Howard Hughes received a patent for his two-cone roller-cone bit in which year?

Howard Hughes received a patent for his two-cone roller-cone bit in which year?

• A. 1899
• B. 1917
• C. 1923
• D. 1909

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is understanding when Howard Hughes Sr. secured legal protection for the two-cone roller-cone drill bit, a breakthrough in drilling technology. This bit uses two rotating cones with cutting teeth that crush and shear rock as the bit spins, which dramatically improved penetration through hard formations and reliability compared with earlier designs. The patent date matters because it marks when the invention was formally protected and could be commercialized, fueling the growth of Hughes Tool Company and transforming oil drilling. That patent was granted in 1909.

The main idea here is understanding when Howard Hughes Sr. secured legal protection for the two-cone roller-cone drill bit, a breakthrough in drilling technology. This bit uses two rotating cones with cutting teeth that crush and shear rock as the bit spins, which dramatically improved penetration through hard formations and reliability compared with earlier designs. The patent date matters because it marks when the invention was formally protected and could be commercialized, fueling the growth of Hughes Tool Company and transforming oil drilling. That patent was granted in 1909.