US20150014060A1 - Tricone Bit Construction - Google Patents
Tricone Bit Construction Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20150014060A1 US20150014060A1 US14/329,474 US201414329474A US2015014060A1 US 20150014060 A1 US20150014060 A1 US 20150014060A1 US 201414329474 A US201414329474 A US 201414329474A US 2015014060 A1 US2015014060 A1 US 2015014060A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- bit
- arms
- arm
- fluid
- mounting pad
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B10/00—Drill bits
- E21B10/62—Drill bits characterised by parts, e.g. cutting elements, which are detachable or adjustable
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B10/00—Drill bits
- E21B10/08—Roller bits
- E21B10/18—Roller bits characterised by conduits or nozzles for drilling fluids
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Earth Drilling (AREA)
Abstract
A roller cone drill bit having detachable rotatable arms. The arms are connected at a mounting pad to the bit body. Each arm has its own grease delivery system to provide lubrication to the interface between the arms and rolling elements at an end of each arm. The forward-facing contact surface between the bit body and the arms is at an angle, relative to the central axis of the bit, that is ninety degrees or more.
Description
- This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/845,621 filed on Jul. 12, 2013, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
- The present invention relates generally to roller cone drill bits.
- The present invention is directed to a bit. The bit comprises a body, a plurality of bit arms, a cone and a pin. The body comprises a center axis and a mounting pad and is connectible to a drill string. The bit arms are mounted on the body at the mounting pad. The cone is rotatable attached to each bit arm and comprises a plurality of teeth. The pin is located within each bit arm and the body through the mounting pad.
- In another embodiment the invention is directed to a method for lubricating internal components of a bit having a bit body, a plurality of removable arms attached to the bit body, rolling elements attached to each of the removable arms, and at least one ball bearing located between the rolling elements and each of the removable arms. The method comprises connecting a removable arm with the bit body using a pin comprising a hollow passage, providing grease to a pressurized reservoir in the bit body, conveying grease into the removable arm through the hollow passage of the pin, providing a continuous passage through the removable arm proximate the ball bearings, and rotating the rolling elements to distribute grease from the continuous passage to the ball bearings.
-
FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a tricone rolling element bit. -
FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of a ⅓rd segment of a tricone bit. -
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing three preassembled segments of a tricone bit. -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative tricone bit. -
FIG. 5 is a sectional side view of the tricone bit ofFIG. 4 . -
FIG. 6 is another sectional side view of the tricone bit ofFIG. 4 . -
FIG. 7 is a detail view of the joint shown inFIG. 6 labeled “A”. -
FIG. 8 is a side view of a horizontal directional drilling apparatus. - With reference to
FIG. 1 , shown there in is atricone drill bit 10. Atricone hit 10 is characterized by three rollingcone cutting elements 24. A tricone bit, used in the oilfield, may have a useful life of a single bore. Tricone bits are also used in installation of buried utilities. This application, known as Horizontal Directional Drilling or “HDD”, typically has shorter length runs and less economic consequence in the case of bit failure. HDD typically involves bores between 300 and 1,200 feet, allowing for inspection, evaluation and service of the bit between bores. To improve the per-foot cost of operation of tooling, parts are typically rebuilt and reused to the limit of endurance and wear. A brief discussion of HDD is given with reference toFIG. 8 . - With reference to the figures in general and
