Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus and method for directing drilling fluid to the cutting tip of a downhole drilling bit cutter by one or more flow channels formed in the upper section of the cutter's front surface, thereby maximizing the cleaning and cooling effect of the fluid flow on the actual cutting surface. Another embodiment of the present invention discloses an apparatus and method for helping to peel a rock chip from the face of a downhole drilling bit cutter while simultaneously cleaning and cooling the drill bit cutter cutting tip.

Abstract: A subterranean drill bit is provided that comprises a drill bit body having a base portion disposed about a longitudinal bit axis, a gauge portion disposed about the bit axis and extending from the base portion, and a face portion disposed about the bit axis extending from the gauge portion. The drill bit further includes a plurality of cutting elements fixedly disposed on and projecting from the face portion and spaced from one another. A hydrostatic bearing is disposed in the gauge portion to create a hydrostatically lubricated low friction zone that facilitates rotation of the drill bit without gripping of rotation of the drill bit is thereby maintained substantially at one location on the drill bit, which avoids backwards whirling and provides stable bit rotation.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit comprises a bit body having a shank for connection to a drill string and a passage for supplying drilling fluid to the face of the bit, which carries a plurality of polycrystalline diamond preform cutting elements. In order to reduce bit whirl, the cutting elements are so disposed as to apply a resultant lateral imbalance force to the bit as it rotates during drilling and the gauge of the bit body is provided with low friction bearing pads to transmit said resultant lateral force to the sides of the borehole. Each low friction bearing pad includes an outwardly facing cavity which is connected to the passage by a choked conduit so that, in use, drilling fluid under pressure is delivered to the cavity, which thereby acts as a low friction hydrostatic bearing surface.

Abstract: A flushing device for drilling tools comprises a guide member (10) carrying a drill bit (20) and being rotatably centered by the mouth of a casing tube (11) which is adapted to follow the drilling tool downhole during drilling. The drill bit (20) has a bit portion (22) that projects laterally beyond and is spaced axially in front of the casing tube (11) so as to drill a hole larger than the casing tube (11). There are external flushing grooves (70,71) on the guide member (10) adapted to lead the outflow of flushing medium and debris from the hole during drilling into the casing tube (11). At least one of these grooves (70) extends from front to rear of the guide member (10). One or more further grooves (71) are open towards said rear while ending blindly into the periphery of the guide member (10) spaced from its front. By retraction of the guide member (10) its front enters the casing tube (11).

Abstract: A drill string for top hammer drilling includes a drill bit, a set of central rod members for transferring impact energy to the drill bit, and a set of tubular members surrounding the rod members for transferring rotation to the drill bit. The rod members define a first internal channel for conducting flushing medium. The drill bit defines a second internal channel which extends rearwardly and penetrates a rear end of the drill bit to communicate with the first channel. The drill bit further includes a transverse channel disposed in an intermediate section of the drill bit and which is connected to the second channel. The transverse channel penetrates an envelope surface of the drill bit for conducting flushing medium out of the drill bit and into an enlarged space defined between the drill bit and the tubular member.

Abstract: A rock drill bit for continuous drilling through overburden and rock has a body with end and side surfaces. The drill bit is constructed for rotation in a predetermined direction. The body defines a conduit for compressed air which terminates at a port in the side surface of the body. The port is disposed to open in a direction facing generally away from the predetermined direction of rotation of the drill bit.

Abstract: A rock bit for a down-the-hole drill provides auxiliary flow paths for flushing the working face of the drill bit to facilitate the removal of cuttings and debris through peripheral troughs in the drill thereby significantly reducing the abrasive effect of the cuttings and debris on the bit body. The exhaust fluid is supplied to the working face of the drill bit through several delivery channels spaced equidistantly about the periphery of the drill head where a first set of delivery channels are disposed at acute angles to the central axis of the drill bit and a second set of delivery channels are interposed directly between the central bore of the drill bit and the working face.

