Title of Invention

" A BIT BODY, ROLLER CONE, INSERT ROLLER CONE, OR CONE FOR AN EARTH-BORING BIT "

Abstract The present invention relates to compositions and methods for forming a bit body for an earth-boring bit. The bit body may comprise hard particles, wherein the hard particles comprise at least one carbide, nitride, boride, and oxide and solid solutions thereof, and a binder binding together the hard particles. The binder may comprise at least one metal selected from cobalt, nickel, and iron, and, optionally, at least one melting point reducing constituent selected from a transition metal carbide in the range of (30) to (60) weight percent, boron up to (10) weight percent, silicon up to (20) weight percent, chromium up to (20) weight percent, and manganese up to (25) weight percent, wherein the weight percentages are based on the total weight of the binder. In addition, the hard particles may comprise at least one of (i) cast carbide (WC + W2C) particles, (ii) transition metal carbide particles selected from the carbides of titanium, chromium, vanadium, zirconium, hafnium, tantalum, molybdenum, niobium, and tungsten, and (iii) sintered cemented carbide particles.
Full Text

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part of United States Patent Application No.
10/848,437, filed on May 18, 2004, which claims priority from United States Provisional
Application Serial No. 60/556,063 filed on April 28, 2004.
FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY
This invention relates to improvements to earth-boring bits and methods of
producing earth-boring bits. More specifically, the invention relates to earth-boring bit
bodies, roller cones, insert roller cones, cones and teeth for roller cone earth-boring bits
and methods of forming earth-boring bit bodies, roller cones, insert roller cones, cones
and teeth for roller cone earth-boring bits.
BACKGROUND OF THE TECHNOLOGY
Earth-boring bits may have fixed or rotatable cutting elements. Earth-boring bits
with fixed cutting elements typically include a bit body machined from steel or
fabricated by infiltrating a bed of hard particles, such as cast carbide (WC + W2C),
tungsten carbide (WC), and/or sintered cemented carbide with a binder such as, for
example, a copper-base alloy. Several cutting inserts are fixed to the bit body in
predetermined positions to optimize cutting. The bit body may be secured to a steel
shank that typically includes a threaded pin connection by which the bit is secured to a
drive shaft of a downhole motor or a drill collar at the distal end of a drill string.
Steel bodied bits are typically machined from round stock to a desired shape,
with topographical and internal features. Hard-facing techniques may be used to apply
wear-resistant materials to the face of the bit body and other critical areas of the surface
of the bit body.
In the conventional method for manufacturing a bit body from hard particles and
a binder, a mold is milled or machined to define the exterior surface features of the bit

body. Additional hand milling or clay work may also be required to create or refine
topographical features of the bit body.
Once the mold is complete, a preformed bit blank of steel may be disposed
within the mold cavity to internally reinforce the bit body and provide a pin attachment
matrix upon fabrication. Other sand, graphite, transition or refractory metal based
inserts, such as those defining internal fluid courses, pockets for cutting elements, ridges,
lands, nozzle displacements, junk slots, or other internal or topographical features of the
bit body, may also be inserted into the cavity of the mold. Any inserts used must be
placed at precise locations to ensure proper positioning of cutting elements, nozzles,
junk slots, etc. in the final bit.
The desired hard particles may then be placed within the mold and packed to the
desired density. The hard particles are then infiltrated with a molten binder, which
freezes to form a solid bit body including a discontinuous phase of hard particles within
a continuous phase of binder.
The bit body may then be assembled with other earth-boring bit components.
For example, a threaded shank may be welded or otherwise secured to the bit body, and
cutting elements or inserts (typically cemented tungsten carbide, or diamond or a
synthetic polycrystalline diamond compact ("PDC")) are secured within the cutting
insert pockets, such as by brazing, adhesive bonding, or mechanical affixation.
Alternatively, the cutting inserts may be bonded to the face of the bit body during
furnacing and infiltration if thermally stable PDC's ("TSF') are employed.
Rotatable earth-boring bits for oil and gas exploration conventionally comprise
cemented carbide cutting inserts attached to cones that form part of a roller-cone
assembled bit or comprise milled teeth formed in the cutter by machining. The milled
teeth are typically hardfaced with tungsten carbide in an alloy steel matrix. The bit body
of the roller cone bit is usually made of alloy steel.
Earth-boring bits typically are secured to the terminal end of a drill string, which
is rotated from the surface or by mud motors located just above the bit on the drill string.
Drilling fluid or mud is pumped down the hollow drill string and out nozzles formed in
the bit body. The drilling fluid or mud cools and lubricates the bit as it rotates and also
carries material cut by the bit to the surface.

The bit body and other elements of earth-boring bits are subjected to many forms
of wear as they operate in the harsh down hole environment. Among the most common
form of wear is abrasive wear caused by contact with abrasive rock formations. In
addition, the drilling mud, laden with rock cuttings, causes erosive wear on the bit.
The service life of an earth-boring bit is a function not only of the wear
properties of the PDCs or cemented carbide inserts, but also of the wear properties of the
bit body (in the case of fixed cutter bits) or cones (in the case of roller cone bits). One
way to increase earth-boring bit service life is to employ bit bodies or cones made of
materials with improved combinations of strength, toughness, and abrasion/erosion
resistance.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved bit bodies for earth-boring bits having
increased wear resistance, strength and toughness.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a composition for forming a bit body for an
earth-boring bit. The bit body comprises hard particles, wherein the hard particles
comprise at least one of carbides, nitrides, borides, silicides and oxides and solid
solutions thereof and a binder binding together the hard particles. The hard particles
may comprise at least one transition metal carbide selected from carbides of titanium,
chromium, vanadium, zirconium, hafnium, tantalum, molybdenum, niobium, and
tungsten or solid solutions thereof. The hard particles may be present as individual or
mixed carbides and/or as sintered cemented carbides. Embodiments of the binder may
comprise at least one metal selected from cobalt, nickel, iron and alloys thereof. In a
further embodiment, the binder may further comprise at least one melting point reducing
constituent selected from a transition metal carbide up to 60 weight percent, one or more
transition elements up to 50 weight percent, carbon up to 5 weight percent, boron up to
10 weight percent, silicon up to 20 weight percent, chromium up to 20 weight percent,
and manganese up to 25 weight percent, wherein the weight percentages are based on the
total weight of the binder. In one embodiment, the binder comprises 40 to 50 weight
percent of tungsten carbide and 40 to 60 weight percent of at least one or iron, cobalt,

