Patent ID: 8485283

Claim:
A drill bit usable with a fluid, said drill bit comprising: a body section, said body section defining a body proximal end and a substantially longitudinally opposed body distal end, said body section defining a body passageway extending substantially longitudinally therethrough for receiving said fluid and conveying said fluid through said body section; a substantially annular crown section extending substantially longitudinally from said body section, said crown section defining a crown distal end and a substantially longitudinally opposed crown proximal end, said crown section extending from said body section with said crown proximal end located substantially adjacent to said body distal end, said crown section defining a crown passageway extending substantially longitudinally therethrough, said crown passageway being in fluid communication with said body passageway for receiving said fluid from said body passageway; and a flow directing component cooperating with said crown section to define a fluid flow channel, said fluid flow channel extending through said crown section substantially radially outwardly from said crown passageway, said flow directing component being detachable from said crown section upon said crown section reaching a predetermined wear threshold so as to increase by a predetermined quantity a flow of said fluid through said fluid flow channel when said crown section reaches said predetermined wear threshold; wherein said flow directing component is configured and sized to remain attached to said crown section until said crown section reaches said predetermined wear threshold and to suddenly detach from said crown section when said crown section reaches said predetermined wear threshold.