FIG. 1 specifically, atricone bit 10 is shown therein. Thebit 10 comprises abody 12 and a plurality ofarms 14. Thebody 12 comprises abase 16 and amounting pin 18. Themounting pin 18 is threaded as shown herein for connection to a drill string (FIG. 8 ). Alternatively, themounting pin 18 may be splined or geometrically aligned for connection to a drill string. Thebase 16 supports afluid delivery system 20 and the plurality ofarms 14. As shown, thefluid delivery system 20 comprises a plurality ofnozzles 22. The plurality ofnozzles 22 supply a fluid, such as drilling mud, for lubrication of thebit 10. As shown, each of the plurality ofnozzles 22 is directed to a corresponding one of the plurality ofarms 14. - Each of the plurality of
arms 14 comprises arolling element 24 comprisingcarbide teeth 26, aball port 28, and agrease port 30. Thecarbide teeth 26 engage material to be moved by thetricone bit 10. Theteeth 26 may be equalized and dispersed about therolling elements 24. The precise pattern of theteeth 26 may vary by size of thebit 10 and material being removed. Theteeth 26 may take on various profiles as a function of the insert orientation. For somebits 10, this may result in three different unique rolling elements 24 a, 24 b, 24 c making upbit assembly 10. - Bearing balls (
FIG. 5 ) may be used to reduce friction and facilitation rotation ofrolling elements 24. These may be assembled through theball port 28. Preferably, theball port 28 is closed with a plug (FIG. 5 ) after assembly. Drilling mud is used by thefluid delivery system 20 to facilitate removal of the cuttings and clean the rolling elements 24 a, 24 b, 24 c. Drilling mud is discharged through thenozzles 22, which are supplied with mud through the drill pipe bolted to mountingpin 18. Greaseport 30 allows access to an internal reservoir for lubrication. Grease may be added throughgrease port 30, and the reservoir is pressure balanced to maintain lubricant pressure similar to that of the bore hole. Bore hole pressure is accessed through apressure port 32. - In operation, the
bit 10 ofFIG. 1 bores through a subsurface by rotation of therolling elements 24 and grinding of the subsurface by thecarbide teeth 26. Drilling fluid provided by thenozzles 22 softens the area being drilled and prolongs the life of the carbide teeth. As material is removed from the subsurface, forming a borepath, thebit 10 is advanced along the bore path by sections of drill string (not shown). - With reference now to
FIG. 2 , shown therein is one third of thetricone bit 10 ofFIG. 1 . This section is referred to as a “shirttail sub-assembly” 40. Theshirttail sub-assembly 40 comprises one third of thecylindrical bit body 12 with onearm 14 and onenozzle 22. Eachshirttail sub-assembly 40 is joined into the tricone bit 10 (FIG. 1 ) via welding alongsplit plane 42. After welding, themounting pin 18 may be threaded or geometrically formed. Alternatively, the threads or geometric characteristics of themounting pin 18 may exist on the shirttail subassembly 40 prior to welding. Threeshirttail sub-assemblies 40 are formed into thetricone bit 10 ofFIG. 1 through welding at thesplit plane 42, as shown inFIG. 3 . With reference now toFIG. 4 , an alternative tricone bit 10 a comprising a mountingpad 50 is shown. The mountingpad 50 is generally the interface between thearms 14 and bitbody 12. Thearms 14 are attached to thebit body 12 at the mountingpad 50 bybolts 54. As shown, there are threebolts 54 in eacharm 14. Thearms 14 are disposed about acenter axis 58. Thegrease port 30 provides access to internal lubrication systems (FIG. 5 ) from the outside of thebit body 12. Theball port 28 provides access to internal ball bearings (FIG. 5 ) located proximate each rollingelement 24. - With reference to
FIG. 5 , the tricone bit 10 a comprises afluid delivery system 60 in each of thearms 14 and thebit body 12. Thefluid delivery system 60 comprises apressurized pocket 62, aspring 64, alubrication piston 66, ashear pin 68 comprising a hollowcentral passage 69, amiddle grease passage 70, anupper grease passage 72, and abushing 74. Thelubrication piston 66 produces grease pressure within thefluid delivery system 60 by the applied load of thespring 64. As shown, thepiston 66 andspring 64 are at the full range of travel within thepressurized pocket 62. Thus, grease pressure may only be increased further by addition of additional grease pressure throughgrease port 30. - Grease flows through the