and nickel. For the purpose of this invention, transition elements are defined as those
belonging to groups IVB, VB, and VIB of the periodic table.
Another embodiment of the composition for forming a matrix body comprises
hard particles and a binder, wherein the binder has a melting point in the range of
1050oC to 1350°C. The binder may be an alloy comprising at least one of iron, cobalt,
and nickel and may further comprise at least one of a transition metal carbide, a
transition element, carbon, boron, silicon, chromium, manganese, silver, aluminum,
copper, tin, and zinc. More preferably, the binder may be an alloy comprising at least
one of iron, cobalt, and nickel and at least one of a tungsten carbide, tungsten, carbon,
boron, silicon, chromium, and manganese.
A further embodiment of the invention is a composition for forming a matrix
body, the composition comprising hard particles of a transition metal carbide and a
binder comprising at least one of nickel, iron, and cobalt and having a melting point less
than 1350°C. The binder may further comprise at least one of a transition metal carbide,
tungsten carbide, tungsten, carbon, boron, silicon, chromium, manganese, silver,
aluminum, copper, tin, and zinc.
In the manufacture of bit bodies, hard particles and, optionally, inserts may be
placed within a bit body mold. The inserts may be incorporated into the articles of the
present invention by any method. For example, the inserts may be added to the mold
before filling the mold with the powdered metal or hard particles and any inserts present
may be infiltrated with a molten binder, which freezes to form a solid matrix body
including a discontinuous phase of hard particles within a continuous phase of binder.
Embodiments of the present invention also include methods of forming articles, such as,
but not limited to, bit bodies for earth-boring bits, roller cones, and teeth for rolling cone
drill bits. An embodiment of the method of forming an article may comprise infiltrating
a mass of hard particles comprising at least one transition metal carbide with a binder
comprising at least one of nickel, iron, and cobalt and having a melting point less than
1350oC. Another embodiment includes a method comprising infiltrating a mass of hard
particles comprising at least one transition metal carbide with a binder having a melting
point in the range of 1050°C to 1350°C. The binder may comprise at least one of iron,
nickel, and cobalt, wherein the total concentration of iron, nickel, and cobalt is from 40
to 99 weight percent by weight of the binder. The binder may further comprise at least

one of a selected transition metal carbide, tungsten carbide, tungsten, carbon, boron,
silicon, chromium, manganese, silver, aluminum, copper, tin, and zinc in a concentration
effective to reduce the melting point of the iron, nickel, and/or cobalt. The binder may
be a eutectic or near eutectic mixture. The lowered melting point of the binder facilitates
proper infiltration of the mass of hard particles.
A further embodiment of the invention is a method of producing an earth-boring
bit, comprising casting the earth-boring bit from a molten mixture of at least one of iron,
nickel, and cobalt and a carbide of a transition metal. The mixture may be a eutectic or
near eutectic mixture. In these embodiments, the earth-boring bit may be cast direcdy
without infiltrating a mass of hard particles.
Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of ingredients,
time, temperatures, and so forth used in the present specification and claims are to be
understood as being modified in all instances by the term "about." Accordingly, unless
indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the following
specification and claims are approximations that may vary depending upon the desired
properties sought to be obtained by the present invention. At the very least, and not as
an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the
claims, each numerical parameter should at least be construed in light of the number of
reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques.
Notwidistanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad
scope of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific
examples are reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical value, however, may
inherendy contain certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviations found
in their respective testing measurements.
The reader will appreciate the foregoing details and advantages of the present
invention, as well as others, upon consideration of the following detailed description of
embodiments of the invention. The reader also may comprehend such additional details
and advantages of the present invention upon making and/or using embodiments within
the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The features and advantages of the present invention may be better understood
by reference to the accompanying figures in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of bit body for an
earth-boring bit;
Figure 2 is a graph of the results of a two cycle DTA, from 900°C to 1400°C at a
rate of temperature increase of 10°C/minute in an argon atmosphere, of a sample
comprising about 45% tungsten carbide and about 55% cobalt;
Figure 3 is a graph of the results of a two cycle DTA, from 900°C to 1300°C at a
rate of temperature increase of 10°C/minute in an argon atmosphere, of a sample
comprising about 45% tungsten carbide, about 53% cobalt, and about 2% boron;
Figure 4 is a graph of the results of a two cycle DTA, from 900°C to 1400°C at a
rate of temperature increase of 10°C/minute in an argon atmosphere, of a sample
comprising about 45% tungsten carbide, about 53% nickel, and about 2% boron;
Figure 5 is a graph of the results of a two cycle DTA, from 900°C to 1200°C at a
rate of temperature increase of 10°C/minute in an argon atmosphere, of a sample
comprising about 96.3% nickel and about 3.7% boron;
Figure 6 is a graph of the results of a two cycle DTA, from 900°C to 1300°C at a
rate of temperature increase of 10°C/minute in an argon atmosphere, of a sample
comprising about 88.4% nickel and about 11.6% silicon;
Figure 7 is a graph of the results of a two cycle DTA, from 900oC to 1200°C at a
rate of temperature increase of 10°C/minute in an argon atmosphere, of a sample
comprising about 96% cobalt and about 4% boron;
Figure 8 is a graph of the results of a two cycle DTA, from 900°C to 1300°C at a
rate of temperature increase of 10°C/minute in an argon atmosphere, of a sample
comprising about 87.5% cobalt and about 12.5% silicon;
Figure 9 is a photomicrograph of a material produced by infiltrating a mass of
hard particles with a binder consisting essentially of cobalt and boron;
Figure 10 is a photomicrograph of a material produced by infiltrating a mass of
hard particles with a binder consisting essentially of cobalt and boron;

Figure 11 is a photomicrograph of a material produced by infiltrating a mass of
hard particles with a binder consisting essentially of cobalt and boron;
Figure 12 is a photomicrograph of a material produced by infiltrating a mass of
hard particles with a binder consisting essentially of cobalt and boron; and
Figure 13 is a photomicrograph of a material produced by infiltrating a mass of
cast carbide particles and a cemented carbide insert with a binder consisting essentially
of cobalt and boron.
Figure 14 is a representation of an embodiment of a bit body of the present
invention;
Figures 15a, 15b and 15c are graph of Rotating Beam Fatigue Data for
compositions that could be used in embodiments of the present invention including
FL-25 having approximately 25 volume % binder (Figure 15a), FL-30 having
approximately 30 volume % binder (Figure 15b), and FL-35 having approximately 35
volume % binder; and
Figure 16 is a representation of an embodiment of a roller cone of the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION ON THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a composition for the formation
of bit bodies for earth-boring bits, roller cones, insert roller cones, cones and teeth for
roller cone drill bits and methods of making a bit body for such articles. Additionally,
the method may be used to make other articles. Certain embodiments of a bit body of
the present invention comprise at least one discontinuous hard phase and a continuous
binder phase binding together the hard phase. Embodiments of the compositions and
methods of the present invention provide increased service life for the bit body, roller
cones, insert roller cones, teeth, and cones produced from the composition and method
and thereby improve the service life of the earth-boring bit or other tool. The body
material of the bit body, roller cone, insert roller cone, cone provides the overall
properties to each region of the article.
A typical bit body 10 of a fixed cutter earth-boring bit is shown in Figure 1.
Generally, a bit body 10 comprises attachment means 11 on a shank 12 and blank region

