Specific Or Diverse Material Patents (Class 175/374)
  • Patent number: 9598908
    Abstract: A method for making a polycrystalline diamond compact including the step of providing a polycrystalline diamond compact. The compact has a substrate of a hard metal composition of material and a volume of diamond material disposed on the substrate. The diamond material includes a mixture of diamond particles and a binder-catalyst. At least one pre-coating layer of organic material impermeable to a given acid or mixture of given acids is applied to at least an exterior surface of the substrate. At least one layer of primer material that is impermeable to a given acid or mixture of given acids is applied on the at least one pre-coating layer. A layer of top coating material that is impermeable to the given acid or mixture of given acids is applied to the at least one primer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: DIAMOND INNOVATIONS, INC
    Inventors: Ramamoorthy Ramasamy, Thomas Dugan, Mark Schweizer
  • Patent number: 9518379
    Abstract: A retention system is provided for use in connecting a shroud to a work tool. The retention system may have a mounting boss with a base portion, a shelf portion that overhangs opposing sides of the base portion, and a tapered depression formed within the base portion. The retention system may also have a replaceable lug insert removably disposed within the tapered depression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Phillip John Kunz
  • Patent number: 9488007
    Abstract: A rotary cone drill bit includes: a body, a leg depending from the body, a bearing shaft extending from the leg and a cone mounted to the bearing shaft. The leg includes a leading transitional surface. A bottom surface of a hard material plate is attached to a substantially conforming surface of the leg in a position where the hard material plate is disposed on a floor surface formed in or by the leading transitional surface of the leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: VAREL INTERNATIONAL IND., L.P.
    Inventors: David Michel Harrington, Amnach Kongamnach, Cesar A. Fierro
  • Patent number: 9481033
    Abstract: An earth-boring tool may comprise a body having at least one blade, and at least one cutting element recess may be formed in a surface of the at least one blade. At least one cutting element may be affixed within the at least one cutting element recess. The at least one cutting element may comprise a substantially cylindrical lateral side surface configured to allow the at least one cutting element to rotate about a longitudinal axis within the at least one cutting element recess when the at least one cutting element is partially inserted into the at least one cutting element recess. The at least one cutting element may also comprise a back face comprising alignment features configured to abut complementary alignment features disposed on a back surface of the at least one cutting element recess. Methods of forming earth-boring tool bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: William H. Heuser
  • Patent number: 9440333
    Abstract: Methods of forming a polycrystalline table may involve disposing a plurality of particles comprising a superabrasive material, a substrate comprising a hard material, and a catalyst material in a mold. The plurality of particles may be partially sintered in the presence of the catalyst material to form a brown polycrystalline table having a first permeability attached to an end of the substrate. The substrate may be removed from the brown polycrystalline table and catalyst material may be removed from the brown polycrystalline table. The brown polycrystalline table may then be fully sintered to form a polycrystalline table having a reduced, second permeability. Intermediate structures formed during a process of attaching a polycrystalline table to a substrate may include a substantially fully leached brown polycrystalline table. The substantially fully leached brown polycrystalline table may include a plurality of interbonded grains of a superabrasive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Anthony A. DiGiovanni, Nicholas J. Lyons, Derek L. Nelms, Danny E. Scott
  • Patent number: 9435010
    Abstract: Composite articles, including composite rotary cutting tools and composite rotary cutting tool blanks, and methods of making the articles are disclosed. The composite article includes an elongate portion. The elongate portion includes a first region composed of a first cemented carbide, and a second region autogenously bonded to the first region and composed of a second cemented carbide. At least one of the first cemented carbide and the second cemented carbide is a hybrid cemented carbide that includes a cemented carbide dispersed phase and a cemented carbide continuous phase. At least one of the cemented carbide dispersed phase and the cemented carbide continuous phase includes at least 0.5 percent by weight of cubic carbide based on the weight of the phase including the cubic carbide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: KENNAMETAL INC.
