Patent ID: 7476067

Claim:
A drill bit having a central longitudinal axis, said drill bit comprising: a cutting portion being configured to cut an object; a shank portion being configured to be inserted in a tool holder; said shank portion having a first end connected to said cutting portion and a second end opposite said first end; said cutting portion comprising: a tip comprising at least one end surface; at least two cutting edges; and at least two chip flutes extending from said cutting edges towards said shank portion; said chip flutes each comprising a helical portion being disposed at least substantially adjacent to a corresponding one of said cutting edges; at least two cooling channels being disposed in said shank and cutting portions a distance from and parallel to the central longitudinal axis; each of said chip flutes comprising a surface; each of said cooling channels comprising a coolant exit orifice being disposed at the end of its cooling channel and on the surface of its corresponding chip flute an axial distance away from its corresponding cutting edge and said at least one end surface, and being configured to permit exit of coolant to cool at least a portion of said cutting portion and chips produced during a cutting operation; each of said cooling channels being disposed to run continuously straight along the entire length thereof through said shank portion and said cutting portion; and each of said coolant exit orifices being disposed to face toward its corresponding cutting edge to direct the flow of coolant in a substantially axial direction toward its corresponding cutting edge and chips produced during a cutting operation to cool the cutting edge and the chips.