Abstract: Methods for forming fixed-cutter earth-boring drill bits include retrieving a forged steel drill bit body from an inventory of substantially identical forged steel drill bit bodies including fixed blades and junk slots between the fixed blades. Cutter pockets are formed in the blades. Nozzle holes are formed in the drill bit body to provide fluid communication from an interior of the forged steel drill bit body to the junk slots. Additional methods include forging first and second steel drill bit bodies substantially identical in shape and configuration, forming first cutter pockets in the first steel drill bit body in a first configuration, and forming second cutter pockets in the second steel drill bit body in a second, different configuration.

Abstract: A diamond coated tip for a non-rotatable bit/holder for road milling operations that includes an overlay of diamond material and a base. An outer surface of the overlay including a tip, at least two parabolic sections, and a generally cylindrical section. The overlay can also include an overfill portion of adjacent the generally cylindrical section.

Abstract: A rock drill bit includes a head provided at one end of an elongate shank. A plurality of fluid flushing passageways extend axially from an internal bore extending through the shank with at least one fluid flushing passageway having an exit end at the front face formed as an elongate slot having a length greater than a width to facilitate the rearward transport of cut rock fragment.

Abstract: A drill bit includes a tool body having a main body in the form of a cylinder. A chip removing structure is provided on the main body. The tool body has a distal end provided with a clamping slot and a cutter inlaid in the clamping slot. The cutter has at least two blade portions arranged circumferentially on the distal end of the tool body and extending radially relative to the tool body. Each of the blade portions has a front side along the drill bit's rotating direction and a back side against the rotating direction. The clamping slot covers the back side of one blade portion by an area larger than that used to cover the front side of the same blade portion.

Abstract: A percussive rock drill bit includes a plurality of peripheral gauge buttons distributed circumferentially around an axially forwardmost collar at the drill head. The gauge buttons are grouped into pairs such that the central axes of neighboring gauge buttons are aligned substantially parallel to one another and are not centered on a longitudinal axis of the bit. Enlarged flushing grooves are located at the annular collar to provide a segmented collar configuration optimized for flushing cut material rearwardly from the drill bit.

Abstract: A piloted rock drill bit includes an integral body having a pilot drill section, a reaming section and a mounting base section extending along a longitudinal axis. The reaming section includes four wings extending from the longitudinal axis in an “X” pattern. A cutting carbide member is secured to each wing. Waste debris ejection slots extend radially into the reaming section between the wings. The pilot drill section includes a post. A leading carbide member is secured to the post. The leading carbide member includes a pair of sloped surfaces extending forwardly towards each other and intersecting at a leading cutting edge which extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The leading cutting edge and sloped surfaces extend along a crescent shaped arc. An air delivery bore extends through the body to discharge openings located between the leading cutting edge and wings which extend radially perpendicular to the leading cutting edge.

Abstract: A polycrystalline diamond drill bit for percussion drilling, in small holes in high silica ground. The bits are made having a bit body, and a series of insets locating in the bit body, and the bits are made using a double chisel design, or a modified double chisel design. The inserts are set into the bit body at very specific angles. The inserts have specific lengths to provide cut clearance for the bit body. The cutting angle the and radius on the tip of each insert in addition to the diameter of the inserts, provide a machine thrust pressure and machine torque pressure at low ranges when the PCD bits are used in percussion drilling.

Abstract: A roof-bolt drill bit. The roof-bolt drill bit may include a bit body rotatable about a central axis and a cutting element coupled to the bit body. The bit body may comprise a forward end, a rearward end axially spaced away from the forward end, and an internal passage defined within the bit body, with the internal passage extending from a rearward opening defined in the rearward end of the bit body through at least a portion of the bit body. A fluid port is configured to direct fluid from the internal passage through a port opening in a direction that forms an angle with respect to a forward direction of the central axis.

