Drill Bit Jack Element with a Plurality of Inserts
In one aspect of the present invention, a drill bit has an axis of rotation and drill bit body intermediate a threaded end and a working face. The drill bit body houses a jack element protruding from the drill bit body and the jack element has a plurality of inserts disposed on the indenting end.
1 . A drill bit, comprising:
an axis of rotation and drill bit body intermediate a threaded end and a working face;
the drill bit body housing a jack element protruding from the drill bit body;
the jack element comprising a plurality of pointed inserts disposed on an indenting end; and
at least one of the pointed inserts of the plurality comprises a central axis that is less than 25 degrees away from parallel with the axis of rotation.
2 . The drill bit of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of inserts is disposed primarily on one half of the indenting end.
3 . (canceled)
4 . The drill bit of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of inserts are attached to the jack element through a braze.
5 . The drill bit of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of inserts are attached to the jack element through a press fit.
6 . The drill bit of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of inserts comprises a flat ground portion, the flat ground portion disposed collinearly with an outer circumference of the jack element.
7 . The drill bit of claim 1 , wherein the jack element is substantially aligned along the axis of rotation.
8 . The drill bit of claim 1 , wherein the jack element comprises a connection with a shaft, the shaft disposed intermediate the indenting end and a gearbox.
9 . The drill bit of claim 8 , wherein the gearbox is in mechanical communication with a generator such that the generator powers the gearbox.
10 . The drill bit of claim 8 , wherein the connection is a rotary spline such that the shaft may oscillate axially within the jack element.
11 . The drill bit of claim 8 , wherein the shaft is in mechanical communication with a piston, the piston circumferentially disposed around the shaft and slidably connected to the shaft.
12 . The drill bit of claim 11 , wherein a first piston end and a second piston end are selectively in fluid communication with a drilling mud flow such that the piston is actuated axially along the shaft according to which end of the piston is in fluid communication with the drilling mud flow.
13 . The drill bit of claim 8 , wherein as the shaft is rotated, the jack element may also be rotated to a desired position within the drill bit through the connection.
14 . The drill bit of claim 11 , wherein the piston comprises a first contact surface, the first contact surface comprising a super hard material.
15 . The drill bit of claim 14 , wherein the jack element comprises a second contact surface, the second contact surface comprising a super hard material.
16 . The drill bit of claim 11 , wherein the drill bit comprises a valve which selectively allows a drilling mud flow to contact the piston.
17 . (canceled)
18 . (canceled)
19 . (canceled)
20 . (canceled)
21 . The drill bit of claim 1 , wherein the working face comprises at least one face cutter that extends at least as far from the bit body as the inserts of indenting end of the jack element.
22 . The drill bit of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of inserts may include a central insert disposed substantially in the center of the indenting end and inserts surrounding the central insert.
23 . The drill bit of claim 1 , wherein the jack element is configured to move while simultaneously rotating.
24 . The drill bit of claim 1 , wherein the shaft is configured to rotate the jack element such that as the tool string component rotates, the shaft and jack element rotate in an opposite direction, leaving the jack element stationary in relation to the formation.
25 . The drill bit of claim 1 , wherein the jack element is configured to bias the tool string in a desired direction.