A PDC drill bit for use in downhole air drilling includes a body with a face for engaging a bottom of a hole being drilled and a gauge for engaging a side of the hole being drilled. The face includes a cone, a nose outward of the cone, a shoulder outward of the nose. The bit further includes channels formed in the face of the bit that extend from within the cone to the gauge. The channels define a plurality of blades separated by the channels. Each of the plurality of blades has a leading edge with PDC cutters mounted thereon. One or more of the channels are defined by two side walls and a bottom wall and has a length, width and depth. The width or depth remains substantially constant from a first point on its length within the cone to a second point within the shoulder.

A PDC drill bit for use in downhole air drilling includes a body with a face for engaging a bottom of a hole being drilled and a gauge for engaging a side of the hole being drilled. The face includes a cone, a nose outward of the cone, a shoulder outward of the nose. The bit further includes channels formed in the face of the bit that extend from within the cone to the gauge. The channels define a plurality of blades separated by the channels. Each of the plurality of blades has a leading edge with PDC cutters mounted thereon. One or more of the channels are defined by two side walls and a bottom wall and has a length, width and depth. The width or depth remains substantially constant from a first point on its length within the cone to a second point within the shoulder.

A rock bit for blast hole drilling includes: a bit body having a coupling formed at an upper end thereof, a plurality of lower legs, a dome formed between the legs, and a bore formed through the coupling and the dome; a plurality of skirts, each skirt covering a gap formed between adjacent legs and each skirt mounted to edges of adjacent legs; a plurality of roller cones, each rotary cone rotatably mounted to a respective bearing shaft of a respective leg; a row of gage cutters mounted to each roller cone; a row of inner cutters mounted to each roller cone; one or more nose cutters mounted to each roller cone; and a center jet secured in the bore. Each cutter is an insert.

A rock bit for blast hole drilling includes: a bit body having a coupling formed at an upper end thereof, a plurality of lower legs, a dome formed between the legs, and a bore formed through the coupling and the dome; a plurality of skirts, each skirt covering a gap formed between adjacent legs and each skirt mounted to edges of adjacent legs; a plurality of roller cones, each rotary cone rotatably mounted to a respective bearing shaft of a respective leg; a row of gage cutters mounted to each roller cone; a row of inner cutters mounted to each roller cone; one or more nose cutters mounted to each roller cone; and a center jet secured in the bore. Each cutter is an insert.

A drill bit including: a main body portion including three legs extending therefrom, the three legs arranged around a periphery of the main body portion; a conical cutter rotatably mounted on each leg, the conical cutters positioned to allow a clearance between the conical cutter and the main body portion; a protrusion extending from the main body portion into the clearance, wherein the protrusion encourages drill cuttings away from a base region of the main body portion where the legs meet the main body portion.

A drill bit including: a main body portion including three legs extending therefrom, the three legs arranged around a periphery of the main body portion; a conical cutter rotatably mounted on each leg, the conical cutters positioned to allow a clearance between the conical cutter and the main body portion; a protrusion extending from the main body portion into the clearance, wherein the protrusion encourages drill cuttings away from a base region of the main body portion where the legs meet the main body portion.

A drill bit for forming a wellbore through a geologic formation includes a connector configured for connection to a drill string and a bit body coupled to the connector. A fixed cutting element is mounted on the bit body for rotation with the bit body and a slot extends through the bit body. A rolling cutting blade is supported in the slot such that an exposed segment of the cutting blade protrudes from slot and concealed segments of the rolling cutting blade adjacent the exposed segment are disposed within the slot. The rolling cutting blade rotates to thereby conceal the exposed segment and expose the concealed segments. A plurality of rotating cutting elements are supported on a periphery of the rolling cutting blade.

A drill bit for forming a wellbore through a geologic formation includes a connector configured for connection to a drill string and a bit body coupled to the connector. A fixed cutting element is mounted on the bit body for rotation with the bit body and a slot extends through the bit body. A rolling cutting blade is supported in the slot such that an exposed segment of the cutting blade protrudes from slot and concealed segments of the rolling cutting blade adjacent the exposed segment are disposed within the slot. The rolling cutting blade rotates to thereby conceal the exposed segment and expose the concealed segments. A plurality of rotating cutting elements are supported on a periphery of the rolling cutting blade.

A drilling system for a mining machine, the mining machine including a frame and a boom moveable coupled to the frame and a drill string positioned in a blast hole. The system includes an air compressor, a drill bit connected to the air compressor configured to receive low pressure air. The drill bit has a nozzle free drilling body, three sealed rotating cones, each cone with a plurality of cutting elements. Each cone having a sealed bit bearing assembly with diaphragm free lubricant spaces. A single central air conduit in the drilling body providing continuous high flow rate low pressure air from the drill string configured to strike the plurality of outer surfaces of the sealed rotating cones upon exit of the high flow rate low pressurize air from the single central air conduit cooling the sealed bit bearing assemblies. A relief conduit is used.

A rotary cone rock bit having a forward end and a rearward end, includes a bit body having a plurality of legs extending therefrom. Each of the legs have an outer surface that includes a leading surface, a center panel surface, and a trailing surface and at least one nozzle. A roller cone is rotatably supported on each of the legs. The rotary cone bit further includes at least identification tag for storing product identification information and/or drilling operation information. The at least one identification tag is positioned on the trailing surface of at least one of the legs.