Rock bit seal with multiple dynamic seal surface elements

• US 6,536,542 B1
• Filed: 10/28/1999
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Smith International Incorporated (SLB)
• Original Assignee: Smith International Incorporated (SLB)
• Inventors: Mourik, Nephi M., Huang, Sujian, Fang, Zhigang, Cawthorne, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsay, Frank
• Application Number:
  US09/428,878
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• Field of Search: 175/371, 175/372, 175/374, 277/382, 277/399, 277/404, 277/406
• US Class Current: 175/371
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 10/25 characterised by sealing details

Abstract

Seals of this invention comprise an annular elastomeric ring-shaped body having a dynamic surface disposed along a first body portion, the dynamic surface comprising at least two surface elements that project outwardly therefrom to provide multiple barriers to fluid and debris migration thereacross when placed into contact with a rock bit rotary dynamic surface. The seal dynamic surface includes a recessed portion disposed between the surface elements, and a static seal surface disposed along a second body portion. At least one of the surface elements includes a wear surface that is formed from a material that is more wear resistant than materials that are used to form a remaining portion of the seal. A preferred wear surface is one formed from a composite material comprising a fabric of nonelastomeric polymeric material that is bonded together with an elastomeric material. Seals of this invention provide improved properties of both wear resistance and sealability when compared to conventional seals having a single dynamic seal surface.

Claims

1. A rotary cone rock bit comprising;

a bit body;

at least one journal extending inwardly and downwardly from a lower portion of the bit body;

a cutter cone mounted for rotation on the journal; and

an annular elastomeric seal forming a lubricant seal between the cone and journal, the seal having a substantially ring-shaped seal body comprising;

a dynamic seal surface disposed along one seal body portion and including two surface elements projecting outwardly therefrom prior to placement within the rock bit against a rock bit rotary dynamic surface, the surface elements being separated by a recessed portion that extends circumferentially along the dynamic seal surface, wherein the surface elements are each formed from a common elastomeric material, and wherein one of the surface elements includes a wear layer disposed thereover that is formed from a composite material comprising a fabric of nonelastomeric polymeric material that is bonded together with an elastomeric material; and

a static seal surface disposed along another seal body portion.

2. The rock bit as recited in claim 1 wherein the recessed portion forms a spatial void between the dynamic surface and rock bit rotary dynamic surface, and wherein the two surface elements each provide a contact pressure profile maxima against the rock bit rotary dynamic surface.

3. The rock bit as recited in claim 1 wherein the dynamic surface element including the wear layer is positioned along a portion of the dynamic seal surface adjacent an opening between the journal and cone to the outside environment.

4. The rock bit as recited in claim 1 wherein the fabric material is formed from fibers selected from the group consisting of aromatic polyamides, polybenzimidazoles, poly m-phenylene isophthalamide, polyester, cotton, and combinations thereof.

5. The rock bit as recited in claim 1 wherein the dynamic surface elements each project outwardly a different distance away from the seal body prior to installation within the rock bit.

6. The rock bit as recited in claim 1 wherein the seal dynamic surface is formed from a material different than that used to form the seal body.

7. The rock bit as recited in claim 1 wherein the recessed portion does not form a spatial void between the seal dynamic surface and the rock bit rotary dynamic surface when installed within the rock bit.

8. The rock bit as recited in claim 1 wherein the recessed portion forms a spatial void between the seal dynamic surface and the rock bit rotary dynamic surface when installed within the rock bit.

9. The rock bit as recited in claim 8 wherein each dynamic surface element provides a distinct and independent contact pressure profile maxima against the rock bit rotary dynamic surface.

10. The rock bit as recited in claim 9 wherein the contact pressure profile maximas are equal.

11. The rock bit as recited in claim 9 wherein the contact pressure profile maximas are different.

12. The rock bit as recited in claim 1 wherein each dynamic surface element has the same circumferential diameter before installation within the rock bit.

13. The rock bit as recited in claim 12 wherein each dynamic surface element provides a different contact pressure.

14. The rock bit as recited in claim 1 wherein each dynamic surface element has a different circumferential diameter before installation within the rock bit.

