Bore tube for a pressure compensation system in a roller cone drill bit
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorRobin Brian Milligan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The disclosure relates to a bore tube for a pressure compensation system in a roller cone drill bit. The bore tube includes a bit body having at least one support arm extending therefrom, a lubricant chamber in each support arm, a bore in each support arm extending from to the lubricant chamber to an exterior surface of each support arm, a tube in the bore of each support arm, and a floating bead in the tube and operable to move axially within the tube in response to a pressure of the environment surrounding the roller cone drill bit.
Claims14
A roller cone drill bit comprising:
- a bit body having at least one support arm extending therefrom;
- a lubricant chamber in each support arm;
- a bore in each support arm extending from to the lubricant chamber to an exterior surface of each support arm;
- a tube in the bore of each support arm, the tube having an inner perimeter with a smooth surface texture;
- a seal located between a wall of the bore and an outer perimeter of the tube to prevent a lubricant occupying a space between the wall of the bore and the outer perimeter of the tube from exiting the space;
- and
- a floating bead in the tube and operable to move axially within the tube in response to a pressure of the environment surrounding the roller cone drill bit.
A method for lubricant pressure relief comprising relieving a pressure differential between a lubricant in a lubricant chamber and a wellbore environment whenever a pressure of the lubricant and a pressure of the wellbore environment is substantially unequal, wherein the pressure compensation mechanism is in a roller cone drill bit including:
- a bit body having at least one support arm extending therefrom;
- the lubricant chamber in each support arm;
- a bore in each support arm extending from to the lubricant chamber to an exterior surface of each support arm;
- a tube in the bore of each support arm, the tube having an inner perimeter with a smooth surface texture;
- a seal located between a wall of the bore and an outer perimeter of the tube to prevent a lubricant occupying a space between the wall of the bore and the outer perimeter of the tube from exiting the space;
- and
- a floating bead in the tube and operable to move axially within the tube.
A drilling system comprising:
- a drill string;
- and
- a roller cone drill bit including:
- a bit body having at least one support arm extending therefrom;
- a lubricant chamber in each support arm;
- a bore in each support arm extending from to the lubricant chamber to an exterior surface of each support arm;
- a tube in the bore of each support arm, the tube having an inner perimeter with a smooth surface texture;
- a seal located between a wall of the bore and an outer perimeter of the tube to prevent a lubricant occupying a space between the wall of the bore and the outer perimeter of the tube from exiting the space;
- and
- a floating bead in the tube and operable to move axially within the tube in response to a pressure of the environment surrounding the roller cone drill bit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.