Bolsters for degradation picks

Abstract

A bolster for a degradation pick includes a transverse cross section that is non-circular. Non-circular cross sections include square, triangular, hexagonal and other shapes. The bolster is made from a wear and/or erosion resistant material. The wear and/or erosion resistant material helps to protect the shank of the degradation pick. The bolster has a matching shape to the shape of the shank of the degradation pick.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bolster for a degradation pick, comprising:
 a bolster body, a transverse cross-sectional shape of the body being non-circular.   
     
     
         2 . The bolster of  claim 1 , the transverse cross-sectional shape being hexagonal. 
     
     
         3 . The bolster of  claim 1 , the body including a longitudinal edge that is at least partially convex. 
     
     
         4 . The bolster of  claim 1 , a superhard material being attached to the body, the superhard material including at least one of diamond, sapphire, moissanite, cubic boron nitride, Q-carbon, diamond-like carbon, boron suboxide, aluminum manganese boride, other metal borides, boron carbon nitride, or other materials in the boron-nitrogen-carbon-oxygen system which have hardness values above 1,500 HV. 
     
     
         5 . The bolster of  claim 1 , the body including a longitudinal edge that is tapered from a bolster first end to a bolster second end. 
     
     
         6 . The bolster of  claim 1 , the body being formed of at least one of tungsten carbide or high abrasion resistant steel alloys. 
     
     
         7 . A bolster for a degradation pick, comprising:
 a bolster body, a transverse cross-section of the body being non-rotationally symmetric about a central axis.   
     
     
         8 . The bolster of  claim 7 , the transverse cross-section including a concave portion and a convex portion. 
     
     
         9 . The bolster of  claim 7 , the body including a first end and a second end, the body including substantially continuous between the first end and the second end. 
     
     
         10 . The bolster of  claim 7 , the body including a first bolster cross-sectional area and a second bolster cross-sectional area, the first bolster cross-sectional area being smaller than the second bolster cross-sectional area. 
     
     
         11 . The bolster of  claim 7 , the body including a transverse cross-sectional shape that is different from a shank transverse cross-sectional shape of a shank. 
     
     
         12 . A bolster for a degradation pick with a pick body having a pick body transverse cross-sectional shape with at least one pick body feature, comprising:
 a bolster body including a first end, the first end including a bolster transverse cross-sectional shape that includes at least one non-circular bolster feature, the first end configured to connect to the pick body at an interface, the at least one bolster feature being similar to the at least one pick body feature.   
     
     
         13 . The bolster of  claim 12 , the bolster transverse cross sectional shape being polygonal. 
     
     
         14 . The bolster of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one bolster feature being similar to the at least one pick body feature includes the at least one bolster feature having the same shape and size as the at least one pick body feature. 
     
     
         15 . The bolster of  claim 12 , the bolster transverse cross-sectional shape being the same as the pick body transverse cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         16 . The bolster of  claim 12 , the bolster body further including a second end located distally from the first end, the second end being non-parallel to the first end. 
     
     
         17 . The bolster of  claim 12 , the bolster body further including a second end opposite the first end, a second end cross-sectional shape being different from the first end cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         18 . The bolster of  claim 12 , the first end including a protrusion configured to be inserted into a bore of the pick body at the interface. 
     
     
         19 . The bolster of  claim 18 , the bolster being connected to the pick body using at least one of a mechanical fastener, weld, braze, press fit, heat shrink fit, or interference fit. 
     
     
         20 . The bolster of  claim 12 , at least a portion of the first end overhanging the pick body.