DRILL BIT ASSEMBLY FOR PERCUSSION DRILL TOOLS
20220154535 · 2022-05-19
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
International classification
Abstract
The present invention relates to a drill bit assembly for fluid-operated percussion drill tools comprising a percussion bit having a head portion and a bit retaining portion. Engagement means are provided on the head portion engageable with complementary engagement means on a drive ring whereby rotational drive from the drive ring may be transmitted to the percussion bit. The assembly also comprises bit retaining means adapted for engagement with the bit retaining portion of the percussion bit to retain the percussion bit in the drill bit assembly. Connection means on the drive ring are adapted for connecting the drive ring to a drive means of the fluid-operated percussion drill tool. According to a first aspect, the drive ring comprises a plurality of separable part-annular drive dog segments, wherein the bit retaining means are provided on at least two of the drive dog segments. According to a second aspect the head portion of the bit comprises a main body and a plurality of bit inserts engaged therewith, and wherein the engagement means is provided by the bit inserts.
Claims
1.-32. (canceled)
33. A drill bit assembly for fluid-operated percussion drill tools, comprising: a percussion bit having a head portion and a bit retaining portion; engagement means on the head portion engageable with complementary engagement means on a drive ring whereby rotational drive from the drive ring may be transmitted to the percussion bit; bit retaining means adapted for engagement with the bit retaining portion of the percussion bit to retain the percussion bit in the drill bit assembly; and connection means on the drive ring adapted for connecting the drive ring to a drive means of the fluid-operated percussion drill tool, wherein the drive ring comprises a plurality of separable part-annular drive dog segments, and wherein the bit retaining means are provided on at least two of the drive dog segments.
34. A drill bit assembly as claimed in claim 33, wherein the complementary engagement means, for engagement with the engagement means on the head portion of the bit, are provided on at least two of the drive dog segments.
35. A drill bit assembly as claimed in claim 33, wherein the bit retaining portion of the percussion bit comprises a retaining shoulder.
36. A drill bit assembly as claimed in claim 33, wherein the bit retaining means comprises a shoulder formed internally of the drive ring for engagement with the bit retaining portion of the percussion bit to retain the bit in the assembly.
37. A drill bit assembly as claimed in claim 36, wherein the shoulder is integrally formed with the drive ring.
38. A drill bit assembly as claimed in claim 33, wherein the engagement means on the head portion comprises a plurality of recesses, and wherein the complementary engagement means on the drive ring comprises a corresponding plurality of protrusions at a forward end thereof, whereby each protrusion is received within a corresponding recess to transmit rotational drive from the drive ring to the percussion bit.
39. A drill bit assembly as claimed in claim 33, wherein the head portion of the hit comprises a main body and a plurality of bit inserts engaged therewith, and wherein the engagement, means is provided in the bit inserts.
40. A drill bit assembly as claimed in claim 39, herein the bit inserts are provided in a radially spaced-apart arrangement at a forward end of the main body of the head portion of the percussion bit.
41. A drill hit assembly as claimed in claim 39, wherein the engagement means on the head portion comprises a recess provided in a rearwardly-directed face of at least two of the plurality of bit inserts, and wherein the complementary engagement means on the drive ring comprises a corresponding plurality of protrusions at a forward end thereof, whereby each protrusion is received within a corresponding recess to transmit rotational drive from the drive ring to the percussion bit.
42. A drill hit assembly as claimed in claim 41, wherein each drive dog segment comprises one of the plurality of protrusions and connection means for connecting the drive dog segment to a drive means of the fluid-operated percussion drill tool.
43. A drill bit assembly as claimed in claim 39, wherein a recess is provided in a rearwardly-directed face of at least two of the plurality of bit inserts, wherein a corresponding plurality of protrusions is provided at a forward end of the drive ring, and wherein each of the bit inserts, recesses and protrusions is shaped ich that, when the insert is engaged with the main body of the head portion of the bit, the insert is rotatable relative to the main body of the head portion of the bit.