Abstract: A drilling apparatus is adapted for connection to a drill string such that the drill string rotates the drilling apparatus in a rotational cutting motion. The drilling apparatus includes a sonde housing having a distal end and a proximal end. The sonde housing includes a top platform positioned adjacent the distal end of the sonde housing and further includes a tongue positioned on the top platform. The drilling apparatus further includes a rotary cutting tool mounted to the distal end of the sonde housing.

Abstract: A drill bit for drilling a borehole in earthen formations comprising a bit body having a bit axis and a bit face. In addition, the drill bit comprises a primary blade extending radially along the bit face, the primary blade including a cutter-supporting surface that defines a blade profile in rotated profile view extending from the bit axis to an outer radius of the bit body. The blade profile is continuously contoured and includes a plurality of concave regions. Further, the drill bit comprises a plurality of cutter elements mounted to the cutter-supporting surface of the primary blade. Each cutter element on the primary blade has a forward-facing cutting face with a cutting edge adapted to penetrate and shear the earthen formation.

Abstract: A drill bit comprising a body intermediate a threaded shank and a working face with the working face comprising a plurality of blades converging towards a center of the working face and diverging towards a gauge of the working face. Junk slots comprising a base are formed by the plurality of blades. At least one blade comprising at least one culling surface with a carbide substrate is bonded to a diamond working end. At least one high pressure nozzle is disposed between at least two blades and within a nozzle bore formed into an elevated surface extending from the base of the junk slots. The elevated surface is disposed adjacent the diamond working end of the least one blade.

Abstract: A rotary drag bit including an inverted cone geometry proximate the longitudinal axis thereof is disclosed. The inverted cone region may include a central region, the central region including a plurality of cutting structures affixed thereto and arranged along at least one spiral path. The at least one spiral path may encircle its center of revolution at least once within the inverted cone region. A cone region displacement and a method for manufacturing a rotary drag bit therewith are disclosed. At least one groove may be formed within the cone region displacement along a respective at least one spiral path, the at least one spiral path encircling its center of revolution at least once. A plurality of cutting structures may be placed within the at least one groove and the cone region displacement may be placed within a mold for filling with an infiltratable powder and infiltrating with a hardenable infiltrant.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for horizontal ground-boring, in particular for rock-boring, by a rotating and hammering driven ground-boring device, whereby the device is alternately or simultaneously supplied with compressed air and drilling medium and the compressed air and drilling medium are supplied through a channel.

Abstract: A drag-type drill bit for bore hole drilling in earth formation comprises a bit body having a threaded pin on one end for coupling to a drill string. A substantially dome-shaped cutter head is formed integral with the bit body opposite from the threaded pin. Formed integral with and extending from the cutter head is a plurality of circumferentially spaced fixed and/or variable pitch spiral blades having a succession of curved segments. The variable pitch pattern curves from substantially the center of and around the cutter head to the gage area. A plurality of generally cylindrical cutting elements, such as PDC elements, are fixed to each of the spiral blades and a plurality of nozzles are positioned around the cutter head to direct drilling fluid passing through the bit body against the blades to the annulus surrounding the bit body and the bore hole.

Abstract: In a pilot head 20 to be used in a ground drilling machine, the injection ports 22A for injecting digging liquid are directed rearward and angularly separated from the axis of rotation N by an obtuse angle &thgr;1 (168E). With this arrangement, when digging a leading hole D from a starting pit, the flow rate of digging liquid flowing from the front end of the leading hole D toward the starting pit can be increased to efficiently deliver soil produced by the digging operation to remarkably improve the soil removing efficiency.

Abstract: A drill bit for directional boring of all earth formations such as dirt, sand, rock and/or any type combination of formations, utilizing a bit body containing fixed and semi-floating cutting points and one or more fluid channels for the purpose of lubricating and dispersing cut and/or fractured formations.