Abstract: A post hole digger and a method of implanting a post in the ground. A boring implement having a piercing free end and also having an attachment flange is secured to an end portion of a post to be implanted in the ground. The implement has a tapered body section with a projecting serrated edge on opposed sides thereof. The serrated edges extend angularly from a common longitudinal plane and in opposed angular directions. A pipe section is secured to the implement and a garden hose is connected thereto whereby to direct a stream of water in the direction of said piercing free end whereby axial rotation and counter-rotation of said post causes the implement to bore into the ground to cause said post to descend in a bore hole. After the post is implanted the garden hose is disconnected from the pipe section by applying a pulling force on the hose.

Abstract: A tool is mounted in a holder, the holder including a fluid passage for discharging drilling fluid toward a cutting zone. Fluid flow is regulated by a valve in the holder. The valve includes a housing and a valve element movable in the housing. The valve element opens the valve in response to rearward displacement of the tool relative to the holder. The housing of the valve is also rearwardly displaceable relative to the holder whenever rearward forces transmitted from the tool are excessive, thereby avoiding the occurrence of damage to the valve. The valve housing is yiealdably biased forwardly by fluid pressure in the conduit.

Abstract: A rock drill bit having an elongated tubular body with a drilling head portion at one end and a trailing opposite end portion, the head end portion having attached hardened portions for engaging and drilling a work surface, at least one opening through the head end portion for drilling fluid to pass therethrough to the region of the drill face, at least one side of the bit having an axially extending cutout therealong forming an elongated passage with the surface of a bore being drilled through which the drilling fluid and drilling residue carried thereby can pass as it moves rearwardly along the drill bit away from the drill face, and transversely extending grooves formed in the portions of the body between the cutouts dividing the portions into a plurality of spaced outwardly extending body portions.

Abstract: An improved rotating drag bit for cutting plastic, sticky, water reactive and shale formations is devised by providing a plurality of large diamond cutters having a circular cutting face in excess of three quarter inch in diameter. Each large cutter is provided with at least one hydraulic nozzle which in turn provides a directed hydraulic flow at the corresponding cutter face. The directed hydraulic flow is positioned to apply a force to the chip which tends to peel the chip away from the cutter face. In addition, the hydraulic flow is positioned with respect to the chip so as to apply on off-center torque to the chip which is used to peel the chip away from the cutter face and toward the gage of the bit. In particular, the nozzle defines a jet which is characterized by a direction and velocity of hydraulic fluid determined by the jet characteristics. The core is generally symmetric about its longitudinal axis and has a length along the longitudinal axis and width perpendicular thereto.

Abstract: An improved overburden eliminator rock drill bit (10) is provided which includes a cylindrical body (12), cutting inserts (14) mounted thereon, and squared grooves (16) formed along the length of body (12) in a vertically tapered fashion. The taper of grooves (16) is counterclockwise in slope when viewed from the top, i.e. as viewed from above rearward end (20). Cutting face (22) engages overburden as cutting edges (30) cut overburden material so that it may be blown upwardly along grooves (16) by fluid pressure exerted through openings (32). The taper of grooves (16) serves to facilitate the upward migration of overburden material during the counter clockwise rotary action of bit (10).

Abstract: A cutter pick for a mining machine has a lug carrying a cutting tip of hard, abrasion resistant material at its forward end. A passage extends through the lug with provision at its rearward end for connection to a source of high pressure liquid and with a nozzle at its leading end venting through the cutting tip. The intention is that high pressure liquid issueing from the nozzle will degrade the rock before it is attacked by the cutting tip.

Abstract: A directional drill bit utilizing pressurized fluid as a means for eroding earth in a forward path of the bit and being used to drill at least a portion of an arcuate path, comprises an elongate hollow body having two sections joined one to the other by a flexible joint, a box end connection, a jet nozzle, an articulation device comprising a spring and a stop, the articulation device being responsive to changes in fluid pressure by permitting a forward portion of the bit bearing the nozzle structure to change angular position with respect to an aft portion of the bit, by the forward portion moving from a first position relative to the aft portion to a second position relative to the aft portion.

