Smith International, Inc.

Robert Wagoner

Peter Thomas Cariveau

Roger Didericksen

William M Conn

A drill bit for boring a bore hole in an earthen formation comprises: a bit body having a pin end, a cutting end and a longitudinal bit axis and including at least two legs extending from the cutting end, each of the legs including a bearing that rotatably supports a cutter cone. The bit body further includes a fluid flow system, including a flowway in said pin end that is in fluid communication with at least one exit port in the cutting end, the exit port being defined by a nozzle boss and disposed adjacent one of the legs. Each of the legs includes a leading side surface, a trailing side surface, and a center panel, and at least one of said legs is asymmetric such that its trailing side surface is larger than its leading side surface. The present bit can also include a lubricant system that has its opening in the trailing side of the leg, and can further include various wear resistant coatings and inserts on its surface.

Rock drill bit with back-reaming protection

A first embodiment of a radially disposed thrust bearing assembly for rotary cone rock bits consists of a first non-rotating radially disposed steel thrust bearing disc and an adjacent, carbide thrust bearing disc. One of the thrust bearing discs is pressed into a disc retention socket formed in the end of a spindle bearing extending from the end of a main axially aligned bearing cantilevered from a leg of the bit and the other thrust bearing disc is pressed into a disc retention socket formed in the rotary cone. An edge of the carbide disc is formed with large valleys and peaks, the robust undulations resist cracking when the carbide thrust bearing disc is pressed into its respective socket. Unique air passages and channels are formed in the main and spindle bearings to direct cooling air to the thrust bearing discs. A second embodiment of a radially disposed thrust bearing assembly for rotary cone rock bits consists of a pair of preferably carbide thrust buttons, each of which has a central bore and a plurality of channels on its back face. The channels and central bore communicate with an air passage through the bit so as to provide a flow of cooling fluid such as air to the back of each thrust button. The invention further includes thrust bearing systems in which both of the thrust buttons comprise hard metal or sintered material.

Thrust disc bearings for rotary cone air bits

A radially disposed thrust bearing assembly for air cooled and lubricated mining type rotary cone rock bits consists of a first non-rotating radially disposed steel thrust bearing disc and an apposed, non-rotating carbide thrust bearing disc. One of the thrust bearing discs is pressed into a disc retention socket formed in the end of a spindle bearing extending from the end of a main axially aligned bearing cantilevered from a leg of the bit and the other thrust bearing disc is pressed into a disc retention socket formed in the rotary cone. An edge of the carbide disc is formed with large valleys and peaks, the robust undulations resist cracking when the carbide thrust bearing disc is pressed into its respective socket. Unique air passages and channels are formed in the main and spindle bearings to direct cooling air to the apposed thrust bearing discs.

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Ponca City, OK, United States of America

Robert Wagoner