EARTH-BORING TOOLS INCLUDING BEARING ELEMENT ASSEMBLIES, AND RELATED METHODS
First Claim
1. An earth-boring tool, comprising:
- a body comprising a pocket in a leading end thereof for accepting at least a portion of a bearing element assembly; and
a bearing element assembly disposed within the pocket, the bearing element assembly comprising;
a retaining element at least partially disposed in a groove in a sidewall of the pocket; and
a bearing element comprising;
a distal end having a bearing surface;
a proximal end; and
a side surface between the distal end and the proximal end, the side surface comprising a feature configured to abut the retaining element, wherein mechanical interference between the feature and the retaining element axially retains the bearing element within the pocket.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An earth-boring tool includes a body comprising a pocket in a leading end thereof for accepting at least a portion of a bearing element assembly. A bearing element assembly may be disposed within the pocket, and the bearing element assembly may include a retaining element at least partially disposed in a groove in a sidewall of the pocket and a bearing element. The bearing element may include a distal end having a bearing surface, a proximal end, and a side surface between the distal end and the proximal end, the side surface comprising a feature configured to abut the retaining element, wherein mechanical interference between the feature and the retaining element axially retains the bearing element within the pocket. Methods include disengaging a mechanical retention device retaining a bearing element within a pocket in a body of the earth-boring tool, and removing the bearing element from the pocket.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An earth-boring tool, comprising:
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a body comprising a pocket in a leading end thereof for accepting at least a portion of a bearing element assembly; and a bearing element assembly disposed within the pocket, the bearing element assembly comprising; a retaining element at least partially disposed in a groove in a sidewall of the pocket; and a bearing element comprising; a distal end having a bearing surface; a proximal end; and a side surface between the distal end and the proximal end, the side surface comprising a feature configured to abut the retaining element, wherein mechanical interference between the feature and the retaining element axially retains the bearing element within the pocket. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An earth-boring tool, comprising:
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a body comprising a threaded receptacle in a leading end thereof for accepting at least a portion of a bearing element assembly; and a bearing element assembly disposed within the threaded receptacle, the bearing element assembly comprising; a holder with a receptacle at a distal end thereof for receiving a bearing element and a threaded outer surface at a proximal end thereof for engagement with the threaded receptacle in the body of the earth-boring tool; and at least one feature proximate the distal end of the holder configured to interface with a tool adapted to apply torque to the holder. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of replacing a bearing element of an earth-boring tool, comprising:
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disengaging a mechanical retention device retaining a first bearing element within a pocket in a body of the earth-boring tool; removing the first bearing element from the pocket; placing a second bearing element in the pocket, wherein the second bearing element comprises at least one of a shape of a bearing surface and an exposure of a bearing surface different from the first bearing element; and engaging the mechanical retention device to retain the second bearing element within the pocket. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification