Keyed connection for drill bit
AssigneeRockmore International, Inc.
InventorRainer S. Beccu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A portion of a drilling tool having a drill bit driven in a rotating motion and in an axial percussion motion comprises a keyed connection between the drill bit and a driver sub that receives the drill bit. The keyed connection comprises a transverse member coupling the drill bit to a driver sub having a bore within which the drill bit is received. The driver sub has a pair of opposed openings and the bit has an axial slot. The openings and the slot are dimensioned to receive the transverse member. The keyed connection transmits force to the drill bit to drive the drill bit during operation and removably secures it in the driver sub.
Claims23
A portion of a drilling tool having a drill bit driven in a rotating motion and in an axial percussion motion, comprising:
- a keyed connection between the drill bit and a driver sub having a bore within which the drill bit can be received, the keyed connection comprising a transverse member and a transverse opening in the drill bit and opposed openings in the driver sub dimensioned to receive the transverse member, wherein the keyed connection when assembled couples the drill bit to the driver sub during rotation and percussion and is configured to transmit drive torque from the driver sub to the drill bit to drive the drill bit in rotation during use, and wherein the keyed connection is configured to permit relative percussive motion between the drill bit and the driver sub.
A portion of a drilling tool having a drill bit with an inner bore and inner passages communicating with the inner bore for conveying a stream comprising at least a fluid during drilling operations, the drilling tool comprising:
- a component having a bore sized to receive the drill bit and a transverse opening extending through at least one side of the bore;
- and
- a key shaped to be inserted through the transverse opening within the bore and to extend through an opening in the drill bit and at least partially into the inner bore of the drill bit to secure the drill bit to the component, wherein a portion of the key to be positioned within the inner bore has a reduced size to minimize disruption of the stream through the bore, and wherein the key and the transverse opening are together configured to transmit a drive torque from the component to the drill bit and to permit an axially percussive motion by the drill bit relative to the component when in use.
A drill bit connection for connecting a drill bit to a drilling tool, comprising:
- an opening defined in the drill bit and extending transverse to an axis of the drill bit, the opening having a first axial dimension and a second dimension in the circumferential direction generally perpendicular to the axial direction;
- and
- a generally elongate key shaped to be inserted through the opening in the drill bit and having opposite ends shaped to be fixed to surrounding structure for holding the drill bit, wherein the key has a key axial dimension less than the first axial dimension of the opening and a key circumferential dimension sized to closely fit the second dimension of the opening,
- wherein a fit between the opening in the drill bit and the key allows the drill bit to be axially reciprocated relative to the key and the surrounding structure and allows the key to transmit a drive torque for smoothly rotating the drill bit when in use.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.