central passage 69 ofshear pin 68. Thiscylindrical pin 68 is a close fit seal through mountingpad 50, a shear pin to resist shear forces due to bit torque and as a conveyance tube. Grease frompocket 62 is able to flow to thebushing 74 throughmiddle grease passage 70 andupper grease passage 72. Aplug 76 is shown withinball port 28. Preferably, theplug 76 has a reduced diameter proximate thecentral passage 70 andupper grease passage 72 to enable flow of grease through thefluid delivery system 60. Fluid for lubrication reaches thebushing 74 and greases ball bearings 80 to allow free rotation of the rollingelements 24 relative to thebit arms 14. In this way, fluid for lubrication, or grease, travels through a continuous passage from theshear pin 68 to thebushing 74. - The
bit arms 14 further comprise acone seal 82. Thecone seal 82 seals thebushing 74 and limits lubricant leakage as the rollingelement 24 rotates in operation. Preferably, thegrease port 30 is formed inside apocket 84 formed in thebit body 12 to protect the grease port from damage when bit 10 a rotates in use. - The bit 10 a defines a
central fluid cavity 90 andnozzle feed passages 92. Drilling fluid enters thecentral fluid cavity 90 from the drill string (not shown), is discharged into thenozzle feed passages 92, and exit the bit 10 a throughnozzles 22. As shown in the figures, threeindependent nozzles 22 exist, one feeding eachbit arm 14 and rollingelement 24. Alternative designs are contemplated, including the use of a greater number ofnozzles 22 to direct drilling fluid at the rollingelements 24. - With reference now to
FIG. 6 , the bit 10 a is shown in cross-section. Thebit arms 14 comprise acounterbore 100. Connectors, such asbolts 54 are shown within thecounterbores 100. Thecounterbore 100 protects thebolt 54 from wear as the bit 10 a operates. Thebolt 54 extends throughbit arm 14 through the mountingpad 50 into thebit body 12. Thebit body 12 comprises a threadedhole 102 corresponding to thecounterbore 100 of eachbit arm 14. Insertion of thebolt 54 into the threaded hole produces a clamping load between thearm 14 and bitbody 12, engaging the features of the mountingpad 50. - The mounting
pad 50 compriseslands 110 located on eachbit arm 14 andgrooves 112 located on thebit body 12. Thelands 110 andgrooves 112 correspond and may be straight, circular, curved, geometrically shaped, or any other corresponding configuration. With reference now toFIG. 7 , detail section “A” of the mountingpad 50 is shown in greater detail. Thelands 110 ofarm 14 engagesgroove 112 ofbit body 12 upon tightening ofbolt 54. Thegrooves 112 comprise a front-facing wall of thebit body 12 for engagement of thelands 110 at a corresponding surface. Note that areference line 114, parallel to a center axis 58 (FIG. 4 ) of thebit body 12, creates anangle 116 with aline 118 collinear to one of thegrooves 112. Theangle 116 as shown is 105 degrees. Preferably, this angle is not less than 90 degrees. With anangle 116 greater than 90 degrees, thrust loads applied primarily to the front of the bit 10 a and generally directed along its central axis encounter greater stability. - With reference now to
FIG. 8 , a horizontaldirectional drilling system 200 for use with thebit 10 disclosed herein is shown. The system comprises adrilling machine 202, adrill string 204, and thebit 10. Thebit 10 is advanced through asubsurface 205 by thrust and rotation of thedrill string 204 provided at thedrilling machine 202. As a result of this operation, aborehole 206 is created in thesubsurface 205. Thebit 10 exits the borehole 206 at anexit side 208. A utility line (not shown) may be pulled in behind thedrill string 204, or alternatively, a separate backreaming assembly (not shown) is attached at theexit side 208 and pulled back through the borehole 206 to thedrilling machine 202. - Various modifications can be made in the design and operation of the present invention without departing from its spirit. Thus, while the principal preferred construction and modes of operation of the invention have been explained in what is now considered to represent its best embodiments, it should be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.
