Patent Grant
12180787
The present disclosure relates to a bearing arrangement, and more particularly, to bearing clearance arrangements in a tricone bit.
Tricone bits, also referred to as tricone drill bits, rolling cutter bits, or roller-cone bits, are used in a variety of drilling applications. A tricone bit includes three leg assemblies, each of which facing inward. Each leg assembly contains a leg and a rotatable cone over the leg. Each cone is covered with teeth or inserts that cut into a material, as the cones rotate during the drilling process. Rolling elements, such as balls and rollers are located inside each cone in different rows. Raceways are formed between the outer surface of the leg and the inner surface of the cone. Together the rolling elements and raceways form a bearing or bearing assembly. The rolling elements help to reduce sliding friction and act as a buffer to allow free rotation of each cone of a tricone bit. However, high contact stresses are generated on the rolling elements and raceways of the tricone bit during the drilling process, and impact the life of the tricone bit.
CN U.S. Pat. No. 2,780,972Y by Wu et al. (“the '972 patent”), issued May 17, 2006, describes a rolling composite bearing structure of a roller bit. In particular, the '972 patent describes forming a rolling composite bearing structure of roller bearings and a journal in a large hole of a roller cone. The load on the bit first acts on the roller bearings, and, as the load acting on the roller bearings deforms the roller bearings, the surface of the large hole of the roller cone contacts the journal, thereby spreading the load over the roller bearings and the journal. However, as described in the '972 patent, being able to spread the load over the roller bearings and the journal depends on, or requires, the roller bearings to first deform to a certain degree to allow the journal to come in contact with the surface of the large hole of the roller cone.
The bearing arrangements described herein are directed to addressing one or more of the drawbacks set forth above.
According to a first aspect, a leg assembly of a tricone bit includes a cone and a leg fitting inside the cone and having an axis defining an axial center of rotation of the cone. A first raceway is disposed between the cone and the leg at a distal end of the leg, referenced from a thrust button of the leg assembly, for a first row of bearings, a second raceway is disposed between the cone and the leg at a middle section of the leg for a second row of bearings, and a third raceway is disposed between the cone and the leg at a proximal end of the leg for a third row of bearings. The leg assembly of the tricone bit has a first clearance associated with the first row of bearings for the first raceway that is less than a second clearance associated with the second row of bearings for the second raceway, where the second clearance is less than a third clearance associated with the third row of bearings for the third raceway, such that the first row of bearings initially supports, in the first raceway, most of a radial load applied to the tricone bit during a drilling process. The second row of bearings distributedly supports the radial load with the first row of bearings in response to the radial load applied to the tricone bit is increased, and the third row of bearings distributedly supports the radial load with the first row of bearings and the second row of bearings in response to the radial load applied to the tricone bit is further increased. The second row of bearings may additionally, or alternatively, distributedly support the radial load with the first row of bearings in response to the first row of bearings wearing down, and the third row of bearings may additionally, or alternatively, distributedly support the radial load with the first row of bearings and the second row of bearings in response to the first row of bearings and the second row of bearings wearing down.
According to another aspect, a leg assembly of a tricone bit includes a leg and a cone rotatably mounted on the leg. The leg includes a first row of bearings, a second row of bearing, a third row of bearings, an axis defining an axial center of rotation, a first inner raceway disposed at a distal end of the leg, referenced from a thrust button of the leg assembly, a second inner raceway disposed at a middle section of the leg, and a third inner raceway at a proximal end of the leg. The cone rotates about the axis and includes a first outer raceway having a first outer diameter and forming a first raceway with the first inner raceway for the first row of bearings, a second outer raceway having a second outer diameter and forming a second raceway with the second inner raceway for the second row of bearings, and a third outer raceway having a third outer diameter and forming a third raceway with the third inner raceway for the third row of bearings with the third outer diameter being smaller than the first outer diameter. A first clearance associated with the first row of bearings for the first raceway is less than a second clearance associated with the second row of bearings for the second raceway, and the second clearance is less than a third clearance associated with the third row of bearings for the third raceway. In response to a radial load applied to the tricone bit during a drilling process, this clearance arrangement allows the first row of bearings to contact the first inner raceway and the first outer raceway contact, and initially support most of the radial load. In addition to the first row of bearings supporting the radial load, the second row of bearings and the third row of bearing progressively and distributedly support the radial load by the second row of bearings contacting the second inner raceway and the second outer raceway, and the third row of bearings contacting the third inner raceway and the third outer raceway, in response to the radial load applied to the tricone bit is increased. The second row of bearings and the third row of bearing may additionally, or alternatively, progressively and distributedly support the radial load in response to the first row of bearings wearing down, and then, in response to the second row of bearings wearing down.
