# US 2017/0254152 A1 · By-pass fluid passageway for drill tool > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0254152 A1 - Document ID: US20170254152A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/506,836 - Filed: 2015-08-24 - Published: 2017-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2014-08-28 - Assignees: Sandvik Intellectual Property AB - Applicants: Sandvik Intellectual Property AB - Inventors: Karl-Oskar FINNMAN - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170254152A1 ## CPC - E21B 10/23: with drilling fluid supply to the bearings - E21B 10/16: characterised by tooth form or arrangement - E21B 10/18: characterised by conduits or nozzles for drilling fluids - E21B 10/24: characterised by lubricating details (E21B10/23 takes precedence) - E21B 10/25: characterised by sealing details - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A rotary drill tool for cutting rock includes a set of journal legs that rotatably mount rotating cone shaped cutters via respective bearing assemblies. A fluid supply passageway extends through the journal legs to provide a cooling and cleaning fluid to the bearings during use. A by-pass passageway extends through a base region of the spindle that mounts each cone cutter and is provided in direct fluid communication with the supply passageway to divert the fluid to a base region of the bearing assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rotary drill tool for cutting rock comprising: a main body having a leg; a spindle projecting from the leg to mount a rotary cutter via a plurality of bearings; a fluid supply passageway extending through the leg and having a terminal end positioned in communication with a fluid directing passageway extending through the spindle, at least a part of the fluid directing passageway configured to allow at least some of the bearings to be loaded into position between the spindle and the cutter; and a by-pass passageway extending through a base region of the spindle and having a first end in communication with a section of the supply passageway upstream of the terminal end and a second end that emerges from the base region of the spindle to supply fluid to the bearings, wherein the bearings include a first set of roller bearings mounted at or towards the base region of the spindle and a set of ball bearings positioned at a bearing raceway axially between the first set of roller bearings and an end of the spindle, a second end of the directing passageway emerging at the raceway, the second end of the by-pass passageway emerges emerging at the first set of roller bearings. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the by-pass passageway extends transverse or substantially perpendicular to the supply passageway. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the by-pass passageway is aligned substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the spindle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bearings include a second set of roller bearings mounted at or towards the end of the spindle, the set of ball bearings are being mounted axially between the first and second set of roller bearings. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The tool as claimed in any claim 1, wherein the spindle includes a base raceway arranged to mount the first set of roller bearings, the by-pass passageway emerging at the base raceway. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The tool as claimed in claim 5, wherein the base raceway is defined, in part, by a bearing support surface aligned substantially perpendicular or transverse to a longitudinal axis of the spindle, the by-pass passageway emerging at the bearing support surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The tool as claimed in claim 6, wherein an end surface of each of the first set of roller bearings is positioned in contact with the bearing support surface, the by-pass passageway emerging adjacent to the end surfaces of the first set of roller bearings. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The tool as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an annular seal positioned between the base region of the spindle and the cutter to restrict fluid exiting the tool at the base region, the seal defining a semi-sealed internal region of the cutter in which the bearings are located. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The tool as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second end of the by-pass passageway emerges at the internal region. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spindle includes an annular shoulder and an end, the shoulder being positioned axially between the base region and the end. ### Claim 11 (depends on 16) The tool as claimed in claim 16, wherein a cross-sectional area of the by-pass passageway is substantially equal to or less than a cross-sectional area of each of the first and second distribution passageways. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The tool as claimed in claim 1, comprising a single by-pass passageway extending in communication between the section of the supply passageway and the bearings. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The tool as claimed in claim 1, comprising a plurality of by-pass passageways extending from at least one section of the supply passageway upstream of the terminal end. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cutter includes at least one vent hole arranged to allow a fluid received from the directing passageway to exit the tool through the cutter. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The tool as claimed in claim 14, comprising three sets of vent holes, a first set of vent holes being positioned at or towards a base of the cutter, a third set of vent holes being positioned at or towards an apex of the cutter and a second set of vent holes being positioned axially between the first and third sets of vent holes, wherein the by-pass passageway emerges from the spindle at a position axially closer to the base region of the cutter relative to a position at which the first set of vent holes extend through the cutter. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The tool as claimed in claim 10, further comprising at least one distribution passageway extending within the spindle and provided in communication with the directing passageway, wherein the distribution passageway is divided into at least two passageways, a first passageway exiting the spindle substantially at the shoulder and a second passageway exiting the spindle substantially at the end.