Composite rock bit seal

A journal seal for use in a rotary cone rock bit comprising:

• a seal body comprising a rotary sealing surface, wherein at least a portion of a rotary sealing surface is formed from a composite material comprising:
• an elastomeric material;
• and
• a fabric formed from nonelastomeric polymeric material bonded with the elastomeric material, wherein the fabric is positioned along the rotary sealing surface to provide a wear surface for contact with a rotary rock bit surface.

A rotary cone rock bit for drilling subterranean formations comprising;

• a bit body including at least one journal pin extending from a leg portion of the bit and having a bearing surface;
• a cutter cone rotatably mounted on the journal pin and including a lubricated bearing surface;
• and
• a journal seal interposed between the journal pin and cutter cone for forming a dynamic seal between the pin and cone to retain grease in the bearing comprising:
• a seal body;
• a first seal surface along one body face that is positioned against a sealing surface of one of the cone and journal pin;
• and
• a second seal surface along another body face that is positioned against a sealing surface of the other of the cone and journal pin, at least a portion of the seal surface forming the dynamic seal being formed from a composite material comprising a nonelastomeric polymeric fabric material that is bonded with an elastomeric material, the fabric material being positioned at a wear surface to provide resistance to wear from contact against the respective cone or pin sealing surface.

A rotary cone rock bit for drilling subterranean formations comprising:

• a bit body having at least one leg, the leg including a journal pin and having a first surface;
• a cutter cone rotatably mounted on the leg and having a second sealing surface;
• an annular seal ring interposed between the first sealing surface on the leg and the second sealing surface on the cone to form a dynamic seal between the cone and journal pin while the cutter cone is rotating, the seal ring comprising:
• a body formed from an elastomeric material and having a first seal surface for forming a seal against one of the first or second sealing surfaces, and a second seal surface for forming a seal against the other of the first or second sealing surfaces, one of the seal ring first or second seal surfaces forming the dynamic seal, at least a portion of one of the first or second seal surface forming the dynamic seal being formed from a composite material comprising fabric formed from a nonelastomeric polymeric material bonded together with an elastomeric material that is chemically compatible with the elastomeric material used to form the seal body, the fabric being positioned along a wear surface to provide resistance to wear from contact against an adjacent rotary rock bit first or second sealing surface.