HARD FORMATION INSERT AND PROCESS FOR MAKING THE SAME
A drilling insert includes a cylindrical body and a top portion of the drilling insert. The top portion is on top of the cylindrical body providing a contact area, wherein the contact area provides a flat area for distributing contact stress when the drilling insert impacts the formation.
1 . A drilling insert comprising:
a cylindrical body; and
a top portion of the drilling insert on top of the cylindrical body providing a contact area, wherein the contact area provides a flat area for distributing contact stress when the drilling insert impacts the formation.
2 . The drilling insert of claim 1 , wherein the top portion is a dome shaped member with a truncated tip, and the flat area provided by the truncated tip is pre-formed.
3 . The drilling insert of claim 2 , wherein the truncated tip is created by electro discharge machining (EDM).
4 . The drilling insert of claim 2 , wherein the truncated tip is created by pre-shaping the drilling insert before performing a high pressure high temperature manufacturing process.
5 . The drilling insert of claim 1 , wherein a width of the flat area is a function of a penetration depth of the drilling insert.
6 . The drilling insert of claim 1 , wherein a width of the flat area is two times a penetration depth of the drilling insert.
7 . The drilling insert of claim 1 , wherein the drilling insert is utilized in a percussive drill bit.
8 . The drilling insert of claim 1 , wherein the top portion includes a surface layer, and the surface layer is modified to form the flat area during use of the drilling insert.
9 . The drilling insert of claim 8 , wherein the surface layer comprises a material that deform to form the flat area under contact stresses during drilling.
10 . The drilling insert of claim 8 , wherein the surface layer comprises a material that wears away to form the flat area during drilling.
11 . A drilling insert comprising:
a cylindrical body; and
a top portion of the drilling insert on the cylindrical body providing a contact area for impacting a formation, wherein the top portion is dome shaped with a truncated tip.
12 . The drilling insert of claim 11 , wherein the truncated tip provides a flat area of contact for distributing contact stress, and the flat area is preformed.
13 . The drilling insert of claim 12 , wherein a width of the flat area of contact is two times a penetration depth of the drilling insert.
14 . The drilling insert of claim 12 , wherein a width of the flat area of contact is a function of a penetration depth of the drilling insert.
15 . The drilling insert of claim 11 , wherein the truncated tip is created by electro discharge machining (EDM).
16 . The drilling insert of claim 13 , wherein the truncated tip is created by pre-shaping the drilling insert before performing a high pressure high temperature manufacturing process.
17 . The drilling insert of claim 11 , wherein the drilling insert is utilized in a percussive drill bit.
18 . The drilling insert of claim 11 , wherein the top portion includes a surface layer, and the surface layer is modified to form the flat area during use of the drilling insert.
19 . The drilling insert of claim 8 , wherein the surface layer comprises a material that deform to form the flat area under contact stresses during drilling.
20 . The drilling insert of claim 8 , wherein the surface layer comprises a material that wears away to form the flat area during drilling.