Boring or penetrating the earth – Bit or bit element – Rolling cutter bit or rolling cutter bit element
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-01
2001-12-18
Neuder, William (Department: 3672)
Boring or penetrating the earth
Bit or bit element
Rolling cutter bit or rolling cutter bit element
C277S550000, C384S094000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06330923
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to sealing ball, roller bearings in rotary rock bit cuttings cones but more particularly rotary rock bits used in mining and construction blast holes using air as the medium for purging the base hole of cuttings.
2. Background of Prior Art
The prior art discloses various attempts at effecting a seal for this application using neoprene “O” rings and neoprene covered metal but have been in effective due to the extreme heat generated by friction of the seal itself and bearings from loading and RPM speed and heated air from compression. Air is not sufficient to dispel this generated heat to allow the prior art seals to function properly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There is a need in mining drills for a seal that can function properly to offer prelubricated bearings to afford higher RPMs and heavier down pressures to maximize production of the drill and reduce cost per foot expenditures and to minimize costly downtime consumed in changing bits.
An object of this invention comprehends or otherwise considers the various heat generating sources and the proposes herein to reduce them to a level that allows the seal to function within its heat range. And another object of this invention is to provide a seal that reduces the friction heat generated by the bearings and heat generated by the seal itself.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a drill bit having factory packed lubrication fillings in the bearing cavity to dispel or dissipate friction heat.
Still a further purpose of this invention is to provide a composite seal having a cup seal base with a prelubricated smooth surface.
And a further object of this invention is to provide a neoprene or similar material having an inner and outer lip with a recess in the center.
A further object of this invention is to provide a seal comprising a cup member having a smooth outer sealing surface and a neoprene or similar material bonded to it comprising an inner and outer lip with a center recess for compressing the lips.
A further purpose of this invention is to provide a seal having a smooth prelubricated sealing surface that mates to a smooth fitting recessed surface in the rotating cutting cone.
A further purpose of this invention is to provide a seal having a neoprene or like material bonded to the seal cup member having an inner lip that seals the lubricant in the bearing cavity and an outer lip that seals out foreign matter and a recess in the middle to allow compression of the inner and outer seal lips.
A further purpose of this invention is to have a recess in the bearing skirt corresponding to the outer lip seal to protect it from erosion.
It is another object of this invention to effectively prelubricate mining bit cone bearings to allow drill rigs to operate at their optimum RPM and down pressure.
And yet another object of this invention to get maximum bit life attainable through this technology.
It is an important object of this invention to obtain maximum production and operation life from the drill rigs thus reducing the high cost of repairs. Other attempts in this art have failed due to the high temperature and pressure generated in rock drilling bit.
This invention is a long awaited seal which will extend bit useful life under such high temperatures and compression.
I further claim that a seal having an inner lip and an outer lip being recessed in the middle effects a flexible action when compressed to cause said inner and outer lips to allow for variance during operation between the sealed surfaces and yet maintain its sealing capacity.
I further claim that a sealing surface having a recess in the sealed surface protects the flexible seal lip from abrasive material such as is present in bore hole conditions.
I further claim that this invention will greatly enhance drill performances and extend useful bit life for the mining industry.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3529840 (1970-09-01), Durham et al.
patent: 4252330 (1981-02-01), Crow
patent: 4304444 (1981-12-01), Persson
patent: 4429854 (1984-02-01), Kar et al.
patent: 4516641 (1985-05-01), Burr
Donaghy John K.
Neuder William
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