US1778966A - Roller bit - Google Patents

Description

J. C. STOKES ROLLER BIT Filed Sept. 6, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. a 475 BY a e M ATTORNEY.

J. C. STOKES Oct. 21, 1936.

ROLLER BIT Filed Sept. 6, 19 27 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.5.

INVENTOR.

5 the two sections;

Patented Oct. 21, 1 930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN C. STOKES, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, ASSIGNOB TO REED ROLLER BIT COMPANY, OF

' HOUSTON, TEXAS, A CORPORATION OF ROLLER BIT Application filed September 6, 1927. Serial No. 217,675.

.T his invention relates to deep weH drilling apparatus and more particularly to roller bits.

Its object is the provision of a roller bit embodying new and improved means to drive, support and clean the roller cutters thereof.

In the accompanying drawings, which are illustrative of the the invention, Fig. 1 is a side elevation; Fig.

0 2, a partly sectional elevation; Fig. 3, a bottom plan view; Fig. 4, a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 5, a partly sectional elevation of a modification.

Referring more specifically to Figs. 1, 2, 3

.5 and 4, the bit head comprises a main section 1 adapted to be attached to a drill ipe (not s own), and a longitudinally divisiiile cutter section 2. The lower ends 3 of the two parts of which the cutter section 2 is made are beveled to define a recess in the bottom of the head. Substantially frusto-conical cutters 4 are rotatably mounted on spindles which pro- ]ect downwardly and inwardly from the ends 3. f

5 The main section 1 has a reduced extension 5 fitting in the cuttersection, the meeting faces ofthe two parts of the cutter section being recessed for the reception thereof. Reduced extension 5 has an annular groove 5 0 therein, bolts 6, which hold the two parts of the cutter section together, resting in said groove to rotatably lock the cutter section on said extension. Removable bushings 7 may be interposed between the meeting faces of and additional bolts 8 may be used to lockthe two parts of the cutter section 2 together.

In deep well drilling operations, the weight of the drill pipe is so great,and a bit is sub- 4o ]e'cted to such strains, that it is most diflicult to provide supports stron roller cutters firmly an ead. And in roller bits of this general type, that is, bits embodying a head having oppositely disposed depending walls from which the cutter spindles project, it has been impossible, from a practical standpoint, tomake said -walls sufficiently strong to properly support enough to hold the immovably in the to the cutters under the most trying conditions,

preferred embodiments of and at the same time preserve substantially the size and design of the head; The said walls are accordingly bent inwardly when the cutters of a bit attached to a heavy string u 'of pipe have been subjected to impact.

This invention provides means to positively support. the cutters without impairing the cutting action thereof. The means referred to is shown. as a beveled or substantially frusto-conical gear 9 non-rotatably locked on the lower end of extension 5, and having teeth meshing with the teeth of the cutters 4.

The head is provided with a central water course 11 extending through extension 5,

branch water courses 12 cdmmunicating with annular chamber 13, and outlets 14. The gear 9 has an opening 9 to permit the discharge of water between the cutters 4 and directly upon the bottom of the hole. The outlets 14 are four in number and are so arranged that veater will be thereby discharged upon those teeth of the cutters and gear immediately adjacent the engaged teeth thereof.

Suitable shields 15'may be used to confine theflow of the cleaning water and thus increase the velocity' thereof, and to prevent the entry between the cutters and gear of large stones and the'like.

When the head 1 and its integral extension 7 5 and gear 9 locked thereon are rotated and the cutters 4 are in contact with the bottom of the hole, the gear 9 rolls the cutters around the bottom of the hole, the cutter section 2 rotating on the extension 5. The outlets 14 disposed back of the engaged teethof the gear and cutters will discharge cleaningwater upon the teeth about to become engaged; and the outlets 14 in front of the engaged teeth will discharge cleaning Water upon the teeth which have just been disengag'ed. As shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, the outlets 14 discharge water upon the cutting teethin a direction longitudinal of said teeth, and, therefore, down the valleys there Thus the teeth of the cutters are subjected successively to the initial cleaning water, the cleaning gear teeth, and to, the ultlmate cleaning water.

' "In the modification illustrated by Fig. 5, p

an idlergear. It

the head 16 has a centrally disposed recess 16, in which gear 17 is rotatable. The gear may be held in place by cutters 18, and provided with ball bearings 19. The water courses shown correspond to those of Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, hereinabove described. In the form shownby Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the gear 9 is the driving element and the cutters 4 the driven. In themodificationof which Fig. 5.is illustrative, the gear'l? not the driving element but, instead, the driven. It may be pro erly referred to as, rovi es substantially the same support for t e cutters 18, it cleans said cutters in substantially the same manner, and it insures equal rotation of said cutters. This modification is particularly advantageous because ofthe housing within the head of the gear 17 and its bearings 19. A single piece cutter section may be substituted for the longitudinally divisible cutter section 2 shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, and means provided whereby the cutters 4 may be laterally slidable into and out of the recess i in the bottom thereof. 5

Various other changes will be apparent to those skilled in'the art, and the hereinafter appearin claims are not limited in scope to the speci c embodiments shown.

Iclaim:

1. In a drill, a substantially conical roller cutter having longitudinal cutting teeth and a substantially conical support, said support being rotatable with respect to said cutter and having teeth meshing with the cutting teeth of said cutter.

2. In a drill, a head, oppositely disposed substantially conical roller cutters on' said head, said cutters having cutting teeth, and a substantially conical support between said cutters, said support being rotatable with respect'to said cuttersand having teeth meshing with the teeth of saidcutters.

3. In a drill, ahead, oppositely spindles on said head, said spindles projecting downwardly and inwardly, substantially conical roller cutters on said spindles, said cutters having cutting teeth, and a beveled gear betweensaid cutters and having teeth meshing with the teeth of said cutters.

4. In a drill, a head having a main section and a cutter section, roller cutters on said cutter section, said cutters having cutting teeth, and a gear on said main section, said gear having teeth meshing with the teeth of said cutters.

' 5. In a drill, a head, a roller cutter on said head, said cutter having cutting teeth, and a support for said cutter, said supporthaving teeth, said disposed a support for said cutter, said support having teeth meshing with the teeth of said cutter, and said head having a water course to discharge water upon said cutter adjacent the engaged teeth of said cutter and support, and in adirection longitudinally of the teeth of said. cutter.

7, Inca bit of the class described, the come bination of: a body adapted to be secured to a'drill'pipe', said'body beingpr'ovided with' driving teeth; acutter'support rotatable on said body; and a cutter retained by said outter support and being provided with cutting driving teeth on said body being engaged with said cutting teeth on said cutter.

8. In a drill bit, the combination of:-a

body adapted to be secured to a drill pipe,

said body'bei'ng provided with driving gear teeth; a cutter support rotatable on said body; and -a cutter'retaine .v by said cutter support and being provided with cutting teeth, said-cutting teeth engaging the said driving teeth on said body.

.' JOHN-C. STOKES.

teeth meshing with the teeth of said cutter,

course to dis

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