Patent ID: 9689210
Date: 2017-06-27
CPC Classifications: E21B

Claim:
1. A drill bit comprising a hollow cylindrical body having a first end section and an opposite second end section, the drill bit further including a plurality of cutting segments that are separate and distinct from one another and from the body, the plurality of cutting segments each being separately mounted on the second end section of the body, the first end section having an attaching portion for selectively attaching the drill bit to a reamer or drill pipe, the second end section having an annular end surface and an outwardly facing cylindrical side surface extending about a drill bit axis, said each cutting segment of the plurality of cutting segments having at least one segment mounting face being fixed to at least one of the annular end surface and the outwardly facing cylindrical side surface such that the cutting segments are circumferentially spaced apart from one another on the second end section to define gap regions between adjacent cutting segments, the drill bit further comprising a plurality of reinforcing members that are separate and distinct from one another and from the cutting segments, each of the plurality of reinforcing members having at least one member mounting face, the at least one member mounting face being fixed to at least one of the annular end surface and the outwardly facing cylindrical side surface such that the reinforcing members are on the second end section within the gap regions, the reinforcing members spanning the gap regions to contact adjacent cutting segments.