Bearings and Seals

CONFIDENTIAL: For Internal Use Only.

May not be disclosed, used or reproduced without written permission from Smith International, Inc.
 Objective

CONFIDENTIAL: For Internal Use Only.

May not be disclosed, used or reproduced without written permission from Smith International, Inc.
• Distinguish between various bearing and
seal types

• Understand the working of various

bearings and seals

• Understand the application for which a

type of bearing or seal is most suitable
 Roller Bearing
Smith rock bit Bearings

Friction Bearing
Bearings – Overview

CONFIDENTIAL: For Internal Use Only.

May not be disclosed, used or reproduced without written permission from Smith International, Inc.
 Roller Bearing

CONFIDENTIAL: For Internal Use Only.

May not be disclosed, used or reproduced without written permission from Smith International, Inc.
•Used mostly on sizes 12 ¼ ”
and above

•Used mostly in low WOB

applications Typical radial load distribution
• Due to high Point Loading on a roller bearing

•Potential fatigue failure

Load distribution on a
single contoured roller
 Friction Bearing

CONFIDENTIAL: For Internal Use Only.

May not be disclosed, used or reproduced without written permission from Smith International, Inc.
•Used mostly on sizes 12
¼ ” and below
• Takes up less space than
roller bearing

•Can be used in High WOB

and high RPM applications
• High Load Capacity due Typical load distribution on a
Friction Bearing
to smoothly Distributed
Loading
 Friction Bearing

CONFIDENTIAL: For Internal Use Only.

May not be disclosed, used or reproduced without written permission from Smith International, Inc.
Smith Friction Bearings

Floating Sleeve Pressed-In Sleeve

•Free floating Spinodal split •Non-split ring is pressed into

ring sleeve the cone bore (interference-fit)
•Reduces effective bearing •Can achieve very low
speed clearance between journal and
•Silver plated to improve cone bearing.
performance •Used mostly in case of very
high WOB and very small size
bits
 Seals – Overview

CONFIDENTIAL: For Internal Use Only.

May not be disclosed, used or reproduced without written permission from Smith International, Inc.
Smith rock bit Seals

Single Seal Gemini Seals

O-Ring Bullet Dual Dynamic

Canted Gemini-I Gemini-II

O-Ring & Bullet & Dual Dynamic &

Canted Fabric Radial Fabric Radial Fabric
 Seal Nomenclature

CONFIDENTIAL: For Internal Use Only.

May not be disclosed, used or reproduced without written permission from Smith International, Inc.
Seal Gland – Cavity into which the seal
is assembled

Close-up of a Seal Gland

Cone

Leg

Mud side – Side closest to cone back face

Grease side – Side closest to bearing
Outer side
Inner side (OD)
(ID)
Seal Design and Analysis
Typical seal design parameters include:

CONFIDENTIAL: For Internal Use Only.

May not be disclosed, used or reproduced without written permission from Smith International, Inc.
Contact Pressure – sealing force/unit length on the cross-section
Footprint – length of axial contact between seal and gland
Void Space – measure of seal volume relative to gland volume

L L
 
P

 O-Ring

CONFIDENTIAL: For Internal Use Only.

May not be disclosed, used or reproduced without written permission from Smith International, Inc.
•Circular cross-section
• Deforms to take the shape of
the gland
• Patented V-Ramp gland
design
 US Patent No. 4,372,624
•HSN material C/S of
• Good overall balance of wear O-Ring
resistance and resilience Assembly
•Good for Low rpm applications
•Typical failure mode
• Abrasive wear
• Compression set

Typical Contact Pressure Profile

 Bullet Seal

CONFIDENTIAL: For Internal Use Only.

May not be disclosed, used or reproduced without written permission from Smith International, Inc.
• Patented “bullet” shaped cross-
section
• Bi-Material composite seal
• Hard, wear resistant material
layer on the inner side (W)
• Soft, resilient energizer material U.S. Patent No. 6,170,830
on outer side (E)
• More deflection than O-Ring for W
the same squeeze C/S of
• Takes up less axial space than O- Bullet Seal
Ring Assembly E
• Good for High rpm applications
• Typical failure mode
• Abrasive wear on outer surface

Typical Contact Pressure Profile

 Dual Dynamic Seal
• Patented dog-bone shaped cross-section

CONFIDENTIAL: For Internal Use Only.

May not be disclosed, used or reproduced without written permission from Smith International, Inc.
• Bi-Material composite seal
• Hard, wear resistant material layers on the
inner and outer side (W)
• Soft, resilient energizer material in the center
(E)
U.S. Patent No. 6,598,690
• More deflection than O-Ring for the same
squeeze W
W
• Takes up less axial space than O-Ring C/S of
• Larger footprint than bullet seal – improved Dual Dynamic
low rpm sealing seal Assembly
E
• Good for High rpm applications
• Typical failure mode
• Wear on inner sealing surface

Typical Contact Pressure Profile

 Dual Seal System (Gemini)

CONFIDENTIAL: For Internal Use Only.

