Nozzle retaining ring with crushed O-ring

In an earth boring bit, means for discharging drilling fluid, comprising in combination:

• at least one passage formed in the drill bit with a downwardly facing shoulder, a cylindrical wall below the shoulder, and threads below the cylindrical wall;
• a nozzle having an exterior with a cylindrical wall which fits closely within the passage cylindrical wall, and a conical section below the cylindrical wall of the nozzle;
• a retaining ring having exterior threads engaging the passage threads, a bore with an upper rim encircling a conical section that mates with the nozzle conical section to wedge the nozzle against the shoulder;
• and
• an O-ring crushed between the nozzle conical section, the passage cylindrical wall, and the retaining ring upper rim.

In an earth boring bit, means for discharging drilling fluid, comprising:

• at least one passage formed in the drill bit with a downwardly facing shoulder, a cylindrical wall below the shoulder, and threads below the cylindrical wall;
• a nozzle having an exterior with an upper cylindrical section and a lower cylindrical section of lesser diameter, separated by a downwardly facing tapered shoulder;
• a retaining ring having exterior threads engaging the passage threads, an upper rim encircling a cylindrical bore, which has an upper edge that is beveled for contact with the nozzle tapered shoulder to wedge the nozzle against the passage shoulder, with the nozzle upper cylindrical section fitting closely within the passage cylindrical wall and the nozzle lower cylindrical section loosely within the retaining ring cylindrical bore;
• and
• an O-ring crushed between the nozzle tapered shoulder, the passage cylindrical wall and the retaining ring upper rim.

In an earth boring bit, means for discharging drilling fluid, comprising in combination:

• at least one passage formed in the bit with a downwardly facing shoulder, a cylindrical wall below the shoulder, and threads below the cylindrical wall;
• a nozzle having an exterior with an upper cylindrical section and a lower cylindrical section of lesser diameter, separated by a tapered shoulder;
• a retaining ring secured by external threads in the passage and having a bore encircled by an upper rim, the inner edge of the bore contacting the nozzle tapered shoulder to secure the nozzle against the passage shoulder, with the nozzle upper section fitting closely within the passage cylindrical wall, and the nozzle lower section fitting loosely within the retaining ring cylindrical bore;
• and
• an O-ring of cross-sectional diameter no greater than the radial width of the upper rim crushed between the nozzle tapered shoulder, the passage cylindrical wall, and the retaining ring upper rim.