Patents by Inventor James C. Westhoff
James C. Westhoff 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).
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Patent number: 10167673Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 29, 2016Date of Patent: January 1, 2019Assignees: Baker Hughes Incorporated, TDY Industries, LLCInventors: Prakash K. Mirchandani, Jimmy W. Eason, James J. Oakes, James C. Westhoff, Gabriel B. Collins
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Publication number: 20160333643Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2016Publication date: November 17, 2016Inventors: Prakash K. Mirchandani, Jimmy W. Eason, James J. Oakes, James C. Westhoff, Gabriel B. Collins
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Patent number: 9428822Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 19, 2013Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignees: Baker Hughes Incorporated, TDY Industries, Inc.Inventors: Prakash K. Mirchandani, Jimmy W. Eason, James J. Oakes, James C. Westhoff, Gabriel B. Collins
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Publication number: 20160208557Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2013Publication date: July 21, 2016Inventors: Prakash K. Mirchandani, Jimmy W. Eason, James J. Oakes, James C. Westhoff, Gabriel B. Collins
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Patent number: 9109413Abstract: The present invention includes consolidated hard materials, methods for producing them, and industrial drilling and cutting applications for them. A consolidated hard material may be produced using hard particles such as B4C or carbides or borides of W, Ti, Mo, Nb, V, Hf, Ta, Zr, and Cr in combination with an iron-based, nickel-based, nickel and iron-based, iron and cobalt-based, aluminum-based, copper-based, magnesium-based, or titanium-based alloy for a binder material. Commercially pure elements such as aluminum, copper, magnesium, titanium, iron, or nickel may also be used for the binder material. The mixture of the hard particles and the binder material may be consolidated at a temperature below the liquidus temperature of the binder material using a technique such as rapid omnidirectional compaction (ROC), the CERACON® process, or hot isostatic pressing (HIP). After sintering, the consolidated hard material may be treated to alter its material properties.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2010Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATEDInventors: Jimmy W. Eason, James C. Westhoff, Roy Carl Lueth
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Publication number: 20140284114Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2013Publication date: September 25, 2014Applicants: TDY Industries, Inc., Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Prakash K. Mirchandani, Jimmy W. Eason, James J. Oakes, James C. Westhoff, Gabriel B. Collins
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Patent number: 8403080Abstract: Binder compositions for use in forming a bit body of an earth-boring bit includes 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: GrantFiled: December 1, 2011Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Prakash K. Mirchandani, Jimmy W. Eason, James J. Oakes, James C. Westhoff, Gabriel B. Collins
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Patent number: 8230762Abstract: Methods of manufacturing rotary drill bits for drilling subterranean formations include forming a plurality of boron carbide particles into a body having a shape corresponding to at least a portion of a bit body of a rotary drill bit, infiltrating the plurality of boron carbide particles with a molten aluminum or aluminum-based material, and cooling the molten aluminum or aluminum-based material to form a solid matrix material surrounding the boron carbide particles. In additional methods, a green powder component is provided that includes a plurality of particles each comprising boron carbide and a plurality of particles each comprising aluminum or an aluminum-based alloy material. The green powder component is at least partially sintered to provide a bit body, and a shank is attached to the bit body.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2011Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Heeman Choe, John H. Stevens, James C. Westhoff, Jimmy W. Eason, James L. Overstreet
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Patent number: 8172914Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for forming a bit body for an earth-boring bit. The bit body may comprise hard particles, wherein the hard particles comprise at least one of carbide, nitride, boride, and oxide and solid solutions thereof, and a binder binding together the hard particles. The binder may comprise at least one metal selected from cobalt, nickel, and iron, and at least one melting point-reducing constituent selected from a transition metal carbide in the range of 30 to 60 weight percent, boron up to 10 weight percent, silicon up to 20 weight percent, chromium up to 20 weight percent, and manganese up to 25 weight percent, wherein the weight percentages are based on the total weight of the binder.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2008Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignees: Baker Hughes Incorporated, TDY Industries, Inc.Inventors: Prakash K. Mirchandani, Jimmy W. Eason, James J. Oakes, James C. Westhoff, Gabriel B. Collins