Abstract: A collared boring bit which interfaces with a boring head whereby shear forces developed during a boring operation are transmitted through the collar to the boring head, with minimal shear force being carried by the bolts. A bit collar is welded to a boring bit, wherein a head receptacle formed collectively of the bit collar and the boring bit seatably receives a boring head with substantially close clearance so that shear forces during boring operations are transmitted from the boring bit to the boring head through the bit collar. The preferred bit collar is fabricated from a pipe section, such as for example steel seamless pipe. A bit recess is cut for interfacing with a boring bit at the head face connection thereof. A head recess is cut opposite the bit recess for providing an exit for the water spray from the nozzle thereof.

Abstract: A rotary drag-type drill bit, for drilling holes in subsurface formations, comprises a bit body having a leading face and a gauge region, a number of blades formed on the leading face of the bit and extending outwardly away from the axis of the bit so as to define between the blades fluid channels leading towards junk slots in the gauge region. Cutting elements are mounted along each blade, and nozzles in the bit body supply drilling fluid to the leading face of the bit for cleaning and cooling the cutting elements. At least some of said blades each have a leading edge which is non-linear, or convexly or concavely curved, as viewed axially of the bit, as it extends outwardly away from the axis of the bit. Blades of different shapes may be located alternately around the axis of the bit. The junk slots at the gauge region, and the kickers between which they are formed, may vary in width around the periphery of the bit, and may be inclined to the axis of the bit.

Abstract: A method for directional boring of all earth formations such as dirt, sand, rock and/or any type combination of formations, utilizing a bit body containing fixed and semi-floating cutting points and one or more fluid channels for the purpose of lubricating and dispersing cut and/or fractured formations.

Abstract: A rock drill bit for percussive drilling includes a head and a shank. The shank has a central boring in which a thread is provided. The thread cooperates with a corresponding thread in a drill string driven by a top hammer. The boring is connected to at least one fluid passage which emerges in or in the vicinity of a front face of the head. The fluid passage connects to a first groove which connects to a second groove, wherein at least three second grooves are provided and form between them axially forward lands. Each land carries a gauge insert. The gauge inserts are asymmetrically positioned on the drill bit, and the second groove extends radially inwards to or beyond an imaginary circle touching the radially innermost points of the inserts.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit for drilling holes in subsurface formations comprises a bit body having a leading face and a gauge region, and a plurality of blades formed on the leading face of the bit body and extending outwardly away from the axis of the bit towards the gauge region so as to define a fluid flow channel between the leading edge of each blade and the trailing edge of the adjacent preceding blade. A plurality of cutting elements are mounted along the leading edge of each blade, and there is provided, in one or more of the channels, a main nozzle which directs fluid along the leading edge of one blade so as to clean and cool the cutting elements on it, and a subsidiary nozzle which is located and orientated so as to direct fluid along the trailing edge of the preceding blade in a direction opposite to the direction of flow from the main nozzle, so as to tend to enhance partial recirculation of fluid flow in the flow channel between the blades.

Abstract: A rock drill includes an axially elongated shank with a chucking shank part (1) at one end, a drilling shank part (2) extending from the chucking shank part and having at least four drilled material conveying flutes (4, 5, 6, 7) disposed next to one another in a parallel manner, and a drilling head at the opposite end of the shank and formed of hard metal and having four removal flutes (8, 9, 10, 11) spaced apart about its outer circumferential surface. The removal flutes have transverse cross-section of different size and each of the transverse cross-sections of the removal flutes (8, 9, 10, 11) open into one of the conveying flutes (4, 5, 6, 7) of the drilling shank part.

