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Sacrificial spacer for well tool inner seal

  • US 10,458,186 B2
  • Filed: 09/10/2013
  • Issued: 10/29/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A drill bit, comprising:

  • an outer seal interposed radially between a cone and a journal of the drill bit and sealingly engaged with the journal and cone, to not permit communication of well fluid across the outer seal;

    an inner seal positioned in a groove formed on either the cone or the journal not sealingly in contact with the journal and cone, and not exposed to well fluid; and

    a circumferential spacer positioned radially between the inner seal and a surface of either the cone or the journal radially opposite the groove, the circumferential spacer including a material that radially spaces apart the inner seal from the surface, wherein there is a greater coefficient of friction between the circumferential spacer and the inner seal than between the circumferential spacer and the surface, such that there is relative sliding motion between the circumferential spacer and the surface, but not relative sliding motion between the inner seal and the groove or between the inner seal and the circumferential spacer, such that the inner seal and outer seal perform their sealing functions in series time-wise, at substantially different time intervals.

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