Abstract: An improved sweep pickup for large diameter bits is disclosed in which the flow rate of drilling fluid through the pickup tube is constant, thereby enhancing its lifting capacity. The sweep pickup comprises an elongated tube extending radially across the bottom face of the drill bit. The pickup tube is truncated longitudinally on the bottom side thereof by a horizontal plate having the pickup inlet opening formed therein. The plate truncates the tubular portion of the pickup at an angle to provide an increasing vertical cross-section in the direction of the pickup outlet which is toward the center of the drill bit body. In the preferred configuration, the vertical cross-sectional area with the pickup tube at any point is equal to the area of the inlet opening from that point radially outward to the outer extremity thereof. As a result, the flow rate of drilling fluid through the sweep pickup is constant and equal to the flow rate through the interior of the drill string.