Abstract: A drill bit includes a drill bit body, a cutting member and a fluid course extending in front of the cutting member. The fluid course includes a progressively widening diffuser having a particular design which allows pressure recovery in a fluid flowed through an axial bore of the drill bit body, through a narrow throat of the fluid course in front of the cutting member, and out the progressively widening diffuser of the fluid course. As a result, a significantly reduced pressure is obtained in front of the cutting member, which reduced pressure is below a borehole pressure where the drill bit is used.

Abstract: A drilling tool including cutting teeth carried by rollers or conically-shaped wheels, with an irrigation arrangement being provided for delivering at least one irrigation fluid jet through a calibrated orifice. A center of the fluid jet at an outlet of the orifice is disposed at a distance from a plane perpendicular to an axis of the tool passing through an apex of the teeth of the drilling tool as viewed from a working face of the drilling tool. A magnitude of the tool diameter, height of the teeth, and distance are determined in accordance with the following relationships:d>1.8 H and0.125D<d<0.185 Dwhere:d=a distance between a center of the outlet orifice of a plane perpidencular to the tool axis and passing through tips of the teeth nearest to the working face of the drilling tool;H=a height of the teeth of the drilling tool; andD=a diameter of the drilling tool.

Abstract: An improved rotating drag bit for cutting plastic, sticky, water reactive and shale formations is devised by providing a plurality of large diamond cutters having a circular cutting face in excess of one inch in diameter. Each large cutter is provided with at least one hydraulic nozzle which in turn provides a directed hydraulic flow at the corresponding cutter face. The directed hydraulic flow is positioned to apply a force to the chip which tends to peel the chip away from the cutter face. In addition, the hydraulic flow is positioned with respect to the chip so as to apply an off-center torque to the chip which is used to peel the chip away from the cutter face and toward the gage of the bit. In particular, the nozzle defines a jet which is characterized by a direction and velocity of hydraulic fluid determined by the jet characteristics. The core is generally symmetric about its longitudinal axis and has a length along the longitudinal axis and width perpendicular thereto.

Abstract: An improved bit and method for cutting plastic and sticky rock formations, which tend to cause bit balling, is provided by a drag bit having a cutting face formed of a plurality of generally radially extending open arched blades. Each arched blade is provided with a cutting face and defines a cavity beneath the arched to the bit body. In a preferred embodiment, the cutting elements on the arched blade are a plurality of synthetic polycrystalline diamonds which are cut, sized and shaped to comformally fit with each other so as to present a substantially diamond-only surface as a cutting surface of the bit. Hydraulic nozzles are defined in the bit body beneath and azimuthally behind the arches formed by each blade. The nozzles direct hydraulic flow across the cavity under the arch and across each portion of the cutting face on the arch.

Abstract: A nozzle retention system for a drill bit which includes a nozzle member which is retained by means of a keyway in the bit body. The bit body can include a partially cylindrical bore, truncated by opposing walls to form a lower contact surface within the bit body. The nozzle will be conformed to pass through the bore in a first orientation, and to be retained in the bore and against such contact surface when the nozzle is rotated to the second orientation.

Abstract: A drill bit is provided which includes cutting elements cooperatively arranged with apertures in the bit to define flow paths for hydraulic flow proximate each cutting element. Cutting elements are preferably arranged in cutting pads which generally surround the apertures, such that hydraulic flow is forced to flow across the entire surface of the cutting pad. The dimensions of the cutting pad may be varied so as to control the hydraulic flow.

