Drill bit with wear indicating feature
AssigneeExxon Production Research Company
InventorsAlbert P. Davis, Jr., Joseph W. Stolle
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An earth drilling bit incorporating a tensioned linkage type bit wear indicator. A tensioned linkage extends through the bit between a wear sensor and a device for altering the resistance of the bit to receiving drilling fluid from the drill string. On detecting a predetermined degree of wear, the wear sensor releases the tension in the tensioned linkage. This activates the flow resistance altering device, causing the flow rate and/or pumping pressure of the drilling fluid to change. The tensioned linkage passes through two intersecting passageways in the bit. A guide element is inserted at the intersection of the two intersecting passageways. The guide element routes the tensioned linkage between the two passageways.
Claims10
A drill bit, comprising:
- a main bit body defining a central chamber;
- at least one port in said main bit body, said port establishing a fluid pathway between said central chamber and the exterior of said main bit body;
- at least one spindle extending from said main bit body;
- a cutting element rotatably secured on said spindle;
- a sensor secured to said spindle to detect wear of the interface between said spindle and cutting element;
- means for altering the fluid flow resistance of said port in response to said sensor detecting a predetermined degree of wear;
- a first passageway segment extending through said spindle;
- a second passageway segment extending through said main bit body from a position proximate said central chamber to a position proximate said first passageway segment;
- a guide element inserted into said main bit body, said guide element defining a passageway connecting said first and second passageway segments to one another;
- and
- a tensioned linkage element extending through said first passageway segment, said guide element and said second passageway segment, said tensioned linkage having a first end secured to said sensor and a second end secured to said flow resistance altering means.
A method for establishing an angled conduit through a rotary-cone drill bit for the installation of a tensioned wire bearing monitor, said method comprising the steps of:
- drilling a first passageway segment through a spindle of said bit;
- drilling a second passageway segment in said bit, said second passageway segment extending from a central chamber within said bit to a position proximate said first passageway segment;
- drilling a bore in said bit, said bore intersecting said first and second passageway segments;
- and
- inserting a guide element into said bore, said guide element being adapted to guide a wire inserted through one of said first and second passageway segments into the other of said first and second passageway segments.
A method for installing a bearing wear indicator in a rotary-cone drill bit, comprising the steps of:
- drilling a first passageway segment through a spindle of said bit;
- drilling a second passageway segment extending from a central chamber of said bit to a position proximate said first passageway segment;
- drilling a bore in said bit, said bore commencing at a shirt-tail portion of said bit and intersecting both said first and second passageway segments;
- inserting a guide element in said bore, said guide element defining a curved guide passageway having a first end aligned with said first passageway segment and a second end aligned with said second passageway segment;
- extending a wire through said first passageway segment, said guide element passageway and said second passageway segment;
- connecting a bearing wear sensor to a first end of said wire proximate the entrance to said first passageway segment;
- connecting a second end of said wire to means for altering the drilling fluid flow resistance of said bit in response to a change in the tension of the wire;
- and
- tensioning said wire.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.