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US 4,729,440 AGranted
Transistion layer polycrystalline diamond bearing
AssigneeSmith International, Inc.
InventorDavid R. Hall
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An earth boring apparatus is disclosed having bearing members comprised of transition layer polycrystalline diamond. The transition layer polycrystalline diamond bearings include a polycrystalline diamond layer interfaced with a composite transition layer comprising a mixture of diamond crystals and precemented carbide pieces subjected to high temperature/high pressure conditions so as to form polycrystalline diamond material bonded to the precemented carbide pieces. The polycrystalline diamond layer acts as the bearing surface. The transition layer bearings are preferably supported by a cemented tungsten carbide substrate interfaced with the transition layer.
Claims34
An earth boring apparatus comprising:
- a pair of rotatable members adapted for relative movement;
- and
- bearing means between the rotatable members, the bearing means comprising at least one pair of complementary friction bearing members mounted in bearing relationship, each bearing member comprising:
- a polycrystalline diamond layer with a surface for slidably contacting a complementary bearing member, said polycrystalline diamond layer comprising diamond crystals pressed under sufficient heat and pressure to create polycrystalline diamond material in which adjacent diamond crystals are bonded together;
- and
- at least one transition layer joined at an interface with the polycrystalline diamond layer and comprising a mxiture of diamond crystals and precemented carbide pieces pressed under sufficient heat and pressure to create composite polycrystalline material in which adjacent diamond crystals are bonded together to create polycrystalline diamond material which is bonded to the precemented carbide pieces, and in which transition layer the polycrystalline diamond material and the precemented carbide pieces are interspersed in one another.
3 more elements
A rotary rock bit comprising:
- a main bit body;
- connecting means at one end of the bit body for connecting the bit body to a drill string;
- mounting means at the opposite end of the bit body for mounting at least one roller cone on the bit body for rotation around an axis transverse to the rotational axis of the bit body;
- and
- bearing means between the bit body and the roler cone, the bearing means comprising at least one pair of complementary friction bearing members mounted in bearing relationship, each bearing member comprising:
- a polycrystalline diamond layer with a surface for slidably contacting a complementary bearing member, said polycrystalline diamond layer comprising diamond crystals pressed under sufficient heat and pressure to create polycrystalline diamond material in which adjacent diamond crystals are bonded together;
- and
- at least one transistion layer joined at an interface with the polycrystalline diamond layer amd comprising a mixture of diamond crystals and precemented carbide pieces pressed under sufficient heat and pressure to create composite polycrystalline material in which adjacent diamond crystals are bonded together to create polycrystalline diamond material which is bonded to the precemented carbide pieces, and in which transition layer the polycrystalline diamond material and the precemented carbide pieces are interspersed in one another.
5 more elements
A fluid motor assembly comprising:
- tubular housing means;
- rotary shaft means supported in the housing means and adapted to support a drill bit;
- motor means in the housing means actuated by flow of drilling fluid through the motor means and opearable to rotate the shaft means;
- and
- bearing means in the housing means supporting the rotary shaft means, in which the bearing means comprises at least one pair of complementary bearing members mounted in bearing relationship, each bearing member comprising:
- a polycrystalline diamond layer with a surface for slidably contacting a complementary bearing member, said polycrystalline diamond layer comprising diamond crystals pressed under sufficient heat and pressure to create polycrystalline diamond material in which adjacent diamond crystals are bonded together;
- and
- at least one transition layer joined at an interface with the polycrystalline diamond layer and comprising a mixture of diamond crystals and precemented carbide pieces pressed under sufficient heat and pressure to create composite polycrystalline material in which adjacent diamond crystals are bonded together to create polycrystalline diamond material which is bonded to the precemented carbide pieces, and in which transition layer the polycrystalline diamond material and the precemented carbide pieces are interspersed in one another.
5 more elements
An earth boring apparatus bearing insert comprising:
- a polycrystalline diamond layer with a surface for slidably contacting a complementary bearing member, said polycrystalline diamond layer comprising diamond crystals pressed under sufficient heat and pressure to create polycrystalline diamond material in which adjacent diamond crystals are bonded together;
- and
- at least one transition layer joined at an interface with the polycrystalline diamond layer and comprising a mixture of diamond crystals and precemented carbide pieces pressed under sufficient heat and pressure to create composite polycrystalline material in which adjacent diamond crystals are bonded together to create polycrystalline diamond material which is bonded to the precemented carbide pieces, and in which transition layer the polycrystalline diamond material and the precemented carbide pieces are interspersed in one another.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.