Abstract: A drill bit has a cylindrical main body, a formation cutting face at the lower end of the body, and means by which the upper end of the bit can be connected into a drill string. A drilling fluid flow passageway extends axially through the main body and provides flow of drilling fluid to the drilling face. The passageway contains flow restrictions for balancing the flow of drilling fluid onto the bit face. The restrictors contain diffusing stages for reducing the velocity of the drilling fluid. Flow isolating paths are formed on the bit face to prevent diversion or channeling of fluid flow on the bit face.

Abstract: A drill string has a bulge equipped with a system of n injection ducts connecting the interior of the string surrounding annular space and opening upwardly into the space to divert a part of the drilling fluid supplied to the bit. This arrangement makes it possible to produce below the bulge a pressure decrease H markedly greater than 10 meters of water by setting the flow of drilling fluid in the system of injection ducts at a value, expressed in m.sup.3 /s, equal to approximately: .sqroot.10H.times.S.times.s33 n, S and s being the cross-sections, expressed in m.sup.2, respectively, of a part of the portion of the annular space included between the periphery of the bulge and the drill string and of the group of n injection ducts.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit contains a plurality of cutting elements. Each cutting element includes a stud and a cutting disk mounted on the stud. The cutting disk comprises a substrate and a diamond layer bonded to the substrate. The cutting disk comprises a relief formed in an outer peripheral edge of the substrate and diamond layer at a formation-contacting point of the diamond layer, to form a pair of cutting points separated by the relief. The stud includes a channel aligned with the relief for conducting fluid to the relief to cool and clean the cutting points. The stud may include a fluid passage for conducting drilling fluid directly to the channel.

Abstract: A drag type rotary bit (10) having a plurality of arcuate blades (24A-24E) each having a row of cutting elements (36A-36G) thereon. The cutting elements (36A-36G) are arranged on the arcuate blades (24A-24E) with around one-half of the length of the arcuate blades (24A-24B) being positioned adjacent the outer periphery (20) of the bit body (12) to provide a relatively long length mounting area or the cutting elements (36D-36G) at the gage (20). Deep grooves (26) are provided adjacent each of the blades (24A-24E) and provide a relatively large passage for the outwardly flow of drilling fluid and entrained cuttings.

Abstract: A drill bit for drilling deep holes in subsurface formations comprises a bit body having a generally hemispherical leading face and a gauge region, and two blades each extending spirally outwardly across the leading face of the bit body away from the axis of rotation, a cavity of substantial peripheral and axial extent being formed in the bit body on the forward side of each blade, and communicating with an associated exit channel in the gauge region. A plurality of cutting elements are mounted along each blade, the cutting elements being mounted closely adjacent one another side-by-side along the blade so that their cutting edges together form a single long cutting edge without substantial discontinuities. A passage in the bit body supplies drilling fluid to nozzles in the cavities for cooling and cleaning the cutting elements, fluid from the nozzles sweeping past the cutting elements and out through the exit channels.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatus for agitating and heating a sub-surface volume of soil to liberate volatile compositions therefrom which are transmitted through a special flow passage created through the soil to the soil surface where they are analysed to determine the presence or absence of selected contaminants. A low pressure sink is provided to ensure proper flow of volatiles rapidly to the surface and to prevent contamination of adjacent soil blocks or cylinders during treatment.

Abstract: A drag type bit is equipped with nozzles for creating high velocity mud jets discharging into waterways in front of the wings of the bit, which nozzles are oriented such that each jet successively strikes the borehole bottom and front face of a wing at a small angle.

Abstract: A drill bit for use in unconsolidated formations includes a generally triangular cross-section that tapers toward the lower tip end of the tool. The vertices of the triangular cross-section carry blade members that cut and define the size of the bore hole. Nozzles positioned between the blades and upon the tapered portion of the tool break up unconsolidated formation material that has been cut.

