US3923108A

US3923108A - Drill tool

Info

Publication number: US3923108A
Application number: US541860A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Edward B Williams
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1975-01-17
Filing date: 1975-01-17
Publication date: 1975-12-02
Anticipated expiration: 1992-12-02

Abstract

An improved drill tool for drilling earth, rock, and the like as in oil industry operations includes a body member having a passage therein and extending longitudinally of the body member. The body member has a plurality of circumferentially spaced arms or lugs extending generally longitudinally from the body member and each having an axle portion thereon for rotatably mounting a cutting cone. The drill tool has at least one flow passage through one of the arms or lugs for directing drilling fluid from said passage in the body member into the drill hole for sweeping the bottom of the drill hole and removing drilling debris therefrom. The drill tool has a reservoir in each of the axle portions for retaining lubrication material and at least one passage communicating therewith and extending to the respective exterior surface for distributing lubrication material thereto. The cavity defining walls of the cutting cones have grooves for circulating lubrication material within the cavity in the respective cutting cones. Seals are provided and retained in grooves or recesses to retain lubrication material in position between engaging surfaces of the cutting cones and respective axle portions.

Description

United States atent n91 Williams, Jr.

145] Dec. 2, 1975 1 1 DRILL TOOL [22] Filed. Jan, 1", 1975 1211 Appl. No.: 541,860

[76] lnventor:

[52] US. Cl. 175/227; 175/340; 175/371 [51] Int. Cl. E21B 9/10 [58] Field of Search l75/227229, 175/337, 340, 339, 371, 372; 308/82 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 930,759 8/1909 Hughes 175/228 959,540 5/1910 Hughes 175/228 2,065,742 12/1936 Reed 308/82 2,654,577 10/1953 Green 308/82 3,144,087 8/1964 Williams 175/339 3,656,764 4/1972 Robinson 308/82 X 3,746,405 7/1973 Welton 308/82 3,844,363 10/1974 Williams.v 175/227 3,845,994 11/1974 Trey 308/82 Primary ExaminerDavid H. Brown Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Fishburn, Gold & Litman [57] ABSTRACT An improved drill tool for drilling earth, rock, and the like as in oil industry operations includes a body member having a passage therein and extending longitudinally of the body member. The body member has a plurality of circumferentially spaced arms or lugs extending generally longitudinally from the body member and cach having an axle portion thereon for rotatably mounting a cutting cone. The drill tool has at least one flow passage through one of the arms or lugs for directing drilling fluid from said passage in the body member into thedrill hole for sweeping the bottom of the drill hole and removing drilling debris therefrom. The drill tool has a reservoir in each of the axle portions for retaining lubrication material and at least one passage communicating therewith and extending to the respective exterior surface for distributing lubrication material thereto. The cavity defining walls of the cutting cones have grooves for circulating lubrication material within the cavity in the respective cutting cones. Seals are provided and retained in grooves or recesses to retain lubrication material in position between engaging surfaces of the cutting cones and respective axle portions.

5 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures US, Patent Dec. 2, 1975 Sheet 1 of 3 3,923,108

F57 3 /a /6 V4 Patent Dec. 2, 1975 Sheet 3 of3 3,923,108

DRILL TOOL The present invention relates to earth drilling tools and more particularly to a drill tool for use in oil industry operations and having a plurality of rotatably mounted self-lubricating cutting cones and improved means for retaining and circulating lubrication material within the cavities of the cutting cones.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide an improved self-lubricating drill tool for use in oil industry operations and having a plurality of rotatably mounted cutting cones adapted to drill a substantially true drill hole; to provide such a drill tool having axle portions with reservoirs for lubrication material and passages extending therefrom and adapted to circulate lubrication material onto facing surfaces of axle portions and respective cutting cones rotatably mounted thereon and with the cutting cones each having a cavity with seals whereby the drilling tool is selflubricating; to provide such a drill tool wherein the seal means is adapted to retain lubrication material within a cavity in each of a plurality of cutting cones and in engagement with respective axle portions; to provide such a drill tool including seal means adjacent bearing areas of the cutting cones on respective axle portions and arranged in annular recesses adapted to effect seating engagement of the seal members during drilling; to provide such a drill tool having a flow passage for flow of drilling fluid through an axle portion and cutting cone thereon and seal members in annular recesses adapted to effect seating engagement of seal members during flow of drilling fluid from the flow passage; to provide such a drill tool wherein cutting cones have walls defining a cavity therein with spirally arranged grooves in the cavity defining walls to circulate lubrication material through pressure areas of bearing during rotation of the cutting cones on respective axle portions; and to provide such a drill tool which is durable in use, balanced for smooth working, constructed for long operating life, economical to manufacture, and particularly well adapted for the proposed use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features of the drill tool.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drill tool embodying features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the drill tool shown in a drill hole.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the working surfaces of the drill tool as seen looking upwardly from the bottom of the ,drillhole. 1

FIGf fl is a transverse sectional view of the drill tool taken on line 4-4, FIG. 2 and looking downwardly toward the bottom of the drill hole.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 5-5, FIG. 4 and showing a first body portion and cutting cone thereon.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 66, FIG. 4 and showing a second body portion and cutting cone thereon.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 77, FIG. 4 and showing a third body portion and cutting cone thereon.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a first body portion showing an axle portion thereof with a reservoir and passages thereon.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a second body portion showing the axle portion thereof with a reservoir and passages thereon.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a third body portion showing the axle portion thereof with a reservoir and passages thereon.