    Inventor: Prakash K. Mirchandani
  • Patent number: 9404309
    Abstract: Diamond bonded constructions comprise a polycrystalline diamond body having a matrix phase of bonded-together diamond grains and a plurality of interstitial regions between the diamond grains including a catalyst material used to form the diamond body disposed within the interstitial regions. A sintered thermally stable diamond element is disposed within and bonded to the diamond body, and is configured and positioned to form part of a working surface. The thermally stable diamond element is bonded to the polycrystalline diamond body, and a substrate is bonded to the polycrystalline diamond body. The thermally stable diamond element comprises a plurality of bonded-together diamond grains and interstitial regions, wherein the interstitial regions are substantially free of a catalyst material used to make or sinter the thermally stable diamond element. A barrier material may be disposed over or infiltrated into one or more surfaces of the thermally stable diamond element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: Georgiy Voronin, J. Daniel Belnap, Feng Yu, Benjamin Randall
  • Patent number: 9375827
    Abstract: A repaired polycrystalline diamond cutter and method for fabricating the same. The cutter includes a damaged substrate that includes at least one void therein, a polycrystalline diamond table coupled to the damaged substrate, and a paste compound disposed within the voids formed about the damaged substrate. The damaged substrate and the paste compound collectively form a full circumference. The method includes obtaining a damaged cutter that includes a polycrystalline diamond table coupled to a damaged substrate having at least one void formed therein, applying a paste compound within the at least one void, melting the paste compound via induction heating, bonding the paste compound to the substrate and forming a processed PDC cutter, and grinding at least a portion of the paste compound from the processed PDC cutter to form the repaired cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Varel International Ind., L.P.
    Inventors: Marvin Windsor Amundsen, Charles Daniel Johnson
  • Patent number: 9376866
    Abstract: A hybrid rotary cone drill bit includes a plurality of legs. A bearing shaft extends from each leg, and a rotary cone is rotationally coupled to each bearing shaft. At least one rotary cone includes a nose row of cutting structures, an inner row of cutting structures, and a gage row of cutting structures. The nose row and the inner row of cutting structures are formed of milled teeth. The gage row of cutting structures is formed of cutter inserts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: VAREL INTERNATIONAL IND., L.P.
    Inventors: Kyle Nobile, Matt Stroever, David Michel Harrington, Karl W. Rose
  • Patent number: 9353578
    Abstract: A hardfacing composition comprising an iron-based binder alloy; and a carbide phase comprising a sintered carbide and a cast tungsten carbide, wherein the cast carbide is present in a quantity of at least 22% by weight, based on the total weight of the carbide phase, and the cast carbide comprises particles having sizes in the range of from 30 to 60 mesh. Also provided is a hardfacing composition comprising an iron-based binder alloy; and a carbide phase comprising a super dense sintered carbide and one or more additional carbide materials, wherein the super dense sintered carbide is present in a quantity of at least 10 percent by weight (% w), based on the total weight of the carbide phase, and comprises particles having sizes in the range of from 16 to 40 mesh. Included are methods of manufacturing such hardfacing compositions and downhole tools having such improved hardfacing compositions applied thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: Sike Xia, Zhou Yong
  • Patent number: 9322113
    Abstract: On the surface of a carbon substrate 41, a tantalum carbide coating film 42 is formed to coat the carbon substrate 41. The tantalum carbide coating film 42 has a maximum peak value of at least 80 degrees in an orientation angle of a (311) plane corresponding to a diffraction peak of tantalum carbide as determined by X-ray diffraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: TOYO TANSO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mika Kondo
  • Patent number: 9316058