Abstract: A reverse circulation down-the-hole hammer drill apparatus for drilling rock and overburden comprises a fluid-driven piston which reciprocates in an annular chamber to repeatedly strike a bit suspended at one end of the chamber, for example in a splined mounting. Fluid is exhausted through the bit directly to the face of the bit and cuttings and debris are returned via a central throughbore in the bit and in the drill apparatus to the surface. The bit drops forward on encountering a void during drilling operations to open by-pass passages which exhaust fluid directly into the throughbore temporarily so as to prevent any loss of return of sample to the surface.

Abstract: A mining drill bit for attachment to a hollow drill steel is provided with water openings in the head thereof on either side of a planar cutting member in close proximity to the leading edges thereof. Preferably the water openings are in addition radially and axially proximate to the chisel edge of the cutting member. Water injected into the end of a bore hole through the water openings efficiently removes drillings from the vicinity of the cutting member. Two planar slurry surfaces formed on diametrically opposite sides of drill bit head and truncating the circumference of the head at the base thereof so as to form chordal lips funnel water injected into the end of the bore hole and cuttings removed from the vicinity of the cutting member away from the end of the bore hole for removal therefrom in two localized columns of high velocity flow that scour accumulations of cuttings from the walls of the bore hole.

Abstract: A fishtail type drag bit having abradable cutter blades attached to a body of the bit is disclosed. A multiplicity of axially aligned tubes are welded together to form a blade each blade being sustantially parallel with an axis of the bit body. Each tube of the blade contains an annulus of a diamond cutter material matrix. The center of the annulus forms a fluid conduit that communicates with a fluid plenum chamber formed by the body of the bit. The cutting edge of the diamond matrix therefore, is always immediately adjacent the fluid nozzle regardless of the degree of blade erosion during operation of the bit in a subterranean formation.

Abstract: A drag type rotary bit (10) having polycrystaline diamond compact (PDC) cutting elements arranged in a plurality of rows extending from the center of the bit body (12) to the outer peripheral surface (20) thereof. A fluid discharge nozzle (38A-38F) is provided for each row of cutting elements (36A-36G) and has a fluid discharge stream (62) directed downwardly against the bore hole bottom (66) and opposite the direction of rotation of the bit (10) ahead of the associated row of cutting elements (36A-36G) for flowing against the cutting faces (53) of the cutting elements (36A-36G) after impingement of the bore hole bottom (66).

Abstract: A nozzle for a drill bit comprises a nozzle body and a ring for securing the nozzle body in a threaded cavity of the drill bit. The nozzle body includes a fluid passage of the orientable type. The ring comprises an externally threaded sleeve and a cap bonded to a front end thereof. The cap and nozzle body are formed of harder materials than the threaded sleeve. The cap contains dove-tail shaped slots for receiving complementarily shaped projections on a tool to enable the ring to be rotated relative to the nozzle body. By threading the ring into the cavity, the nozzle body can be secured in the cavity with its fluid passage oriented in the desired final orientation.

Abstract: Hydraulic drilling apparatus and method suitable for use in a variety of applications including the drilling of deep holes for oil and gas wells and the drilling of vertical, horizontal or slanted holes, drilling through both consolidated and unconsolidated formations, and cutting and removing core samples. The drill head produces a whirling mass of pressurized cutting fluid, and this whirling fluid is applied to a discharge nozzle to produce a high velocity cutting jet. The cutting action is enhanced by abrasive material in the drilling fluid. The direction of the borehole is controlled by controlling the discharge of the drilling fluid either in side jets directed radially from the distal end portion of the drill string which carries the drill head or in a plurality of forwardly directed cutting jets.

Abstract: A replaceable fluid nozzle is provided for well hole drill bits. The nozzle includes a main discharge port directed downward between adjacent cutting cones of the drill bit, and two side discharge ports directed toward the leading and trailing cutter cone backfaces, respectively. The side discharge ports direct jets of drilling fluid to wash away formation fines and shale packings from around the cutter cone bearing seals. The side jets of fluid remove abrasive particles to prolong the life of the cutter cone bearings and seals.