FIG. 11 is anenlarged fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 7 and showing annular recesses in the cutting cone surfaces for receiving and retaining seal members.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

As required, detail embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed'herein are not to be interpreted as limiting but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

In the disclosed embodiment of the present invention, the reference numeral 1 generally designates an improved drill tool for drilling earth, rock, and the like as in oil industry operations. The drill tool 1 includes a body member 2 having a passage 3 extending longitudinally thereof and between an open or fluid receiving end 4 and a closed end 5 of the body member 2. The drill tool 1 has a plurality of circumferentially spaced arms or

lugs

6, 7, and 8 each extending generally longitudinally from the body member 2 adjacent the closed end of the passage 3 in the body member 2. The arms or

lugs

6, 7, and 8 have

axle portions

9,10, and 11 respectively extending therefrom and rotatably mounted thereon are

cutting cones

12, 13, and 14 respectively. The drill tool 1 has flow passages for directing drilling fluid into a drill hole 15 for sweeping a bottom 16 and adjacent a side 17 of the drill hole 15 to remove drilling debris therefrom.

The drill tool]; has a reservoir open to the exterior surface of each of the

axle portions

9, 10, and 1 l for retaining lubrication material therein and at least one passage communicating therewith and extending to the respective axle portion exterior surface for distributing lubrication material to the exterior surface of said axle portions. The drill tool ll also has spirally arranged grooves in cavity defining walls or surfaces of the

cutting cones

12, 13, and 14 which are in engagement with the exterior surface of the axle portions 9, l0, and 11 respectively for circulating lubrication material within the cavity in the

cutting cones

12, 13, and 14 respectively during rotation of the cutting cones on respective axle portions. Sealineans, as later described, are provided to retain the lubrication material in position between engaging surfaces of the cutting cones l2, l3, and 14 and the

axle portions

9, 10, and 11 respectively.

The body member 2 is illustrated as being of a generally cylindrical shape having a pin portion 18 of a selected length and with an exterior surface having threads for mounting in a box or lower most tool joint of a tubular drill stem (not shown) which extends into the drill hole 15.

The drill tool 1 may have any number of cutting cones thereon. however, it has been found that three cutting cones can be arranged in a manner to provide teeth extending substantially the full transverse dimension of the drill tool 1. The cutting cones l2, l3, and 14 are circumferentially spaced and positioned on l20 centers.

The first arm or lug 6 extends generally longitudinally from the body member 2 and has an outwardly and downwardly inclined exterior surface 19 whereby the arm or lug 6 is substantially larger adjacent the axle portion 9 thereof than at the closed end of the passage 3, as best seen in FIG. 5. The first arm 6 is adapted to rotatably support the gauge cutting cone of the drill tool 1.

The axle portion 9 on the first arm or lug 6 extends downwardly and inwardly toward a longitudinal axis of the body member 2 and defines an axis of rotation of the cutting cone 12 mounted thereon. The axis of rotation of the cutting cone 12 intersects the bottom 16 of the drill hole at the center thereof. The illustrated axle portion 9 has a larger or first portion 20 extending from the first arm or lug 6 and a smaller or second portion 21 having a reduced diameter thereby defining a shoulder 22, between the larger and smaller portions 20 or 21 respectively of the axle portion 9, as best seen in FIG. 8.

The second arm or lug 7 is illustrated as being substantially similar to the first arm or lug 6 except that the second arm or lug 7 has an exterior surface 23 which is sized to be spaced from an adjacent side 17 of the drill hole 15, as best seen in FIG. 6. The axle portion 10 also has a larger portion 24 and a smaller portion 25 with a shoulder 26 therebetween, as best seen in FIG. 9.

The third arm or lug 8 is illustrated as being substantially similar to the second arm or lug 7 except that the third arm or lug 8 has a flow passage 27 extending longitudinally therethrough and from the passage 3 in the body member 2 and substantially laterally centered in the third arm or lug 8, as best seen in FIG. 7. The flow passage 27 extends from the walls defining the passage 3 in the body member 2 and defines a generally L- shaped path having an end portion 28 thereof extending along the axis of rotation of the cutting cone 14. The end portion 28 of the flow passage 27 is positioned to direct drilling fluid toward and across the bottom 16 of. the drill hole 15 and into a space between the first and

second cutting cones

12 and 13.