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Publication number: 20120097456Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions for forming at least a portion of an earth-boring rotary drill bit. The rotary drill bit may comprise a cemented transition metal carbide composition containing at least one precipitate transition metal carbide phase and at least one binder phase. The binder phase may comprise an alloy of at least one of cobalt, iron, and nickel having a melting point less than 1350° C.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2011Publication date: April 26, 2012Applicants: Baker Hughes Incorporated, TDY INDUSTRIES, INC.Inventors: Prakash K. Mirchandani, Jimmy W. Eason, James J. Oakes, James C. Westhoff, Gabriel B. Collins, John H. Stevens, Steven G. Caldwell, Alfred J. Mosco
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Publication number: 20120097455Abstract: Binder compositions for use in forming a bit body of an earth-boring bit includes 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: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2011Publication date: April 26, 2012Applicants: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED, TDY INDUSTRIES, INC.Inventors: Prakash K. Mirchandani, Jimmy W. Eason, James J. Oakes, James C. Westhoff, Gabriel B. Collins
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Patent number: 8087324Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for forming a bit body for an earth-boring bit. The bit body may comprise hard particles, wherein the hard particles comprise at least one of carbide, nitride, boride, oxide and solid solutions thereof, and a binder binding together the hard particles. The binder may comprise at least one metal selected from cobalt, nickel, and iron, and, optionally, at least one melting point reducing constituent selected from a transition metal carbide in the range of 30 to 60 weight percent, boron up to 10 weight percent, silicon up to 20 weight percent, chromium up to 20 weight percent, and manganese up to 25 weight percent, wherein the weight percentages are based on the total weight of the binder.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2010Date of Patent: January 3, 2012Assignees: TDY Industries, Inc., Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Jimmy W. Eason, Prakash K. Mirchandani, James J. Oakes, James C. Westhoff, Gabriel B. Collins, John H. Stevens, Steven G. Caldwell, Alfred J. Mosco
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Patent number: 8074750Abstract: Earth-boring tools for drilling subterranean formations include a particle-matrix composite material comprising a plurality of silicon carbide particles dispersed throughout a matrix material, such as, for example, an aluminum or aluminum-based alloy. In some embodiments, the silicon carbide particles comprise an ABC-SiC material. Methods of manufacturing such tools include providing a plurality of silicon carbide particles within a matrix material. Optionally, the silicon carbide particles may comprise ABC-SiC material, and the ABC-SiC material may be toughened to increase a fracture toughness exhibited by the ABC-SiC material. In some methods, at least one of an infiltration process and a powder compaction and consolidation process may be employed.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2010Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Heeman Choe, John H. Stevens, James L. Overstreet, Jimmy W. Eason, James C. Westhoff
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Patent number: 8007714Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for forming a bit body for an earth-boring bit. The bit body may comprise hard particles, wherein the hard particles comprise at least one of carbide, nitride, boride, oxide, and solid solutions thereof, and a binder binding together the hard particles. The binder may comprise at least one metal selected from cobalt, nickel, and iron and, optionally, at least one melting point reducing constituent selected from a transition metal carbide in the range of 30 to 60 weight percent, boron up to 10 weight percent, silicon up to 20 weight percent, chromium up to 20 weight percent, and manganese up to 25 weight percent, wherein the weight percentages are based on the total weight of the binder.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2008Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignees: TDY Industries, Inc., Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Prakash K. Mirchandani, Jimmy W. Eason, James J. Oakes, James C. Westhoff, Gabriel B. Collins, John H. Stevens, Steven G. Caldwell, Alfred J. Mosco
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Publication number: 20110142707Abstract: Methods of manufacturing rotary drill bits for drilling subterranean formations include forming a plurality of boron carbide particles into a body having a shape corresponding to at least a portion of a bit body of a rotary drill bit, infiltrating a plurality of boron carbide particles with a molten aluminum or aluminum-based material, and cooling the molten aluminum or aluminum-based material to form a solid matrix material surrounding the boron carbide particles. In additional methods, a green powder component is provided that includes a plurality of particles each comprising boron carbide and a plurality of particles each comprising aluminum or an aluminum-based alloy material. The green powder component is at least partially sintered to provide a bit body, and a shank is attached to the bit body.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2011Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATEDInventors: Heeman Choe, John H. Stevens, James C. Westhoff, Jimmy W. Eason, James L. Overstreet