Abstract: A drag type drilling bit having a plurality of radially disposed raised lands on the bit face is disclosed. A multiplicity of polycrystalline diamond compacts are strategically disposed on the raised lands. At least a pair of lands are joined at the outside periphery of the bit thereby closing the valley formed between the lands, thus forming a plenum for drilling fluid that exits the bit interior through ports or nozzles communicating therewith. Highly turbulent fluid confined in the plenum continually scrubs and scavenges the hole bottom while simultaneously and uniformly cooling and cleaning the PDC cutters during operation of the bit in a borehole.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit (10) has a nozzle assembly (24) positioned within a nozzle bore (22). Nozzle assembly (24) has a nozzle member (34) with a port (40) deviated from the longitudinal axis of the nozzle member (34). A retaining nut (54) is threaded within the threaded bore (22) while the nozzle member (34) is held against rotation thereby to maintain the port (40) in a predetermined rotational position upon final installation.

Abstract: A mineral cutter tip 14 comprises a bottom face 15 and a rear face 16 located in "V"-formation whereby the tip 14 is, in use, seated in a "V"-notch 7 provided in a head 2 of a mineral cutter pick 1, the tip 14 further comprising a front cutting face 17 and, reawardly thereof, a water-conveying slit or slot 20 provided intermediate opposed, lateral side faces 19 of the tip 14, and having a water inlet end 23 emerging at the rear face 16 of the tip 14 and a water outlet end 24 emerging at the top face 18 of the tip 14. The invention also includes a pick 1 provided with a tip 14 as defined.

Abstract: In a rotatable cutting bit of the type for delivering water under pressure to the work area being cut, the head portion includes an annular recess including a plurality of outlet ports facing forwardly and protected from the rearward flow of material being cut.

Abstract: In a subterranean drilling operation, a drill stem and drill bit are advanced downwardly while conducting compressed air downwardly through the drill stem. A minor part of the air flow is discharged from the drill bit downwardly against the sensible overburden, and a major part of the air flow is discharged upwardly through passages in the drill stem. A casing is disposed around the drill stem and advanced therewith so that the sensible overburden is shielded from the air discharged from the upwardly directed passages. The upwardly directed passages contain removable inserts which can be exchanged for different inserts in order to vary the amount of air discharged from the upwardly directed passages, and thereby vary the amount of air discharged downwardly from the drill bit against the overburden. In that way, the amount of air acting against the overburden can be adapted to the type of material in the overburden in order to control the amount of disruption to the overburden.

Abstract: A borehole drill construction comprising a cylindrical casing, a chuck mounted on one end of the casing by means of a screw-thread and a cutter head carried by the chuck. The chuck has at least one axially projecting dog thereon which is received in a corresponding recess in the cutter head to provide a means to transmit torque from the casing to the cutter head via the chuck. The cutter head is retained on the bit by at least one plug projecting into a slot in the cutter head, which is permitted limited axial movement thereby.

Abstract: Disclosed is a drill bit for use downhole in oil and gas wells. It is particularly adoptable for use in removing obstructions such as well packers which may become jammed within the casings of oil and gas wells. Cutters are arranged on the cutting face of the drill bit in arc-like patterns of decreasing radius. The shear angle of each cutter combined with the arc-like pattern in which the cutters are arranged serve to direct the cuttings and drilling debris inward toward the central bore. Fluid can be pumped down through the well casing and circulated about the drill bit through longitudinal channels provided in the main body of the drill bit. In such manner, the fluid circulates downward within the casing and across the cutting face of the drill bit carrying the cuttings and drilling debris up through the central bore thus preventing the cuttings in drilling debris from building up within the casing or causing the drill bit to jam within the casing.