Abstract: In an earth boring device with a boring head (14) rotatable about its axis (16), which boring head for the control of its direction has a control surface (18) inclined to its axis (16) and at least one jet (20) for the discharge of a pressurized boring fluid, with the jet openings being arranged on a side of the boring head parallel to the axis of the boring head and facing away from the control surface (18), the axial spacing of the jets from the boring head tip and their stream direction are so chosen that in the use of the boring head the streams escaping from the jets reach essentially only the region of earth lying to the side of the boring head.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for drilling a horizontal controlled borehole in the earth includes a drill frame, a drill string and a downhole tool. The drill frame includes a wrench attached to the frame for assisting in breaking and forming joints. The downhole tool includes removable blade assemblies having, for example, stepped or spade-like profiles and hard facing at areas of primary contact with the soil. When fluid is added for cooling, lubricating and flushing away cuttings, the downhole tool can include a nozzle parallel to the centerline of the longitudinal axis of the drill string, a check valve means for preventing downhole particles from entering the fluid passageway and/or a transmitter protecting waterproof plug for diverting fluid to a fluid passageway and for allowing an on-board downhole transmitter to be near the drill bit. Also, the blade assembly can be placed so as to divert fluid from the nozzle to an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the drill string.

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 device for forming an elongated hole in the ground, comprising a hollow, flexible conduit, a head (2') which is connected to one end of the conduit and which is fitted with at least one nozzle (5') through which fluid passing along the conduit under pressure is delivered in such a direction and under such pressure that when the head is not in rotation, the head will form a hole of curved configuration and such that when the head rotates about its longitudinal axis and the conduit is moved forwards in the hole-forming direction the head will form a substantially straight hole, the end of the head facing towards the hole-forming direction being provided with a surface which is positioned obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the head and which assists the head in forming a curved hole.

Abstract: Boring apparatus for forming a generally horizontal underground passage for a utility conduit or the like that includes a tool head with elongated body structure and a cutting face of ellipto-conical form at one end of the elongated body structure. The cutting face has a major axis and a minor axis and cutting bit structure is fixed to and projects forwardly from the cutting face and extends substantially the full width of the cutting face generally along the major axis. The tool head also includes coupling structure for attaching the tool head to a drill string such that the cutting tool face is offset from the drill string axis. Structure in the cutting face defines a cutting fluid orifice adjacent the cutting bit structure for directing a high velocity jet of cutting fluid forwardly of the cutting tool face.

Abstract: A method of boring a hole in the earth such as for passing under obstacles, not limited, but including roadways, rivers, dikes, canals or other inexcessible areas where it is impossible to trench a ditch including the steps of advancing a rotating drill string in a direction inclined to the earth's surface to establish a borehole, stopping the rotation and advancement of the drill string, aligning the drill pipe so that the drill bit is inclined at an angle relative to the axis of the drill string towards a new direction desired for the borehole, advancing the drill string and drill bit a short distance without rotation, resuming rotation advancement of the drill string for a short distance, sequentially repeating the steps of advancing the rotationally aligned drill string without rotation to move the drill bit in the newly desired direction, followed by rotation with simultaneous advancement until the new direction of drilling is achieved, after which, until a still different direction is desired, drilling

Abstract: A rock drill having a drilling head which, in an asymmetric arrangement relative to the main cutting tip, has at least one additional secondary cutting tip, the angle enclosed between the single cutting edge of the main cutting tip and the secondary cutting tip being formed as an acute angle.

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: 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 use in drilling deep holes in subsurface formations comprises a bit body having a leading face and a gauge region, a plurality of cutting elements mounted at the surface of the leading face of the bit body, a passage in the bit body for supplying drilling fluid to a plurality of openings in the leading face of the bit body, and one or more junk slots in the gauge region of the bit body, whereby drilling fluid emerging from the openings flow over the leading face of the bit body and past the cutting elements thereon, so as to cool and clean the cutting elements before exiting through the junk slot.

Abstract: A boring head for duo-pipe drilling apparatus comprises a body having a passage for material return extending therethrough from the cutting end to the coupling end, the passage having an inlet at the cutting end displaced from the axis of rotation of the head and extending substantially across the full radius thereof, and an exit at the coupling end co-axial with the axis of rotation. The cutting end comprises one or more teeth having attacking edges overlying the inlet and beveled for mechanically displacing material into the inlet upon rotation of the head. Fluid supply galleries open into the passage for directing pressurized fluid from the duo-pipe system towards the exit of the passage for flushing cut material to the exit. The coupling end of the boring head is adapted for connection to the duo-pipe system with the annular passage of the duo-pipe system in communication with the fluid supply galleries and with the inner tube of the duo-pipe system in communication with the exit of the passage.