44. A drill bit assembly as claimed in claim 38, wherein the bit retaining means comprises a shoulder formed on each of at least two of the protrusions on the drive ring and wherein the bit retaining portion of the percussion bit comprises a retaining shoulder formed at an opening of the corresponding recesses in the head portion of the bit.
45. A drill bit assembly as claimed in claim 44, wherein the shoulder is formed around three sides of each of the at least two protrusions and wherein the retaining shoulder is formed around three sides of the corresponding recesses.
46. A drill bit assembly for fluid-operated percussion drill tools, comprising: a percussion bit having a head portion and a bit retaining portion; engagement means on the head portion engageable with complementary engagement means on a drive ring whereby rotational drive from the drive ring may be transmitted to the percussion bit; bit retaining means adapted for engagement with the bit retaining portion of the percussion bit to retain the percussion bit in the drill bit assembly; and connection means on the drive ring adapted for connecting the drive ring to a drive means of the fluid-operated percussion drill tool, wherein the head portion of the bit comprises a main body and a plurality of bit inserts engaged therewith, and wherein the engagement means is provided by the bit inserts.
47. A drill bit assembly as claimed in claim 46, wherein the bit inserts are provided in a radially spaced-apart arrangement at a forward end of the main body of the head portion of the percussion bit.
48. A drill hit assembly as claimed in claim 46, wherein the engagement means on the head portion comprises a recess provided in a rearwardly-directed face of least two of the plurality of hit inserts, and wherein the complementary engagement means on the drive ring comprises a corresponding plurality of protrusions at a forward end thereof, whereby each protrusion is received within a corresponding recess to transmit rotational drive from the drive ring to the percussion bit.
49. A drill hit assembly as claimed in claim 46, wherein a recess is provided in a rearwardly-directed face of at least two of the plurality of bit inserts, wherein a corresponding plurality of protrusions is provided at a forward end of the drive ring, and wherein each of the bit inserts, recesses and protrusions is shaped such that, when the insert is engaged with the main body of the head portion of the bit, the insert is rotatable relative to the main body of the head portion of the bit.
50. A drill bit assembly for fluid-operated percussion drill tools, comprising: a percussion hit having a head portion and a hit retaining portion; engagement means on the head portion engageable with complementary engagement means on a drive ring whereby rotational drive from the drive ring may be transmitted to the percussion bit; bit retaining means adapted for engagement with the bit retaining portion of the percussion bit to retain the percussion bit in the drill bit assembly; and an internal screw-thread provided at an upper part of the drive ring for connecting the drive ring to an external screw-thread provided at a lower end of an outer wear sleeve of the fluid-operated percussion drill tool, such that the bit retaining means is retained between the outer wear sleeve and a shoulder formed internally of the drive ring.
51. A drill bit assembly as claimed in claim 50, wherein the bit retaining means is retained between a lower end of the outer wear sleeve and the shoulder formed internally of the drive ring.
52. A drill bit assembly as claimed in claim 50, wherein the engagement means on the head portion comprises a plurality of recesses, and wherein the complementary engagement means on the drive ring comprises a corresponding plurality of protrusions at a forward end thereof, whereby each protrusion is received within a corresponding recess to transmit rotational drive from the drive ring to the percussion bit.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0065] Referring to
[0066] The assembly further comprises a drive ring 7 for transmission of rotational drive to the percussion bit. As shown in
[0067] The head portion 3 of the bit comprises a main body 11 and a plurality of bit inserts 12 slidably engaged therewith. The bit inserts 12 are retained in the main body 11 by way of lips 13 on the inserts, which engage with complementary shoulders 14 on the main body 11. As best shown in
[0068] As shown in
[0069] To assemble the drill bit assembly of the first embodiment, the drill bit 1 is positioned relative to the wear sleeve 9 in the drop-out position as shown in
[0070] Each pair of drive dog segment and bit insert is added in the same way. Once all of the drive dog segments have been added, the drive dog segments form a continuous annular drive ring 7. The drive ring is retained in the assembly by way of the bolts and the drive ring in turn retains the percussion bit 1 in the assembly. The inserts are engaged with the main body of the bit by way of lips 13 and shoulders 14. Rotational drive is transmitted from the drive ring 7 to the bit 1 by engagement of the protrusions 17 with the recesses 15 in the bit inserts.
