Patent ID: 8579046

Claim:
A pressure compensation assembly for a drill bit having a cavity to receive the pressure compensation assembly, a mud port coupled to the cavity, and a lubricant passageway coupled to the cavity, wherein the pressure compensation assembly comprises: a relief mechanism having a selected operating pressure; a channel providing a pathway from said pressure compensation assembly to said mud port, wherein said pressure compensation assembly provides a first position in which the channel is blocked by a plug and a second position in which the channel is not blocked by said plug, and said pressure compensation assembly is transitioned between the first and second positions without removing components of the pressure compensation assembly; wherein the pressure compensation assembly is movable from said first position to said second position within the cavity; wherein the pressure compensation assembly is operable to receive lubricant at a pressure exceeding the selected operating pressure to permit the flow of lubricant into the lubricant passageway while preventing the release of lubricant into the mud port while in the first position; and wherein the pressure compensation assembly is operable to limit a pressure differential within the drill bit while in the second position.