Stewart
  • Publication number: 20190264511
    Abstract: A cutting element may include a substrate, an upper surface of the substrate including a crest, the crest transitioning into a depressed region, and an ultrahard layer on the upper surface, thereby forming a non-planar interface between the ultrahard layer and the substrate. A top surface of the ultrahard layer includes a cutting crest extending along at least a portion of a diameter of the cutting element, the top surface having a portion extending laterally away from the cutting crest having a lesser height than a peak of the cutting crest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Chen Chen, Huimin Song, Liang Zhao, Youhe Zhang, Michael G. Azar, Xiaoge Gan, Madapusi K. Keshavan, Zhijun Lin, Bala Durairajan, Michael L. Stewart
  • Patent number: 10309156
    Abstract: A cutting tool may include a tool body, blades extending from the tool body, and primary cutting elements and backup cutting elements are on each of blades. The backup cutting elements may be behind and at approximately the same radial distance from the axis of the tool body as a corresponding primary cutting element, where the primary cutting elements include cutting elements having a first non-planar shape and the backup cutting elements include cutting elements having a second, different non-planar shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Michael G. Azar, Bala Durairajan, Madapusi K. Keshavan
  • Patent number: 10287825
    Abstract: A cutting element may include a substrate, an upper surface of the substrate including a crest, the crest transitioning into a depressed region, and an ultrahard layer on the upper surface, thereby forming a non-planar interface between the ultrahard layer and the substrate. A top surface of the ultrahard layer includes a cutting crest extending along at least a portion of a diameter of the cutting element, the top surface having a portion extending laterally away from the cutting crest having a lesser height than a peak of the cutting crest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Chen Chen, Huimin Song, Liang Zhao, Youhe Zhang, Michael G. Azar, Xiaoge Gan, Madapusi K. Keshavan, Zhijun Lin, Bala Durairajan, Michael L. Stewart
  • Patent number: 10030452
    Abstract: A cutting tool may includes a tool body; a plurality of blades extending from the tool body; and a plurality of non-planar cutting elements disposed along each of the plurality of blades, the plurality of non-planar cutting elements form a cutting profile, in a rotated view of the plurality of non-planar cutting elements into a single plane, the cutting profile including a cone region, a nose region, a shoulder region, and a gage region. The plurality of non-planar cutting elements include a first shape in at least one of the cone region, nose region, shoulder region, and gage region, and a second, different shape in at least one other region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Michael G. Azar, Bala Durairajan, Madapusi K. Keshavan
  • Patent number: 9617794
    Abstract: A drill bit having a bit body with a longitudinal axis extending therethrough and a plurality of blades extending from the bit body is disclosed. Each blade has an outer face and at least one side wall. The drill bit has at least one junk slot, wherein each junk slot is defined by the bit body surface and the side walls of adjacent blades. At least one nozzle bore is formed in the bit body, wherein each nozzle bore has an intersecting surface between the bit body surface of a junk slot and an inner surface of the nozzle bore. At least one formation evacuation channel extends through the intersecting surface of at least one of the nozzle bores, wherein each formation evacuation channel has a base surface, and wherein the formation evacuation channel extends partially around the circumference of the nozzle bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Bala Durairajan, Rahul Bijai, Sandeep Tammineni, William Moore, Ehren Long
  • Patent number: 9404312
    Abstract: A downhole cutting tool may include a tool body; a plurality of blades extending azimuthally from the tool body; and a plurality of cutting elements disposed on the plurality of blades, the plurality of cutting elements comprising: at least two conical cutting elements comprising a substrate and a diamond layer having a conical cutting end, wherein at least one of the at least two conical cutting elements has a positive back rake angle, and at least one of the at least two conical cutting elements has a negative back rake angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC
    Inventors: Michael G. Azar, Bala Durairajan, Madapusi K. Keshavan
  • Patent number: 9366090
    Abstract: A drill bit for drilling a borehole in earth formations may include a bit body having a bit axis and a bit face; a plurality of blades extending radially along the bit face; and a plurality of cutting elements disposed on the plurality of blades. The plurality of cutting elements may include: at least one cutter including a substrate and a diamond table having a substantially planar cutting face; and at least two conical cutting elements including a substrate and a diamond layer having a conical cutting end. In a rotated view of the plurality of cutting elements into a single plane, the at least one cutter may be located a radial position from the bit axis that is intermediate the radial positions of the at least two conical cutting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Azar, Bala Durairajan, Madapusi K. Keshavan
  • Patent number: 9145740
    Abstract: A drill bit for drilling a borehole in an earthen formation includes a first blade having a cutter-supporting surface. The cutting profiles of cutting faces of primary cutter elements mounted to the cutter-supporting surface define an outermost cutting profile Po in rotated profile view. A stabilizing member may be included, having an end distal the cutter-supporting surface including a tip. The tip may be offset from the outermost cutting profile Po in rotated profile view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: Bala Durairajan, Dwayne P. Terracina
  • Publication number: 20150259988
    Abstract: A cutting element may include a substrate, an upper surface of the substrate including a crest, the crest transitioning into a depressed region, and an ultrahard layer on the upper surface, thereby forming a non-planar interface between the ultrahard layer and the substrate. A top surface of the ultrahard layer includes a cutting crest extending along at least a portion of a diameter of the cutting element, the top surface having a portion extending laterally away from the cutting crest having a lesser height than a peak of the cutting crest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventors: Chen CHEN, Huimin SONG, Liang ZHAO, Youhe ZHANG, Michael G. AZAR, Xiaoge GAN, Madapusi K. KESHAVAN, Zhijun LIN, Bala DURAIRAJAN, Michael L. STEWART
