Rotational drill bits and drilling apparatuses including the same

1. A roof-bolt drill bit, the roof-bolt drill bit comprising:

a bit body rotatable about a central axis, the bit body comprising:

a forward end;

a rearward end axially opposite the forward end;

an internal passage defined within the bit body, the internal passage extending to at least one opening defined in a side portion of the bit body;

a peripheral side surface located at a peripheral radial distance relative to the central axis;

at least one channel defined in a peripheral portion of the bit body, the at least one channel extending along a path between the rearward end of the bit body and a side portion of the bit body;

at least one cutting element coupled to the bit body, the at least one cutting element comprising:

a cutting face;

a cutting edge adjacent the cutting face,

wherein the at least one channel is defined radially inward from the peripheral side surface.

2. The roof-bolt drill bit of claim 1 , wherein the at least one channel is configured to direct a fluid from the rearward end toward the forward end of the bit body during drilling.

3. The roof-bolt drill bit of claim 1 , wherein:

the drill bit is configured to rotate about the central axis in a rotational direction during drilling;

the at least one channel slopes away from the rearward end of the drill bit in a direction generally opposite the rotational direction.

4. The roof-bolt drill bit of claim 1 , wherein the at least one channel extends along a generally helical path.

5. The roof-bolt drill bit of claim 1 , wherein the at least one channel extends along a generally axial path.

6. The roof-bolt drill bit of claim 1 , wherein the internal passage comprises a vacuum hole configured to draw debris away from the at least one cutting element.

7. The roof-bolt drill bit of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cutting element further comprises a superabrasive material bonded to a substrate.

8. The roof-bolt drill bit of claim 7 , wherein the superabrasive material comprises polycrystalline diamond.

9. The roof-bolt drill bit of claim 1 , wherein the internal passage extends from an opening defined in the rearward end of the bit body.

10. The roof-bolt drill bit of claim 1 , wherein the internal passage extends from an opening defined adjacent a forward end of the at least one channel defined in the bit body.

11. A roof-bolt drill bit, the roof-bolt drill bit comprising:

a bit body rotatable about a central axis, the bit body comprising:

a forward end;

a rearward end axially opposite the forward end;

an internal passage defined within the bit body, the internal passage extending from a rearward opening defined in the rearward end of the bit body through at least a portion of the bit body;

a peripheral side surface located at a peripheral radial distance relative to the central axis;

at least one channel defined in a peripheral portion of the bit body, the at least one channel extending along a path between the rearward end of the bit body and a side portion of the bit body;

at least one side passage defined within a portion of the bit body radially offset from the internal passage, the at least one side passage extending from the internal passage to a side opening defined in a side portion of the bit body;

at least one cutting element coupled to the bit body, the at least one cutting element comprising:

a cutting face;

a cutting edge adjacent the cutting face;

wherein:

the side opening is formed adjacent the at least one cutting element;

the at least one channel is defined radially inward from the peripheral side surface.

12. The roof-bolt drill bit of claim 11 , wherein the side passage is configured to direct the fluid from the side opening at an angle of from 15° to 180° from a forward direction parallel to the central axis.

13. The roof-bolt drill bit of claim 11 , the at least one channel extends along the path between a side portion of the bit body adjacent the at least one cutting element and the rearward end of the bit body.

14. The roof-bolt drill bit of claim 13 , wherein the side opening is configured to direct the fluid toward the at least one channel.

15. The roof-bolt drill bit of claim 11 , wherein the side opening is configured to direct the fluid across the cutting face of the at least one cutting element.

16. The roof-bolt drill bit of claim 11 , wherein the at least one side passage comprises:

a first section extending from the internal passage;

a second section extending from the first section to the side opening, the second section extending in a nonparallel direction relative to the central axis.

17. The roof-bolt drill bit of claim 11 , further comprising a central passage defined within the bit body, the central passage extending from the internal passage to a forward opening defined in a forward portion of the bit body.

18. The roof-bolt drill bit of claim 17 , wherein the central passage has a larger diameter than the at least one side passage.

19. A roof-bolt drilling apparatus, the roof-bolt drilling apparatus comprising:

a drill steel rotatable about a central axis;

a bit body coupled to the drill steel and rotatable about the central axis, the bit body comprising:

a forward end;

a rearward end axially opposite the forward end, the bit body being coupled to the drill steel at the rearward end of the bit body;

an internal passage defined within the bit body, the internal passage extending from an opening in the rearward end of the bit body through at least a portion of the bit body in a direction substantially parallel to the central axis;

at least one flow path defined in a portion of the bit body located radially outward relative to the internal passage, the at least one flow path being configured to direct a fluid in a nonparallel direction relative to the central axis;

at least one cutting element coupled to the bit body, the at least one cutting element comprising:

a cutting face;

a cutting edge adjacent the cutting face,

wherein the at least one flow path comprises a channel defined in a peripheral portion of the bit body, the channel extending along a path between the rearward end of the bit body and a side portion of the bit body.

20. The drilling apparatus of claim 19 , wherein:

the bit body further comprises a central passage defined within the bit body, the central passage extending from the internal passage to a forward opening defined in a forward portion of the bit body;

the bit body further comprises a side passage defined within a portion of the bit body located radially outward relative to the central passage, the side passage extending from the internal passage to a side opening defined in a side portion of the bit body.

21. The drilling apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the drill steel includes a peripheral channel.

22. A roof-bolt drilling apparatus, the roof-bolt drilling apparatus comprising:

a drill steel rotatable about a central axis;

a bit body coupled to the drill steel and rotatable about the central axis, the bit body comprising:

a forward end;

a rearward end axially opposite the forward end, the bit body being coupled to the drill steel at the rearward end of the bit body;

an internal passage defined within the bit body, the internal passage extending from an opening in the rearward end of the bit body through at least a portion of the bit body in a direction substantially parallel to the central axis;

a central passage defined within the bit body, the central passage extending from the internal passage to a forward opening defined in a forward portion of the bit body;

a side passage defined within a portion of the bit body located radially outward relative to the internal passage and the central passage, the side passage being configured to direct a fluid in a nonparallel direction relative to the central axis, the side passage extending from the internal passage to a side opening defined in a side portion of the bit body;

at least one cutting element coupled to the bit body, the at least one cutting element comprising:

a cutting face;

a cutting edge adjacent the cutting face.