Abstract: A mechanism is disclosed for rock bits whereby cutting elements, rotatably mounted to fixtures with journals, are constantly forced to rotate or precess by the interaction of the earth formation and the cutter. The cutters are fixed in skewed or offset positions on a cutting face of a rotary drill bit head. These cutting elements act as drag or shear cutters when they are operated in an earth formation.

Abstract: Drag-type drilling bits are disclosed which have at least one blade and a plurality of fluid flow channels incorporated in the blade for conducting drilling fluid or drilling mud from the hollow interior of the bit to discharge or ejection ports located in the front cutting edge of the blade. Rods of diamonds or of like "hard" cutter insert materials are incorporated in the blade in such a configuration that as the blade wears away or erodes and small pieces of diamonds are lost during drilling, more diamonds are exposed to the formation for drilling. During erosion or wear of the blades, the fluid discharge ports continue to operate to eject drilling fluid adjacent to substantially each diamond rod, whereby the flushing away of cuttings and cooling of the diamonds is greatly improved. In some embodiments of the invention rods of alternating hard and soft materials are also disposed substantially parallel with the diamond or like "hard" cutter insert rods.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A medium to high carbon steel body of a roller cone for a drilling bit is machined to final dimensions, and is thereafter rendered absorbent to laser light by application of black paint or black etch. Holes for hard tungsten carbide or like inserts are drilled in the light absorbent steel body. The entire steel body, including the holes, is subjected to a laser treatment which, however, is effective to raise to above austenitizing temperature only the dark light absorbent surfaces. Walls of the insert holes, being shiny, reflect the laser light and are not effected by it. Rapid self-quenching of the laser heated surfaces results in a hard martensitic layer in the external surface, with a surface hardness of 57 to 60 Rockwell C units. The seal gland, heel, and spindle bore areas of the roller cones are hardened similarly by exposure to laser light. In an alternative process, the hard tungsten carbide or like inserts are press fitted into the holes before the laser treatment.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Tools, and particularly rock bit cutter cones, having "hard" cermet cutter inserts enveloped in an intermediate layer or coating of a suitable high melting metal, and embedded in a cast steel matrix, are disclosed. The cermet inserts, which usually comprise tungsten carbide in a cobalt phase (WC-Co), are coated with a layer of a metal or metal alloy, preferably nickel, which does not substantially melt during the subsequent step of casting the steel matrix of the tool. An additional layer of copper is advantageously employed on the cermet insert beneath the layer of the high melting metal, such as nickel. The coated inserts are held in appropriate position in a suitable mold, and the steel matrix of the tool is poured from molten metal. The coatings on the cermet inserts prevent thermal shock to the inserts, prevent deterioration of the cermet due to diffusion of carbon into the adjacent steel, and metallurgically bond the inserts to the embedding steel matrix.

Abstract: This invention relates to multi-cone rock bits with three or more nozzles of varying length to affect different flow velocities from each of the nozzles. The nozzles at different lengths create a crossflow of fluid on a borehole bottom to lift detritus therefrom during rock bit drilling operations.

Abstract: This invention relates to the use of spinodal alloys consisting essentially of copper-nickel-tin for bearing surfaces formed between roller cutter cones of sealed bearing rock bits.

Abstract: A belleville seal for a sealed bearing rotary cone rock bit. The inner static ring portion of the annular belleville seal is metal and is interference fitted over the base of a journal bearing. The separation joint formed between the inner diameter of the static ring portion of the belleville seal and the outside diameter of the journal bearing is circumferentially welded using a high-energy beam source to form a hermetically sealed metallurgical bond therebetween.

Abstract: A welding fixture for metallurgically bonding a belleville seal to a journal bearing of a rotary cone rock bit segment is disclosed. The fixture includes a rotary table and structure to rotatively secure the journal bearing of the rock bit segment during a welding process wherein a metallurgical bond takes place through part or all of the 360.degree. joint between the seal and the journal bearing.