12A incorporated in the bit body 10. The shank 12, blank region 12A, and pin may each
independendy be made of an alloy of steels or at least one discontinuous hard phase and
a continuous binder phase, and me attachment means 11, shank 12, and blank region
12A may be attached to the bit body by any method such as, but not limited to, brazed,
threaded connections, pins, keyways, shrink fits, adhesives, diffusion bonding,
interference fits, or any other mechanical or chemical connection. However, in
embodiments of the present invention, the shank 12 including me attachment means may
be made from an alloy steel or the same or different composition of hard particles in a
binder as other portions of the bit body. As such, the bit body 10 may be constructed
having various regions, and each region may comprise a different concentration,
composition, and crystal size of hard particles or binder, for example. This allows
tailoring the properties in specific regions of the article as desired for a particular
application. As such, the article may be designed so the properties or composition of the
regions may change abruptly or more gradually between different regions of the article.
The example bit body 10 of Figure 1 comprises three regions. For example, the top
region 13 may comprise a discontinuous hard phase of tungsten and/or tungsten carbide,
the mid section 14 may comprise a discontinuous hard phase of coarse cast tungsten
carbide (W2C, WC), tungsten carbide, and/or sintered cemented carbide particles, and
the bottom region 15, if present, may comprise a discontinuous hard phase of fine cast
carbide, tungsten carbide, and/or sintered cemented carbide particles. The bit body 10
also includes pockets 16 along the bottom of the bit body 10 and into which cutting
inserts may be disposed. The pockets may be incorporated directiy in the bit body by the
mold, by machining the green or brown billet, as inserts, for example, incorporated
during bit body fabrication, or as inserts attached after the bit body is completed by
brazing or other attachment method, as described above, for example. The bit body 10
may also include internal fluid courses, ridges, lands, nozzles, junk slots, and any other
conventional topographical features of an earth-boring bit body. Optionally, these
topographical features may be defined by preformed inserts, such as inserts 17 that are
located at suitable positions on the bit body mold. Embodiments of the present invention
include bit bodies comprising cemented carbide inserts. In a conventional bit body, the
hard phase particles are bound in a matrix of copper-base alloy, such as, brasses or
bronzes. Embodiments of the bit body of the present invention may comprise or be

fabricated with new binders to import improved wear resistance, strength and toughness
to the bit body.
The manufacturing process for hard particles in a binder typically involves
consolidating metallurgical powder (typically a particulate ceramic and binder metal) to
form a green billet. Powder consolidation processes using conventional techniques may
be used, such as mechanical or hydraulic pressing in rigid dies, and wet-bag or dry-bag
isostatic pressing. The green billet may then be presintered or fully sintered to further
consolidate and densify the powder. Presintering results in only a partial consolidation
and densification of the part. A green billet may be presintered at a lower temperature
than the temperature to be reached in the final sintering operation to produce a
presintered billet ("brown billet"). A brown billet has relatively low hardness and
strength as compared to the final fully sintered article, but significantly higher than the
green billet. During manufacturing the article may be machined as a green billet, brown
billet, or as a fully sintered article. Typically, the machinability of a green or brown
billet is substantially easier than the machinability of the fully sintered article.
Machining a green billet or a brown billet may be advantageous if the fully sintered part
is difficult to machine or would require grinding to meet the required dimensional final
tolerances rather than machining. Other means to improve machinability of the part may
also be employed such as addition of machining agents to close the porosity of the billet,
a typical machining agent is a polymer. Finally, sintering at liquid phase temperature in
conventional vacuum furnaces or at high pressures in a SinterHip furnace may be carried
out. The billet may be over pressure sintered at a pressure of 300-2000 psi and at a
temperature of 1350-1500°C. Pre-sintering and sintering of the billet causes removal of
lubricants, oxide reduction, densification, and microstructure development. As stated
above, subsequent to sintering, the bit body, roller cone, insert roller cone or cone may
be further appropriately machined or grinded to form the final configuration.
The present invention also includes a method of producing a bit body, roller
cone, insert roller cone or cone with regions of different properties of compositions. An
embodiment of the method includes placing a first metallurgical powder into a first
region of a void within a mold and second metallurgical powder in a second region of
the void of the mold. In some embodiments, the mold may be segregated into the two or
more regions by, for example, placing a physical partition, such as paper or a polymeric

material, in the void of the mold to separate the regions. The metallurgical powders may
be chosen to provide, after consolidation and sintering, cemented carbide materials
having the desired properties as described above. In another embodiment, a portion of at
least the first metallurgical powder and the second metallurgical powder are placed in
contact, without partitions, within the mold. A wax or other binder may be used with the
metallurgical powders to help form the regions without use of physical partitions.
An article with a gradient change in properties or composition may also be
formed by, for example, placing a first metallurgical powder in a first region of a mold.
A second portion of the mold may then be filled with a metallurgical powder comprising
a blend of the first metallurgical powder and a second metallurgical powder. The blend
would result in an article having at least one property between the same property in an
article formed by the first and second metallurgical powder independently. This process
may be repeated until the desired composition gradient or compositional structure is
complete in the mold and, typically would end with filling a region of the mold with the
second metallurgical powder. Embodiments of this process may also be performed with
or without physical partitions. Additional regions may be filled with different materials,
such as a third metallurgical powder or even a previously copper alloy infiltrated article.
The mold may then be isostatically compressed to consolidate the metallurgical powders
to form a billet. The billet is subsequently sintered to further densify the billet and to
form an autogenous bond between the regions.
Any binder may be used, as previously described, such as nickel, cobalt, iron and
alloys of nickel, cobalt, and iron. Additionally, in certain embodiments, the binder used
to fabricate the bit body may have a melting point between 1050°C and 1350oC. As
used herein, the melting point or the melting temperature is the solidus of the particular
composition. In other embodiments, the binder comprises an alloy of at least one of
cobalt, iron, and nickel, wherein the alloy has a melting point of less than 1350°C. In
other embodiments of the composition of the present invention, the composition
comprises at least one of cobalt, nickel, and iron and a melting point reducing
constituent. Pure cobalt, nickel, and iron are characterized by high melting points
(approximately 1500°C), and hence the infiltration of beds of hard particles by pure
molten cobalt, iron, or nickel is difficult to accomplish in a practical manner without
formation of excessive porosity or undesirable phases. However, an alloy of at least one