15. The rock bit as recited in claim 14 wherein each dynamic surface element has the same circumferential diameter after installation within the rock bit.

16. The rock bit as recited in claim 15 wherein each dynamic surface element provides the same contact pressure against the rock bit rotary dynamic surface.

17. The rock bit as recited in claim 15 wherein each dynamic surface element provides a different contact pressure against the rock bit rotary dynamic surface.

18. The rock bit as recited in claim 1 wherein the rock bit rotary dynamic surface comprises a raised portion that is positioned adjacent the seal recessed portion.

19. The rock bit as recited in claim 18 wherein the rock bit raised portion is sized and shaped to match the seal recessed portion when installed within the rock bit.

20. The rock bit as recited in claim 18 wherein the rock bit raised portion is sized and shaped to match the seal recessed portion prior to installation within the rock bit.

21. The rock bit as recited in claim 18 wherein the dynamic surface elements provide discontinuous contact pressure profiles when installed within the rock bit that form different sealing surfaces.

22. A rotary cone rock bit comprising:

a bit body;

at least one journal extending inwardly and downwardly from a lower portion of the bit body;

a cutter cone mounted for rotation on the journal; and

an annular elastomeric seal ring forming a lubricant seal between the cone and journal, the seal ring comprising;

a seal body having a dynamic seal surface at one body location and a static seal surface at another body location, wherein the dynamic seal surface comprises at least two surface elements that each project outwardly a distance away from the seal body for placement against a rock bit rotary dynamic surface, and wherein seal dynamic surface comprises a recessed portion prior to installation within the rock bit that extends circumferentially around the dynamic seal surface between the surface elements, wherein the dynamic surface elements are integral with one another and each formed from a common elastomeric material, and wherein the seal ring has an aspect ratio greater than one.

23. The rock bit as recited in claim 22 wherein the seal ring static seal surface has a single surface element that projects outwardly against a rock bit static surface.

24. The rock bit as recited in claim 22 wherein at least one of the dynamic surface elements comprises a wear layer disposed thereover that is formed from a composite material comprising a fabric of nonelastomeric polymeric material that is bonded together with an elastomeric material.

25. The rock bit as recited in claim 24 wherein the composite material has a thickness in the range of from about 0.2 to 3 millimeters.

26. The rock bit as recited in claim 22 wherein the seal dynamic surface comprises two surface elements, wherein at least one of the surface elements comprises a wear layer disposed thereover that is formed from a material that is more wear resistant than the material used to form the remaining portion of the dynamic seal surface.

27. The rock bit as recited in claims 24 or 26 wherein the wear layer is positioned along a radial surface of the dynamic surface element.

28. The rock bit as recited in claims 24 or 26 wherein the wear layer is positioned along an axial surface of the dynamic surface element.

29. The rock bit as recited in claim 26 wherein the material used to form the wear layer is a fabric of nonelastomeric polymeric material that is bonded together with an elastomeric material.

30. The rock bit as recited in claim 22 wherein the static seal surface is formed from an elastomeric material that is different than one used to form the dynamic seal surface.

31. The rock bit as recited in claim 30 wherein at least one of the dynamic surface elements includes a wear layer disposed thereover, and wherein at least a portion of the wear layer is formed from a fabric of nonelastomeric polymeric material that is bonded together with an elastomeric material.

32. The rock bit as recited in claim 22 wherein the recessed portion does not form a spatial void between the seal dynamic surface and the rock bit rotary dynamic surface when installed within the rock bit.

33. The rock bit as recited in claim 22 wherein the dynamic surface elements provide different contact pressures against the rock bit rotary dynamic surface.

34. The rock bit as recited in claim 22 wherein each dynamic surface element provides a contact pressure profile maxima against the rock bit rotary dynamic surface.

35. The rock bit as recited in claim 22 wherein the recessed portion forms a spatial void between the seal dynamic surface and the rock bit rotary dynamic surface when installed within the rock bit.

36. The rock bit as recited in claim 35 wherein each dynamic surface element provides a distinct and independent contact pressure profile maxima against the rock bit rotary dynamic surface.