Abstract: Sealed bearing rotary cone rock bits that utilize a standard belleville seal oftentimes require that the static side of the seal be secured to a junction formed between a shirttail portion and a journal of a leg of the rock bit. A metal ring on the static side of the belleville seal is secured to the junction between the journal and the shirttail portion of the leg and imposes a load on the inner diameter of an encapsulated belleville spring. By preloading the inner diameter of the belleville spring, the load on the spring continues to increase as the spring is deflected during use. The present invention utilizes an isolated encapsulated belleville spring such that the inner diameter of the belleville spring is not trapped between the metallic ring on the static side of the seal. The result is that as the deflection of the spring is increased under operating conditions, the load reaches a peak value and then begins to decrease.

Abstract: A pressure compensating lubricant reservoir system is disclosed for a rotary cone rock bit. The system comprises a two-piece canister and flexible boot, one side of the boot being vented to the dome area of the bit. An O-ring is utilized adjacent the reservoir cover cap to seal the lubricant within the reservoir cavity. In order to prevent damage to the O-ring, the cover cap part of the canister forms a circumferential groove therearound to accept the O-ring. An intermediate disc is trapped between the cover cap and the resilient boot and serves to close out the O-ring groove in the cover cap.With a prior art one-piece canister, the O-ring is put into position in a groove formed by the canister, followed by insertion of the canister into a lubricant cavity formed by the bit body. Damage to the O-ring often occurs when the outer peripheral edge of the O-ring passes by a cover cap snap ring retention slot at the reservoir cavity entrance.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: This invention discloses the utilization of a metal bellows in a grease reservoir cavity that is compressed during a rock bit grease filling process to create a positive pressure differential between the internal cavities in the bit and the outside atmosphere.

Abstract: This invention relates to a belleville seal for a sealed bearing rotary cone rock bit. The inner static ring portion of the annular belleville seal is metal and is interference fitted over the base of a journal bearing. The separation joint formed between the inner diameter of the static ring portion of the belleville seal and the outside diameter of the journal bearing is circumferentially welded using a high-energy beam source to form a hermetically sealed metallurgical bond therebetween.

Abstract: Rolling cone rock bit seal and bearing hard surfaces having been made fully ready for assembly are first provided thin overlay coatings to enhance the resistance of the surfaces to both wear and corrosion. The coating is an engineering ceramic comprised of at least one nonmetallic element selected from a list consisting of C, O, and N, combined with at least one metallic element selected from a list consisting of Ti, Hf, Zr, Nb, Ta, W, B, Al, Co, and Cr. In a modified physical vapor deposition process, the selected coating will be developed at a temperature not to exceed 400.degree. Fahrenheit.

Abstract: This invention teaches a means to retain a cutter cone onto a journal bearing of an earth boring rotary cone rock bit. Complementary and registering annular grooves are formed in the bearing surfaces of the journal and the cone. A tangential entry groove transitions from an end of the journal to the annular groove in the journal. Simultaneous 360.degree. rotation and axial movement of the cone over the journal, in combination with a ring distortion ramp block in the cone, threads an end of a split cone retention ring through the entry groove in the journal into the registering annular grooves, thereby retaining the cone on the journal.

Abstract: This invention is a lubrication pumping means contained within one or more reciprocating rods to assure lubrication of the crankpin rod bearing and the wrist pin bearing during operation of a two-cycle internal combustion engine. The invention teaches a means to collect and retain a column of lubricating fluid within a longitudinal bore formed in the rod.

Abstract: This invention relates to roller cone, air circulation type rock bits. Means are provided on the rock bit body as well as on the shirttail portion of each of the legs extending from the body to provide a relief to pass rock chips from the borehole bottom and up the drill string as the air circulation roller cone bit works in a formation.

Abstract: A rock bit cone retention means is disclosed which primarily utilizes a series of segmented rings. The segmented rings are inserted into a relatively deep annular channel formed transverse to the axis of either a journal or a cone of a rock bit leg assembly. The complementary channel, shallow in depth, is formed in either the journal or the cone. The cone, when properly positioned on the journal, closes out the channel formed in both the cone and the journal. Upon assembly, the segments are urged within the deep groove or channel in the journal or the cone such that each of the segments do not protrude beyond the bearing surface as the cone is passed over an end of the journal. Means are provided adjacent the cone retention segment to accept a spring biasing means to urge each segment away from the bottom of the deep groove in the journal or cone.