US 7,802,495 B2Granted

Methods of forming earth-boring rotary drill bits

AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated

InventorsJames A. Oxford, Jimmy W. Eason, Redd H. Smith, John H. Stevens, Nicholas J. Lyons

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Abstract

Methods of forming earth-boring rotary drill bits include providing a bit body, providing a shank that is configured for attachment to a drill string, and attaching the shank to the bit body. Providing a bit body includes providing a green powder component having a first region having a first composition and a second region having a second, different composition, and at least partially sintering the green powder component. Other methods include providing a powder mixture, pressing the powder mixture to form a green component, and sintering the green component to a final density. A shank is provided that includes an aperture, and a feature is machined in a surface of the bit body. The aperture is aligned with the feature, and a retaining member is inserted through the aperture. An earth-boring bit includes a bit body comprising a particle-matrix composite material including a plurality of hard particles dispersed throughout a matrix material. A shank is attached to the bit body using a retaining member.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A method of forming a fixed cutter earth-boring rotary drill bit, the method comprising:

providing a bit body comprising:
pressing a first powder mixture to provide a first component having a first material composition;
pressing a second powder mixture to provide a second component having a second material composition that differs from the first material composition;
assembling the first component with the second component;
and
sintering the first component and the second component to a final density to bond the first component and the second component together and form the bit body;
and
fixedly attaching a shank to the bit body such that no relative movement is provided between the shank and the bit body during drilling, the shank configured for attachment to a drill string, fixedly attaching the shank to the bit body comprising:
positioning at least a portion of an inner surface of the shank circumferentially about a portion of the bit body;
inserting a retaining member through a first aperture extending through an outer surface of the shank and through at least one feature of the bit body;
and
at least partially securing the shank to the bit body using the retaining member.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/271,153Filed 10 Nov 2005
Published: US 2007/0102198 A110 May 2007
Granted: 28 Sep 2010
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

E21B 10/00
Drill bits
B22F 7/062
Of composite workpieces or articles from parts, e.g. to form tipped tools: involving the connection or repairing of preformed parts
B22F 7/08
Of composite workpieces or articles from parts, e.g. to form tipped tools: with one or more parts not made from powder
C22C 29/08
Based on carbides, but not containing other metal compounds: based on tungsten carbide