Smith International, Inc.

Michael S Oliver

Huy D Bui

Gary Ray Portwood

Lance D Underwood

Michael Allen Siracki

Chris Edward Cawthorne

Weng-Kwen Raymond Chia

Alan W Lockstedt

Per Ivar Nese

Dennis Cisneros

Roger P Johns

Richard D Smith

Gary Erpenbeck

Richard D Crouse

A rotary cone bit for drilling bore holes in earth formations whose body has a thread pin end and a dome end from which extend three legs. A cutter cone is rotatably mounted to each leg and is radially oriented about the bit's central axis. Each cutter cone has a gage row of cutting elements extending from the cone surface nearest the mouth and a nose row extending nearest the cone's apex. A center jet for emitting fluid or mud is located on the dome. The jet has a converging nozzle with an exit orifice which extends below a predefined horizontal plane intersected by the cones or cutting elements. The exit orifice has a constant diameter for a length at least equal to its diameter for reducing the diffusion of the fluid or mud flow emitted. Fluid or mud emitted from the center jet travels substantially uninterrupted within a cylindrical space between the cones which is not invaded by any cutting element. This reduced diffusion substantially uninterrupted fluid flow strikes the bore hole bottom with maximum impact energy for enhanced removal of earth formation cuttings.

Rock bit with an extended center jet

An air percussion hammer drill is disclosed for operation in an earthen formation. The air compression hammer mechanism comprises a piston that reciprocates while simultaneously rotating within its housing. A hammer drill bit slidably keyed to the bottom of the piston transfers the impact energy to the formation and rotates during operation independent of an attached drill string.

Air percussion drilling assembly

An air percussion hammer drill is disclosed for operation in an earthen formation. The air compression hammer mechanism comprises a piston that reciprocates while simultaneously rotating within its housing. A hammer drill bit slidably keyed to the bottom of the piston transfers the impact energy to the formation and rotates during operation independent of an attached drill string. The air percussion hammer assembly is therefore ideally suited to directional drilling activities.

Air percussion drilling assembly for directional drilling applications

Sealed bearing rotary cone drill bits are subject to seal wear from detritus or debris generated during operation of the drill bit in a borehole. The debris invades the seal gland area resulting in premature cone bearing failure. A shale burn plug secured in the leg back face and positioned between the base of the rotary cone and the leg back face has a shale or detritus diverting ridge formed in the face of the plug. Additionally, the burn plug is energized to urge the ridged face of the burn plug against the base of the rotary cone; the ridge being radially oriented to divert debris away from the seal gland.

Shale diverting means for a sealed bearing drill bit

An erosion and vibration resistant nozzle apparatus is disclosed for earth drilling rock bits. The nozzle includes a flow bean that is retained in a nozzle cavity by a threaded retainer, the retainer having at least one axially aligned slot therethrough to more fully engage the roots and crests of the retention threads to firmly secure the nozzle bean within its nozzle cavity. The split retainer may also have a conically shaped interior opening that conforms to a cone shaped exterior of the exit end of the nozzle bean for a more secure retention of the nozzle body within the nozzle cavity.

Vibration and erosion resistant nozzle

A three cone rock bit is disclosed having at least a pair of mini-extended nozzles extending from a dome portion of the bit. Two 120.degree. leg segments contain extended nozzles, a third 120.degree. segment is nozzleless. The mini-extended nozzles convert hydraulic pressure to kinetic fluid flow energy with a minimum of flow disturbance, thereby delivering a concentrated flow of fluid against the floor of the formation and across the cutting face of the bit, sweeping detritus past the nozzleless 120.degree. leg segment and up the borehole. A centerjet mini-extended nozzle may additionally be positioned in the rock bit dome to further enhance borehole penetration.

Crossflow rotary cone rock bit with extended nozzles

This invention discloses a method to protect the lubrication reservoir system for sealed bearing rotary cone rock bits. A multiplicity of flush-type tungsten carbide inserts are positioned in each leg of the rock bit surrounding the lubrication reservoir cover cap. The inserts prevent erosion of the leg around the cover cap, thus protecting the snap ring that secures the cover cap within the reservoir chamber.

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Lafayette, LA, United States of America

Michael S Oliver