The axle portion 11 has a larger or firstportion 29 and a smaller second or intermediate portion 30 with a shoulder 31 therebetween. The axle portion 11 has an end portion 32 which is smaller than the intermediate portion 30 and a second shoulder 33 is positioned between the intermediate portion 30 and the end portion 32. The end portion 32 of the axle portion 11 has an opening in the end thereof for the flow passage 27, as best seen in FIG. 10.

Means 34 are mounted in the opening in the end portion 32 of the axle portion 11 to direct the fluid from the flow passage 27 and across the bottom 16 of the drill hole 15 and toward a leading portion of the second cutting cone 13 prior to flow between the first cutting cone 12 and the second cutting cone 13. The flow directing means 34 and the

cutting cones

12, 13, and 14 are arranged in a manner such that the flow between the first and

second cutting cones

12 and 13 is between a trailing portion of the first cutting cone 12 and a leading portion of the second cutting cone 13.

The flow directing means 34 is illustrated as a nozzle mounted in the end portion 28 of the flow passage 27 and positioned in the end portion 32 of the axle portion 1 l. The nozzle 34 has an orifice with an axis thereof inclined relative to the axis of the axle portion 11 and the nozzle 31 is thereby adapted to increase velocity of flow from the end portion 28 of the flow passage 27 and to direct same across the bottom 16 of the drill hole 15 and adjacent the leading portion of the second cutting cone 13 as the flow enters the drill hole 15.

The first axle portion 9 has a reservoir 35 in the larger portion 20 and the illustrated reservoir 35 extends circumferentially around the axle portion 9 and is open to the exterior surface thereof. At least one channel 36 is formed in the exterior surface of the larger portion 20 and communicates with and extends circumferentially from the reservoir 35. At least one passage 37 extends from the channel 36 and through the first axle portion 6 to an end surface 38 of the second or smaller portion 21 of the first axle portion 9. A channel 39 is formed in the end surface 38 and in the exterior surface of the second portion 21 to thereby receive lubrication material from the passage 37 and distribute same to the end surface 38 and the exterior surface of the second portion 21.

The larger portion 24 of the second axle portion 10 has a reservoir 40 therein and extending circumferentially around the axle portion 10 and is open to the exterior surface of said larger portion 24. A channel 41 is formed in the exterior surface of the larger portion 24 and communicates with and extends circumferentially from the reservoir 40. A passage 42 extends from the channel 41 and through the second axle portion 10 to the exterior surface of the smaller portion 25 of the second axle portion 10. A channel 43 is formed in an end surface 44 of the smaller portion 25 and in an exterior surface of the second portion 25 to thereby receive lubrication material from the passage 42 and distribute same to the end surface 44 and the exterior surface of the second portion 25.

The larger portion 29 of the third axle portion 11 has a reservoir 45 therein and extendingcircumferentially around the axle portion 11 and is open to the exterior surface thereof. A channel 46 is formed in the exterior surface of the larger portion 29 and communicates with and extends circumferentially from the reservoir 45.

The first cutting cone 12 is retained on the axle portion 9 by a lock ring 47 received in aligned recesses in cavity defining walls of the first cutting cone 12 and in the exterior surface of the larger portion 20 of the axle portion 9.

The cavity defining walls or surfaces of the first cutting cone 12 includes a first surface or wall 48 extending substantially perpendicular to a base surface 49 of the cutting cone 12 which is in facing relation with the first arm or lug 6, as later described. The first cavity defining surface or wall 48 is in engagement with an exterior surface of the larger portion 20 of the axle portion 9. A bearing surface or wall 50 is illustrated as being substantially perpendicular to the first wall or surface 48 and is adapted to engage the shoulder 22 of the axle portion 9. A second cavity defining surface or wall 51 is illustrated as being positioned substantially perpendicular to the bearing surface or wall 50 and substantially parallel with the first cavity defining wall 48 and the second surface or wall 51 is in engagement with an exterior surface of the smaller or second portion 21 of the axle portion 9. An end surface or wall 52 is illustrated as being substantially perpendicular to the second wall 51 and is adapted to be in engagement with the end surface 38 of the axle portion 9.

The second cutting cone 13 is retained on the axle portion by a lock ring 53 received in aligned recesses in cavity defining surfaces or walls of the second cutting cone 13 and in the exterior surface of the larger portion 24 of the axle portion 10.