37. The rock bit as recited in claim 36 wherein the contact pressure profile maximas are equal.

38. The rock bit as recited in claim 36 wherein the contact pressure profile maximas are different.

39. The rock bit as recited in claim 22 wherein each dynamic surface element has the same circumferential diameter before installation within the rock bit.

40. The rock bit as recited in claim 39 wherein each dynamic surface element provides a different contact pressure.

41. The rock bit as recited in claim 22 wherein each dynamic surface element has a different circumferential diameter before installation within the rock bit.

42. The rock bit as recited in claim 41 wherein each dynamic surface element has the same circumferential diameter after installation within the rock bit.

43. The rock bit as recited in claim 42 wherein each dynamic surface element provides the same contact pressure against the rock bit rotary dynamic surface.

44. The rock bit as recited in claim 42 wherein each dynamic surface element provides a different contact pressure against the rock bit rotary dynamic surface.

45. The rock bit as recited in claim 22 wherein the rock bit rotary dynamic surface comprises a raised portion that is positioned adjacent the seal recessed portion.

46. The rock bit as recited in claim 45 wherein the rock bit raised portion is sized and shaped to match the seal recessed portion when installed within the rock bit.

47. The rock bit as recited in claim 45 wherein the rock bit raised portion is sized and shaped to match the seal recessed portion prior to installation within the rock bit.

48. The rock bit as recited in claim 45 wherein the dynamic surface elements provide discontinuous contact pressure profiles when installed within the rock bit that form different sealing surfaces.

49. The rock bit as recited in claim 22 wherein the seal dynamic surface is formed from a material that is different than that used to form the seal body, and wherein the seal dynamic surface is not vulcanized to the seal body.

50. A rotary cone rock bit comprising:

a bit body;

at least one journal extending inwardly and downwardly from a lower portion of the bit body;

a cutter cone mounted for rotation on the journal; and

an annular elastomeric seal ring forming a lubricant seal between the cone and journal, the seal ring comprising;

a seal body having a dynamic seal surface at one body location and a static seal surface at another body location, wherein the dynamic seal surface comprises at least two surface elements that each project outwardly a distance away from the seal body for placement against a rock bit rotary dynamic surface, the seal dynamic surface comprising a recessed portion prior to installation within the rock bit that extends circumferentially around the dynamic seal surface between the surface elements, wherein the dynamic surface elements are integrally formed from a common elastomeric material that is different than a material that is used to form the seal body, and wherein at least one of the surface elements has a wear layer disposed thereover that is formed from a composite comprising a fabric of nonelastomeric polymeric material that is bonded together with an elastomeric material.

51. The rock bit as recited in claim 50 wherein the fabric material is formed from fibers selected from the group consisting of aromatic polyamides, polybenzimidazoles, poly m-phenylene isophthalamide, polyester, cotton, and combinations thereof.

52. The rock bit as recited in claim 50 wherein dynamic seal surface comprises two surface elements, and the elastomeric material that is used to form the dynamic seal surface elements is relatively harder than that used to form the seal body.

53. A rotary cone rock bit comprising:

a bit body;

at least one journal extending inwardly and downwardly from a lower portion of the bit body;

a cutter cone mounted for rotation on the journal; and

an annular elastomeric seal ring forming a lubricant seal between the cone and journal, the seal-ring comprising;

a seal body having a dynamic seal surface at one body location and a static seal surface at an opposite body location, wherein the dynamic seal surface comprises at least two surface elements that project outwardly therefrom before being installed within the rock bit, the surface elements being separated by a recessed portion that extends circumferentially around the dynamic seal surface;

wherein one of the cutter cone or journal includes a rotary dynamic surface that is placed against the seal dynamic surface, the rotary dynamic surface having a raised portion that extends circumferentially therearound and that cooperates with the seal recessed portion.

54. The rock bit as recited in claim 53 wherein the seal ring has an aspect ratio greater than one.

55. The rock bit as recited in claim 53 wherein the dynamic seal surface comprises two surface elements that are formed from the same material that is different from that used to form the seal body.

56. The rock bit as recited in claim 53 wherein at least one of the dynamic surface elements includes a wear surface that is formed from a material that is more wear resistant than the materials used to form the other portions of the seal.