    Abstract: Cutting elements for an earth-boring tool include a substrate base and a cutting tip. The cutting tip may include a first generally conical surface, a second, opposite generally conical surface, a first flank surface extending between the first and second generally conical surfaces, and a second, opposite flank surface. The cutting tip may include a central axis that is not co-linear with a longitudinal axis of the substrate base. The cutting tip may include a surface defining a longitudinal end thereof that is relatively more narrow in a central region thereof than in a radially outer region thereof. Earth-boring tools include a body and a plurality of such cutting elements attached thereto, at least one cutting element oriented to initially engage a formation with the first or second generally conical surface thereof. Methods of drilling a formation use such cutting elements and earth-boring tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Juan Miguel Bilen, Danny E. Scott, Suresh G. Patel, Oliver Matthews, Derek L. Nelms, Nicholas J. Lyons
  • Patent number: 9309724
    Abstract: A cutting element for an earth-boring tool includes a volume of superabrasive material on a substrate. The cutting element has an elongated shape in a lateral dimension parallel to a front cutting face of the cutting element, and has a maximum lateral width in a first direction parallel to the front cutting face of the cutting element and a maximum lateral length in a second perpendicular direction parallel to the front cutting face of the cutting element. The maximum lateral length is significantly greater than the maximum lateral width. An earth-boring tool includes one or more such cutting elements mounted to a body of the earth-boring tool. A method of forming such an earth-boring tool includes selecting at least one such cutting element and mounting the cutting element to a body of an earth-boring tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Danny E. Scott, Scott F. Donald
  • Patent number: 9206651
    Abstract: Coupling members for coupling an earth-boring drill tool to a drill string, drilling tools including a coupling member attached to a body of an earth-boring drill tool, methods for forming drilling tools including a coupling member, and methods for forming coupling members are disclosed. A coupling member may include a distal region comprising a first material composition and a proximal region comprising a second, different material composition. A drilling tool may include a body that is attached to a coupling member with a varied material composition for coupling the body to a drill string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: John H. Stevens, Jimmy W. Eason, Ian D. Harris
  • Patent number: 9145735
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a bearing apparatus comprises a first bearing assembly including a plurality of circumferentially-spaced first bearing elements each of which includes a first bearing surface. The bearing apparatus further includes a second bearing assembly including a plurality of circumferentially-spaced second bearing elements each of which includes a second bearing surface oriented to engage the first bearing surfaces of the first bearing assembly during operation. At least one of the second bearing elements may be circumferentially spaced from an adjacent one of the second bearing elements by a lateral spacing greater than a lateral dimension of the at least one of the second bearing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: US SYNTHETIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timothy N. Sexton, Craig H. Cooley
  • Patent number: 9140071
    Abstract: An insert for a rolling cone drill bit includes a base portion having a central axis. The base portion is configured to be seated in a mating socket in a cone cutter of the rolling cone drill bit. In addition, the insert includes a cutting portion extending from the base portion. The base portion has a radially outer surface including a non-cylindrical axial retention feature configured to prevent the insert from moving axially out of the mating socket or a non-cylindrical torque holding feature configured to prevent the insert from rotating relative to the cone cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: NATIONAL OILWELL DHT, L.P.
    Inventors: Thang Vo, Tjandra Sukendro
  • Patent number: 9074471
    Abstract: A non-rotatable cutter bit for mining and construction operations having a central longitudinal axis extending therethrough includes an insert at one end. The insert has a central longitudinal axis and the apex is offset from the central longitudinal axis to provide an elongated rake face. With the insert mounted within the cutter body, the central longitudinal axis of the cutter body intersects with the apex such that the cutter body may be easily exchanged with conventional cutter bodies. The insert may also be mounted directly to the body without using an insert holder. The insert also has applications in oil and gas drilling operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: KENNAMETAL INC.
