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US 2008/0073124 A1Published application
Protector for rock bit seals
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorChih C. Lin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An earth-boring bit has a bit body with a depending bearing pin and a cone rotatably mounted thereon. A seal seals between the bearing pin and the cone. An annular set of bristles is located adjacent at least part of the dynamic seal surface of the seal to protect the seal against debris.
Claims20
An earth boring bit, comprising:
- a bit body having a depending bearing pin;
- a cone having a plurality of cutting elements for engaging a bore hole, the cone having a cavity that rotatably engages the bearing pin, the cone and the bearing pin having a seal area defined by two annular surfaces, one of which rotates relative to the other;
- A seal in sealing engagement with the annular surfaces of the seal area;
- and
- a debris protector having a porous surface substantially in sliding contact with one of the annular surfaces.
2 more elements
An earth boring bit, comprising:
- a bit body having a depending bearing pin;
- a cone having a plurality of cutting elements for engaging a bore hole, the cone having a cavity that rotatably engages the bearing pin;
- a seal between the bearing pin and the cone, the seal having at least one seal surface that slidingly and sealingly engages the bearing pin;
- and
- an annular brush located on a drilling fluid side of said at least one seal surface, the brush rotating relative to the bearing pin and having an inner diameter substantially equal to an outer diameter of the bearing pin.
2 more elements
The bit according to claim 14, further comprising:
- a spacer washer located within the groove between the seal and the brush, the spacer washer having an inner diameter substantially equal to an inner diameter of the brush.
The bit according to claim 16, wherein:
- when the seal is in a relaxed condition, the seal surfaces have inner diameters smaller than the inner diameter of the brush.
A method of sealing drilling fluid from lubricant in an earth boring drill bit having a cone rotatably mounted on a bearing pin for engaging a borehole, comprising:
- providing a seal area between the cone and the bearing pin defined by two annular surfaces, one of which rotates relative to the other, mounting a seal between the annular surfaces, the seal having at least one dynamic seal surface, and mounting a debris protector adjacent to a drilling fluid side of the dynamic seal surface;
- rotating the cone on the bearing pin within a borehole and sealing drilling fluid in the borehole from lubricant with a dynamic seal surface of the seal;
- and
- permitting any drilling fluid that contacts the debris protector to migrate past the debris protector into contact with the dynamic seal surface, but blocking with the debris protector at least some debris of the drilling fluid from reaching the dynamic seal surface.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.