Abstract: A full bore drag-type well drilling bit comprises a bit body having an operating end face defining a plurality of upsets. Each of the upsets has a leading edge surface and at least one recess extending through the leading edge surface into the upset. The end face of the bit body further comprises a plurality of flow channels, each such leading edge surface having one such flow channel extending therealong and inset therefrom. At least some of the upsets have a plurality of such recesses spaced therealong. The bit body further has a plurality of circulation ports opening through its end face and a plurality of nozzles, each nozzle being mounted in a respective one of the ports. The number of nozzles is less than the number of flow channels. At least some of the nozzles communicate with more than one such flow channel, and the transverse cross-sectional flow area of each of the nozzles is substantially less than those of individual ones of the channels communicating therewith.

Abstract: A solid head earth boring bit has a central tungsten carbide core sealed at the lower end of a drilling fluid passage that extends through the bit to the face of the bit. The core has a nozzle passage extending through it that is offset from the axis of the drilling fluid passage. The core also has at least one cutting element secured to its face. The cutting elements are secured in holes in the core.

Abstract: A drilling device comprises a drilling head including a rotating body through which runs a duct for supplying, under pressure, air, or mud, or water or other drilling fluid. At least one rotating cutting element is mounted on a shaft fixed on the rotating body so that the axes of rotation of the rotating body and of the cutting element diverge in the drilling direction. The cutting element is a disc having a ring-shaped cutting part. The rotating body bears on the opposite side to that bearing the rotating shaft of the disc a counter-reacting element placed in such a way that the element rests against the drilling wall to center the drilling head by compensating for the radial component of the reaction of the ground on the disc and to strengthen the wall. The point of contact of the element and wall which is highest up on the device is no higher than the highest point of the ring-shaped cutting part.

Abstract: A high strength, modular screw anchor is disclosed which exhibits enhanced failure resistance notwithstanding use of essentially the same amount of material as conventional anchors, and which can be installed using existing installation equipment. The preferred screw anchors of the invention include an elongated rod having one or more separate, specialized anchor members supported thereon, and an improved, obliquely oriented, beveled earth-penetrating lead to facilitate installation, particularly in rocky soils. The anchor member includes a tubular, central, rod-receiving hub presenting a polygonal in cross-section bore therethrough, and an outwardly extending helical blade affixed to and coaxial with the hub.

Abstract: A percussion drill bit comprises a bit body including a shaft having a conical mounting portion to be mated with a conical mounting portion of a drill rod by means of substantially longitudinal friction forces. An annular row of circumferentially spaced button inserts extend from a front face of the body. A central button insert is disposed centrally of the other inserts and extends axially from the front face of the body beyond the other inserts to define a pilot insert. The outer inserts are inclined at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the body. A centrally located flushing channel is provided in the drill rod.

Abstract: The invention concerns down-the-hole drilling, where there is a persistent problem in providing an adequately controlled flow of flushing fluid to the face of the drill bit. In known down-the-hole drills turbulence and closed circuits of the flushing fluid tend to erode the bit and reduce its lifespan. The invention seeks to lessen these drawbacks by providing for the flow of flushing fluid to be divided into a component directed along a first cavity which terminates at the face of the bit and another component directed along a second cavity which terminates above the face and is deflected up the drill hole. Weakening of the bit is avoided if there is at most one bore through the bit for flushing fluid.