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Patent number: 7954569Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for forming a bit body for an earth-boring bit. The bit body may comprise hard particles, wherein the hard particles comprise at least one of carbide, nitride, boride, and oxide and solid solutions thereof, and a binder binding together the hard particles. The binder may comprise at least one metal selected from cobalt, nickel, and iron, and, optionally, at least one melting point reducing constituent selected from a transition metal carbide in the range of 30 to 60 weight percent, boron up to 10 weight percent, silicon up to 20 weight percent, chromium up to 20 weight percent, and manganese up to 25 weight percent, wherein the weight percentages are based on the total weight of the binder.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2005Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignees: TDY Industries, Inc., Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Prakash K. Mirchandani, Jimmy W. Eason, James J. Oakes, James C. Westhoff, Gabriel B. Collins, John H. Stevens, Steven G. Caldwell, Alfred J. Mosco
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Publication number: 20110094341Abstract: Earth-boring rotary drill bits include bit bodies comprising a composite material including a plurality of hard phase regions or particles dispersed throughout a titanium or titanium-based alloy matrix material. The bits further include a cutting structure disposed on a face of the bit body. In some embodiments, the bit bodies may include a plurality of regions having differing material compositions. For example, the bit bodies may include a first region comprising a plurality of hard phase regions or particles dispersed throughout a titanium or titanium-based alloy matrix material, and a second region comprising a titanium or a titanium-based alloy material. Methods for forming such drill bits include at least partially sintering a plurality of hard particles and a plurality of particles comprising titanium or a titanium-based alloy material to form a bit body comprising a particle-matrix composite material. A shank may be attached directly to the bit body.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2010Publication date: April 28, 2011Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATEDInventors: Heeman Choe, John H. Stevens, James L. Overstreet, James C. Westhoff, Jimmy W. Eason
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Patent number: 7913779Abstract: Rotary drill bits for drilling subterranean formations include a bit body and at least one cutting structure disposed on a face thereof. The bit body includes a crown region comprising a particle-matrix composite material that includes a plurality of boron carbide particles dispersed throughout an aluminum or aluminum-based alloy matrix material. In some embodiments, the matrix material may include a continuous solid solution phase and a discontinuous precipitate phase. Methods of manufacturing rotary drill bits for drilling subterranean formations include infiltrating a plurality of boron carbide particles with a molten aluminum or aluminum-based material. In additional methods, a green powder component is provided that includes a plurality of particles each comprising boron carbide and a plurality of particles each comprising aluminum or an aluminum-based alloy material. The green powder component is at least partially sintered to provide a bit body, and a shank is attached to the bit body.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2006Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Heeman Choe, John H. Stevens, James C. Westhoff, Jimmy W. Eason, James L. Overstreet
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Publication number: 20110002804Abstract: The present invention includes consolidated hard materials, methods for producing them, and industrial drilling and cutting applications for them. A consolidated hard material may be produced using hard particles such as B4C or carbides or borides of W, Ti, Mo, Nb, V, Hf, Ta, Zr, and Cr in combination with an iron-based, nickel-based, nickel and iron-based, iron and cobalt-based, aluminum-based, copper-based, magnesium-based, or titanium-based alloy for a binder material. Commercially pure elements such as aluminum, copper, magnesium, titanium, iron, or nickel may also be used for the binder material. The mixture of the hard particles and the binder material may be consolidated at a temperature below the liquidus temperature of the binder material using a technique such as rapid omnidirectional compaction (ROC), the CERACON™ process, or hot isostatic pressing (HIP). After sintering, the consolidated hard material may be treated to alter its material properties.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2010Publication date: January 6, 2011Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATEDInventors: Jimmy W. Eason, James C. Westhoff, Roy Carl Lueth
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Publication number: 20100326739Abstract: Earth-boring tools for drilling subterranean formations include a particle-matrix composite material comprising a plurality of silicon carbide particles dispersed throughout a matrix material, such as, for example, an aluminum or aluminum-based alloy. In some embodiments, the silicon carbide particles comprise an ABC—SiC material. Methods of manufacturing such tools include providing a plurality of silicon carbide particles within a matrix material. Optionally, the silicon carbide particles may comprise ABC—SiC material, and the ABC—SiC material may be toughened to increase a fracture toughness exhibited by the ABC—SiC material. In some methods, at least one of an infiltration process and a powder compaction and consolidation process may be employed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2010Publication date: December 30, 2010Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATEDInventors: Heeman Choe, John H. Stevens, James C. Westhoff, Jimmy W. Eason, James L. Overstreet