    Inventor: Randall Walter Ojanen
  • Patent number: 9045955
    Abstract: Rock detritus created by a drag bit cutter shearing subterranean formation material may flow under the cutter and attach itself to the side surface of the cutter barrel by differential pressure-induced sticking, and dilate. This attached material, confined by hydrostatic pressure, can create and strengthen a barrier between the cutter and the virgin rock being cut. The detritus barrier absorbs bit weight and reduces cutter efficiency by impairing contact of the cutter with the virgin rock formation. Increasing friction between the rock detritus and a side surface of the cutter barrel inhibits detritus flow, reduces build up, and allows hydrostatic pressure to contribute to, rather than inhibit, the cutting process. Similar beneficial results may be obtained when hydrostatic pressure drilling fluid is permitted to communicate through holes in the side surface of the cutter, or through an otherwise permeable side surface alleviating detritus sticking due to differential pressure effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Leroy W. Ledgerwood, III
  • Patent number: 9027674
    Abstract: A blank may include a tang section, a base section, and an angled section with a recess. The tang section may have an outer surface with an outer diameter. The base section may have an outer surface with a diameter greater than the outer diameter of the tang section. The angled section may lie between the tang section and the base section and may have an outer surface that transitions in diameter from the outer diameter of the tang section to the outer diameter of the base section. The recess in the angled section may be shaped to engage a tip of a former.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey G. Thomas, Ronald E. Joy
  • Patent number: 9016406
    Abstract: A cutting insert for an earth-boring bit comprises a cemented carbide material. The cemented carbide material comprises a plurality of tungsten carbide grains, and a plurality of cubic carbide grains comprising at least one of titanium carbide, vanadium carbide, zirconium carbide, hafnium carbide, niobium carbide, tantalum carbide, mixtures thereof, and solid solutions thereof. The cemented carbide material also comprises a binder including at least one of cobalt, a cobalt alloy, nickel, a nickel alloy, iron, and an iron alloy. Embodiments of the cutting inserts are suitable for use on, for example, rotary cone earth-boring bits and fixed cutter earth-boring bits. A hybrid cemented carbide material comprising first regions of cemented carbide based on tungsten carbide and cobalt, dispersed in a continuous region of cemented carbide material comprising cubic carbides also is disclosed and is useful in cutting inserts of earth-boring bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Kennametal Inc.
    Inventors: Heath C. Coleman, Prakash K. Mirchandani
  • Patent number: 8997897
    Abstract: A layer of matrix powder is deposited within a mold opening. A layer of super-abrasive particles is then deposited over the matrix powder layer. The super-abrasive particles have a non-random distribution, such as being positioned at locations set by a regular and repeating distribution pattern. A layer of matrix powder is then deposited over the super-abrasive particles. The particle and matrix powder layer deposition process steps are repeated to produce a cell having alternating layers of matrix powder and non-randomly distributed super-abrasive particles. The cell is then fused, for example using an infiltration, hot isostatic pressing or sintering process, to produce an impregnated structure. A working surface of the impregnated structure that is oriented non-parallel (and, in particular, perpendicular) to the super-abrasive particle layers is used as an abrading surface for a tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Varel Europe S.A.S.
    Inventor: Michel De Reynal
  • Patent number: 8985243
    Abstract: A composite drill bit with a bit body configured at its upper extend for connection into a drillstring, comprising: a bit body (1) with at least one bit leg (3), at least one scraping-wheel (2) set with a cutter-row (4), and a set of cutters fixed thereon. The scraping-wheel (2) is mounted for rotation on the corresponding bit leg (3) with a large angular deflection ? in the range of 20°?|?|?90°. The cutters on the scraping-wheel break rock by means of successive scraping, forming a cross-cutting area on the bottomhole accompanied by the cutters on the fixed cutting unit, thus achieving high rock-breaking efficiency, even wear, high cooling performance, and a longer service life for the cutters, bearings and the drill bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Southwest Petroleum University
    Inventors: Ying Xin Yang, Lian Chen, Min Lin, Zhu Pei, Hai Tao Ren
  • Patent number: 8985244
    Abstract: Downhole tools are provided with a topographical pattern, and anti-balling material is provided over the topographical pattern. The topographical pattern may be defined by at least one of a plurality of recesses extending into a surface of a body of the tool and a plurality of protrusions protruding from the surface. Downhole tools include an insert disposed within a recess in a body, and the insert comprises an anti-balling material having a composition selected to reduce accumulation of formation cuttings on the tools when the tools are used to form or service a wellbore. Downhole tools include anti-balling material disposed over a porous mass provided over the surfaces of the tools. Methods of forming downhole tools include providing anti-balling material over features on and/or in a surface of a body of a tool. Methods of repairing downhole tools include removing an insert therefrom and disposing a replacement insert therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Suresh G. Patel, Chaitanya K. Vempati, Steven R. Redford, Timothy K. Marvel, Bruce Stauffer, George I. Butler
