Earth-boring tools including bearing element assemblies, and related methods

Abstract

An earth-boring tool includes a body comprising a pocket in a leading end thereof for accepting at least a portion of a bearing element assembly. A bearing element assembly may be disposed within the pocket, and the bearing element assembly may include a retaining element at least partially disposed in a groove in a sidewall of the pocket and a bearing element. The bearing element may include a distal end having a bearing surface, a proximal end, and a side surface between the distal end and the proximal end, the side surface comprising a feature configured to abut the retaining element, wherein mechanical interference between the feature and the retaining element axially retains the bearing element within the pocket. Methods include disengaging a mechanical retention device retaining a bearing element within a pocket in a body of the earth-boring tool, and removing the bearing element from the pocket.

1 . An earth-boring tool, comprising:
 a body comprising a threaded receptacle in a leading end thereof for accepting at least a portion of a bearing element assembly; and   a bearing element assembly located within the threaded receptacle, the bearing element assembly comprising:
 a holder with a receptacle at a distal end thereof for receiving a bearing element and a threaded outer surface at a proximal end thereof for engagement with the threaded receptacle in the body of the earth-boring tool; and 
 at least one feature proximate the distal end of the holder configured to interface with a tool configured to apply torque to the holder. 
   
     
     
         2 . The earth-boring tool of  claim 1 , wherein the threaded receptacle comprises a sleeve with an at least partially threaded inner diameter and a generally smooth outer diameter, and the sleeve is affixed within a pocket of the body. 
     
     
         3 . The earth-boring tool of  claim 2 , further comprising a slot extending from an exterior surface of the body to a portion of an outer surface of the sleeve. 
     
     
         4 . The earth-boring tool of  claim 1 , wherein the threaded outer surface of the holder is configured substantially identically to an outer surface of a nozzle insert for insertion in a fluid outlet port in the body of the earth-boring tool. 
     
     
         5 . The earth-boring tool of  claim 4 , wherein the bearing element assembly comprises an internal fluid passageway in communication with a fluid port in the body of the earth-boring tool and in communication with one or more fluid outlets in a side surface of the bearing element. 
     
     
         6 . The earth-boring tool of  claim 2 , wherein the holder comprises a conical portion, and the sleeve comprises a corresponding conical surface on an inner surface thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The earth-boring tool of  claim 1 , wherein the body of the earth-boring tool comprises:
 a plurality of generally radially projecting and longitudinally extending blades rotationally separated by fluid courses; and   at least one cutting element attached to one of the plurality of blades.   
     
     
         8 . The earth-boring tool of  claim 7 , wherein the bearing element is a non-cutting bearing element positioned and oriented on the body as a rubbing surface configured to rub against a formation as the body of the earth-boring tool is rotated within a wellbore, the bearing element assembly located rotationally behind the at least one cutting element on the one of the plurality of blades. 
     
     
         9 . The earth-boring tool of  claim 7 , wherein the bearing element assembly is located within one of the fluid courses between adjacent blades of the plurality of blades. 
     
     
         10 . The earth-boring tool of  claim 1 , wherein the threaded receptacle in the leading end of the body comprises a removal access hole configured to receive the tool. 
     
     
         11 . The earth-boring tool of  claim 1 , wherein the body of the earth-boring tool comprises a metal alloy, and the threaded receptacle comprises threads machined directly into an inner surface of a cavity of the body. 
     
     
         12 . The earth-boring tool of  claim 1 , wherein the bearing element and the holder comprise an integral unitary body. 
     
     
         13 . The earth-boring tool of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one feature comprises surfaces of the bearing element assembly arranged in a hexagonal pattern and configured to interface with a socket wrench. 
     
     
         14 . The earth-boring tool of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one feature comprises at least one notch arranged around a periphery of the holder, the at least one notch configured to receive protrusions of the tool. 
     
     
         15 . A method of replacing a bearing element of an earth-boring tool, comprising:
 disengaging a mechanical retention device retaining a first bearing element within a pocket in a body of the earth-boring tool by rotating the bearing element relative to the pocket to disengage threads on an outer surface of the bearing element from threads in a sidewall of the pocket;   removing the first bearing element from the pocket;   placing a second bearing element in the pocket, wherein the second bearing element comprises at least one of a shape of a bearing surface and an exposure of a bearing surface different from the first bearing element; and   engaging the mechanical retention device to retain the second bearing element within the pocket.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein disengaging the mechanical retention device comprises applying a force to a surface of the bearing element with a tool inserted in a removal access hole extending through an exterior surface of the body and intersecting the pocket. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein applying the force to the surface of the bearing element with the tool inserted in the removal access hole comprises inserting the tool into the removal access hole extending through a leading end of the body. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein disengaging the mechanical retention device comprises rotating the bearing element relative to a sleeve within the pocket in the body of the earth-boring tool to disengage the threads on the outer surface of the bearing element from threads in an inner sidewall of the sleeve. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 removing the first bearing element comprises removing a first non-cutting bearing element; and   placing the second bearing element comprises placing a second non-cutting bearing element, each of the first non-cutting bearing element and the second non-cutting bearing element being positioned and oriented on the body as a rubbing surface configured to rub against a formation as the body of the earth-boring tool is rotated within a wellbore.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein engaging the mechanical retention device comprises securing the second bearing element with a mechanical locking device.