According to yet another aspect, a tricone bit includes three leg assemblies. Each of the three leg assemblies includes a cone, a leg fitting inside the cone and having an axis defining an axial center of rotation of the cone. A first raceway is disposed between the cone and the leg at a distal end of the leg, referenced from a thrust button of the leg assembly, for a first row of bearings, a second raceway is disposed between the cone and the leg at a middle section of the leg for a second row of bearings, and a third raceway is disposed between the cone and the leg at a proximal end of the leg for a third row of bearings. Each leg of the tricone bit has a first clearance associated with the first row of bearings for the first raceway that is less than a second clearance associated with the second row of bearings for the second raceway, where the second clearance is less than a third clearance associated with the third row of bearings for the third raceway, such that the first row of bearings initially supports, in the first raceway, most of a radial load applied to the tricone bit during a drilling process. The second row of bearings distributedly supports the radial load with the first row of bearings in response to the radial load applied to the tricone bit is increased, and the third row of bearings distributedly supports the radial load with the first row of bearings and the second row of bearings in response to the radial load applied to the tricone bit is further increased. The second row of bearings may additionally, or alternatively, distributedly support the radial load with the first row of bearings in response to the first row of bearings wearing down, and the third row of bearings may additionally, or alternatively, distributedly support the radial load with the first row of bearings and the second row of bearings in response to the first row of bearings and the second row of bearings wearing down.
The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same reference numbers in different figures indicate similar or identical items. The figures may not be drawn to scale for clarity.
Both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the features, as claimed. As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “having,” “including,” or other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus.
In this disclosure, relative terms, such as, for example, “about,” “substantially,” and “approximately” are used to indicate a possible variation of ±10% in the stated value. Although the current disclosure will be described with reference to a tricone bit and tricone bit rolling elements, this is only exemplary. For instance, the current disclosure can be applied to components of any type of bit, such as roller cone bits, including not limited to, two cone bits and engineering bits.
Tricone bits of the present disclosure may be used in a variety of drilling applications. Exemplary drilling applications include applications within the following fields: oil, mining, construction, geothermal, tunnel boring, and water well excavation.
Each leg assembly, 102, 104, and 106, of the tricone bit 100 may contain bearings including a plurality of rolling elements moving within inner and outer bearing races or raceways. A bearing may constrain relative motion to only the desired motion, and may reduce friction between moving parts. In tricone bits, the rolling elements in each cone may provide for free rotation around the axis of the cone. Rolling elements reduce rotational friction and may support radial and axial loads. Exemplary types of bearings include roller bearings and ball bearings. Roller bearings may have rolling elements with a cylindrical, barrel, or tapered shape (hereinafter referred to as rollers), and ball bearings may have rolling elements in a spherical, ball-like shape (hereinafter referred to as balls). The rollers and balls of the bearings will be collectively referred to hereinafter as the rolling elements of the bearing.
The balls and/or rollers that are used in the cone of a tricone bit may be located between two races, or raceways. The two raceways may be an inner raceway and an outer raceway, and may form a raceway that contains the rolling elements and may transmit loads through the rolling elements. As one of the races rotates, it causes the rolling elements to rotate as well. Therefore, the rolling elements of the present disclosure may move along the raceway during rotation.
In some embodiments, the tricone bit may function by one of four different kinds of bearings. The bearings may be open roller bearings. A tricone bit with open roller bearings, which does not have a seal, and may allow rock and debris to enter into the cone. However, the tricone bit may employ high pressure air that travels down air passages into the tricone bearing, which may help to lubricate, cool, and remove particles from the tricone. A sealed roller bearing tricone bit may be sealed with any type of seal, including but not limited to an O-ring, and may be equipped with a lubrication and compensator system which may give it the ability to control leakage. A sealed journal bearing tricone bit may be configured to use a journal which rotates freely in a sleeve.