of cobalt, iron, nickel may be used if it includes a sufficient amount of at least one
melting point reducing constituent. The melting point reducing constituent may be at
least one of a transition metal carbide, a transition element, tungsten, carbon, boron,
silicon, chromium, manganese, silver, aluminum, copper, tin, zinc, as well as other
elements that alone or in combination can be added in amounts that reduce the melting
point of the binder sufficiendy so that the binder may be used effectively to form a bit
body by the selected method. A binder may effectively be used to form a bit body if the
binder's properties, for example, melting point, molten viscosity, and infiltration
distance, are such that the bit body may be cast without an excessive amount of porosity.
Preferably, the melting point reducing constituent is at least one of a transition metal
carbide, a transition metal, tungsten, carbon, boron, silicon, chromium and manganese.
It may be preferable to combine two or more of the above melting point reducing
constituents to obtain a binder effective for infiltrating a mass of hard particles. For
example, tungsten and carbon may be added together to produce a greater melting point
reduction than produced by the addition of tungsten alone and, in such a case, the
tungsten and carbon may be added in the form of tungsten carbide. Other melting point
reducing constituents may be added in a similar manner.
The one or more melting point reducing constituents may be added alone or in
combination with odier binder constituents in any amount that produces a binder
composition effective for producing a bit body. In addition, the one or more melting
point reducing constituents may be added such that the binder is a eutectic or near
eutectic composition. Providing a binder with eutectic or near-eutectic concentration of
ingredients ensures mat the binder will have a lower melting point, which may facilitate
casting and infiltrating the bed of hard particles. In certain embodiments, it is preferable
for the one or more melting point reducing constituents to be present in the binder in the
following weight percentage based on the total binder weight: tungsten may be present
up to 55%, carbon may be present up to 4%, boron may be present up to 10%, silicon
may be present up to 20%, chromium may be present up to 20%, and manganese may be
present up to 25%. In certain odier embodiments, it may be preferable for the one or
more melting point reducing constituents to be present in the binder in one or more of the
following weight percentage based on the total binder weight: tungsten may be
present from 30 to 55%, carbon may be present from 1.5 to 4%, boron may be present

from 1 to 10%, silicon may be present from 2 to 20%, chromium may be present from 2
to 20%, and manganese may be present from 10 to 25%. In certain other embodiments
of the composition of the present invention the melting point reducing constituent may
be tungsten carbide present from 30 to 60 weight %. Under certain casting conditions
and binder concentrations, all or a portion of the tungsten carbide will precipitate from
the binder upon freezing and will form a hard phase. This precipitated hard phase may
be in addition to any hard phase present as hard particles in the mold. However, if no
hard particles are disposed in the mold or in a section of the mold all the hard phase
particles in the bit body or in the section of the bit body may be formed as tungsten
carbide precipitated during casting.
Embodiments of the articles of the present invention may include 50% or greater
volumes of hard particles or hard phase, in certain embodiments it may be preferable for
the hard particles or hard phase to comprise between 50 and 80 volume % of the article,
more preferably, for such embodiments the hard phase may comprise between 60 and 80
volume % of the article. As such, in certain embodiments, the binder phase may
comprise less than 50 volume % of the article, or preferably between 20 and 50 volume
% of the article. In certain embodiments, the binder may comprise between 20 and 40
volume % of the article.
Embodiments of the present invention also comprise bit bodies for earth-boring
bits and other articles comprising transition metal carbides wherein the bit body
comprises a volume fraction of tungsten carbide greater than 75 volume %. It is now
possible to prepare bit bodies having such a volume fraction of, for example, tungsten
carbide due to the method of the present invention, embodiments of which are described
below. An embodiment of the method comprises infiltrating a bed of tungsten carbide
hard particles with a binder that is a eutectic or near eutectic composition of at least one
of cobalt, iron, and nickel and tungsten carbide. It is believed that bit bodies comprising
concentrations of discontinuous phase tungsten carbide of up to 95% by volume may be
produced by methods of the present invention if a bed of tungsten is infiltrated with a
molten eutectic or near eutectic composition of tungsten carbide and at least one of
cobalt, iron, and nickel. In contrast, conventional infiltration methods for producing bit
bodies may only be used to produce bit bodies having a maximum of about 72% by
volume tungsten carbide. The inventors have determined that the volume concentration

of tungsten carbide in the cast bit body and other articles can be 75% up to 95% if using
as infiltrated a eutectic or near eutectic composition of tungsten carbide and at least one
of cobalt, iron, and nickel. Presently, there are limitations in the volume percentage of
hard phase that may be formed in a bit body due to limitations in the packing density of
a mold with hard particles and the difficulties in infiltrating a densely packed mass of
hard particles. However, precipitating carbide from an infiltrant binder comprising a
eutectic or near eutectic composition avoids these difficulties. Upon freezing of the
binder in the bit body mold, the additional hard phase is formed by precipitation from
the molten infiltrant during cooling. Therefore, a greater concentration of hard phase is
formed in the bit body than could be achieved if the molten binder lack dissolved
tungsten carbide. Use of molten binder/infiltrant compositions at or near the eutectic
allows higher volume percentages of. hard phase in bit bodies and other articles than
previously available.
The volume percent of tungsten carbide in the bit body may be additionally
increased by incorporating cemented carbide inserts into the bit body. The cemented
carbide inserts may be used for forming internal fluid courses, pockets for cutting
elements, ridges, lands, nozzle displacements, junk slots, or other topographical features
of the bit body, or merely to provide structural support, stiffness, toughness, strength, or
wear resistance at selected locations with the body or holder. Conventional cemented
carbide inserts may comprise from 70 to 99 volume % of tungsten carbide if prepared by
conventional cemented carbide techniques. Any known cemented carbide may be used
as inserts in the bit body, such as, but not limited to, composites of carbides of at least
one of titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium, tantalum, chromium,
molybdenum and tungsten in a binder of at least one of cobalt, iron, and nickel.
Additional alloying agents may be present in the cemented carbides as are known in the
art.
Embodiments of the composition for forming a bit body also comprise at least
one hard particle type. As stated above, the bit body also may comprise various regions
comprising different types and/or concentrations of hard particles. For example, bit
body 10 of Figure 1 may comprise a bottom section 15 of a harder wear resistant
discontinuous hard phase material with a fine particle size and a mid section 14 of a
tougher discontinuous hard phase material with a relatively coarse particle size. The