The cavity defining surfaces or walls of the second cutting cone 13 includes a first surface or wall 54 extending substantially perpendicular to a base surface 55 of the second cutting cone 13 which is in facing relation with the second arm 7. The first surface or wall 54 engages the exterior surface of the larger portion 24 of the axle portion 10. A bearing surface or wall 56 is substantially perpendicular to the first surface or wall 54 and is adapted to be in engagement with the shoulder 26 of the axle portion 10. A second cavity defining surface or wall 57 is illustrated as being positioned substantially perpendicular to the bearing surface or wall 56 and is illustrated as being substantially parallel to the first cavity defining surface or wall 54. The second cavity defining surface or wall 57 is adapted to be in engagement with the exterior surface of the smaller portion of the axle portion 10. An end surface or wall 58 is illustrated as being positioned substantially perpendicular to the second cavity defining surface or wall 57 and is adapted. to be in engagement with the end surface 44 of the axle portion 10. r

The third cutting cone 14 is retained on the axle portion 11 by a lock ring 59 received in aligned recesses in cavity defining walls of the third cutting cone l4 and in an exterior surface of the larger portion 29 of the axle portion 11.

The lock rings 47, 53, and 59 for retaining the cutting

cones

12, 13, and 14 on the

axle portions

9, 10, and 11 respectively are each split resilient members for ease of mounting the cutting cones on the respective axle portions.

The cavity defining surfaces or walls of the third cutting cone 14 includes a first surface or wall 60 positioned substantially perpendicular to a base surface 61 of the outting cone 14 which is in facing relation with the third arm or lug 8. The first cavity defining surface or wall 60 is adapted to be in engagement with an exterior surface of the larger portion 29 of the axle portion 11. A bearing surface or wall 62 is illustrated as being substantially perpendicular to the first cavity defining surface or wall 60 and is adapted to engage the shoulder 31 of the axle portion 11. A second cavity defining surface or wall 63 is illustrated as being positioned substantially perpendicular to the bearing surface or wall 62 and the second cavity defining surface or wall 63 is substantially parallel with the first cavity defining surface or wall 60. The second cavity defining wall surface or 63 is adapted to be in engagement with an exterior surface of the intermediate portion of the axle portion 1 1. An end surface or wall 64 is illustrated as being positioned substantially perpendicular to the second cavity defining surface or wall 63 and is adapted to engage the second shoulder 33 of the axle portion 11. An aperture defining surface or wall 65 is adapted to engage an exterior surface of the end portion 32 of the axle portion 11.

Means are provided on the cavity defining surfaces or walls of each of the cutting cones for defining spirally arranged channels or grooves for flow of lubrication material received from the respective reservoirs and 6 passages to thereby lubricate engaging surfaces of the cutting cones and the axle portions during rotation of the cutting cones.

In the illustrated embodiment, grooves or channels are spirally arranged in the first wall 48, bearing wall 50, second wall 51, and end wall 52 of the first cutting cone 12. Grooves or channels are also spirally arranged in the first wall 54, bearing wall 56, second wall 57, and end wall 58 of the second cutting cone 13. Grooves or channels are spirally arranged in the first wall 60, bearing wall 62, second wall 63, and end wall 64 of the third cutting cone 14.

Seal members are mounted on each of the cutting cones and in engagement with the respective arm for retaining the lubrication material between the engaging surfaces of the respective cutting cones and axle portions. At least one and preferably a pair of annular seal members 66 and 67, such as O-rings, are positioned between the base surfaces 49, 55, and 61 of the cutting

cones

12, 13, and 14 respectively and adjacent inwardly facing

surfaces

68, 69, and of the

arms

6, 7, and 8 respectively.

The base surfaces 49, 55, and 61 of the cutting

cones

12, 13, and 14 respectively have means therein to define respective annular recesses or grooves adapted to receive therein the annular seal members 66 and 67 and retain same therein and in sealing engagement with the inwardly facing

surfaces

68, 69, and 70 of the

arms

6, 7, and 8 respectively.

Each of the recesses or grooves in the base surfaces 49, 55, and 61 includes an abutment surface 71 illustrated as being positioned substantially perpendicular to the

respective base surface

49, 55, and 61. Each of the pair of recesses or grooves includes a ramp surface 72 extending from the

respective base surface

49, 55, and 61 toward the abutment surface 71. The ramp surface 73 provides a guide surface for outward movement of the seal members 66 and 67 in response to movement of the

base surface

49, 55, and 61 of the cutting

cones

12, 13, and 14 respectively toward the inwardly facing

surface

68, 69, and 70 respectively of the

arms

6, 7, and 8 during drilling or working of the drill tool 1. The abutment surfaces 71 each define a respective limit of outward movement of the seal members 66 and 67 along the respective ramp surface 72 in response to movement of the respective cutting cone while working in the drill hole 15. The ramp surfaces 72 may terminate at the respective abutment surface 71, however, in the illustrated structure, a connecting surface 73 extends between the abutment surface 71 and the ramp surface 72 of each of the grooves or recesses in the base surfaces 49, 55, and 61. The connecting surface 73 is preferably formed on a radius to provide a seat for the respective seal members 66 and 67.