[0071] A drill bit assembly according to a third embodiment of the invention is shown in
[0072] A drill bit assembly according to a fourth embodiment of the invention is shown in
[0073] A drill bit assembly according to a fifth embodiment of the invention is shown in
[0074] A drill bit assembly according to a sixth embodiment of the invention is shown in
[0075] The assembly further comprises a drive ring 7 for transmission of rotational drive from to the percussion bit. As shown in
[0076] The drive ring 7 is provided with a plurality of protrusions 17 at a forward end thereof, the protrusions corresponding in number and dimension to the recesses 29 in the percussion bit. Each drive dog segment 18 comprises one of the plurality of protrusions. When the assembly is assembled, each protrusion 17 is received within a corresponding recess 29 to transmit rotational drive from the drive ring to the percussion bit. Each protrusion 17 is formed with a shoulder 31 at a free end thereof. In the embodiment shown, the shoulder 31 extends around three sides of the protrusion 17. In alternate embodiments, the shoulder 31 may be provided only at one side of the protrusion, such as the innermost side of the protrusion. As shown in
[0077] To assemble the drill bit assembly according to the sixth embodiment of the invention, the drill bit 1 is positioned relative to the wear sleeve 9 in the drop-out position. A single drive dog segment 18 is slid into one of the recesses 29 in the bit, such that shoulder 31 on the drive dog segment engages with retaining shoulder 30 on the bit. The drive dog segment 18 is then bolted to the wear sleeve 9 via holes 8 which can be accessed externally. Alternatively, large bolts are screwed in from the top of the wear sleeve down into the drive dogs to retain the drive dogs in the assembly.
[0078] Each drive dog segment is added in the same way. Once all of the drive dog segments have been added, the drive dog segments form a continuous annular drive ring 7. The drive ring is retained in the assembly by way of the bolts and the drive ring in turn retains the percussion bit 1 in the assembly by engagement of shoulders 31 with shoulders 30 on the bit. Rotational drive is transmitted from the drive ring 7 to the bit 1 by engagement of the protrusions 17 with the recesses 29 in the bit.
[0079] A drill bit assembly according to a seventh embodiment of the invention is shown in
[0080] The assembly further comprises a drive ring 7 for transmission of rotational drive to the percussion bit. The drive ring 7 is provided with plurality of protrusions 17 at a forward end thereof, corresponding to the recesses 29 in the bit 2. As in the embodiment shown in
[0081] To assemble the assembly of
[0082] Referring to
[0083] The assembly further comprises a drive ring 7 for transmission of rotational drive to the percussion bit. As shown in
[0084] The head portion 3 of the bit comprises a main body 11 and a plurality of bit inserts 12 slidably engaged therewith. In this embodiment, the bit inserts are substantially cylindrical in shape, with a disc-shaped cutting face 34 at a forward end. Each bit insert 12 is retained in the main body 11 by way of a lip 13 around the circumference of the insert, which engages with a complementary shoulder 14 on the main body 11. As best shown in
[0085] As shown in
[0086] To assemble the drill bit assembly of the eighth embodiment, the drill bit 1 is positioned relative to the wear sleeve 9 in the drop-out position as shown in
[0087] Each pair of drive dog segment and bit insert is added in the same way. Once all of the drive dog segments have been added, the drive dog segments form a continuous annular drive ring 7. The drive ring is retained in the assembly by way of the bolts and the drive ring in turn retains the percussion bit 1 in the assembly. The inserts are engaged with the main body of the bit by way of lips 13 and shoulders 14. Rotational drive is transmitted from the drive ring 7 to the bit 1 by engagement of the protrusions 17 with the recesses 15 in the bit inserts. In this embodiment, the shape of the bit inserts and the protrusions is such that each of the inserts is rotatable relative to the bit head. During operation of the tool, the inserts will rotate due to the rotational torque of the tool. This increases the lifetime of the bit inserts by distributing wear over the whole of the cutting face of each insert as they rotate in the bit head.
[0088] The words “comprises/comprising” and the words “having/including” when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.
[0089] It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.