hard phase or hard particles of any section may comprise at least one carbide, nitride,
boride, oxide, cast carbide, cemented carbide, mixtures thereof, and solid solutions
thereof. In certain embodiments, the hard phase may comprise at least one cemented
carbide comprising at least one of titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium,
tantalum, chromium, molybdenum, and tungsten. The cemented carbides may have any
suitable particle size or shape, such as, but not limited to, irregular, spherical, oblate and
prolate shapes.
Cemented carbide grades with tungsten carbide in a cobalt binder have a
commercially attractive combination of strength, fracture toughness and wear resistance.
"Strength" is the stress at which a material ruptures or fails. "Toughness" is the ability
of a material to absorb energy and deform plastically before fracturing. Toughness is
proportional to the area under the stress-strain curve from the origin to the breaking
point. See MCGRAW-HILL DICTIONARY OF SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL TERMS (5th ed.
1994). "Wear resistance" is the ability of a material to withstand damage to its surface.
Wear generally involves progressive loss of material, due to a relative motion between a
material and a contacting surface or substance. See METALS HANDBOOK DESK EDITION
(2d ed. 1998). "Fracture Toughness" is the critical stress at a crack tip necessary to
propagate that crack and is usually characterized by the "critical stress intensity factor
(Klc).
The strength, toughness and wear resistance of a cemented carbide are related to
the average grain size of the dispersed hard phase and me volume (or weight) fraction of
the binder phase present in the conventional cemented carbide. Generally, an increase in
the average grain size of tungsten carbide and/or an increase in the volume fraction of
me cobalt binder will result in an increase in fracture toughness. However, this increase
in toughness is generally accompanied by a decrease in wear resistance. The cemented
carbide metallurgist is thus challenged to develop cemented carbides with bom high
wear resistance and high fracture toughness while attempting to design grades for
demanding applications.
The bit body 140 of Figure 14 may comprise sections comprising different
concentrations or compositions of components to provide various properties to specific
locations within the body, such as wear resistance, toughness, or corrosion resistance.
For example, the insert pocket regions 141 in the area around the drill bit cutting inserts


142, the gage pad 143, or nozzle outlet region 144, a roller cone blade region, or the
exterior of the crown 145 may comprise a more wear resistant material. In addition,
embodiments of the bit body of the present invention may have regions of high
toughness, such as in the internal region of a blade 146, an internal region of a roller
cone, at least an internal region of the shank or pin, or a region adjacent to the shank.
The properties of different regions of the bit body, roller cone, insert roller cone, or cone
may also be tailored to provide a region that is more easily machined or corrosion
resistant, for example.
Embodiments of the bit body, roller cone, insert roller cone, or cone may
comprise unique properties that may not be achieved in conventional bit bodies, roller
cones, insert roller cones, and cones. Samples of compositions suitable for the present
invention were produced for testing. The nominal compositions of the test samples are
shown in Table 1.

As can be seen from Table 2, embodiments of the present invention comprise
body materials having transverse rupture strength greater than 300 ksi. Conventional bit
bodies comprising body materials of steel or hard particles infiltrated with brass or
bronze do not have transverse rupture strengths as high as the embodiments of the
present invention.
Figures 15a, 15b and 15c are graphs of fully reversed Rotating Beam Fatigue
Data for test samples of composition suitable for embodiments of the present invention
listed in Table 1. As can be seen, test samples have a fully reversed bending stress of
greater than 100 ksi at (10)7 cycles.
Several properties of the body materials of the regions of earth boring tools
contribute to the service life of tool. These properties of the body materials include, but
may not be limited to, strength, stiffness, wear or abrasion resistance, and fatigue
resistance. A bit body, roller one, insert roller cone, or cone may comprise more than

one region each comprising different body materials. Strength is typically measured as a
transverse rapture strength or ultimate tensile strength. Stiffness may be measured as a
Young's modulus. The properties of embodiments of the present invention and prior art
copper based matrices are listed in Table 2. As can be seen, the embodiments of the
present invention have TRS values greater man 250 psi, in certain embodiments the TRS
may be greater than 300 ksi or even greater than 400 ksi. The Young's modulus of
embodiments of the present invention exceed 55 xlO6 psi, and, preferably, for certain
applications requiring greater stiffness, embodiments may have a Young's modulus of
greater than 75 x 106 psi or even greater than 90 x 106 psi. In addition to the favorable
TRS and Young's modulus values, embodiments of the present invention additionally
comprise an increased hardness. Embodiments of the present invention may be tailored
to have a hardness of greater than 65 HRA or by reducing the concentration of binder,
for example, the hardness of specific embodiments may be increased to greater than 75
HRA or even greater than 85 HRA in certain embodiments.
The abrasion resistance, as measured according to ASTM B611, of embodiments
of the body materials of the present invention may be greater than 1.0, or greater than
1.4. In certain applications or regions of the earth boring tool, embodiments fo the body
materials of the present invention may have an abrasion resistance of from 2 to 14.
Embodiments of the present invention comprise body materials that also include
combinations of properties that are applicable for the bit bodies, roller cones, insert roller
cones, and cones. For example, embodiments of the present invention may comprise a
body material having a transverse rupture strength greater than 200 ksi together, or
greater than 250 ksi, with a Young's modulus greater than 40 x 106 psi. Other
embodiments of the present invention may comprise a body material having a fatigue
resistance greater than 30 ksi in combination with a Young's modulus greater than 30 x
106 psi. Such combinations of properties provide drilling articles that in certain
applications will have a greater service life than conventional drilling articles.



Additionally, certain embodiments of the composition of the present invention
may comprise from 30 to 95 volume % of hard phase and from 5 to 70 volume % of
binder phase. Isolated regions of the bit body may be within a broader range of hard
phase concentrations, from for example, 30 to 99 volume % hard phase. This may be
accomplished, for example, by disposing hard particles in various packing densities in
certain locations within the mold or by a placing cemented carbide inserts in the mold
prior to casting the bit body or other article. Additionally, the bit body may be formed
by casting more than one binder into the mold.
A difficulty with fabricating a bit body or holder comprising a binder including at
least one of cobalt, iron, and nickel by an infiltration method stems from the relatively
high melting points of cobalt, iron, and nickel. The melting point of each of these metals
at atmospheric pressure is approximately 1500°C. In addition, since cobalt, iron, and
nickel have high solubilities in the liquid state for tungsten carbide, it is difficult to
prevent premature freezing of, for example, a molten cobalt-tungsten or nickel-tungsten
carbide alloy while attempting to infiltrate a bed of tungsten carbide particles when
casting an earth-boring bit body. This phenomenon may lead to the formation of
pin-holes in the casting even with the use of high temperatures, such as greater than
1400°C, during the infiltration process.
Embodiments of the method of the present invention may overcome the
difficulties associated with cobalt, iron and nickel infiltrated cast composites by use of a
prealloyed cobalt-tungsten carbide eutectic or near eutectic composition (30 to 60%
tungsten carbide and 40 to 70% cobalt, by weight). For example, a cobalt alloy having a
concentration of approximately 43 weight % of tungsten carbide has a melting point of