  • Publication number: 20150075868
    Abstract: The present invention relates in general to subsurface drilling tools, and more specifically, to a drill bit comprising a ball shaped cutting tool. The drill bit is configured so that a plurality of cones, forming the ball shaped cutting tool, rotate in opposite directions around an axle while the drill bit is drilling or cutting through the ground, rock, or other material. The drilling or cutting is accomplished by a plurality of blade inserts that fit inside and protrude therefrom a plurality of holes covering the exterior of the ball shaped cutting tool. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a new and improved subsurface drilling tool that will efficiently drill hard rock formations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventor: Kevin Dewayne Jones
  • Patent number: 8973683
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing a downhole tool that reduces failures occurring along a bondline between a cemented matrix coupled around a blank. The cemented matrix material is formed from a powder and a binder material. The blank includes an internal blank component and a coating coupled around at least a portion of the surface of the internal blank component. The internal blank component includes a top portion and a bottom portion. The internal blank component is substantially cylindrically shaped and defines a channel extending through the top portion and the bottom portion. The coating is a metal in some exemplary embodiments. The coating reduces the migration of the binder material into the blank thereby allowing the control of intermetallic compounds thickness within the bondline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Varel Europe S.A.S.
    Inventors: Bruno Cuillier De Maindreville, Williams Gomez
  • Publication number: 20150060149
    Abstract: A drill bit includes a bit body defining a plurality of blades extending from a selected distance from an axis of rotation of the bit body to a gage face. A plurality of only gouging cutters is mounted on the bit body. At least one of the plurality of blades has a blade top surface longitudinally behind the tips of the gouging cutters at a selected distance from the tips of the gouging cutters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Shear Bits, Ltd.
    Inventors: John James Herman, Dallas Wilkins, Ryan J. C. Marley, Timothy P. Beaton
  • Publication number: 20150053422
    Abstract: A hybrid rotary cone drill bit includes a plurality of legs. A bearing shaft extends from each leg, and a rotary cone is rotationally coupled to each bearing shaft. At least one rotary cone includes a nose row of cutting structures, an inner row of cutting structures, and a gage row of cutting structures. The nose row and the inner row of cutting structures are formed of milled teeth. The gage row of cutting structures is formed of cutter inserts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: VAREL INTERNATIONAL IND., L.P.
    Inventors: Kyle Nobile, Matt Stroever, David Michel Harrington, Karl W. Rose
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8956438
    Abstract: A cutting element for engaging earthern formations having a wear surface formed from a low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) composition including a polycrystalline diamond or polycrystalline cubic boron nitride hard phase material and a ductile phase low CTE material formed from an alloy made of Co, Ni, Fe, C, and Mn. The hard phase material is bonded to one another by the ductile phase material to form the low CTE composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhigang Fang, Anthony Griffo, Gregory T. Lockwood, Dah-Ben Liang
  • Publication number: 20150041222
    Abstract: Methods of fabricating earth-boring tools include forming an outer portion of an earth-boring tool from a powder mixture comprising hard particles and matrix particles comprising a metal matrix material, disposing a molten material at least partially within the outer portion of the earth-boring tool, and forming the molten material into another portion of the earth-boring tool. Methods of fabricating a bit body of an earth-boring rotary drill bit include forming an outer portion comprising a plurality of hard particles and a plurality of matrix particles comprising a metal matrix material and casting a molten material at least partially within the outer portion of the bit body to form another portion of the bit body. Earth-boring tools include a body for engaging a subterranean borehole having an outer portion and an inner portion comprising at least one material solidified within a cavity formed within the outer portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: Jimmy W. Eason, Michael R. Wells
  • Patent number: 8925654
    Abstract: A fixed-cutter earth-boring tool includes a first blade carrying a first plurality of cutting elements and having a first stiffness and a second blade configured to have a second stiffness different from the first stiffness. A method of forming an earth-boring tool includes forming a bit body having a plurality of blades, and providing at least one cutting element on at least one of the plurality of blades. At least one blade of the plurality has a stiffness different from a stiffness of another blade of the plurality. A fixed-cutter earth-boring drill bit includes a first blade having a first aggressiveness, and at least one additional blade having a second aggressiveness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Anton F. Zahradnik