57. The rock bit as recited in claim 56 wherein the wear surface is formed from a composite material comprising a fabric of nonelastomeric polymeric material that is bonded together with an elastomeric material.

58. The rock bit as recited in claim 57 wherein the fabric material is formed from fibers selected from the group consisting of aromatic polyamides, polybenzimidazoles, poly m-phenylene isophthalamide, polyester, cotton, and combinations thereof.

59. A rotary cone rock bit comprising;

a bit body;

at least one journal extending inwardly and downwardly from a lower portion of the bit body;

a cutter cone mounted for rotation on the journal; and

an annular elastomeric seal forming a lubricant seal between the cone and journal, the seal having a substantially ring-shaped seal body comprising;

a dynamic seal surface disposed along one seal body portion and including two surface elements projecting outwardly therefrom prior to placement within the rock bit against a rock bit rotary dynamic surface, the surface elements being separated by a recessed portion that extends circumferentially along the dynamic seal surface, wherein the surface elements are each formed from the same material, and wherein one of the surface elements includes a wear surface disposed thereon that is formed from a composite material comprising a fabric of nonelastomeric polymeric material that is bonded together with an elastomeric material, wherein the rock bit rotary dynamic surface comprises a raised portion that is positioned adjacent the seal recessed portion; and

a static seal surface disposed along another seal body portion.

60. The rock bit as recited in claim 59 wherein the rock bit raised portion is sized and shaped to match the seal recessed portion when installed within the rock bit.

61. The rock bit as recited in claim 59 wherein the rock bit raised portion is sized and shaped to match the seal recessed portion prior to installation within the rock bit.

62. The rock bit as recited in claim 59 wherein the dynamic surface elements provide discontinuous contact pressure profiles when installed within the rock bit that form different sealing surfaces.

63. A rotary cone rock bit comprising:

a bit body;

at least one journal extending inwardly and downwardly from a lower portion of the bit body;

a cutter cone mounted for rotation on the journal; and

an annular elastomeric seal ring forming a lubricant seal between the cone and journal, the seal ring comprising;

a seal body having a dynamic seal surface at one body location and a static seal surface at another body location, wherein the dynamic seal surface comprises at least two surface elements that each project outwardly a distance away from the seal body for placement against a rock bit rotary dynamic surface, and wherein seal dynamic surface comprises a recessed portion prior to installation within the rock bit that extends circumferentially around the dynamic seal surface between the surface elements, wherein at least one of the surface elements is formed from the same material as the seal body or as another surface element, and wherein the seal ring has an aspect ratio greater than one;

wherein the rock bit rotary dynamic surface comprises a raised portion that is positioned adjacent the seal recessed portion.

64. The rock bit as recited in claim 63 wherein the rock bit raised portion is sized and shaped to match the seal recessed portion when installed within the rock bit.

65. The rock bit as recited in claim 63 wherein the rock bit raised portion is sized and shaped to match the seal recessed portion prior to installation within the rock bit.

66. The rock bit as recited in claim 63 wherein the dynamic surface elements provide discontinuous contact pressure profiles when installed within the rock bit that form different sealing surfaces.

67. A rotary cone rock bit comprising:

a bit body;

at least one journal extending inwardly and downwardly from a lower portion of the bit body;

a cutter cone mounted for rotation on the journal; and

an annular elastomeric seal ring forming a lubricant seal between the cone and journal, the seal ring comprising;

a seal body having a dynamic seal surface at one body location and a static seal surface at another body location, wherein the dynamic seal surface comprises at least two surface elements that each project outwardly a distance away from the seal body for placement against a rock bit rotary dynamic surface, and wherein seal dynamic surface comprises a recessed portion prior to installation within the rock bit that extends circumferentially around the dynamic seal surface between the surface elements, wherein at least one of the surface elements is formed from the same material as the seal body or as another surface element, and wherein the seal ring has an aspect ratio greater than one;

wherein the seal dynamic surface is formed from a material that is different than that used to form the seal body, and wherein the seal dynamic surface is not vulcanized to the seal body.