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US 5,593,231 AGranted
Hydrodynamic bearing
AssigneeDresser Industries, Inc.
InventorRodolfo M. Ippolito
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hydrodynamic bearing (16) for a cutter cone assembly (12) that rotates around a journal (14). The bearing (16) comprises a plurality of grooves (88) on an outer surface (90) to produce undulations (82) on an inner surface (84) upon insertion of the bearing (16) into a bearing recess (94). Undulations (82) act as pockets to collect lubricant which is forced upon rotation of the bearing (16) between the outer journal surface (86) and the inner bearing surface (84) to produce a hydrodynamic film.
Claims44
A journal bearing for a rotating body, comprising:
- a bearing body having an uninterrupted bearing surface, a longitudinal axis and an opening concentric with said axis for receiving a journal;
- and
- means disposed in said bearing body for creating undulations in said uninterrupted bearing surface due to the compressive stresses acting on said bearing body when said bearing body is pressed into position for rotation such that said undulations provide pockets for collecting lubricant to produce a hydrodynamic film on said bearing surface.
A journal bearing for a rotating body, comprising:
- a bearing body having an uninterrupted bearing surface, a longitudinal axis and an opening concentric with said axis for receiving a journal;
- and
- means disposed in said bearing body for creating undulations in said uninterrupted bearing surface when said bearing body is pressed into position for rotation such that said undulations provide pockets for collecting lubricant to produce a hydrodynamic film on said bearing surface, wherein said undulation means comprises grooves formed in a surface opposite said bearing surface as to produce undulations on said bearing surface opposite said grooves and wherein the peak-to-valley height of said undulations is between 0.0002 and 0.002 inches.
A journal bearing for a rotating body, comprising:
- a bearing body having an uninterrupted bearing surface, a longitudinal axis and an opening concentric with said axis for receiving a journal;
- and
- means disposed in said bearing body for creating undulations in said uninterrupted bearing surface when said bearing body is pressed into position for rotation such that said undulations provide pockets for collecting lubricant to produce a hydrodynamic film on said bearing surface, wherein said undulation means comprises grooves formed in a surface opposite said bearing surface as to produce undulations on said bearing surface opposite said grooves and wherein the peak-to-valley height of at least one undulation varies from the peak-to-valley height of at least one other undulation.
A journal bearing for a rotating body, comprising:
- a bearing body having an uninterrupted bearing surface, a longitudinal axis and an opening concentric with said axis for receiving a journal;
- and
- means disposed in said bearing body for creating undulations in said uninterrupted bearing surface when said bearing body is pressed into position for rotation such that said undulations provide pockets for collecting lubricant to produce a hydrodynamic film on said bearing surface, wherein said undulation means comprises grooves formed in a surface opposite said bearing surface as to produce undulations on said bearing surface opposite said grooves and wherein said grooves are formed at a predetermined acute angle with respect said longitudinal axis.
A rotary cone drill bit for forming a bore hole, comprising:
- a bit body having an upper portion adapted for connection to a drill string for rotation of said drill bit;
- said bit body having a longitudinal axis corresponding approximately with the projected axis of rotation of said drill bit;
- a number of support arms attached to said bit body and extending opposite from said upper portion, each of said support arms having an inside surface with a journal connected thereto, each journal projecting generally downwardly and inwardly with respect to its associated support arm;
- each of said support arms having a longitudinal axis extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of said bit body;
- a number of cutter cone assemblies mounted respectively to one of said journals, each said cutter cone assembly comprising a beating recess;
- a number of journal bearings with each of said journal bearings having a bearing body with a longitudinal axis, a plurality of grooves formed in an outer surface of said bearing body, and an uninterrupted inner bearing surface having undulations opposite the grooves formed due to the compressive stresses acting on said bearing body when the bearing body is pressed into the bearing recess of an associated cutter cone assembly, said undulations providing pockets for collecting lubricant to produce upon rotation a hydrodynamic film between said inner bearing surface and said journal.
3 more elements
A rotary cone drill bit for forming a bore hole, comprising:
- a bit body having an upper portion adapted for connection to a drill string for rotation of said drill bit;
- said bit body having a longitudinal axis corresponding approximately with the projected axis of rotation of said drill bit;
- a number of support arms attached to said bit body and extending opposite from said upper portion, each of said support arms having an inside surface with a journal connected thereto, each journal projecting generally downwardly and inwardly with respect to its associated support arm;
- each of said support arms having a longitudinal axis extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of said bit body;
- a number of cutter cone assemblies mounted respectively to one of said journals, each said cutter cone assembly comprising a bearing recess;
- a number of journal bearings with each of said journal bearings having a bearing body with a longitudinal axis, a plurality of grooves formed in an outer surface of said bearing body, and an uninterrupted inner bearing surface having undulations opposite the grooves formed when the bearing body is pressed into the bearing recess of an associated cutter cone assembly, said undulations providing pockets for collecting lubricant to produce upon rotation a hydrodynamic film between said inner bearing surface and said journal, wherein the peak-to-valley height of said undulations is between 0.0002 and 0.002 inches.