  • Publication number: 20140374169
    Abstract: A cutting tool may include a tool body; at least one blade extending radially from the tool body; a plurality of cutters disposed on the at least one blade; and at least one retention component, each retention component contributing the retention of at least two of the plurality of cutters at a side surface thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Peter T. Cariveau, Yuri Burhan, Yuelin Shen
  • Publication number: 20140367174
    Abstract: A downhole cutting tool may include a tool body having at least one cutting element support structure formed thereon, wherein the at least one cutting element support structure comprises at least one cutter pocket formed therein; at least one cutter having at least substantially unobstructed cutting face retained within the at least one cutter pocket, the cutter pocket preventing substantial lateral movement of the at least one cutter; and at least one retention element interfacing a portion of a circumferential surface of the at least one cutter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventor: Michael A. Siracki
  • Publication number: 20140360789
    Abstract: A downhole cutting tool may include a cutting element support, structure having a plurality of cutter pockets formed therein; and a plurality of rotatable cutters disposed in the plurality of cutter pockets, wherein at least one rotatable cutter is spaced from another rotatable cutter on the cutting element support structure by at least one-quarter of the diameter of the at least one rotatable cutter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Michael A. Siracki, Michael G. Azar
  • Publication number: 20140345951
    Abstract: A cutting element for a drill bit that includes an outer support element having at least a bottom portion and a side portion; and an inner rotatable cutting element, a portion of which is disposed in the outer support element, wherein the inner rotatable cutting element includes a substrate and a diamond cutting face having a thickness of at least 0.050 inches disposed on an upper surface of the substrate; and wherein a distance from an upper surface of the diamond cutting face to a bearing surface between the inner rotatable cutting element and the outer support element ranges from 0 to about 0.300 inches is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Yuelin Shen, Youhe Zhang, Zhou Yong, Jiaqing Yu, Madapusi K. Keshavan
  • Patent number: 8893828
    Abstract: A drill bit may include a bit body having a plurality of blades extending radially therefrom and at least one cutting element for engaging a formation disposed on at least one of the plurality of blades. The bit body has a continuous infiltration binder and a plurality of carbide particles dispersed in the continuous infiltration binder, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of carbide particles and at least a portion of the continuous infiltration binder form a first carbide matrix region, and wherein the plurality of carbide particles forming the first carbide matrix region have an average grain sizes of less than about 44 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory T. Lockwood, Madapusi K. Keshavan, Anthony Griffo
  • Publication number: 20140339882
    Abstract: A cutting element assembly includes a cutting element partially disposed within a support and a retention mechanism disposed between the cutting element and the support, both the axial and radial dimensions of the retention mechanism being deformable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicants: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION, SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: David R. Hall, Francis Leany, John J. Pierce, Youhe Zhang, Yuri Burhan
  • Patent number: 8863864
    Abstract: A superabrasive compact (e.g., a polycrystalline diamond compact) including a substrate and at least one feature for reducing the susceptibility of the substrate to liquid metal embrittlement during brazing operations is disclosed. The superabrasive compact may include a region between the substrate and a superabrasive table in which residual tensile stresses are located. The at least one feature may be disposed proximate to the region between the substrate and the superabrasive table in which residual tensile stresses are located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: US Synthetic Corporation
    Inventor: David P. Miess
  • Patent number: 8858870
    Abstract: A method of making an article of manufacture includes positioning a cemented carbide piece comprising at least 5% of the total volume of the article of manufacture, and, optionally, a non-cemented carbide piece in a void of a mold in predetermined positions to partially fill the void and define an unoccupied space. Inorganic particles are added to the mold to partially fill the unoccupied space and provide a remainder space. The cemented carbide piece, the non-cemented carbide piece if present, and the hard particles are heated and infiltrated with a molten metal or a metal alloy. The melting temperature of the molten metal or the metal alloy is less than the melting temperature of the inorganic particles. The molten metal or metal alloy in the remainder space solidifies and binds the cemented carbide piece, the non-cemented carbide piece if present, and the inorganic particles to form the article of manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Kennametal Inc.
