System and method for detecting roller bit bearing wear through cessation of roller element rotation

A method for detecting the wear of a roller bit bearing of a roller drill bit body having at least one roller bit bearing, a roller element including a plurality of cutting elements and rotatably attached to the roller drill bit body at the bearing, and a rotation impeder, separate from the bearing, that selectively impedes rotation of the roller element and is in between the roller bit and roller drill bit body, the method comprising the steps of:

• rotating the at least one roller element;
• upon uneven rotation of the at least one roller element, impeding the rotation of the at least one roller bit with the rotation impeder;
• and
• detecting the cessation of the rotation of the at least one roller element.

A system for detecting the wear of a roller bit bearing, comprising:

• a roller drill bit body having at least one roller bit bearing;
• a roller element including a plurality of cuffing elements, the roller bit rotatably attached to the roller drill bit body at the bearing;
• and
• a rotation impeding means, in between the roller element and roller drill bit body and separate from the bearing for selectively impeding the rotation of the roller element when uneven rotation of the roller element indicates that the roller bit bearing may fail.