Methods of forming earth-boring tools and related structures
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorsChaitanya K. Vempati, Suresh G. Patel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Earth-boring tools comprise a body comprising a plurality of radially extending blades. At least one blade of the plurality of radially extending blades comprises a blade support segment integral with the body. A blade frame segment is attached to a rotationally leading portion of the blade support segment. A plurality of cutting elements is attached to the blade frame segment. Methods of forming an earth-boring tool comprise forming a body including a blade support segment of at least one blade. At least one blade frame segment is attached to a rotationally leading portion the support segment of the at least one blade. A plurality of cutting elements is secured to the at least one blade segment.
Claims18
An earth-boring tool, comprising:
- a body comprising a plurality of radially extending blades, wherein at least one blade of the plurality of radially extending blades comprises:
- a blade support segment integral with the body, the blade support segment and the body being a unitary, joint-free structure;
- a blade frame segment attached to a rotationally leading portion of the blade support segment;
- and
- a plurality of cutting elements attached to the blade frame segment;
- wherein a first cutting element of the plurality of cutting elements is located a first radial distance from a longitudinal axis of the body and at a first longitudinal position along the longitudinal axis of the body and at least a second cutting element of the plurality of cutting elements is located a second, different radial distance from the longitudinal axis of the body and at a second, different longitudinal position along the longitudinal axis of the body, a radial distance covered by the first cutting element at least partially overlapping with a radial distance covered by the second cutting element, the second cutting element being located farther from a periphery of the blade frame segment than the first cutting element.
A method of forming an earth-boring tool, comprising:
- forming a body comprising a plurality of radially extending blades, at least one blade of the plurality of radially extending blades comprising a blade support segment integral with the body, the blade support segment and the body being a unitary, joint-free structure;
- attaching at least one blade frame segment to a rotationally leading portion of the blade support segment of the at least one blade;
- positioning a first cutting element of a plurality of cutting elements at a first radial distance from a longitudinal axis of the body and at a first position along the longitudinal axis of the body and positioning at least a second cutting element of the plurality of cutting elements at a second, different radial distance from the longitudinal axis of the body and at a second, different longitudinal position along the longitudinal axis of the body, a radial distance covered by the first cutting element at least partially overlapping with a radial distance covered by the second cutting element, the second cutting element being located farther from a periphery of the blade frame segment than the first cutting element;
- and
- securing the plurality of cutting elements to the at least one blade frame segment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.