Patent ID: 9359822
Filing Date: 2016-06-07
CPC Classification: E21B

Claim Text:
1. A wellbore drill bit, comprising: an annular gap between a journal and a cone; a lubricant disposed in the annular gap; at least one seal having two sides and disposed between the journal and the cone to prevent the lubricant from escaping the annular gap; a bore formed in the drill bit and having a first section in fluid communication with a first side of the seal and a second section in fluid communication with a second side of the seal; and a spherical plug having an entire exterior surface made of a resilient material, the resilient material comprising an elastomer, the spherical plug sealingly and reciprocably disposed in the bore, whereby the spherical plug slidingly displaces within the bore in response to a pressure differential between the first section and the second section to equalize pressure on both sides of the seal, while preventing fluid communication between the first section and the second section.