The third cutting cone 14 having the aperture through the end wall 64 thereof has additional seal members to retain the lubrication material within the cavity therein. One or more seal members and preferably a pair of seal members 74 and 75, such as O-rings, are positioned between the exterior surface of the intermediate portion 30 of the axle portion 11 and the second cavity defining surface or wall 63 of the third cutting cone 14. The seal members 74 and 75 are retained in grooves or recesses in the second cavity defining wall 63 of the third cutting cone 14. The recesses or grooves are adapted to receive and retain the seal members 74 and 75 therein and in sealing engagement with the exterior surface of the intermediate surface 30 of the axle portion 11.

Each of the recesses r grooves is illustrated as having a pair of substantially parallel ramp surfaces 76 and 77 positioned to define ramps for movement of the seal members 74 and 75 toward the base surface 61 and outwardly from the exterior surface of the intermediate portion 30 of the axle portion 11 in response to movement of the third cutting cone 14 away from the inwardly facing surface 70 of the third arm 8, as when drilling is stopped and the drill tool 1 is raised above the bottom 16 of the drill hole 15. A connecting surface '78 extends between the pair of ramp surfaces 76 and 77 of each of the recesses and is preferably formed on a radius to provide a seat for the respective seal members 74 and 75.

Discharge of drilling fluid through the flow directing member 34 in the end portion 32 of the axle portion 11 causes a suction and thereby pressure on lubrication material between the exterior surface of the end portion 32 of the axle portion 11 and the aperture defining wall 65 of the third cutting cone 14. Therefore, one or more and preferably a pair of

seal members

79 and 80, such as O-rings, are positioned in grooves or recesses in the aperture defining wall of the third cutting cone 13. Each of the recesses or grooves has a pair of substantially parallel ramp surfaces 81 and 82 positioned to define ramps for movement of the

seal members

79 and 80 outwardly from the exterior surface of the end portion 32 of the axle portion 1 1 and toward the end of the third cutting cone 14 in response to pressure on lubrication material between the engaging surfaces of the end portion 32 and the aperture defining wall 65. A connecting surface 83 for each of the grooves or recesses extends between the respective pair of ramp surfaces 81 and 82 and is preferably formed on a radius to provide a seat for the

respective seal members

79 and 80.

The reservoirs, passages, channels, and grooves in the

axle portions

9, 10, and 11 and in the cutting

cones

12, 13, and 14 for retaining and circulating lubrication material permits the engaging surfaces of the cutting

cones

12, 13, and 14 and the

axle portions

9, 10, and 1 1 to remain in good condition whereby the life of the drill tool is determined by the wear of the teeth on the respective cutting cones rather than wear of the axle portions and the respective cavity defining walls of the cutting cones thereon.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described one form of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A drill tool comprising:

a. a body member having a passage therein, said passage extending along a longitudinal axis of said body member and between a fluid receiving end and a closed end;

b. a plurality of circumferentially spaced arms extending from said body member adjacent the closed end of said passage in said body member, said arms each having an inwardly facing surface;

c. a plurality of axle portions each exteding from the inwardly facing surface of a respective one of said arms and along a respective axis intersecting the longitudinal axis of said body member in a manner to define a respective acute angle between the axis of the respective axle portion and the longitudinal axis of said body member;

d. a plurality of cutting cones each rotatably mounted on a respective one of said axle portions and having a base surface in facing relation with the inwardly facing surface of the respective arm, said cutting cones each having cavity defining surfaces in engagement with respective exterior surfaces of said respective axle portions;

e. means on each of said axle portions for retaining lubrication material and for circulating same to the exterior surface thereof;

f. means on the cavity defining surfaces of each of said cutting cones for circulating lubrication material within the cavity thereof and thereby lubricating engaging surfaces of said cutting cones and axle portions;

g. a plurality of annular seal members each mounted on the base surface of a respective one of said cutting cones and in engagement with the inwardly facing surface of said respective arm for retaining the lubrication material between the engaging surfaces of said respective cutting cones and axle portions; and

h. means on the base surface of each of said cutting cones defining at least one recess therein for a respective one of said seal members to be mounted thereon, said means defining each of said recesses including:

1. an abutment surface extending substantially normal to the base surface of said respective cutting cone and positioned to be engaged by said respective seal member; and

2. a ramp surface intersecting the base surface of said respective cutting cone and positioned to define a ramp for outward movement of said respective seal member and toward said abutment surface in response to movement of said base surface of said respective cutting cone toward the inwardly facing surface of said respective arm.

