Patent ID: 7484572

Claim:
A roller cone drill bit comprising: a bit body having at least one support arm extending therefrom; each support arm having an interior surface and an exterior surface with a spindle extending from the interior surface; a respective cone assembly rotatably mounted on each spindle with a bearing structure disposed therebetween; an internal cavity formed in each cone assembly to receive the associated spindle; a first gap formed between interior portions of each cone assembly and exterior portions of the associated spindle; a second gap formed between portions of each cone assembly and adjacent portions of the interior surface of the associated support arm; the second gap extending radially outward from an intersection between the spindle and the interior surface of the associated support arm; at least one fluid seal disposed within the first gap to form a fluid barrier between interior portions of the associated cone assembly and exterior portions of the associated spindle; each support arm having at least a first fluid flow path extending from the interior surface through the support arm to the exterior surface; each fluid flow path disposed in the associated support arm in fluid communication with the second gap; and each fluid flow path operable to direct fluid containing downhole debris from the interior surface to the exterior of the associated support arm.