May not be disclosed, used or reproduced without written permission from Smith International, Inc.
Secondary Seal

Primary Seal
Primary Seal – Provides effective sealing for lubricant in the bearing (Near Bearing)
Secondary Seal – Keeps the bearing area clean from abrasives and drilling fluids
(Near Back Face)
 Gemini-I

CONFIDENTIAL: For Internal Use Only.

May not be disclosed, used or reproduced without written permission from Smith International, Inc.
• Primary Seal – Bullet Seal

W-122 E-77
(wear layer) (energizer)
• Secondary Seal – Fabric Primary and
Bullet Secondary seals
PBI- provide radial sealing
HNBR3 E-77 to bearing.
(fabric) (energizer)

Radial Fabric Seal – Gen. I

 Gemini-II
•Primary Seal – Dual Dynamic Seal

CONFIDENTIAL: For Internal Use Only.

May not be disclosed, used or reproduced without written permission from Smith International, Inc.
W-122
W-122 (wear layer)
(wear layer)
401 (energizer) Primary and Secondary
•Secondary Seal – Fabric Dual seals have wear layer
Dynamic on outer diameter side.
PBI-
HNBR3 W-122
(fabric) (wear layer)

401 (energizer) Radial Fabric Seal – Gen. II

 Canted Seals

CONFIDENTIAL: For Internal Use Only.

May not be disclosed, used or reproduced without written permission from Smith International, Inc.
•Special ‘canted’ design for smaller
diameter bits
• Typically 8 ½” and 10 5/8” XR+
• Due to lack of space for 2 radial seals
•Primary Seal is an O-Ring
• Provides radial sealing
•Secondary Seal is a ‘Canted’-Fabric
Seal
• Primary function is to act as a filter
for rock cuttings
• Provides part radial and part axial
sealing

U.S. Patent No. 6,336,512

 Pressure Regulation Between Seals
Rock bit leg showing gap grease hole
• Problems with a dual seal

CONFIDENTIAL: For Internal Use Only.

May not be disclosed, used or reproduced without written permission from Smith International, Inc.
system
• Air pockets between seals
• Lubricant expansion
between seals

• Gap-valve system
provides a relief for
lubricant expansion –
consists of a perforated
rubber valve that lets out
the lubricant if the
pressure exceeds its
relief pressure
 Self-Relieving Seal

CONFIDENTIAL: For Internal Use Only.

May not be disclosed, used or reproduced without written permission from Smith International, Inc.
Grease Side

Mud Side

•Benefits from using Self-Relieving Secondary Seal

• Avoid mud leakage through seal gap valve
 Self-relieving seal acts as a one-way valve for gap grease to
relieve upon pressure build-up due to increase in temperature or
due to presence of air pockets
• Leg manufacturing made easier
 Lower scrap rate – no complicated gap hole drilling required
 Cost savings on gap valve assembly parts, ~$80/bit
 Seals for Slim Hole – DD and O-ring

CONFIDENTIAL: For Internal Use Only.

May not be disclosed, used or reproduced without written permission from Smith International, Inc.
• Objective
To prevent/reduce shale packing and reduce ID wear

Dual Dynamic Seal O-Ring w/ Modified Gland

 Primary Gemini II Seal

CONFIDENTIAL: For Internal Use Only.

May not be disclosed, used or reproduced without written permission from Smith International, Inc.
Grease (Bearing) Side Seal Condition
•Severe wear on ID –
predominant on mud side
•Nibbling of ID corners

Seal Gap Side

Possible Causes
•High differential pressure
•High temperature
•Abrasives getting past
secondary seal
Proposed New Designs for Primary Seal

CONFIDENTIAL: For Internal Use Only.

May not be disclosed, used or reproduced without written permission from Smith International, Inc.
Current Seal
• Proposed New Seals
• New-A: same C/S as
current
• New-B: 20% increase in
0.250 THK x 0.500 CS
C/S area
New – A New – B

0.250 THK x 0.500 CS

0.275 THK x 0.550 CS
 Existing 084 Gemini-2 Seals

CONFIDENTIAL: For Internal Use Only.

May not be disclosed, used or reproduced without written permission from Smith International, Inc.
•Dual Dynamic Primary Seal
• Wear layer on ID (dynamic side)
• Folded fabric layer on grease side – to
prevent nibbling
• Wear layer on OD – to reduce wear
from occasional OD rotation
•Radial Fabric Secondary Seal
• Fabric wear layer on ID (dynamic side)
• Wear layer on OD – to reduce wear
from occasional OD rotation
• Self-Relieving Valve – to
accommodate for increased
differential pressure from seal gap
 Review

CONFIDENTIAL: For Internal Use Only.

May not be disclosed, used or reproduced without written permission from Smith International, Inc.
• Roller Bearing versus Friction Bearing

• O-Ring versus Bullet Seal

• Single Seal versus Gemini Seals

• Pressure regulation between seals