Patents by Inventor Daniel E. Ruff

Daniel E. Ruff 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).

  • Drill bits with reduced exposure of cutters
    Patent number: 6460631
    Abstract: A rotary drag bit and method for drilling subterranean formations including a bit body being provided with at least one cutter thereon exhibiting reduced, or limited, exposure to the formation so as to control the depth-of-cut of the at least one cutter, so as to control the volume of formation material cut per bit rotation, as well as to control the amount of torque experienced by the bit and an optionally associated bottomhole assembly regardless of the effective weight-on-bit. The exterior of the bit preferably includes a plurality of blade structures carrying at least one such cutter thereon and including a sufficient amount of bearing surface area to contact the formation so as to generally distribute the weight of the bit against the bottom of the borehole without exceeding the compressive strength of the formation rock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Mark W. Dykstra, William Heuser, Michael L. Doster, Theodore E. Zaleski, Jr., Jack T. Oldham, Terry D. Watts, Daniel E. Ruff, Rodney B. Walzel, Christopher C. Beuershausen
  • Drill bits with reduced exposure of cutters
    Publication number: 20010030063
    Abstract: A rotary drag bit and method for drilling subterranean formations including a bit body being provided with at least one cutter thereon exhibiting reduced, or limited, exposure to the formation so as to control the depth-of-cut of the at least one cutter, so as to control the volume of formation material cut per bit rotation, as well as to control the amount of torque experienced by the bit and an optionally associated bottomhole assembly regardless of the effective weight-on-bit. The exterior of the bit preferably includes a plurality of blade structures carrying at least one such cutter thereon and including a sufficient amount of bearing surface area to contact the formation so as to generally distribute the weight of the bit against the bottom of the borehole without exceeding the compressive strength of the formation rock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Inventors: Mark W. Dykstra, William Heuser, Michael L. Doster, Theodore E. Zaleski, Jack T. Oldham, Terry D. Watts, Daniel E. Ruff, Rodney B. Walzel, Christopher C. Beuershausen