Insert in a downhole drill bit
View Patent ↗A drill bit assembly has a bit body intermediate a shank and a working face. At least one wear resistant insert is press-fitted within a pocket formed in an outer surface of the bit. An urging element is disposed between the outer surface and a bore of the bit and the urging element is adapted to push the insert away from the bore.
1. A drill bit assembly, comprising:
a bit body intermediate a shank and a working face;
at least one wear resistant insert press fit within a pocket formed in an outer surface of the bit
an urging element disposed between the outer surface and a bore of the bit being adapted to push the insert away from the bore.
2. The drill bit of claim 1 , wherein the urging element comprises a threadform adapted to threadingly engage a second threadform formed within the wall of the drill bit.
3. The drill bit of claim 2 , wherein a first end of the urging element is adapted to contact a base end of the insert and a second end of the urging element is adapted to receive torque from within the bore of the drill bit.
4. The drill bit of claim 2 , wherein the first end comprises a diameter narrower than a primary diameter of the urging element.
5. The drill bit of claim 2 , wherein a wall of the drill bit comprises a port in communication with the bore.
6. The drill bit of claim 5 , wherein the port is adapted to receive a plug during drilling operations.
7. The drill bit of claim 2 , wherein the second end comprises a wrench flat.
8. The drill bit of claim 2 , wherein the first end of the urging element is diamond or cubic boron nitride enhanced.
9. The drill bit of claim 1 , wherein the urging element comprises a hydraulic press mechanism.
10. The drill bit of claim 9 , wherein the hydraulic press mechanism comprises an L-shaped fluid reservoir.
11. The drill bit of claim 10 , wherein the fluid reservoir is pressurized.
12. The drill bit of claim 9 , wherein the hydraulic press mechanism comprises at least one piston.
13. The drill bit of claim 9 , wherein the hydraulic press mechanism is adapted to push multiple inserts at once.
14. The drill bit of claim 9 , wherein the hydraulic press is adapted to be activated from the outer surface of the bit.
15. The drill bit of claim 1 , wherein the drill bit is incorporated into percussion bits, roller cone bits, rotary drill bits or combinations thereof.
16. The drill bit of claim 1 , wherein the insert is a gauge pad.
17. The drill bit of claim 1 , wherein the insert is a cutting element.
18. The drill bit of claim 17 , wherein the cutting element comprises a substantially conical profile with a round apex.
19. The drill bit of claim 1 , wherein the pushing mechanism involves rotation of the tools involved in pushing the press-fit inserts.
20. The drill bit of claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the insert is greater than the diameter of the port.