Patent ID: 6665948
Filing Date: 2003-12-23
Classification: A61B,B23B,Y10T

Abstract:
A drill bit penetration measurement system for determining, with respect to a reference point, a depth of penetration of a leading edge of a rotating drill bit in a bore when the leading edge of the drill bit passes from a first medium to a second medium, the first medium contiguous with the second medium, the first medium having a first density, the second medium having a second density, the system comprising:a first sensor outputting a first signal representative of a displacement, with respect to the reference point, of the leading edge of the drill bit in the bore; a second sensor outputting a second signal representative of a force applied to the leading edge of the drill bit; a processor in electrical communication with the first and second sensors, the processor configured in a first mode to output a third signal representative of the depth of penetration of the leading edge of the drill bit when the leading edge of the drill bit passes from the first medium to the second medium, the third signal based on the first and second signals.