Abstract: A nozzle assembly for enlarging an inground passageway produced by, for example, a boring device is disclosed herein. The nozzle assembly is comprised of a longitudinally extending nozzle body defining an interior cavity adapted to receive fluid under pressure from an external source and at least one arrangement of outwardly facing adjacent stepped surfaces which provide longitudinally spaced cutting jets directed normal to the movement of the boring device and nozzle assembly as the latter moves through a previously provided passageway in order to progressively enlarge the passageway.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit comprises a bit body carrying a plurality of cutting elements and a main conduit for conducting drilling fluid. A plurality of nozzle bodies is rotatably seated in bores of the bit body. Each nozzle body includes a plurality of passages extending therethrough for conducting drilling fluid in such manner that the exiting fluid causes the nozzle body to rotate about its longitudinal axis. The exiting fluid is thus distributed in a wider pattern.

Abstract: A method and improvement to drilling tools efficient cleaning of the cutting face. The method improves the removal of cuttings from a drilling tool rotating, more especially on itself in operation, about the axis of the tool, said tool comprising a body having a first end adapted for connection to rotary drive means and the second end defining a cutting face. The zone of said second end adajcent said axis is designated as the central part of the tool and said tool comprises at least one nozzle. The method consists in positioning said nozzles so as to produce a flow orientated towards the central part of the tool, the vector obtained by the orthogonal projection on a plane perpendicular to the axis of the tool of the speed of said flow in the central part of the tool being zero at any point of said central part, said vector forming the effective speed vector.

Abstract: A method and a drilling tool are provided improving removal of spoil during drilling. The method allows the spoil to be removed from a drilling tool rotating, more especially on itself in operation, about a proper axis, or axis of the tool, said tool comprising a body a first end of which is adapted for connection to rotary drive means and the second end of which, said second end comprising water passages, defines the cutting face, the zone of said second end adjacent said axis is called central part of the tool, said tool comprises at least one nozzle. The method consists in positioning said nozzle in a water passage for producing a flow orientated towards the central part of the tool, and since the vector obtained by the orthogonal projection on a plane perpendicular to the axis of the tool of the speed of said flow in the central part of the tool is zero at any point of said central part, said vector will be qualified as effective speed vector.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit comprises a bit body having a leading face and a gauge region, a number of blades on the leading face of the bit body, and a number of cutting elements mounted along each blade. A passage in the bit body supplies drilling fluid to nozzles in the leading face of the bit body for cooling and cleaning the cutting elements. Each nozzle is so oriented, and the surface of the bit body in the region in front of each blade is so shaped, as to promote a vortex flow of drilling fluid around said region, with part of the periphery of the vortex extending across the cutting elements on the blade, so that fluid in the periphery of the vortex passes across the cutting elements mounted on each blade before escaping through an exit channel in the gauge region.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an erosion resistant down hole rock drill bit which utilizes a radial distribution of carbide cutter bits or buttons about the exhaust hole. This minimizes carbide wash or removal of base metal which retains the carbide and thereby extends bit life.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit, for drilling wells in subsurface earth formations, and designed for rotation in a given direction, comprises a bit body having an internal passageway for drilling fluid. The bit body has an operating end face and at least one opening through that face communicating with the passageway. Cutters on the bit body form at least one elongate cutting region extending generally radially along a substantial portion of the operating end face. The cutters have cutting surfaces facing in the forward direction and generally continuous cutting edges at the outer extremity of the cutting surfaces. An elongate fence is carried on the bit body, extending generally parallel to the cutting region and spaced from the cutting region in a leading direction.

Abstract: A rotating diamond bit has a cutting face that includes a plurality of cutters and nozzles affixed thereto in spaced relationship respective to one another. A passageway extends through the bit body for flow of fluid through the bit connection to each of the nozzles. Each nozzle has an outlet orifice arranged to direct a lateral flow therefrom which impinges on the cutting face of each of the diamond compacts. The nozzles and compacts are arranged in groups, with there being a plurality of cutters and at least one nozzle in each group. The lateral flow from the nozzles diverges in a fan-like pattern to impinge directly onto the cutting face of each of the plurality of cutters.