2. A drill tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

a. each of said axle portions has a reservoir open to the exterior surface thereof;

b. said reservoirs are each adapted to receive and retain lubrication material therein;

c. each of said axle portions has at least one passage thereon for communicating said respective reservoir with the exterior surface of said respective axle portion for flow of lubrication material between said respective reservoir and the respective exterior surface for lubricating engagement with the engaging surfaces of each of said cutting cones and said respective axle portion; and

d. the cavity defining surfaces of each of said cutting cones each have spirally arranged grooves therein for flow of lubrication material received from said respective reservoir and passage to thereby lubricate engaging surfaces of said cutting cones and axle portions.

3. A drill tool comprising:

c. a plurality of axle portions each extending from the inwardly facing surface of a respective one of said arms and along a respective axis intersecting the longitudinal axis of said body member in a manner to define a respective acute angle between the axis of the respective axle portion and the longitudinal axis of said body member, the axisof each axle portion defining an axis of rotation;

d. a plurality of cutting cones each rotatably mounted on a respective one of said axle portions for rotation about the axis of rotation defined thereby and having a base surface in facing relation with the inwardly facing surface of the respective arm, said cutting cones each having cavity defining surfaces in engagement with respective exterior surfaces of said respective axle portions;

g. a plurality of annular seal members each mounted on the base surface of a respective one of said cutting cones and in engagement with the inwardly facing surface of said respective arm for retaining the lubrication material between the engaging surfaces of said respective cutting cones and axle portions;

2. an abutment surface extending substantially normal to said base surface and positioned to be engaged by said respective seal member; and

2. a ramp surface intersecting the base surface of said respective cutting cone, said ramp surface being positioned to define a ramp for outward movement of said seal member toward said abutment surface in response to movement of said base surface of said respective cutting cone toward said inwardly facing surface of said respective arm;

i. means on one of said arms defining a flow passage therethrough with a portion thereof extending along the axis of rotation of said respective cutting cone mounted on said axle portion of said one arm;

j. means on said cutting cone rotatably mounted on said one arm defining an end surface and a surface defining an aperture through the end surface for discharge of drilled fluid through said axle portion and cutting cone thereon;

k. at least one seal member mounted on the aperture defining surface of said cutting cone rotatably mounted on said one arm and in engagement with the exterior surface of said axle portion of said one arm; and

. means on said aperture defining surface of said cutting cone rotatably mounted on said axle portion of said one arm defining a recess therein for each seal member to be mounted therein, each recess comprising: l. a pair of substantially parallel ramp surfaces positioned to define respective ramps for movement of said respective seal member outwardly from the exterior surface of said axle portion of said one arm and toward the end of said cutting cone in response to pressure on lubrication material between engaging surfaces of said cutting cone and axle portion; and

2. a connecting surface extending between said pair of surfaces.

4. A drill tool as set forth in claim 3 wherein:

(a) each of said axle portions has a reservoir open to the exterior surface thereof;

(b) said reservoirs are each adapted to receive and retain lubrication material therein;

(0) each of said axle portions has at least one passage thereon for communicating said respective reservoir with the exterior surface of said respective axle portion for flow of lubrication material between said respective reservoir and the respective exterior surface for lubricating engagement with the engaging surfaces of each of said cutting cones and said respective axle portion; and

(d) the cavity defining surfaces of each of said cutting cones each have spirally arranged grooves therein for flow of lubrication material received from said respective reservoir and passage to thereby lubricate engaging surfaces of said cutting cones and axle portions.

5. A drill tool comprising:

a. a body member having a fluid receiving end and a closed end and a passage extending longitudinally therebetween;

b. a plurality of circumferentially spaced arms extending from said body member adjacent the closed end of said passage in said body member, each of said arms having an inwardly facing surface;

c. a plurality of axle portions each extending from the inwardly facing surface of a respective one of said arms and downwardly and inwardly toward a longitudinal axis of said body member, said axle portions each defining an axis of rotation;

d. a plurality of cutting cones each rotatably mounted on a respective one of said axle portions for rotation about the axis of rotation defined thereby, said cutting cones each having cavity defining surfaces in engagement with respective exterior surfaces of said respective axle portions, said cutting cones each having a base surface in facing relation with the inwardly facing surface of a respective one of said arms;

e. means on one of said arms defining a flow passage therethrough with a portion extending along the axis of rotation of said respective cutting cone mounted on said axle portion of said one arm;

f. means on said cutting cone rotatably mounted on said axle portion of said one arm defining respective walls engaging said axle portion and defining an aperture through an end of said cutting cone for discharge of drilling fluid through said axle portion and cutting cone thereon;

g. at least one annular seal member positioned between said aperture defining wall of said cutting cone and the adjacent exterior surface of said axle portion of said one arm;

h. a reservoir in the exterior surface of each of said axle portions, each of said reservoirs being adapted to receive and retain lubrication material therein;

i. at least one passage in each of said axle portions for spirally arranged grooves in the cavity defining walls of each of said cutting cones for flow of lubrication material received from said respective reservoir and passage to thereby lubricate engaging surfaces of said cutting cones and axle portions;

k. at least one annular seal member for each of said cutting cones and each positioned between and in engagement with the inwardly facing surface of said respective arm and the base surface of said respective cutting cone;