Claims (23)
1. A bit comprising:
a body comprising a plurality of grooves, the body connectible to a drill string;
a plurality of bit arms each comprising a plurality of lands corresponding to the plurality of grooves, each of the plurality of bit arms affixed to the body;
a cone rotatably attached to each bit arm, each cone comprising a plurality of teeth;
a fluid delivery system comprising:
a fluid reservoir disposed within the body;
a fluid passage formed within the bit arm; and
a ball bearing in communication with the fluid passage, the ball bearing located between the cone and the bit arm; and
a connector to connect the plurality of grooves of the body to the plurality of lands of one of the plurality of arms.
2. The bit of claim 1 further comprising:
a drilling fluid passage located within the body portion; and
a nozzle for conveying drilling fluid to an exterior of the plurality of bit arms.
3. The bit of claim 2 wherein the nozzle is directed at the cone of each of the plurality of bit arms.
4. The bit of claim 3 comprising three bit arms and three nozzles.
5. The bit of claim 1 wherein the fluid delivery system further comprises a pin comprising a central passage located within each bit arm and the body.
6. The bit of claim 1 comprising three bit arms.
7. The bit of claim 1 wherein the connector comprises a bolt.
8. The bit of claim 1 wherein the internal fluid reservoir comprises a spring and a piston to provide fluid pressure to the fluid delivery system.
9. The bit of claim 1 wherein the plurality of grooves are straight, curved, or circular.
10. The bit of claim 1 further comprising:
a bore located within each of the bit arms for receiving the connector; and
a plurality of threaded holes corresponding to each of the bores in the bit arms for receiving the connector.
11. The bit of claim 1 wherein the plurality of grooves comprise a front-facing sidewall, wherein an angle between the front-facing wall and a center axis of the body portion is at least 90 degrees.
12. The bit of claim 11 wherein the angle is 105 degrees.
13. The bit of claim 11 further comprising:
a drilling fluid passage located within the body portion; and
a plurality of nozzles for conveying drilling fluid to the cone section of an exterior of the plurality of bit arms.
14. The bit of claim 13 comprising three bit arms and three nozzles.
15. The bit of claim 1 wherein the fluid reservoir comprises a spring and a piston to provide fluid pressure to the fluid delivery system.
16. A bit comprising:
a body comprising a center axis and a mounting pad connectible to a drill string, the mounting pad comprising a plurality of grooves;
a plurality of bit arms comprising a plurality of lands, each of the plurality of bit arms mounted on the body at the mounting pad;
a cone rotatably attached to each bit arm, each cone comprising a plurality of teeth; and
a connector located within each bit arm and the body through the mounting pad.
17. The bit of claim 16 wherein the plurality of grooves of the mounting pad comprises a front-facing wall at which one of the plurality of lands of the plurality of bit anus contacts the mounting pad.
18. The bit of claim 17 wherein the angle between the center axis and the front-facing wall is 90 degrees or greater.
19. The bit of claim 16 further comprising a fluid delivery system, the fluid delivery system comprising:
a fluid reservoir disposed within the body;
a fluid passage formed within the bit arm;
a pin within the bit arm and the body and placed through the mounting pad, wherein a hollow passage of the pin is in communication with the fluid reservoir and the fluid passage; and
a ball bearing in communication with the fluid passage, the ball bearing located between the cone and the bit arm.
20. The bit of claim 16 further a drilling fluid passage located within the body portion and a nozzle for conveying drilling fluid to an exterior of the plurality of bit arms.
21. A method for attaching a plurality of removable but arms to a bit body, the bit body comprising a mounting pad comprising grooves, the plurality of bit arms each comprising lands and a rolling element, the method comprising:
placing the lands of one of the plurality of bit arms on the mounting pad of the bit body such that the lands and grooves correspond;
placing a connector through the one of the plurality of bit aims and the bit body at the mounting pad;
conveying grease into the removable arm through bit body;
providing a continuous passage through the removable arm proximate ball bearings; and
rotating the rolling elements about the ball bearings to distribute grease from the continuous passage to the ball bearings.