approximately 1300oC. See Figure 2. The lower melting point of the eutectic or
near-eutectic alloy relative to cobalt, iron, and nickel, along with the negligible freezing
range of the eutectic or near eutectic composition, can greatly facilitate the fabrication of
cobalt-tungsten carbide based diamond bit bodies, as well as cemented carbide cones and
roller cone bits. Eutectic or near-eutectic mixtures of cobalt-tungsten carbide, nickel-
tungsten carbide, cobalt-nickel-tungsten carbide and iron-tungsten carbide alloys, for
example, can be expected to exhibit far higher strength and toughness levels compared
with brass- and bronze-based composites at equivalent abrasion/erosion resistance
levels. These alloys can also be expected to be machineable using conventional cutting
tools.
Certain embodiments of the method of the invention comprise infiltrating a mass
of hard particles with a binder that is a eutectic or near eutectic composition comprising
at least one of cobalt, iron, and nickel and tungsten carbide, and wherein the binder has a
melting point less than 1350°C. As used herein, a near eutectic concentration means that
the concentrations of the major constituents of the composition are within 10 weight %
of the eutectic concentrations of the constituents. The eutectic concentration of tungsten
carbide in cobalt is approximately 43 weight percent. Eutectic compositions are known
or easily approximated by one skilled in the art. Casting the eutectic or near eutectic
composition may be performed with or without hard particles in the mold. However, it
may be preferable that upon solidification the composition forms a precipitated hard
tungsten carbide phase and a binder phase. The binder may further comprise alloying
agents, such as at least one of boron, silicon, chromium, manganese, silver, aluminum,
copper, tin, and zinc.
Embodiments of the present invention may comprise as one aspect the
fabrication of bodies and cones from eutectic or near-eutectic compositions employing
several different methods. Examples of these methods include:
1. Infiltrating a bed or mass of hard particles comprising a mixture of
transition metal carbide particles and at least one of cobalt, iron, and nickel (i.e., a
cemented carbide) with a molten infiltrant that is a eutectic or near eutectic composition
of a carbide and at least one of cobalt, iron, and nickel.

2. Infiltrating a bed or mass of transition metal carbide particles with a
molten infiltrant that is a eutectic or near eutectic composition of a carbide and at least
one of cobalt, iron, and nickel.
3. Casting a molten eutectic or near eutectic composition of a carbide, such
as tungsten carbide, and at least one of cobalt, iron, and nickel to net-shape or a
near-net-shape in the form of a bit body, roller cone, or cone.
4. Mixing powdered binder and hard particles together, placing the mixture
in a mold, heating the powders to a temperature greater than the melting point of the
binder, and cooling to cast the materials into the form of an earth-boring bit body, a
roller cone, or a cone. This so-called "casting in place" method may allow the use of
binders with relatively less capacity for infiltrating a mass of hard particles since the
binder is mixed with the hard particles prior to melting and, therefore, shorter infiltration
distances are required to form the article.
In certain methods of the present invention, infiltrating the hard particles may
include loading a funnel with a binder, melting the binder, and introducing the binder
into the mold with the hard particles and, optionally, the inserts. The binder as discussed
above may be a eutectic or near eutectic composition or may comprise at least one of
cobalt, iron, and nickel and at least one melting point reducing constituent.
Another method of the present invention comprises preparing a mold and casting
a eutectic or near eutectic mixture of at least one of cobalt, iron, and nickel and a hard
phase component. As the eutectic mixture cools the hard phase may precipitate from the
mixture to form the hard phase. This metiiod may be useful for the formation of roller
cones and teeth in tri-cone drill bits.
Anodier embodiment of the present invention involves casting in place,
mentioned above. An example of this embodiment comprises preparing a mold, adding
a mixture of hard particles and binder to the mold, and heating the mold above the
melting temperature of the binder. This metiiod results in the casting in place of the bit
body, roller cone, and teeth for tri-cone drill bits. This method may be preferable when
the expected infiltration distance of the binder is not sufficient for sufficiendy infiltrating
the hard particles conventionally.
The hard particles or hard phase may comprise one or more of carbides, oxides,
borides, and nitrides, and the binder phase may be composed of the one or more of the

Group VIE metals, namely, Co, Ni, and/or Fe. The morphology of the hard phase can be
in the form of irregular, equiaxed, or spherical particles, fibers, whiskers, platelets,
prisms, or any other useful form. In certain embodiments, the cobalt, iron, and nickel
alloys useful in this invention can contain additives, such as boron, chromium, silicon,
aluminum, copper, manganese, or ruthenium, in total amounts up to 20 weight % of the
ductile continuous phase.
The enclosed Figures 2 to 8 are graphs of the results of Differential Thermal
Analysis (DTA) on embodiments of the binders of the present invention. Figure 2 is a
graph of the results of a two cycle DTA, from 900°C to 1400°C at a rate of temperature
increase of 10°C/minute in an argon atmosphere, of a sample comprising about 45%
tungsten carbide and about 55% cobalt (all percentages are in weight percent unless
noted otherwise). The graph shows the melting point of the alloy to be approximately
1339°C.
Figure 3 is a graph of the results of a two cycle DTA, from 900°C to 1300°C at a
rate of temperature increase of 10°C/minute in an argon atmosphere, of a sample
comprising about 45% tungsten carbide, about 53% cobalt, and about 2% boron. The
graph shows the melting point of the alloy to be approximately 1151°C. As compared to
the DTA of the alloy of Figure 2, the replacement of about 2% of cobalt with boron
reduced the melting point of the alloy in Figure 3 almost 200°C.
Figure 4 is a graph of the results of a two cycle DTA, from 900°C to 1400°C at a
rate of temperature increase of 10°C/minute in an argon atmosphere, of a sample
comprising about 45% tungsten carbide, about 53% nickel, and about 2% boron. The
graph shows the melting point of the alloy to be approximately 1089°C. As compared to
the DTA of the alloy of Figure 3, the replacement of cobalt with nickel reduced the
melting point of the alloy in Figure 4 almost 60°C.
Figure 5 is a graph of the results of a two cycle DTA, from 900°C to 1200°C at a
rate of temperature increase of 10°C/minute in an argon atmosphere, of a sample
comprising about 96.3% nickel and about 3.7% boron. The graph shows the melting
point of the alloy to be approximately 1100°C.
Figure 6 is a graph of the results of a two cycle DTA, from 900°C to 1300°C at a
rate of temperature increase of 10°C/minute in an argon atmosphere, of a sample

