Earth boring bit for soft to hard formations

Abstract: The bit for use in earth boring is rotatable along an axis and includes a gage and a body member (14) having an outer curved surface, said surface includes a plurality of mounted and spaced cutting elements (10,11) extending thereabove for cutting the opposed formation, the improvement of said bit comprises means located in said body (14) for effecting flow of fluid from the interior of said body to the exterior thereof, said outer curved surface includes a plurality of separated and radially extending channels (200,202) to receive flow of fluid from said means in said body, and each of said channels (200,202) includes radial rib means (202a-c) therein for azimuthally directing the flow of fluid in said channel (200,202) from the trailing side (209,216) of the preceding cutter elements to the cutting side (210,215) of the cutting elements.

Description: The present invention relates to a bit for use in earth boring as set forth in the pre-characterizing portion of claim 1. From US-A-4 098 363 a bit of the kind referred to is known comprising an arrangement of nozzles the emitted fluid jets of which sweap across the array of cutters positioned along the trailing edge of said channels as defined by directional rotation of the bit. Object of the present invention is the provision of an improved hydraulic flow arrangement which is radial in nature such that the chips formed during cutting are effectively removed while effectively cooling the active cutting face of the cutter. In accordance with the invention, that portion of the radial flow channels radially outwardly from the principal flow opening direct the fluid to the face of the cutter by forcing a portion of the flow away from the trailing edge of the adjacent leading cutters. The configuration of the radially arranged flow channels effectively causes the fluid flow to be directed in the proper direction and to the proper location in order to flow across the cutting face of the cutters which are mounted on the pads between adjacent channels. The flow pattern and structure, in accordance with this invention provides more effective cooling, especially in softer formations in which cleaning is more important because the cuttings are more plastic when compared to harder formations. Another advantage of radial flow hydraulics is that junk slots need not be present and thus the tendency to upset bit balance by the junk slots is avoided. The present invention possesses many other advantages which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of several forms in which it may be embodied. Such forms are illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. The forms described in detail are for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the present invention; but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense. Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a drill bit in accordance with the present invention illustrating the general arrangement of the bit structure and the improved radial waterways in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the improved radial waterways in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig.2; and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of an improved form of waterways and improved hydraulics in accordance with the present invention. In Figure 1, it can be seen that the drill bit 250 includes the usual shank 251 with an appropriate connection for mounting on the drill string or downhole motor or turbine. The body 253 is of matrix body material as, and includes the usual gage section 256 in which natural or synthetic diamonds may be used as the gage stones. The curved face of the bit includes a plurality of spaced radially disposed channels or waterways 200, which approximate the curved contour of the bit face. The spaced channels form a plurality of spaced pad elements 265 between and separated by the adjacent channels, the cutting elements 211 being mounted on the pad elements 265. For ease of illustration, not all of the cutting elements are shown, it being understood that each pad includes cutting elements whose density of distribution may vary, as needed. The cone region of the bit is provided with one or more openings 215 for flow of fluid to the channels 200 for cleaning the cuttings and for cooling the cutters. In accordance with this invention, as seen in Figures 1-5, an improved system of waterways 200 is provided in which a portion of the waterway includes a partially raised rib 202 in at least a portion of the waterway. As seen in Figures 2-5, the waterway 200 is generally narrowest at 205 which is the region closest to the cone area (Figure 2) of the bit. In that region, the rib 202a is of its smallest transverse and vertical dimension with respect to the waterway 200a. As one proceeds along the length of the waterway it widens and becomes deeper, as indicated at 200b, while the rib becomes progressively wider and of greater vertical height as compared to portion 202a of the rib. Still further along the waterway, the latter is wider and deeper still as indicated at 200c and the rib is likewise wider and deeper as indicated at 202c. In effect the vertical dimension of the rib increases from a minimum adjacent the center region of the bit to a maximum at a region spaced from the center of the bit. As seen in Figure 1, the rib 202 is located in the channel such that it is closer to the rear 209 of the cutter 211 to its left, as seen in Figure 1, than it is to the face 210 of the cutter 211 to its right, again as seen in this drawing. In effect the rib forms a contoured damn forcing the flow against the front face of the cutter 211 which is positioned on surface 206 and away from the rear face of the cutter which is located on surface 207, as seen in Figure 3. Due to the geometry of bits in general and the nature of radial flow configurations of waterways, the quantum of flow tends to decrease from the center of the bit radially outwardly. The result may be that there are cutting faces which are not adequately cooled or wherein cuttings are not effectively removed. Thus the waterways, in accordance with this invention, are configured to direct the flow of fluid into the relatively deep portion 220 of the channel by using a smooth configured rib 202 which has a high region 225 spaced from the front face of the trailing cutter. Radial flow is now achieved in a form in which the major flow is adjacent to the cutting face in those instances in which it is difficult to channel the flow towards the cutter faces due to bit or cutter or channel geometry. The use of channels with the ribs, as discussed is a highly effective and relatively simple structure to achieve the desired radial flow in this particular configuration of bit as well as bits of other configurations in which good radial flow is desired as opposed to feeder-collector flow systems. Another aspect of the improved hydraulics of this invention is the fact that each channel 200 communicates directly with a fluid opening in the bit body. To accomplish this, a double crowfoot 215 is used in which there are a plurality of inner openings 215a, 215b, 215c and 215d, each of which communicates with one of the channels. Radially outwardly of the inner openings are a second plurality of openings 215e, 215f, 215g and 215h. Each of the openings 215e-h are arranged to communicate with more than one channel as can be seen with reference to 215e which communicates with adjacent channels 220a, 220b and 220c, i.e., the openings 215e-h are single openings each of which communicates with more than one fluid channel. In this way, each of the channels has its own source of fluid and the desired radial flow in achieved. The form of bit 300 illustrated in Figure 6 is a variant of that shown in Figure 1, but incorporates the feature of a separate fluid openings for each channel. In this particular form, the total flow area has been reduced while the hydraulic horsepower per square inch has been increased and a larger pressure drop across the bit face has been achieved, with the effect that there has been an increase in fluid velocity. This particular form of hydraulics is of advantage in softer formations in which higher velocities tend to improve the cleaning. A secondary advantage is that is possible in to increase somewhat the number of cutters in the cone area. In the form illustrated in Figure 6, there are a plurality of channels 300 having radial ribs 302 like those previously described. Between said channels 300 lands or blades 305 are disposed on which cutters 310 are mounted. Some of the cutters are natural diamonds, as at 311 and 312. The fluid openings are in the form of a cruciform center opening 325 having a plurality of legs 326, the latter branching into two further legs 327 and 328. Each of the legs 327 and 328 feed directly to a channel as shown. Between spaced legs 326 there are curved openings 330, one being shown but four being used. Each of the curved openings includes spaced legs 330a and 330b, each of which feeds an associated channel. Located between legs 330a and 330b are two blades with a channel therebetween, the channel being fed by opening 340. From Figure 6, it can be seen that there are six blades between two adjacent legs of the cruciform opening, the latter including two further legs such that there are four blades between the facing further legs. Curved opening 330 has two blades between the legs, the two blades in turn having a channel which is fed by opening 340. In this way, the improved hydraulics is achieved and which has special advantages if the bit is used in the softer formations. The bit of this invention has demonstrated good performance in mixed formations such as shale with hard stringers and sandstone or limestone with shale sections. The large area of the front cutting face, to some extent, acts as a chisel in cutting. In general, it is preferred to use triangular PCD elements of one carat size for resistance to balling in shale type formations, although any predetermined geometrical shape may be used. While reference has been made to drill bits, it is understood that within that term is included core bits and the like. In crab orchard sandstone with a point loading of 50 lbs per cutter and at 150 RPM, the ROP was better than some of the prior art bits and about 24 feet per hour. As point loading per cutter was increased to 75 lbs, the ROP increased in the same formation and at the same RPM to 38 feet per hour. It will also be apparent that even though the invention has been described principally with reference to drill bits, the present invention may also be used in core bits and the like.

