Cryogenically treated drilling and mining equipment

Abstract

The thermally treated piece of drilling equipment is made by placing a device within a thermal control apparatus and subjecting the device to two thermal cycles. The first thermal cycles involves introducing a cryogenic material into the thermal control apparatus decreasing the device temperature, while preventing over-stressing of the device, to a first target temperature at a first temperature rate. The device temperature is then increased to a second target temperature at a second temperature rate. The second thermal cycle involves introducing the cryogenic material to decrease the device temperature, while preventing over-stressing, to a third temperature at a third temperature rate ranging. The temperature is then increased to a fourth temperature at a fourth temperature rate. The result of the process is a piece of drilling equipment without fractures and enhanced structural characteristics.

1 . A piece of drilling equipment made by the steps comprising: 
 a. placing a device having a device temperature within a thermal control apparatus comprising a chamber comprising a chamber temperature;    b. introducing a first cryogenic material into the thermal control apparatus to decreasing the device temperature and while preventing over-stressing of the device, to a first target temperature ranging from −40 degrees F. to −380 degrees F. at a first temperature rate ranging from 0.25 degrees F. per minute to 20 degrees F. per minute;    c. stopping the introduction of the cryogenic material into the chamber once the first target temperature is reached;    d. increasing the chamber temperature to a second target temperature ranging from 0 degrees F. to 1400 degrees F.;    e. increasing the device temperature to the second target temperature at a second temperature rate ranging from 0.25 degrees F. per minute to 20 degrees F. per minute resulting in an intermediate device having an intermediate device temperature;    f. introducing a second cryogenic material into the thermal control apparatus to decreasing the intermediate device temperature while preventing over-stressing of the intermediate device, to a third target temperature ranging from −40 degrees F. to −380 degrees F. at a third temperature rate ranging from 0.25 degrees F. per minute to 20 degrees F. per minute;    g. increasing the chamber temperature to a fourth target temperature ranging from 0 degrees F. to 1400 degrees F.; and    h. causing the intermediate device temperature to increase to the fourth target temperature at a fourth temperature rate ranging from 0.25 degrees F. per minute to 20 degrees F. per minute resulting in a treated device without fractures.    
     
     
         2 . The drilling equipment of  claim 1 , wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of drill bits, pumps, engines, levers, actuator arms, bearings, cams, lifters, valves, engines, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The drilling equipment of  claim 1 , wherein the first temperature rate is different from the second temperature rate to create a desired metallurgical characteristic in the treated device, wherein the characteristic is selected from the group consisting of wear-resistance, impact resistance, ductility, hardness, strength and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The drilling equipment of  claim 1 , wherein the device is treating using a first temperature rate substantially the same as the second temperature rate.  
     
     
         5 . The drilling equipment of  claim 1  wherein the intermediate device is treated further using the steps of: 
 a. introducing a third cryogenic material into the thermal control apparatus to decreasing the intermediate device temperature while preventing over-stressing of the intermediate device, to a fifth target temperature ranging from −40 degrees F. to −380 degrees F. at a fifth temperature rate ranging from 0.25 degrees F. per minute to 20 degrees F. per minute;    b. increasing the chamber temperature to a sixth target temperature from 0 degrees F. to 1400 degrees F.; and    c. increasing the intermediate device temperature to the sixth target temperature at a sixth temperature rate ranging from 0.25 degrees F. per minute to 20 degrees F. per minute resulting in treated device without fractures.    
     
     
         6 . The drilling equipment of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of permitting the device to soak at the first target temperature for a first period of time.  
     
     
         7 . The drilling equipment of  claim 9 , wherein the first period of time ranges from 15 minutes to 96 hours.  
     
     
         8 . The drilling equipment of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of permitting the intermediate device to soak at the second target temperature for a second period of time that ranges from 15 minutes to up to 48 hours.  
     
     
         9 . The drilling equipment of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal control apparatus further comprises a heat exchanger.  
     
     
         10 . The drilling equipment of  claim 1 , wherein the cryogenic material is a member of the group consisting of hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, helium, argon, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The drilling equipment of  claim 1 , wherein the first temperature rate, the second temperature rate, the third temperature rate and the fourth temperature rate and are determined by the mass of the device.  
     
     
         12 . The drilling equipment of  claim 1 , wherein the device is used to drill, cut, shape, gouge, rasp, or abrade materials selected from the group consisting of wood, ceramic, metal, plastic, composite material, and combinations thereof.