Patent ID: 6109375
Filing Date: 2000-08-29
Classification: B23K,E21B

Abstract:
A rotary cone drill bit for forming a borehole, the drill bit comprising:a bit body formed from a number of drill bit segments, each drill bit segment having a first portion and a second portion;an interior surface formed on both the first portion and the second portion of each drill bit segment and an exterior surface formed on both the first portion and the second portion of each drill bit segment;the first portion of each drill bit segment having two mating surfaces formed on the interior surface thereof, the mating surfaces sized to be compatible with respective mating surfaces of another drill bit segment disposed adjacent thereto;each drill bit segment having a first end and a second end wherein the mating surfaces are spaced from each other at the first end and joined with each other intermediate the first end and the second end of the respective drill bit segment;a generally spherical recess formed on the interior surface of each drill bit segment at the junction of the respective mating surfaces;a substantially closed spherical cavity formed by the generally spherical recesses on the interior surfaces of each drill bit segment when the mating surfaces of adjacent drill bit segments are joined together to form the bit body; anda ball disposed within the spherical cavity defined by the spherical recesses.