Abstract: A cutting tool for a pneumatic hammer operative at the bottom of a hole comprising a head for supporting cutting bits and a tail of reduced diameter extending from the head and provided with grooves forming alternating asymmetrical teeth engageable in symmetrical grooves provided in the interior of the front cylinder of the hammer. Each tooth of the cutting tool has a working flank in contact with the hammer during drilling which is of greater height than the other flank of the tooth so that each asymmetrical tooth can define in the symmetrical groove of the hammer an escape channel for compressed air from the hammer.

Abstract: A self-drilling dowel consists of a tubular-shaped member with a drilling head at one end. The drilling head is formed of a plurality of teeth each having a tip. The tip of the teeth are all disposed in a single plane inclined at an angle to the axis of the tubular-shaped member. A line perpendicular to the plane containing the tips of the teeth and intersecting the axis of the tubular-shaped member is disposed to the axis at an angle in the range of 4.degree. to 9.degree.. The teeth are formed by a cutter with its center located at an offset position from the axis of the tubular-shaped member. The feed line of the cutter extending through its center can be parallel to the axis of the tubular-shaped member or it can be set angularly to the axis of the tubular-shaped member in the range of 4.degree. to 9.degree. or 81.degree. to 86.degree. depending on whether the cutter is moved generally in the axial direction or transversely to the axial direction of the tubular-shaped member.

Abstract: The invention relates to bore hole drills employing spaced shaped cutters in arrays separated by fluid channels in which there are positioned arrays of nozzles suitable for bit cleaning and detritus removal action.

Abstract: A mining bit, especially an impact bit for down-the-hole operations and the like, in which the bit comprises a body adapted for being chucked in an impact motor for being impacted by the hammer of the motor and for being rotated by the motor. The working end of the bit includes a detachable cup-shaped cap in which hard wear resistant inserts are mounted.

Abstract: The specification describes a rock bit of the button type comprising: a drill head body; a bit face part; a friction weld rigidly joining said bit face part to said body; a plurality of bores in the bit face part of said body extending substantially from the drill head body through said bit face part to exterior surfaces of the latter; insert cutters in certain of said bores, each of said cutters having a body portion within such bore and carrying an enlargement determining the outward limit of location of said cutter in said bore relative to said drill head body and defining with said bore and said drill head body a cavity beneath said insert cutter above said head and within said bit face part; and material extending into said cavity and supporting said insert cutter in said bore.

Abstract: A substantially solid drill bit has a relatively flat face at its forward end; the face comprises a plurality of plateaus, preferably three in number, which are separated by radial relief channels that intersect one another near the center of the face. The sides of the body constitute a frustrum of a cone, preferably having an included angle of about 14.degree., with the narrow portion of the cone being at the base of the body. Spiral grooves extend along the sides of the body, and at least some of these spiral grooves intersect the radial relief channels. A plurality of hardened inserts or buttons are mounted on the face of the bit, and the radial spacing of such inserts from the longitudinal axis of the body is such that there is an overlap of the "track" or "trace" of each insert by the track of another insert, as the body is rotated about its longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a rotary-percussion earth boring bit that has an improved geometric configuration to minimize fatigue failures and reduce manufacturing costs. The body of the bit is formed of a single mass of metal through which extends a single air course, without intermediate deflection or intersection, from a central portion of the upper, anvil surface to the face of the bit. The air course intersects this face in an off-set relationship with the axis of rotation of the bit. Button type inserts are included in the face and one insert is adjacent to both the air course and the centerline of the bit.

Abstract: A high strength, modular screw anchor is disclosed which exhibits enhanced failure resistance notwithstanding use of essentially the same amount of material as conventional anchors, and which can be installed using existing installation equipment. The preferred screw anchors of the invention include an elongated rod having one or more separate, specialized anchor members supported thereon, and an improved, obliquely oriented, beveled earth-penetrating lead to facilitate installation, particularly in rocky soils. The anchor member includes a tubular, central, rod-receiving hub presenting a polygonal in cross-section bore therethrough, and an outwardly extending helical blade affixed to and coaxial with the hub.