The internal portion of the cone 110 includes a first outer raceway 310, a second outer raceway 312, and a third outer raceway 314. The first outer raceway 310 has a first outer diameter 316 and forms a first raceway 318 with the first inner raceway 220 for the first row of bearings 202. The second outer raceway 312 is disposed above the first outer raceway 310. The second outer raceway 312 has a second outer diameter 320 and forms a second raceway 322 with the second inner raceway 222 for the second row of bearings 206. The second row of bearings 206 in the second raceway 322 prevents the cone 110 from coming off of the leg 200. The second outer diameter 320 may be smaller than the first outer diameter 316. The third outer raceway 314 is disposed above the second outer raceway 312. The third outer raceway 314 has a third outer diameter 324 and forms a third raceway 326 with the third inner raceway 224 for the third row of bearings 210. The third outer diameter 324 may be smaller than the first outer diameter 316 and may also be smaller than the second outer diameter 320.
First clearance 408=(First outer diameter 316−First inner diameter 304)−2*(First diameter 226)
The second row of bearings 206 is shown to rest on the second inner raceway 222 without fully contacting the second outer raceway 312 with a second upper gap 410 in the upper half 404, and to rest on the second outer raceway 312 without fully contacting the second inner raceway 222 in the lower half 406 with a second lower gap 412. A second clearance associated with the second row of bearings 206 for the second raceway 322 provides the gaps 410 and 412. The second clearance is larger than the first clearance 408, and may measure 150 μm±25 μm. The third row of bearings 210 is shown to rest on the third inner raceway 224 without fully contacting the third outer raceway 314 with a third upper gap 414 in the upper half 404, and to rest on the third outer raceway 314 without fully contacting the third inner raceway 224 in the lower half 406 with a third lower gap 416. A third clearance associated with the third row of bearings 210 for the third raceway 326 provides the gaps 414 and 416. The third clearance is larger than the second clearance, and may measure 250 μm+25 μm.
As shown in the lower half 406 of the cone 110, the first outer raceway 310 is forced against the first row of bearings 202, which, in turn, is forced against the first inner raceway 220, while in the upper half 404, the first row of bearings 202 rests against the first inner raceway 220 without fully contacting the first outer raceway 310 with the first clearance 408. The second row of bearings 206 continues to rest on the second inner raceway 222 having the second upper gap 410 without fully contacting the second outer raceway 312 in the upper half 404, and to rest on the second outer raceway 312 having the second lower gap 412 without fully contacting the second inner raceway 222 in the lower half 406. The third row of bearings 210 continues to rest on the third inner raceway 224 without fully contacting the third outer raceway 314 with the third upper gap 414 in the upper half 404, and to rest on the third outer raceway 314 having the third lower gap 416 without fully contacting the third inner raceway 224 in the lower half 406.
In the upper half 404, the first row of bearings 202 rests against the first inner raceway 220 without fully contacting the first outer raceway 310 and the second row of bearings 206 rests against the second inner raceway 222 without fully contacting the second outer raceway 312 with a second clearance 604. As described above, the second clearance 604 is larger than the first clearance 408 and may measure 150 μm+25 μm. The second clearance 604 may be expressed as:
Second clearance 604=(Second outer diameter 320−Second inner diameter 306)−2*(Second diameter 228)
The third row of bearings 210 continues to rest on the third inner raceway 224 without fully contacting the third outer raceway 314 with the third upper gap 414 in the upper half 404, and to rest on the third outer raceway 314 having the third lower gap 416 without fully contacting the third inner raceway 224 in the lower half 406.
In the upper half 404, the first row of bearings 202 rests against the first inner raceway 220 without fully contacting the first outer raceway 310 and the second row of bearings 206 rests against the second inner raceway 222 without fully contacting the second outer raceway 312. The third row of bearings 210 rests against the third inner raceway 224 without fully contacting the third outer raceway 314 with a third clearance 704, which larger than the second clearance 604. As described above, the third clearance 704 is larger than the second clearance 604 and may measure 250 μm±25 μm. The third clearance 704 may be expressed as:
Third clearance 704=(Third outer diameter 324−Third inner diameter 308)2*(Third diameter 230)
The tricone bit 100 with the leg assemblies 102, 104, and 106, each having a cone 110 and a leg 200 described above with reference to
In response to the load applied to the tricone bit 100 is increased, and/or in response to the first row of bearings 202 wearing down, and then, in response to the second row of bearings 206 wearing down, the second row of bearings 206 and the third row of bearing 210 progressively and distributedly support the radial load, in addition to the first row of bearings 202, by the second row of bearings 206 contacting the second inner raceway 222 and the second outer raceway 312, followed by the third row of bearings 210 contacting the third inner raceway 224 and the third outer raceway 314.
The example devices of the present disclosure are applicable to a tricone bit usable in a variety of drilling applications.