comprising about 88.4% nickel and about 11.6% silicon. The graph shows the melting
point of the alloy to be approximately 1150°C.
Figure 7 is a graph of the results of a two cycle DTA, from 900°C to 1200°C at a
rate of temperature increase of 10oC/minute in an argon atmosphere, of a sample
comprising about 96% cobalt and about 4% boron. The graph shows the melting point
of the alloy to be approximately 1100°C.
Figure 8 is a graph of the results of a two cycle DTA, from 900°C to 1300°C at a
rate of temperature increase of 10cC/minute in an argon atmosphere, of a sample
comprising about 87.5% cobalt and about 12.5% silicon. The graph shows the melting
point of the alloy to be approximately 1200°C.
Figures 9 to 11 show photomicrographs of materials formed by embodiments of
the methods of the present invention. Figure 9 is a scanning electron microscope (SEM)
photomicrograph of a material produced by casting a binder consisting essentially of a
eutectic mixture of cobalt and boron, wherein the boron is present at about 4 weight
percent of the binder. The lighter colored phase 92 is C03B and the darker phase 91 is
essentially cobalt. The cobalt and boron mixture was melted by heating to
approximately 1200°C then allowed to cool in air to room temperature and solidify.
Figures 10 - 12 are SEM photomicrographs of different pieces and different
aspects of the microstructure made from the same material. The material was formed by
infiltrating hard particles with a binder. The hard particles were an cast carbide
aggregate (W2C, WC) comprising approximately 60 - 65 volume percent of the material.
The aggregate was infiltrated by a binder comprising approximately 96 weight percent
cobalt and 4 weight percent boron. The infiltration temperature was approximately
1285°C.
Figure 13 is a photomicrograph of a material produced by infiltrating a mass of
cast carbide particles 130 and a cemented carbide insert 131 with a binder consisting
essentially of cobalt and boron. To produce the material shown in Figure 13, a cemented
carbide insert 131 of approximately 3/4" diameter by 1.5" height was placed in the mold
prior to infiltrating the mass of hard cast carbide particles 130 with a binder comprising
cobalt and boron. As may be seen in Figure 13, the infiltrated binder and the binder of
the cemented carbide blended to form one continuous matrix 132 binding both the cast
carbides and the carbides of the cemented carbide.

In addition, hard facing may be added to embodiments of the present invention.
Hard facing may be added on bit bodies, roller cones, insert roller cones, and cones
wherever increased wear resistance is desired. For example, roller cone 160, as shown
in Figure 16, may comprise a hard facing on the plurality of teeth 161, the spear point
162. The bit body for the roller cone may also comprise hard facing, such as in a region
surrounding any nozzles. Referring to Figure 14, the bit body may comprise hard facing
in the regions of nozzles 144, gage pad 143, and insert pockets 141, for example. A
typical hard facing material comprises tungsten carbide in an alloy steel matrix.
It is to be understood that the present description illustrates those aspects of the
invention relevant to a clear understanding of the invention. Certain aspects of the
invention that would be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art and that, therefore,
would not facilitate a better understanding of the invention have not been presented in
order to simplify the present description. Although embodiments of the present
invention have been described, one of ordinary skill in the art will, upon considering the
foregoing description, recognize that many modifications and variations of the invention
may be employed. All such variations and modifications of the invention are intended to
be covered by the foregoing description and the following claims.


WE CLAIM:
1. A bit body, roller cone, insert roller cone, or cone for an earth-boring bit,
comprising:
a body material, the body material comprising:
hard particles comprising at least one of a carbide, a nitride, a boride, a
silicide, an oxide, and solid solutions thereof; and
a binder, wherein the binder comprises:
at least one metal selected from cobalt, nickel, iron and alloys thereof; and
at least one melting point reducing constituent selected from at least one of
a transition metal carbide up to 60 weight percent, a transition metal
boride up to 60 weight percent, and a transition metal silicide up to
60 weight percent, wherein the weight percentages are based on the
total weight of the binder, and wherein the binder has a melting
point in the range of 1050°C to 1350°C.
2. The bit body, roller cone, insert roller cone, or cone as claimed in
claim 2, wherein the melting point reducing constituent is at least one of tungsten
carbide present from 30 to 60 weight percent, tungsten present from 30 to 55 weight
percent, carbon present from 1.5 to 4 weight percent, boron present from 1 to 10 weight
percent, silicon present from 2 to 20 weight percent, chromium present from 2 to 20
weight percent, and manganese present from 10 to 25 weight percent.
3. The bit body, roller cone, insert roller cone, or cone as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the hard particles are at least one of individual single crystals, as polycrystalline
particles, as solid solutions, as polycrystalline particles comprising two or more phases,
and sintered granules comprising a binder, sintered granules without a binder.
4. The bit body, roller cone, insert roller cone, or cone as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the hard particles comprise at least one transition metal carbide selected from
titanium carbide, chromium carbide, vanadium carbide, zirconium carbide, hafnium
carbide, tantalum carbide, molybdenum carbide, niobium carbide, and tungsten carbide.

5. The bit body, roller cone, insert roller cone, or cone as claimed in
claim 2, wherein the melting point reducing constituent is at least one of tungsten
carbide, boride, and silicide in the range of 30 to 60 weight percent based on the total
weight of the binder.
6. The bit body, roller cone, insert roller cone, or cone as claimed in claim 2,
wherein the binder comprises 40 to 50 weight percent of tungsten carbide and 40 to 60
weight percent of at least one or iron, cobalt, and nickel, all based on the total weight of the
binder.
7. The bit body, roller cone, insert roller cone, or cone as claimed in claim 7,
wherein the binder comprises 40 to 50 weight percent of tungsten carbide and 40 to 60
weight percent of cobalt, all based on the total weight of the binder.
8. The bit body, roller cone, insert roller cone, or cone as claimed in claim 8,
wherein the binder further comprises up to 10 weight percent of at least one of boron and
silicon based on the total weight of the binder.
9. The bit body, roller cone, insert roller cone, or cone as claimed in claim 7,
wherein the binder comprises 40 to 50 weight percent of tungsten carbide and 40 to 60
weight percent of nickel, all based on the total weight of the binder.
10. The bit body, roller cone, insert roller cone, or cone as claimed in claim
11, wherein the binder further comprises up to 10 weight percent of boron based on the
total weight of the binder.
11. The bit body, roller cone, insert roller cone, or cone as claimed in claim 2,
wherein the binder comprises at least 80 weight percent of at least one of nickel, iron, and
cobalt based on the total weight of the binder.
12. The bit body, roller cone, insert roller cone, or cone as claimed in claim
13, wherein the binder further comprises up to 20 weight percent of silicon based on the
total weight of the binder.

