Movable cutters and devices including one or more seals for use on earth-boring tools in subterranean boreholes and related methods
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorsJon David Schroder, John Abhishek Raj Bomidi, Kegan L. Lovelace
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A rotatable element for an earth-boring tool in a subterranean borehole includes a rotatable element and a stationary element. The rotatable element and stationary element include a seal arrangement between the rotatable element and the stationary element. The seal arrangement encloses a volume that remains substantially constant as the rotatable element moves relative to the stationary element.
Claims21
A rotatable cutter for use on an earth-boring tool in a subterranean borehole, comprising:
- a rotatable element comprising a cutting surface over a support structure;
- and
- a stationary element comprising a cavity, the rotatable element disposed at least partially within the cavity, the rotatable element configured to rotate relative to the stationary element about a longitudinal axis of the rotatable cutter and translate along the longitudinal axis of the rotatable cutter;
- and
- at least one seal positioned between the rotatable element and the stationary element and fixed to the rotatable element, the at least one seal configured to maintain a substantially constant sealed volume defined between the rotatable element and the stationary element, the substantially constant sealed volume configured to contain a fluid.
An earth-boring tool, comprising:
- a tool body;
- and
- elements carried by the tool body, at least one element of elements comprising:
- a movable element comprising a surface configured to engage a portion of a subterranean borehole;
- and
- a sleeve element, the movable element configured to rotate relative to the sleeve element about a longitudinal axis and translate relative to the sleeve element along the longitudinal axis of the movable element;
- and
- a seal arrangement between the movable element and the sleeve element the seal arrangement configured to define and maintain a substantially constant volume configured to enclose a lubricating fluid, wherein the seal arrangement comprises at least one fixed seal coupled to only one of the movable element or the sleeve element and at least one expandable seal coupled to the sleeve element.
A method of sealing a rotatable cutting element on an earth-boring tool for use in a subterranean borehole, the method comprising:
- translating an inner cutting element at least partially disposed in an outer sleeve between a first axial position and a second axial position along a longitudinal axis of the cutting element with an indexing component;
- rotating the inner cutting element as the inner cutting element is translated between the first axial position or the second axial position with the indexing component;
- and
- defining a substantially constant volume around the indexing component between the inner cutting element and the outer sleeve with a sealing arrangement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.