. means in the base surface of each of said cutting cones to define a recess adapted to receive and retain therein said seal member in sealing engagement with said inwardly facing surface of said respective arm, said recess defining means for the base surface of each of said cutting cones comprising:

1. an abutment surface extending substantially normal to said base surface and positioned to be engaged by said respective seal member;

2. a ramp surface intersecting the base surface of said respective cutting cone, said ramp surface being positioned to define a ramp for outward movement of said seal member toward said inwardly facing surface of said respective arm; and

3. a connecting surface extending between said ramp surface and said abutment surface; and

m. means on said aperture defining wall of said cutting cone to define a recess adapted to receive and retain therein said seal member in sealing engagement with said adjacent exterior surface of said axle portion of one arm, said recess defining means for said aperture defining wall of said cutting cone rotatably mounted on said axle portion of said one arm comprising:

1. a pair of substantially parallel ramp surfaces positioned to define respective ramps for movement of said respective seal member outwardly from the exterior surface of said axle portion of said one arm and toward the end of said cutting cone in response to pressure on lubrication material between engaging surfaces of said cutting cone and axle portion; and

2. a connecting surface extending between said pair of surfaces.

Claims

1. A drill tool comprising: a. a body member having a passage therein, said passage extending along a longitudinal axis of said body member and between a fluid receiving end and a closed end; b. a plurality of circumferentially spaced arms extending from said body member adjacent the closed end of said passage in said body member, said arms each having an inwardly facing surface; c. a plurality of axle portions each exteding from the inwardly facing surface of a respective one of said arms and along a respective axis intersecting the longitudinal axis of said body member in a manner to define a respective acute angle between the axis of the respective axle portion and the longitudinal axis of said body member; d. a plurality of cutting cones each rotatably mounted on a respective one of said axle portions and having a base surface in facing relation with the inwardly facing surface of the respective arm, said cutting cones each having cavity defining surfaces in engagement with respective exterior surfaces of said respective axle portions; e. means on each of said axle portions for retaining lubrication material and for circulating same to the exterior surface thereof; f. means on the cavity defining surfaces of each of said cutting cones for circulating lubrication material within the cavity thereof and thereby lubricating engaging surfaces of said cutting cones and axle portions; g. a plurality of annular seal members each mounted on the base surface of a respective one of said cutting cones and in engagement with the inwardly facing surface of said respective arm for retaining the lubrication material between the engaging surfaces of said respective cutting cones and axle portions; and h. means on the base surface of each of said cutting cones defining at least one recess therein for a respective one of said seal members to be mounted thereon, said means defining each of said recesses including: 1. an abutment surface extending substantially normal to the base surface of said respective cutting cone and positioned to be engaged by said respective seal member; and 2. a ramp surface intersecting the base surface of said respective cutting cone and positioned to define a ramp for outward movement of said respective seal member and toward said abutment surface in response to movement of said base surface of said respective cutting cone toward the inwardly facing surface of said respecTive arm.

2. a connecting surface extending between said pair of surfaces.

2. A drill tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. each of said axle portions has a reservoir open to the exterior surface thereof; b. said reservoirs are each adapted to receive and retain lubrication material therein; c. each of said axle portions has at least one passage thereon for communicating said respective reservoir with the exterior surface of said respective axle portion for flow of lubrication material between said respective reservoir and the respective exterior surface for lubricating engagement with the engaging surfaces of each of said cutting cones and said respective axle portion; and d. the cavity defining surfaces of each of said cutting cones each have spirally arranged grooves therein for flow of lubrication material received from said respective reservoir and passage to thereby lubricate engaging surfaces of said cutting cones and axle portions.

2. a ramp surface intersecting the base surface of said respective cutting cone, said ramp surface being positioned to define a ramp for outward movement of said seal member toward said abutment surface in response to movement of said base surface of said respective cutting cone toward said inwardly facing surface of said respective arm; i. means on one of said arms defining a flow passage therethrough with a portion thereof extending along the axis of rotation of said respective cutting cone mounted on said axle portion of said one arm; j. means on said cutting cone rotatably mounted on said one arm defining an end surface and a surface defining an aperture through the end surface for discharge of drilled fluid through said axle portion and cutting cone thereon; k. at least one seal member mounted on the aperture defining surface of said cutting conE rotatably mounted on said one arm and in engagement with the exterior surface of said axle portion of said one arm; and l. means on said aperture defining surface of said cutting cone rotatably mounted on said axle portion of said one arm defining a recess therein for each seal member to be mounted therein, each recess comprising:

2. a connecting surface extending between said pair of surfaces.

