Abstract: An earth boring bit has thrust surfaces with enhanced cooling features. The bit has a body with three depending bearing pins. A cutter having an axial cavity is mounted on each bearing pin. The bearing pin and the cavity have one or more mating thrust surfaces that are perpendicular to the axis of the bearing pin. These thrust surfaces absorb outward forces that the cutter imposes on the bearing pin. At least one of the thrust surfaces consists of a series of tungsten carbide buttons spaced in a circular array. These buttons have flat ends for engaging the opposite thrust surfaces. The buttons protrude from the supporting metal, allowing cooling fluid to be circulated past to cool the thrust surfaces.

Abstract: A chamfered intermediate thrust bearing is positioned between a rotating cutter and its bearing pin of an earth-boring rock bit. The chamfered intermediate bearing is so configured to be mechanically secured in place within the cone and to take outthrust loads, without rotation, that are directed axially against a radially disposed surface of the roller cone journal as the rock bit works in a borehole.

Abstract: An intermediate thrust bearing is positioned between the rotating cutters and its bearing pin of an earth-boring bit. The intermediate bearing is so configured to take outthrust loads, without rotation, that are directed axially against a radially disposed surface of the roller cone journal as the rock bit works in a borehole.

Abstract: A turbodrill is disclosed for connection to a drill string and has a rotating shaft for turning a drill bit. The turbodrill has rotor and stator blades operated by drilling mud flowing therethrough to rotate the shaft. The shaft is provided with radial/thrust bearing consisting of a pair of annular plates, each of which has conical surfaces supporting a plurality of friction bearing members of polycrystalline diamond. The radial and thrust loads are carried by the wear-resistant diamond bearing surfaces. The bearing members are preferably cylindrical studs having flat faces with flat disc-shaped diamond bearing members supported thereon around the adjacent surfaces of the supporting plates. The faces of the diamond bearings will wear into smoothly mating conical bearing surfaces with use. There are two or more pairs of diamond radial/thrust bearings to handle longitudinal as well as radial loads.

Abstract: A rotary rock bit having a relatively thin-walled porous journal bushing, infiltrated with an anti-galling metal, is shown. The bushing is mounted within the rolling cone cutter and retained axially by abutments and rotationally by an interference fit in conjunction with a metallic conformal layer at the interferingly engaging surfaces to prevent movement of the bushing with respect to the cutter under bit operating conditions.

Abstract: A boring head for reaming a pre-drilled hole in raise boring or for similar earth cutting operations comprising a plurality of roller cutters (13, 14), each of which being rotatably journalled over a bearing system. The bearing system comprises a split roller bearing (60) having axially spaced rollers (62, 63) which are separated by a loose guide ring (69).

Abstract: In a rotary drill bit assembly, comprising a drill bit body, at least one trunnion and a rotary cutter rotatably supported on the rotary cutter by bearing means including at least one inner roller bearing, the rollers of the inner roller bearings running in a deep radial bearing race groove in the trunnion and a deep radial bearing race groove formed in the bore of the rotary cutter and a filling opening extending generally axially in the trunnion between the inner bearing race grooves, characterized in that the outer bearing facing the drill bit body comprises a tapered roller bearing including a plurality of tapered rollers and wherein the filling opening for the rolling elements of the inner bearing is arranged radially inside the inner bearing race of the tapered rollers in the trunnion.

Abstract: The mating halves 7 and 11 of a new type of thrust bearing for a down hole drilling motor 1 are fabricated by a technique which ensures that the composite diamond compact inserts 9 or 13 are coplanar with each other. Composite compacts are utilized having a chamfer on both the diamond table 18 and the substrate 19. These hard inserts are inserted into recesses 17 in steel bearing body rings 8 or 12, said recesses being the same depth as the substrate. The composite compacts are furnace brazed below the degradation temperature of the diamond. During brazing a weight is placed on the compacts to maintain their coplanar relationship. The space between the inserts 15 is maintained at less than half their diameter. This fabrication technique results in a smooth running, low friction thrust bearing for rotating equipment.