    Inventors: Prakash K. Mirchandani, Morris E. Chandler, Michale E. Waller, Heath C. Coleman
  • Publication number: 20140299384
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a rotary cone drill bit comprises: a body, a leg depending from the body, a bearing shaft extending from the leg and a cone mounted to the bearing shaft. The leg includes a leading transitional surface. A bottom surface of a hard material plate is attached to a substantially conforming surface of the leg in a position where the hard material plate is disposed on a floor surface formed in or by the leading transitional surface of the leg.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: Varel International Ind., L.P.
    Inventors: David Michel Harrington, Amnach Kongamnach, Cesar A. Fierro
  • Patent number: 8852546
    Abstract: PCD materials comprise a diamond body having bonded diamond crystals and interstitial regions disposed among the crystals. The diamond body is formed from diamond grains and a catalyst material at high pressure/high temperature conditions. The diamond grains have an average particle size of about 0.03 mm or greater. At least a portion of the diamond body has a high diamond volume content of greater than about 93 percent by volume. The entire diamond body can comprise high volume content diamond or a region of the diamond body can comprise the high volume content diamond. The diamond body includes a working surface, a first region substantially free of the catalyst material, and a second region that includes the catalyst material. At least a portion of the first region extends from the working surface to depth of from about 0.01 to about 0.1 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: Madapusi K. Keshavan, Youhe Zhang, Yuelin Shen, Anthony Griffo, Michael Janssen
  • Publication number: 20140284114
    Abstract: Binder compositions for use in forming a bit body of an earth-boring bit include at least one of cobalt, nickel, and iron, and at least one melting point-reducing constituent selected from at least one of a transition metal carbide up to 60 weight percent, a transition metal boride up to 60 weight percent, and a transition metal silicide up to 60 weight percent, wherein the weight percentages are based on the total weight of the binder. Earth-boring bit bodies include a cemented tungsten carbide material comprising tungsten carbide and a metallic binder, wherein the tungsten carbide comprises greater than 75 volume percent of the cemented tungsten carbide material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicants: TDY Industries, Inc., Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Prakash K. Mirchandani, Jimmy W. Eason, James J. Oakes, James C. Westhoff, Gabriel B. Collins
  • Publication number: 20140262537
    Abstract: Cutting elements comprise a body and a polycrystalline diamond table disposed thereon, wherein the diamond table has a thickness of greater than about 2 mm. The body is specially formed from WC—Co and has a Co content of equal to or less than about 10 weight percent based on the total weight of the WC—Co, a coefficient of thermal expansion that is less than about 5×10?6/° C., a Palmqvist toughness greater than about 180 kg/mm, and a hardness equal to or greater than about 88 HRA. In an example, the WC has an average particle size of about 1 to 5 micrometers, the Co content is from about 7 to 9 weight percent, the coefficient of thermal expansion is from about 4 to 5×10?6/° C., the Palmqvist toughness is from about 200 to 300 kg/mm, and the hardness is in the range of from about 88 to 90 HRA.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: SIKE XIA, XIN DENG, JIAQING YU
  • Publication number: 20140262533
    Abstract: A polycrystalline diamond (PCD) composite compact element comprising a PCD structure bonded to a cemented carbide substrate, in which at least a peripheral region of the substrate comprises cemented carbide material having a mean free path (MFP) characteristic of at least about 0.1 microns and at most about 0.7 microns; and an elastic limit of at least about 1.9 GPa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Danny Eugene Scott, Jimmy Wayne Eason, David Alexander Curry, Igor Yuri Konyashin
  • Patent number: 8833492
    Abstract: A PDC cutter includes 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. A PDC cutter includes 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: Bala Durairajan, Carl M. Hoffmaster
  • Patent number: 8783388