Claims: A bit for use in earth boring, said bit (250) being rotatable along an axis and including a gage (256) and a body member (253) having an outer curved surface, said surface including a plurality of mounted and spaced cutting elements (209,210;310,311,312) extending thereabove for cutting the opposed formation, means located in said body (253) for effecting flow of fluid from the interior of said body (253) to the exterior thereof, said outer curved surface including a plurality of separated and radially extending channels (200;300) to receive flow of fluid from said means in said body, each of said channels (200;300) including means for directing the flow of fluid in said channel (200;300) from the trailing side of the preceding cutter elements to the cutting side of the following cutting elements, characterized in that each of said channels (200;300) includes radial rib means (202a-c;302) in said channel, proximate the trailing side of the preceding cutting elements. The bit of claim 1 wherein said rib means (202a-c) are comprised of a radial rib (202a-c) disposed in each of said channels (200), the thickness of said rib (202a-c) and depth of said channel (200) varying from a minimum (200a,202a,205) to a maximum (200c,202c) as said gage (256) of said bit (250) is approached from the center of said bit. The bit of claim 1 or 2, wherein said plurality of separated and radially extending channels (200;300) forms pad means (265;305) of matrix material between adjacent channels (200;300), each said pad (265;305) including a plurality of said spaced synthetic polycrystalline diamond cutting elements, and at least some of said cutting elements including a minor portion received within the matrix material of said pad (265;305) and being so positioned that said front face extends above the surface of said pad (265;305) to form an exposed cutting face of said cutting element while at least two adjacent side portions are disposed such that one is adjacent to said pad (265;305) and the other is spaced from said pad (265;305), said two adjacent side portions also having an exposed surface area. The bit of according to one of the claims 1-3 wherein said channels (200) have a preferentially deeper trailing section (202) as defined by directional rotation of the bit longitudinally extending from the center of said bit radially outward to thereby azimuthally bias radial flow of fluid flowing within said channel (200) backwardly toward a tooth structure arranged on a pad adjacent the trailing portion of said channel. The bit of claim 5 wherein the depth of said channel (200) and relative proportionate depth of said trailing portion (220) of said channel (200) increases as a function of radial position.

Inventors: BIGELOW LOUIS K, GRAPPENDOFF RICHARD H, MESKI ALEXANDER K, BIGELOW, LOUIS K., GRAPPENDOFF, RICHARD H., MESKI, ALEXANDER K.
Applicants: BAKER HUGHES INC, BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
Application year: 1987
Main classification: E21B10
IPC codes: E21B10