3 more elements
A rotary cone drill bit for forming a bore hole, comprising:
- a bit body having an upper portion adapted for connection to a drill string for rotation of said drill bit;
- said bit body having a longitudinal axis corresponding approximately with the projected axis of rotation of said drill bit;
- a number of support arms attached to said bit body and extending opposite from said upper portion, each of said support arms having an inside surface with a journal connected thereto, each journal projecting generally downwardly and inwardly with respect to its associated support arm;
- each of said support arms having a longitudinal axis extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of said bit body;
- a number of cutter cone assemblies mounted respectively to one of said journals, each said cutter cone assembly comprising a bearing recess;
- a number of journal bearings with each of said journal bearings having a bearing body with a longitudinal axis, a plurality of grooves formed in an outer surface of said bearing body, and an uninterrupted inner bearing surface having undulations opposite the grooves formed when the bearing body is pressed into the bearing recess of an associated cutter cone assembly, said undulations providing pockets for collecting lubricant to produce upon rotation a hydrodynamic film between said inner bearing surface and said journal, wherein the peak-to-valley height of at least one undulation varies from the peak-to-valley height of at least one other undulation.
3 more elements
A rotary cone drill bit for forming a bore hole, comprising:
- a bit body having an upper portion adapted for connection to a drill string for rotation of said drill bit;
- said bit body having a longitudinal axis corresponding approximately with the protected axis of rotation of said drill bit;
- a number of support arms attached to said bit body and extending opposite from said upper portion, each of said support arms having an inside surface with a journal connected thereto, each journal projecting generally downwardly and inwardly with respect to its associated support arm;
- each of said support arms having a longitudinal axis extending substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of said bit body;
- a number of cutter cone assemblies mounted respectively to one of said journals, each said cutter cone assembly comprising a bearing recess;
- a number of journal bearings with each of said iournai bearings having a bearing body with a longitudinal axis, a plurality of grooves formed in an outer surface of said bearing body, and an uninterrupted inner bearing surface having undulations opposite the grooves formed when the bearing body is pressed into the bearing recess of an associated cutter cone assembly, said undulations providing pockets for collecting lubricant to produce upon rotation a hydrodynamic film between said inner bearing surface and said journal, wherein said grooves are formed at a predetermined acute angle with respect said bearing body longitudinal axis.
3 more elements
A method for forming a hydrodynamic film between a bearing body and a journal, said method comprising the steps of:
- forming a bearing having an annular body with a central axis, a plurality of grooves formed in an outer surface of the annular body and an uninterrupted inner bearing surface;
- pressing the bearing into a bearing recess of a rotating body to form undulations in the inner surface of the annular body opposite the grooves;
- placing the rotating body with the bearing body over the journal;
- securing the rotating body in place on the journal;
- supplying lubricant between the bearing body and the journal body;
- and
- rotating the rotating body on the journal such that the undulations wedge lubricant between the bearing body and the journal to produce a hydrodynamic film.
4 more elements
A rotary cone drill bit for forming a bore hole, comprising:
- a one piece bit body having an upper portion adapted for connection to a drill string for rotation of said drill bit;
- said bit body having a longitudinal axis corresponding approximately with the projected axis of rotation of said drill bit;
- a number of support arms attached to said bit body and extending opposite from said upper portion, each of said support arms having an inside surface with a journal connected thereto, each journal projecting downwardly and inwardly with respect to its associated support arm;
- each of said support arms having a longitudinal axis extending substantially parallel with longitudinal axis of said bit body;
- a number of cutter cone assemblies mounted respectively on one of said journals, each said cutter cone assembly comprising a bearing recess;
- and
- a number of journal bearings, each journal bearing comprising:
- a beating body having an inner surface, and outer surface, a central axis, and an opening centered on said central axis for receiving one of said journals;
- a plurality of relief grooves formed parallel to said central axis having a depth between one-half and three-quarters of the thickness of said bearing body, said grooves formed in said outer surface of said bearing body;
- and
- said inner surface comprising an uninterrupted inner bearing surface having undulations opposite said grooves formed due to the compressive stresses acting on said bearing body when the bearing body is pressed into one of said cutter cones such that said undulations provide pockets for collecting lubricant which is forced upon rotation of said bearing body between journal and bearing surfaces to produce a hydrodynamic film between said surfaces.
8 more elements
A rotary cone drill bit for forming a bore hole, comprising:
- a one piece bit body having an upper portion adapted for connection to a drill string for rotation of said drill bit;
- said bit body having a longitudinal axis corresponding approximately with the protected axis of rotation of said drill bit;
- a number of support arms attached to said bit body and extending opposite from said upper portion, each of said support arms having an inside surface with a journal connected thereto, each journal projecting downwardly and inwardly with respect to its associated support arm;
- each of said support arms having a longitudinal axis extending substantially parallel with longitudinal axis of said bit body;
- a number of cutter cone assemblies mounted respectively on one of said journals, each said cutter cone assembly comprising a bearing recess;
- and
- a number of journal bearings, each journal bearings comprising:
- a bearing body having an inner surface, and outer surface, a central axis, and an opening centered on said central axis for receiving one of said journals;
- a plurality of relief grooves formed parallel to said central axis having a depth between one-half and three-quarters of the thickness of said bearings body, said grooves formed in said outer surface of said bearing body;
- and
- said inner surface comprising an uninterrupted inner bearing surface having undulations opposite said grooves formed when the bearing body is pressed into one of said cutter cones such that said undulations provide pockets for collecting lubricant which is forced upon rotation of said bearing body between journal and bearing surfaces to produce a hydrodynamic film between said surfaces wherein the peak-to-valley height of said undulations is between 0.0002 and 0.002 inches.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.