For example, a leg assembly of a tricone bit may include a cone, a leg fitting inside the cone and having an axis defining an axial center of rotation of the cone. A first raceway is disposed between the cone and the leg at a distal end of the leg, referenced from the thrust button of the leg assembly, for a first row of bearings, a second raceway is disposed between the cone and the leg at a middle section of the leg for a second row of bearings, and a third raceway is disposed between the cone and the leg at a proximal end of the leg for a third row of bearings. The leg assembly of the tricone bit has a first clearance associated with the first row of bearings for the first raceway that is less than a second clearance associated with the second row of bearings for the second raceway, where the second clearance is less than a third clearance associated with the third row of bearings for the third raceway. This clearance arrangement allows the first row of bearings to initially support, in the first raceway, most of a radial load applied to the tricone bit during a drilling process. The first row of bearings, which is capable of supporting higher radial load than both of the second row of bearings and the third row of bearings, initially supports most of the load, or force, received by the cone and applied to the tricone bit, thereby preventing the second row of bearings and the third row of bearings from prematurely wearing due to the radial load.
The second row of bearings distributedly supports the radial load with the first row of bearings in response to the radial load applied to the tricone bit is increased, and the third row of bearings distributedly supports the radial load with the first row of bearings and the second row of bearings in response to the radial load applied to the tricone bit is further increased. The second row of bearings may additionally, or alternatively, distributedly support the radial load with the first row of bearings in response to the first row of bearings wearing down, and the third row of bearings may additionally, or alternatively, distributedly support the radial load with the first row of bearings and the second row of bearings in response to the first row of bearings and the second row of bearings wearing down.
Unless explicitly excluded, the use of the singular to describe a component, structure, or operation does not exclude the use of plural such components, structures, or operations or their equivalents. The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and “at least one” or the term “one or more,” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The use of the term “at least one” followed by a list of one or more items (for example, “at least one of A and B” or one or more of A and B″) is to be construed to mean one item selected from the listed items (A or B) or any combination of two or more of the listed items (A and B; A, A and B; A, B and B), unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Similarly, as used herein, the word “or” refers to any possible permutation of a set of items. For example, the phrase “A, B, or C” refers to at least one of A, B, C, or any combination thereof, such as any of: A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B, and C; or multiple of any item such as A and A; B, B, and C; A, A, B, C, and C; etc.
While aspects of the present disclosure have been particularly shown and described with reference to the examples above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various additional embodiments may be contemplated by the modification of the disclosed devices, systems, and methods without departing from the spirit and scope of what is disclosed. Such embodiments should be understood to fall within the scope of the present disclosure as determined based upon the claims and any equivalents thereof.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3363702 | Bielstein | Jan 1968 | A |
| 3663073 | Bronson | May 1972 | A |
| 3705750 | Crow | Dec 1972 | A |
| 3950041 | Miglierini | Apr 1976 | A |
| 4161343 | Brashear | Jul 1979 | A |
| 4279316 | Helmick | Jul 1981 | A |
| 4358384 | Newcomb | Nov 1982 | A |
| 5456327 | Denton et al. | Oct 1995 | A |
| 5668092 | Denton | Sep 1997 | A |
| 5868502 | Cariveau et al. | Feb 1999 | A |
| 6945699 | Tibbits | Sep 2005 | B2 |
| 7013998 | Ray et al. | Mar 2006 | B2 |
| 7121365 | Denton et al. | Oct 2006 | B2 |
| 7749947 | Griffo et al. | Jul 2010 | B2 |
| 8201646 | Vezirian | Jun 2012 | B2 |
| 8261841 | Bailey et al. | Sep 2012 | B2 |
| 8865309 | Setlur et al. | Oct 2014 | B2 |
| 9228151 | Simonetti | Jan 2016 | B1 |
| 9528066 | Sui et al. | Dec 2016 | B2 |
| 10119335 | Bomidi et al. | Nov 2018 | B2 |
| 10519720 | Benes et al. | Dec 2019 | B2 |
| 20090038858 | Griffo et al. | Feb 2009 | A1 |
| 20170254151 | Finnman | Sep 2017 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2780972 | May 2006 | CN |
| 1066447 | Sep 1999 | EP |
| WO1999039075 | Aug 1999 | WO |
| Entry |
|---|
| Written Opinion and International Search Report for Int'l. Patent Appln. No.PCT/US2024/033699, mailed Oct. 9, 2024 (12 pgs). |