  • Patent number: 9103170
    Abstract: A drill bit that includes a body having a lower end face for engaging a rock formation. The end face having a plurality of raised ribs extending from the face of the bit body and separated by a plurality of channels therebetween At least one of the plurality of ribs has a varying width along at least a portion of a rib height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: Bala Durairajan, Jonan Fulenchek, Gregory T. Lockwood
  • Patent number: 9016407
    Abstract: A drill bit for drilling a borehole in earthen formations comprises a bit body including a cone region, a shoulder region, and a gage region. In addition the bit comprises a first primary blade and a second primary blade. Further, the bit comprises a plurality of primary cutter elements mounted to the first primary blade in different radial positions. Still further, the bit comprises a plurality of primary cutter elements mounted to the second primary blade in different radial positions. Moreover, a first primary cutter element of the plurality of primary cutter elements on the first primary blade and a first primary cutter element of the plurality of primary cutter elements on the second primary blade are each positioned in the cone region and are redundant. The shoulder region has a total cutter redundancy percentage that is less than a total cutter redundancy percentage in the cone region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: Bala Durairajan, Carl M. Hoffmaster, Michael G. Azar
  • Patent number: 8991523
    Abstract: A drill bit includes a bit body, a plurality of blades extending radially from the bit body, a plurality of cutter pockets disposed on the plurality of blades, at least one rolling cutter disposed in one of the cutter pockets, wherein each rolling cutter has a substrate, a cutting face, a cutting edge, and a side surface, and at least one blocker positioned adjacent to each of the at least one rolling cutters on a leading face of the blade, wherein each blocker has a retention end and an attachment end. The retention end of each blocker is positioned adjacent to a portion of the cutting face of each rolling cutter to retain the rolling cutter in the cutter pocket and the attachment end is attached to a portion of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuelin Shen, Youhe Zhang, Yuri Burhan, Michael A. Siracki, Mahavir Nagaraj, Bala Durairajan, Scott D. McDonough, Peter Thomas Cariveau
  • Publication number: 20150047913
    Abstract: A PDC cutter including a body formed from a substrate material, an ultrahard layer disposed on the body, and a concave cutting face perpendicular to an axis of the body is disclosed. A PDC cutter including a body formed from a substrate material, an ultrahard layer disposed on the body, and a non-planar cutting face perpendicular to an axis of the body, the cutting face including a circumferential concave portion, and an inner protrusion portion is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Bala Durairajan, Carl M. Hoffmaster
  • Publication number: 20150047910
    Abstract: A cutting tool may include a tool body having a plurality of blades extending radially therefrom; each of the plurality of blades having a plurality of cutter pockets formed therein; and at least one rotatable cutting element having a cutting table with a convex cutting surface mounted in at least one of the plurality of cutter pockets, wherein the at least one rotatable cutting element is mounted in a nose or shoulder region of the at least one of the plurality of blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Chen Chen, Yuri Burhan, Youhe Zhang, Bala Durairajan
  • Publication number: 20140367178
    Abstract: A downhole cutting tool may include a tool body; a plurality of blades extending azimuthally from the tool body; and a plurality of cutting elements disposed on the plurality of blades, the plurality of cutting elements comprising: at least two non-planar cutting elements comprising a substrate and a diamond layer having a non-planar cutting end, wherein at least one of the at least two conical cutting elements has a positive back rake angle or positive side rake angle, and at least one of the at least two non-planar cutting elements has a negative back rake angle or a negative side rake angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Michael G. Azar, Bala Durairajan, Madapusi K. Keshavan
  • Patent number: 8887837
    Abstract: A downhole cutting tool may include a tool body; a plurality of blades extending azimuthally from the tool body; and a plurality of cutting elements disposed on the plurality of blades, the plurality of cutting elements comprising: at least two non-planar cutting elements comprising a substrate and a diamond layer having a non-planar cutting end, wherein at least one of the at least two conical cutting elements has a positive back rake angle or positive side rake angle, and at least one of the at least two non-planar cutting elements has a negative back rake angle or a negative side rake angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael G. Azar, Bala Durairajan, Madapusi K. Keshavan
  • Patent number: 8869919
    Abstract: A drill bit may have a bit body, a plurality of cutting blades extending radially from the bit body and having cutting elements disposed thereon, the plurality of cutting blades forming a cutting blade gage pad diameter configured to contact a formation, and a plurality of raised volumes of material extending from the bit body and devoid of cutting elements, the plurality of raised volumes of material forming a gage pad diameter configured to contact the formation, wherein the plurality of cutting blades and the plurality of raised volume of material are circumferentially spaced having fluid courses that extend therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuelin Shen, Youhe Zhang, Bala Durairajan, Charles H. S. Douglas, III
  • Publication number: 20140262545
    Abstract: A cutting tool may include a tool body; a plurality of blades extending from the tool body; and a plurality of primary cutting elements and a plurality of backup cutting elements are on each of the plurality of blades, the backup cutting elements being behind and at approximately the same radial distance from the axis of the tool body as a corresponding primary cutting element, where the plurality of primary cutting elements include cutting elements having a first non-planar shape and the plurality of backup cutting elements include cutting elements having a second, different non-planar shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Michael G. Azar, Bala Durairajan, Madapusi K. Keshavan