Methods of forming and repairing earth-boring tools including replaceable cutting structures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10107044-B2
Application number	US-201514824448-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 12, 2015
Priority date	Nov 19, 2010
Publication date	Oct 23, 2018
Grant date	Oct 23, 2018

Abstract

Methods of forming an earth-boring tool may involve attaching one or more cutting elements to a replaceable cutting structure and positioning the replaceable cutting structure proximate a region of a body of an earth-boring tool that is susceptible to at least one of localized wear and localized impact damage. The replaceable cutting structure may be to the body. Methods of repairing an earth-boring tool may involve bringing a replaceable cutting structure proximate at least one portion of a body of an earth-boring tool exhibiting at least one of localized wear and localized impact damage. The replaceable cutting structure may be attached to the earth-boring tool at the at least one portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of forming an earth-boring tool, comprising:
attaching a plurality of cutting elements to an annular attachment member to form a replaceable cutting structure;
positioning the replaceable cutting structure proximate each blade of a plurality of blades at least within a shoulder region of a face of a body of an earth-boring tool that is susceptible to at least one of localized wear and localized impact damage, to cause an exposed surface of the attachment member to be at least substantially flush with exposed surfaces of the body adjacent to the attachment member, and the attachment member to extend contiguously around a circumference of the face of the body at least within the shoulder region; and
attaching the replaceable cutting structure to the body.

2. The method of forming an earth-boring tool of claim 1 , further comprising positioning the replaceable cutting structure over an outlet in fluid communication with an internal plenum of the body.

3. The method of forming an earth-boring tool of claim 2 , wherein the annular attachment member comprises a channel extending at least partially through the annular attachment member and wherein positioning the replaceable cutting structure over the outlet in fluid communication with the internal plenum of the body comprises aligning the channel with the outlet.

4. The method of forming an earth-boring tool of claim 1 , wherein attaching the replaceable cutting structure to the body comprises one or more of welding the replaceable cutting structure to the body, brazing the replaceable cutting structure to the body, threadedly engaging the replaceable cutting structure with the body, bolting the replaceable cutting structure to the body, affixing the replaceable cutting structure to the body with pins, affixing the replaceable cutting structure to the body with keys, shrink-fitting the replaceable cutting structure with the body, press-fitting the replaceable cutting structure with the body, and capturing the replaceable cutting structure due to shrinkage of the body during a densification process.

5. The method of forming an earth-boring tool of claim 1 , wherein attaching the plurality of cutting elements to the annular attachment member comprises attaching a first cutting element of the plurality to the annular attachment member at a first position relative to a centerline of the body and a second cutting element of the plurality to the annular attachment member at a second position relatively closer to the centerline of the body.

6. The method of forming an earth-boring tool of claim 1 , wherein positioning the replaceable cutting structure proximate each blade of the plurality of blades at least within the shoulder region of the face of the body comprises positioning the annular attachment member to extend contiguously around a circumference of the face of the body at least within the shoulder region.

7. The method of forming an earth-boring tool of claim 1 , wherein attaching the replaceable cutting structure to the body comprises attaching the annular attachment member to each blade of the plurality of blades.

8. The method of forming an earth-boring tool of claim 1 , wherein attaching the plurality of cutting elements to the annular attachment member comprises at least partially embedding a first cutting element of the plurality within the attachment member at a first position relative to a centerline of the body and at least partially embedding a second cutting element of the plurality within the attachment member at a second position relatively closer to the centerline of the body.

Assignees

• Baker Hughes Inc

Inventors

• Vempati Chaitanya K
• Marvel Timothy K
• Patel Suresh G

Classifications

• Y10T29/49746

  by applying fluent material, e.g., coating, casting · CPC title

• Y10T29/49744

  Screw threaded preform · CPC title

• Y10T29/49742

  Metallurgically attaching preform · CPC title

• Y10T29/49741

  Screw threaded fastener · CPC title

• Y10T29/49734

  and removing damaged material · CPC title