    Abstract: Superabrasive inserts are disclosed. More particularly, a superabrasive insert may comprise a superabrasive layer bonded to a substrate at an interface. Further, the superabrasive layer may include a central substantially planar surface, a peripheral side surface, and an arcuate peripheral surface extending between the central substantially planar surface and the peripheral side surface. In one embodiment, the arcuate peripheral surface may comprise a lateral extent and an extension depth, wherein a ratio of the lateral extent to the extension depth is at least about 1.5. In another embodiment, an arcuate peripheral surface may comprise a substantially circular arc, wherein the substantially planar surface is tangent to the substantially circular arc and a tangent reference line to the substantially circular arc forms an angle of at least about 10° with the peripheral side surface. Subterranean drilling tools (e.g., drill bits) including at least one superabrasive insert are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: US Synthetic Corporation
    Inventor: Eric C. Pope
  • Publication number: 20140196957
    Abstract: An improved tooth for a roller crusher is presented. The tooth can include a first tungsten carbide overlay layer plasma-transfer arc welded on a recessed hemispherical end of the tooth, which is covered by a wearable cap placed over the first overlay layer, the cap welded to the tooth. A second tungsten carbide overlay layer can then be plasma-transfer arc welded over the cap to, thereby, provide a tooth having two tungsten carbide overlay wear layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: Bradken Canada Ltd.
    Inventors: Jonathan Daniel Curlett, Nolan Brian Serink
  • Patent number: 8770324
    Abstract: Partially formed earth-boring rotary drill bits comprise a first less than fully sintered particle-matrix component having at least one recess, and at least a second less than fully sintered particle-matrix component disposed at least partially within the at least one recess. Each less than fully sintered particle-matrix component comprises a green or brown structure including compacted hard particles, particles comprising a metal alloy matrix material, and an organic binder material. The at least a second less than fully sintered particle-matrix component is configured to shrink at a slower rate than the first less than fully sintered particle-matrix component due to removal of organic binder material from the less than fully sintered particle-matrix components in a sintering process to be used to sinterbond the first less than fully sintered particle-matrix component to the first less than fully sintered particle-matrix component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Redd H. Smith, Nicholas J. Lyons
  • Patent number: 8764862
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a super abrasive element containing a substantially catalyst-free thermally stable polycrystalline diamond (TSP) body having pores and a contact surface, a base adjacent the contact surface of the TSP body; and an infiltrant material infiltrated in the base and in the pores of the TSP body at the contact surface. The disclosure additionally provides earth-boring drill bits and other devices containing such super abrasive elements. The disclosure further provides methods and mold assemblies for forming such super abrasive elements via infiltration and hot press methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Atkins, Seth G. Anderle, Robert W. Arfele, Ram L. Ladi, Brandon Paul Linford, Jason Keith Wiggins, Kevin Duy Nguyen, Jiang Qian, Kenneth Eugene Bertagnolli, Shawn Casey Scott, Debkumar Mukhopadhyay, Michael Alexander Vail
  • Patent number: 8746375
    Abstract: Wellbore tools include a body and a superhydrophobic surface disposed over at least a portion of the body. The superhydrophobic surface includes a patterned surface of a hydrophobic material exhibiting a higher hydrophobicity than an unpatterned surface of the hydrophobic material. A wellbore tool may include a seal, at least one sensor, and at least one flow line, each having at least one superhydrophobic surface. Methods of forming wellbore tools include forming a body, forming a hydrophobic surface over at least a portion of the body, and forming a pattern in a surface of the body, such that the patterned surface exhibits a higher hydrophobicity than an unpatterned surface of the same material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: John Hendrik, Sunil Kumar