22. The method of claim 21 wherein the grease is conveyed to the removable arm from the bit body through a hollow pin.
23. The method of claim 21 wherein an angle between a center axis of the bit body and a front-facing wall of the grooves is ninety degrees or more.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US14/329,474 US20150014060A1 (en) | 2013-07-12 | 2014-07-11 | Tricone Bit Construction |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US201361845621P | 2013-07-12 | 2013-07-12 | |
US14/329,474 US20150014060A1 (en) | 2013-07-12 | 2014-07-11 | Tricone Bit Construction |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20150014060A1 true US20150014060A1 (en) | 2015-01-15 |
Family
ID=52276239
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US14/329,474 Abandoned US20150014060A1 (en) | 2013-07-12 | 2014-07-11 | Tricone Bit Construction |
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US (1) | US20150014060A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10900294B2 (en) | 2018-08-22 | 2021-01-26 | Vermeer Manufacturing Company | Pullback system for drilling tool |
US11105156B2 (en) | 2019-02-05 | 2021-08-31 | Vermeer Manufacturing Company | Pullback system for drilling tool |
US11697967B2 (en) | 2019-08-21 | 2023-07-11 | Vermeer Manufacturing Company | Pullback system for drilling tool |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4369849A (en) * | 1980-06-05 | 1983-01-25 | Reed Rock Bit Company | Large diameter oil well drilling bit |
US4417629A (en) * | 1981-05-13 | 1983-11-29 | Reed Rock Bit Company | Drill bit and method of manufacture |
US4915181A (en) * | 1987-12-14 | 1990-04-10 | Jerome Labrosse | Tubing bit opener |
US5755297A (en) * | 1994-12-07 | 1998-05-26 | Dresser Industries, Inc. | Rotary cone drill bit with integral stabilizers |
US6568490B1 (en) * | 1998-02-23 | 2003-05-27 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Method and apparatus for fabricating rotary cone drill bits |
US20120111638A1 (en) * | 2010-11-04 | 2012-05-10 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | System and method for adjusting roller cone profile on hybrid bit |
-
2014
- 2014-07-11 US US14/329,474 patent/US20150014060A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4369849A (en) * | 1980-06-05 | 1983-01-25 | Reed Rock Bit Company | Large diameter oil well drilling bit |
US4417629A (en) * | 1981-05-13 | 1983-11-29 | Reed Rock Bit Company | Drill bit and method of manufacture |
US4915181A (en) * | 1987-12-14 | 1990-04-10 | Jerome Labrosse | Tubing bit opener |
US5755297A (en) * | 1994-12-07 | 1998-05-26 | Dresser Industries, Inc. | Rotary cone drill bit with integral stabilizers |
US6568490B1 (en) * | 1998-02-23 | 2003-05-27 | Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. | Method and apparatus for fabricating rotary cone drill bits |
US20120111638A1 (en) * | 2010-11-04 | 2012-05-10 | Baker Hughes Incorporated | System and method for adjusting roller cone profile on hybrid bit |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10900294B2 (en) | 2018-08-22 | 2021-01-26 | Vermeer Manufacturing Company | Pullback system for drilling tool |
US11105156B2 (en) | 2019-02-05 | 2021-08-31 | Vermeer Manufacturing Company | Pullback system for drilling tool |
US11697967B2 (en) | 2019-08-21 | 2023-07-11 | Vermeer Manufacturing Company | Pullback system for drilling tool |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: EARTH TOOL COMPANY LLC, WISCONSIN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:WENTWORTH, STEVEN W.;CRANE, ROBERT F.;RANDA, MARK D.;SIGNING DATES FROM 20140729 TO 20140731;REEL/FRAME:033487/0974 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |