WorldWide Drilling Resource

15 MARCH 2022 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Tricone Bit Bearings Explained Adapted from Information by Bit Brokers International The bearings are what make the cones on a tricone spin. There are four common types of bearings - standard open roller, air-cooled roller, sealed roller, and sealed journal (friction) bearings. What is the difference between sealed bearing bits and nonsealed bearing bits in tricones? Well let’s take a look at each of the different types of bearings, and discuss some of the differences. Standard Open Roller Bearing - Standard Open Roller Bearings are bearings without a seal. This means the bearings are open to outside debris, which can enter through the cone. The advantage of an open bearing bit is that they are usually less expensive. They are ideal for drilling shallow holes, in the hundreds of feet. If drilling deeper holes with an open bearing bit, you will probably have to pull it out every couple hundred feet to clean out the debris in the cones to free them up. Air Cool / Air Blast Bearing - Air Blast Bearings are equipped on Air Circulation Bits. These bits have air passages that supply air to the bearings for cooling and lubricating the bearing, and for cleaning the bearing of drilling debris. Sealed Roller Bearing - Sealed Roller Bearings have some of the features of the nonsealed open bearings, but longer lifetime because the bearings are sealed with an O-Ring Seal. A lubrication and compensator system prevents leakage into the bearing system and stops the possibility of debris blocking the bearing, as well as leakage of grease. Sealed Journal Bearing - Sealed Journal Bearings have very good durability and wear resistance. Instead of rollers inside the cone there is a floating bushing. The bushing is usually made of special material that is highly resistant to heat and galling (surface damage). DIR

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