13. The bit body, roller cone, insert roller cone, or cone as claimed in claim
13, wherein the binder further comprises up to 10 weight percent of boron based on the
total weight of the binder.
14. The bit body, roller cone, insert roller cone, or cone as claimed in claim 2,
wherein the binder comprises from 90 to 99 weight percent of nickel and 1 to 10 weight
percent of boron, all based on the total weight of the binder.
15. The bit body, roller cone, insert roller cone, or cone as claimed in claim 2,
wherein the binder comprises from 90 to 99 weight percent of cobalt and 1 to 10 weight
percent of boron, all based on the total weight of the binder.
16. The bit body, roller cone, insert roller cone, or cone as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the binder further comprises at least one of a transition element, carbon, boron,
silicon, chromium, manganese, silver, aluminum, copper, tin, rhenium, ruthenium, and
zinc.
17. The bit body, roller cone, insert roller cone, or cone as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the binder comprises at least one of cobalt and nickel.
18. The bit body, roller cone, insert roller cone as claimed in claim 1, wherein
the hard particles comprise crystals comprising tungsten carbide and the binder comprises
cobalt.



ABSTRACT


A BIT BODY, ROLLER CONE, INSERT ROLLER CONE,
OR CONE FOR AN EARTH-BORING BIT
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for forming a bit body
for an earth-boring bit. The bit body may comprise hard particles, wherein the hard
particles comprise at least one carbide, nitride, boride, and oxide and solid solutions
thereof, and a binder binding together the hard particles. The binder may comprise at
least one metal selected from cobalt, nickel, and iron, and, optionally, at least one
melting point reducing constituent selected from a transition metal carbide in the range
of (30) to (60) weight percent, boron up to (10) weight percent, silicon up to (20) weight
percent, chromium up to (20) weight percent, and manganese up to (25) weight percent,
wherein the weight percentages are based on the total weight of the binder. In addition,
the hard particles may comprise at least one of (i) cast carbide (WC + W2C) particles,
(ii) transition metal carbide particles selected from the carbides of titanium, chromium,
vanadium, zirconium, hafnium, tantalum, molybdenum, niobium, and tungsten, and
(iii) sintered cemented carbide particles.

Documents:

03108-kolnp-2006-abstract.pdf

03108-kolnp-2006-claims.pdf

03108-kolnp-2006-correspondence others.pdf

03108-kolnp-2006-description (complete).pdf

03108-kolnp-2006-drawings.pdf

03108-kolnp-2006-form1.pdf

03108-kolnp-2006-form3.pdf

03108-kolnp-2006-form5.pdf

03108-kolnp-2006-international publication.pdf

03108-kolnp-2006-international search authority report.pdf

03108-kolnp-2006-pct form.pdf

03108-kolnp-2006-pct request.pdf

03108-kolnp-2006-priority document.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-(06-01-2012)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-(06-01-2012)-PA-CERTIFIED COPIES.pdf

3108-kolnp-2006-abstract-1.1.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-ABSTRACT.pdf

3108-kolnp-2006-amanded claims.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-ASSIGNMENT.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-CANCELLED PAGES.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-CERTIFIED COPIES(OTHER COUNTRIES).pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-CLAIMS 1.1.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-CLAIMS.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-CORRESPONDENCE 1.1.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-CORRESPONDENCE 1.3.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-CORRESPONDENCE 1.6.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-CORRESPONDENCE-1.4.pdf

3108-kolnp-2006-correspondence-1.5.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-CORRESPONDENCE.-1.2.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

3108-kolnp-2006-description (complete)-1.1.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE).pdf

3108-kolnp-2006-drawings-1.1.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-DRAWINGS.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-EXAMINATION REPORT.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-FORM 1 1.2.pdf

3108-kolnp-2006-form 1-1.1.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-FORM 1.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-FORM 13 1.1.pdf

3108-kolnp-2006-form 13.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-FORM 18 1.1.pdf

3108-kolnp-2006-form 18.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-FORM 2.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-FORM 3 1.2.pdf

3108-kolnp-2006-form 3-1.1.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-FORM 3.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-FORM 5 1.1.pdf

3108-kolnp-2006-form 5.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-GPA.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-ABSTRACT.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-CLAIMS.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE).pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-DRAWINGS.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-FORM 1.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-FORM 2.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-FORM 3.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-FORM 5.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-GRANTED-SPECIFICATION-COMPLETE.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATION.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT & OTHERS.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-OTHERS 1.3.pdf

3108-kolnp-2006-others-1.2.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-OTHERS.-1.1.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-OTHERS.pdf

3108-kolnp-2006-pa.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-PETITION UNDER RULE 137.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-REPLY TO EXAMINATION REPORT.pdf

3108-KOLNP-2006-SPECIFICATION.pdf

abstract-03108-kolnp-2006.jpg


Patent Number 258038
Indian Patent Application Number 3108/KOLNP/2006
PG Journal Number 48/2013
Publication Date 29-Nov-2013
Grant Date 28-Nov-2013
Date of Filing 26-Oct-2006
Name of Patentee BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
Applicant Address 3900 ESSEX LANE, HOUSTON, TX 77027
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 MIRCHANDANI, PRAKASH, K 2606 TRELLIS POST COURT, HAMPTON COVE AL 35763
2 OAKES, JAMES,J 114 IVY RIDGE, MADISON AL 35757
3 WESTHOFF, JAMES, C. 51 SOUTH INDIAN SAGE CIRCLE, THE WOODLANDS, TX 77381
4 COLLINS, GABRIEL, B 209 RIVERSHORE DRIVE, HUNTSVILLE, AL 35811
5 CLADWELL, STEVEN, G. 112 COUNRTYSIDE DRIVE, HENDERSONVILLE, TN
6 STEVENS, JOHN,H. 5183 KINGFISHER, HOUSTON, TX 77035
7 MOSCOW, ALFRED,J 10130 EDEN VALLEY DRIVE, SPRING, TX 77379
8 EASON, JIMMY, W 34 CRESTED POINT PLACE, THE WOODLANDS, TX 77832
PCT International Classification Number E21B 10/46
PCT International Application Number PCT/US2005/014742
PCT International Filing date 2005-04-28
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 60/566,063 2006-04-28 U.S.A.
2 10/848,437 2004-05-18 U.S.A.