Measuring and testing – Vibration – By mechanical waves
Reexamination Certificate
2007-04-17
2009-12-15
Fitzgerald, John (Department: 2856)
Measuring and testing
Vibration
By mechanical waves
C073S637000, C073S606000
Reexamination Certificate
active
07631560
ABSTRACT:
A method for conducting nondestructive internal inspection of a rotary drill bit used for drilling subterranean formations comprises communicating ultrasonic waves into a drill bit and detecting ultrasonic waves that are reflected by at least a portion of the drill bit. In some embodiments, the waves may be directed into the drill bit from within a longitudinal bore thereof. Reflected waves also may be detected from within the bore. The methods may be used to develop threshold acceptance criteria for classifying drill bits as acceptable or unacceptable to prevent catastrophic failures of drill bits during use. Systems and apparatuses are disclosed for conducting nondestructive ultrasonic inspection of a drill bit used for drilling subterranean formations. The systems and apparatuses may comprise an ultrasonic probe configured for insertion within an internal longitudinal bore of a drill bit. Drill bits are disclosed that are configured to facilitate nondestructive ultrasonic inspection thereof.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2971372 (1961-02-01), Lewis et. al.
patent: 4020688 (1977-05-01), Hauldren
patent: 4041773 (1977-08-01), Hauldren et al.
patent: 4106347 (1978-08-01), DeKerlegand
patent: 4173139 (1979-11-01), Conn
patent: 4287769 (1981-09-01), Buckley
patent: 4361044 (1982-11-01), Kupperman et al.
patent: 4379408 (1983-04-01), Sandhu
patent: 4843884 (1989-07-01), House et al.
patent: 5313950 (1994-05-01), Ishikawa et al.
patent: 5373907 (1994-12-01), Weaver
patent: 5813480 (1998-09-01), Zaleski, Jr. et al.
patent: 6655481 (2003-12-01), Findley et al.
patent: 2002/0194916 (2002-12-01), Yamada et al.
patent: 2007/0102198 (2007-05-01), Oxford et al.
patent: 2007/0102199 (2007-05-01), Smith et al.
patent: 2007/0289385 (2007-12-01), Kiuchi
patent: 563803 (1987-07-01), None
patent: 0238916 (2002-05-01), None
patent: 2006030787 (2006-03-01), None
Anderson, T.L., Fracture Mechanics, 2ndEdition, Chapters 2 and 9, 1995 by CRC Press, Inc.
PCT International Search Report for PCT/US2007/009305, mailed Jan. 9, 2008.
Lund Jeffrey B.
Lyons Nicholas J.
Sullivan Eric C.
Watts Terry D.
Baker Hughes Incorporated
Fitzgerald John
TraskBritt
LandOfFree
Methods of inspecting rotary drill bits does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Methods of inspecting rotary drill bits, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Methods of inspecting rotary drill bits will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-4132492