Fluid inlet sleeves for improving fluid flow in earth-boring tools, earth-boring tools having fluid inlet sleeves, and related methods

Abstract

An earth-boring tool includes a nozzle port extending from an external surface to an internal fluid plenum of a tool body. A fluid inlet sleeve is disposed within the nozzle port of the tool body. The fluid inlet sleeve includes a hollow cylinder having a longitudinal end oriented within the internal fluid plenum. The longitudinal end of the fluid inlet sleeve includes one surface oriented at an angle within a range from greater than 0 degrees to about 90 degrees relative to a plane to which a longitudinal axis of the fluid inlet sleeve is normal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An earth-boring tool, comprising:
 a tool body comprising at least one nozzle port extending from an external surface to an internal fluid plenum; and   at least one fluid inlet sleeve disposed within the at least one nozzle port of the tool body, the at least one fluid inlet sleeve comprising a hollow cylinder having a longitudinal end oriented at least partially within the internal fluid plenum of the tool body, the longitudinal end comprising at least one surface oriented at an angle within a range from greater than 0 degrees to about 90 degrees relative to a plane to which a longitudinal axis of the fluid inlet sleeve is normal.   
     
     
         2 . The earth-boring tool of  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal end of the at least one fluid inlet sleeve comprises an angled end defining the at least one surface, the at least one surface comprising end surface of the fluid inlet sleeve that is oblique to the longitudinal axis of the fluid inlet sleeve. 
     
     
         3 . The earth-boring tool of  claim 2 , wherein the end surface of the fluid inlet sleeve lies within a fluid entry plane of the fluid inlet sleeve. 
     
     
         4 . The earth-boring tool of  claim 2 , wherein the angle is within the range of about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The earth-boring tool of  claim 1 , wherein the angle is about 45 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The earth-boring tool of  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal end of the at least one fluid inlet sleeve comprises a stepped end comprising:
 an end surface;   a step surface oriented parallel to the end surface; and   the at least one surface comprising a riser surface and extending from the end surface to the step surface in a direction at least substantially perpendicular to the end surface of the step surface.   
     
     
         7 . The earth-boring tool of  claim 6 , wherein a distance between the end surface and the step surface, in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the at least one fluid inlet sleeve, is greater than 0 inch and less than 1.000 inch. 
     
     
         8 . The earth-boring tool of  claim 7 , wherein the distance is about 0.500 inch. 
     
     
         9 . The earth-boring tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a nozzle disposed adjacent to the at least one fluid inlet sleeve within the nozzle port. 
     
     
         10 . The earth-boring tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tool body further comprises an alignment mark on an external surface of the tool body and wherein the at least one fluid inlet sleeve comprises an alignment recess formed in another longitudinal end of the at least one fluid inlet sleeve opposite the longitudinal end. 
     
     
         11 . A fluid inlet sleeve comprising a hollow cylinder having a longitudinal end configured to be at least partially disposed within an internal fluid plenum of an earth-boring tool, the longitudinal end comprising at least one surface oriented at an angle within the range from greater than 0 degrees to about 90 degrees relative to a plane to which a longitudinal axis of the fluid inlet sleeve is normal. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid inlet sleeve of  claim 11 , wherein the longitudinal end of the fluid inlet sleeve comprises an angled end defining the at least one surface, the at least one surface comprising end surface of the fluid inlet sleeve that is oblique to the longitudinal axis of the fluid inlet sleeve. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid inlet sleeve of  claim 12 , wherein the end surface of the fluid inlet sleeve lies within a fluid entry plane of the fluid inlet sleeve. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid inlet sleeve of  claim 12 , wherein the angle is within the range of about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid inlet sleeve of  claim 11 , wherein the angle is about 45 degrees. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid inlet sleeve of  claim 11 , wherein the longitudinal end comprises a stepped end comprising:
 an end surface;   a step surface oriented parallel to the end surface; and   the at least one surface comprising a riser surface and extending from the end surface to the step surface in a direction at least substantially perpendicular to the end surface of the step surface.   
     
     
         17 . The fluid inlet sleeve of  claim 16 , wherein a distance between the end surface and the step surface, in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fluid inlet sleeve, is greater than 0 inch and less than 1.000 inch. 
     
     
         18 . The fluid inlet sleeve of  claim 16 , wherein the distance is about 0.500 inch. 
     
     
         19 . A method of forming an earth-boring tool, the method comprising:
 disposing a nozzle within in a nozzle port of a body of the earth-boring tool, the nozzle port extending from an external surface of the body and an internal fluid plenum within the body; and   disposing at least one fluid inlet sleeve within the nozzle port of the body adjacent to the nozzle such that a longitudinal end of the at least one fluid inlet sleeve is oriented at least partially within the internal fluid plenum, the longitudinal end comprising at least one surface oriented at an angle within a range from greater than 0 degrees to about 90 degrees relative to a plane to which a longitudinal axis of the fluid inlet sleeve is normal.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein disposing at least one fluid inlet sleeve comprises aligning the at least one fluid inlet sleeve within the nozzle port by aligning an alignment recess formed in the at least one fluid inlet sleeve with an alignment mark formed in the external surface of the body of the earth-boring tool.