Abstract:
A method of infiltrating preformed, bonded-particulate components, such as rotary bits, for subterranean drilling manufactured by techniques such as layered-manufacturing or those employed in rapid prototyping technology. A support structure is provided for the preformed component to physically support the preformed component during various manufacturing processes such as sintering and infiltration. 00000
Abstract:
A component brazed to another, constraining component such as sleeve assembly brazed in a bore of a bit body. The braze joint includes particulate material in the gap between the components.
Abstract:
Earth-boring drill bits include a bit body, an element having an attachment feature bonded to the bit body, and a shank assembly. Methods for assembling an earth-boring rotary drill bit include bonding a threaded element to the bit body of a drill bit and engaging the shank assembly to the threaded element. In additional embodiments, a nozzle assembly for an earth-boring rotary drill bit may include a cylindrical sleeve having a threaded surface and a threaded nozzle disposed at least partially in the cylindrical sleeve and engaged therewith. Methods of forming an earth-boring drill bit include providing a nozzle assembly including a tubular sleeve and nozzle at least partially within a nozzle port of a bit body.
Abstract:
Methods of forming earth-boring rotary drill bits by forming and joining two or less than fully sintered components, by forming and joining a first fully sintered component with a first shrink rate and forming a second less than fully sintered component with a second sinter-shrink rate greater that that of the first shrink rate of the first fully sintered component, by forming and joining a first less than fully sintered component with a first sinter-shrink rate and by forming and joining at least a second less than fully sintered component with a second sinter-shrink rate less than the first sinter- shrink rate. The methods include co-sintering a first less than fully sintered component and a second less than fully sintered component to a desired final density to form at least a portion of an earth-boring rotary drill bit which may either cause the first less than fully sintered component and the second less than fully sintered component to join or may cause one of the first less than fully sintered component and the second less than fully sintered component to shrink around and at least partially capture the other less than fully sintered component. Earth-boring rotary drill bits are formed using such methods.
Abstract:
Geometric compensation techniques are used to improve the accuracy by which features may be located on drill bits formed using particle compaction and sintering processes. In some embodiments, a positional error to be exhibited by at least one feature in a less than fully sintered bit body upon fully sintering the bit body is predicted and the at least one feature is formed on the less than fully sintered bit body at a location at least partially determined by the predicted positional error. In other embodiments, bit bodies of earth-boring rotary drill bits are designed to include a design drilling profile and a less than fully sintered bit body is formed including a drilling profile having a shape differing from a shape of the design drilling profile. Less than fully sintered bit bodies of earth-boring rotary drill bits are formed using such methods.
Abstract:
Methods for welding a particle-matrix composite body (120) to another body (154) and repairing particle-matrix composite bodies (120) are disclosed. Additionally, earth-boring tools (110) having a joint that includes an overlapping root portion and a weld groove having a face portion with a first bevel portion and a second bevel portion are disclosed. In some embodiments, a particle-matrix bit body (120) of an earth-boring tool (100) may be repaired by removing a damaged portion, heating the particle-matrix composite bit body (120), and forming a built-up metallic structure thereon. In other embodiments, a particle-matrix composite body (120) may be welded to a metallic body (154) by forming a joint, heating the particle-matrix composite body (120), melting a metallic filler material forming a weld bead and cooling the welded particle-matrix composite body (120), metallic filler material and metallic body (154) at a controlled rate.
Abstract:
Earth-boring rotary drill bits including a bit body (44) attached to a shank (48). In some embodiments, the bit body and the shank may have abutting surfaces (54, 56) concentric to an interface axis (A1) offset relative to a longitudinal axis (L42) of the drill bit. In additional embodiments, the bit body and the shank may have generally frustoconical abutting surfaces (98, 100). Methods for attaching a shank and a bit body of an earth-boring rotary drill bit include abutting a surface of a shank against a surface of a bit body, and causing the abutting surfaces to be concentric to an axis that is offset or shifted relative to a longitudinal axis of the drill bit.
Abstract:
A component brazed to another, constraining component such as sleeve assembly brazed in a bore of a bit body. The braze joint includes particulate material in the gap between the components.
Abstract:
Earth-boring rotary drill bits including a bit body attached to a shank assembly at a joint. In some embodiments, the joint may be configured to carry at least a portion of any tensile longitudinal and rotational load applied to the drill bit by mechanical interference at the joint. In additional embodiments, the joint may be configured to carry a selected portion of any tensile longitudinal load applied to the drill bit. Methods for attaching a shank assembly to a bit body of an earth-boring rotary drill bit include configuring a joint to carry at least a portion of any tensile longitudinal and rotational load applied to the drill bit by mechanical interference. Additional embodiments include configuring a joint to carry a selected portion of any tensile longitudinal load applied to the drill bit by mechanical interference.
Abstract:
Earth-boring rotary drill bits including a bit body (44) attached to a shank (48). In some embodiments, the bit body and the shank may have abutting surfaces (54, 56) concentric to an interface axis (A1) offset relative to a longitudinal axis (L42) of the drill bit. In additional embodiments, the bit body and the shank may have generally frustoconical abutting surfaces (98, 100). Methods for attaching a shank and a bit body of an earth-boring rotary drill bit include abutting a surface of a shank against a surface of a bit body, and causing the abutting surfaces to be concentric to an axis that is offset or shifted relative to a longitudinal axis of the drill bit.