Patent ID: 6192999
Filing Date: 2001-02-27
Classification: B05B,E21B

Abstract:
An earth boring bit including a vibration and breakage protection nozzle retention apparatus, comprising:a rock bit body forming at least one nozzle cavity for directing fluid therethrough;a nozzle forming an entrance end and an exit end, said entrance end being inserted in a first one of said nozzle cavities and said exit end extending beyond said first cavity, said nozzle also having an outer surface, wherein at least a portion of said outer surface forms a first tapered surface that tapers radially inward toward the exit end;a nozzle retainer having a first end attached to said first nozzle cavity, a second end opposite thereto, an inner surface, and an outer surface, at least a portion of said inner surface of said nozzle retainer compressively engaging the first tapered surface of said nozzle at a location beyond said rock bit body so as to retain said nozzle in the cavity, the first tapered surface being tapered at an angle of less than or equal to about 30 degrees, said angle being defined by the intersection of a longitudinal axis through said nozzle and a tangent line to at least one point on said first tapered surface that is in contact with the inner surface of the nozzle retainer.