3. a connecting surface extending between said ramp surface and said abutment surface; and m. means on said aperture defining wall of said cutting cone to define a recess adapted to receive and retain therein said seal member in sealing engagement with said adjacent exterior surface of said axle portion of one arm, said recess defining means for said aperture defining wall of said cutting cone rotatably mounted on said axle portion of said one arm comprising:

3. A drill tool comprising: a. a body member having a passage therein, said passage extending along a longitudinal axis of said body member and between a fluid receiving end and a closed end; b. a plurality of circumferentially spaced arms extending from said body member adjacent the closed end of said passage in said body member, said arms each having an inwardly facing surface; c. a plurality of axle portions each extending from the inwardly facing surface of a respective one of said arms and along a respective axis intersecting the longitudinal axis of said body member in a manner to define a respective acute angle between the axis of the respective axle portion and the longitudinal axis of said body member, the axis of each axle portion defining an axis of rotation; d. a plurality of cutting cones each rotatably mounted on a respective one of said axle portions for rotation about the axis of rotation defined thereby and having a base surface in facing relation with the inwardly facing surface of the respective arm, said cutting cones each having cavity defining surfaces in engagement with respective exterior surfaces of said respective axle portions; e. means on each of said axle portions for retaining lubrication material and for circulating same to the exterior surface thereof; f. means on the cavity defining surfaces of each of said cutting cones for circulating lubrication material within the cavity thereof and thereby lubricating engaging surfaces of said cutting cones and axle portions; g. a plurality of annular seal members each mounted on the base surface of a respective one of said cutting cones and in engagement with the inwardly facing surface of said respective arm for retaining the lubrication material between the engaging surfaces of said respective cutting cones and axle portions; h. means on the base surface of each of said cutting cones defining at least one recess therein for a respective one of said seal members to be mounted thereon, said means defining each of said recesses including:

4. A drill tool as set forth in claim 3 wherein: (a) each of said axle portions has a reservoir open to the exterior surface thereof; (b) said reservoirs are each adapted to receive and retain lubrication material therein; (c) each of said axle portions has at least one passage thereon for communicating said respective reservoir with the exterior surface of said respective axle portion for flow of lubrication material between said respective reservoir and the respective exterior surface for lubricating engagement with the engaging surfaces of each of said cutting cones and said respective axle portion; and (d) the cavity defining surfaces of each of said cutting cones each have spirally arranged grooves therein for flow of lubrication material received from said respective reservoir and passage to thereby lubricate engaging surfaces of said cutting cones and axle portions.

5. A drill tool comprising: a. a body member having a fluid receiving end and a closed end and a passage extending longitudinally therebetween; b. a plurality of circumferentially spaced arms extending from said body member adjacent the closed end of said passage in said body member, each of said arms having an inwardly facing surface; c. a plurality of axle portions each extending from the inwardly facing surface of a respective one of said arms and downwardly and inwardly toward a longitudinal axis of said body member, said axle portions each defining an axis of rotation; d. a plurality of cutting cones each rotatably mounted on a respective one of said axle portions for rotation about the axis of rotation defined thereby, said cutting cones each having cavity defining surfaces in engagement with respective exterior surfaces of said respective axle portions, said cutting cones each having a base surface in facing relation with the inwardly facing surface of a respective one of said arms; e. means on one of said arms defining a flow passage therethrough with a portion extending along the axis of rotation of said respective cutting cone mounted on said axle portion of said one arm; f. means on said cutting cone rotatably mounted on said axle portion of said one arm defining respective walls engaging said axle portion and defining an aperture through an end of said cutting cone for discharge of drilling fluid through said axle portion and cutting cone thereon; g. at least one annular seal member positioned between said aperture defining wall of said cutting cone and the adjacent exterior surface of said axle portion of said one arm; h. a reservoir in the exterior surface of each of said axle portions, each of said reservoirs being adapted to receive and retain lubrication material therein; i. at least one passage in each of said axle portions for communicating said respective reservoir with the exterior surface of said respective axle portion for flow of lubrication material between said respective reservoir and the exterior surface for lubricating engagement with the engaging surfaces of each of said cutting cones and said respective axle portion; j. spirally arranged grooves in the cavity defining walls of each of said cutting cones for flow of lubrication materiAl received from said respective reservoir and passage to thereby lubricate engaging surfaces of said cutting cones and axle portions; k. at least one annular seal member for each of said cutting cones and each positioned between and in engagement with the inwardly facing surface of said respective arm and the base surface of said respective cutting cone; l. means in the base surface of each of said cutting cones to define a recess adapted to receive and retain therein said seal member in sealing engagement with said inwardly facing surface of said respective arm, said recess defining means for the base surface of each of said cutting cones comprising: