Drilling apparatus

Claim 2

Drilling apparatus comprising a drilling bit for connecting to the lower end of a drill string for rotation therewith around the longitudinal axis of the string, said bit including a body, a cutter wheel comprising a disc-shaped member having a continuous, unbroken outer peripheral surface with cutting teeth attached thereto, and means mounting the cutter wheel for rotation relative to the bit body around a transverse axis perpendicular to the axis around which the body is to be rotated by the drill string and with the outer peripheral surface extending laterally equal distances on opposite sides of a plane that includes the said axis of rotation of the body, and motor means located in the drill string above the bit for rotating the cutter wheel around said transverse axis as the bit is rotated by the drill string around the longitudinal axis of the drill string.

Claim 3

The drilling apparatus of claim 1 in which the motor means is powered by drilling fluid pumped down the drill string.

Claim 4

The drilling apparatus of claim 1 in which the cutting teeth on the cutter wheel are diamonds embedded in its outer peripheral surface.

Claim 5

Drilling apparatus comprising a drill string, a turbine located in the drill string adjacent its lower end to be powered by drilling fluid pumped down the drill string, said turbine having an output shaft, a drilling bit including a body attached to the lower end of the drill string for rotation with the drill string around the longitudinal axis of the drill string, a cutter wheel comprising a disc-shaped matrix having a central opening extending laterally therethrough and a plurality of hard abrasive elements, such as diamonds, partially embedded in its continuous, unbroken, outer peRipheral surface to act as cutting teeth, a shaft extending through the central opening of the matrix and mounted in the body to support the cutter wheel for rotation with the shaft around a transverse axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the drill string with the wheel centrally located with respect to the longitudinal axis of the drill string, and power transmitting means connecting the output shaft of the turbine to the shaft supporting the cutter wheel so the turbine will rotate the cutter wheel around said transverse axis as drilling fluid is pumped down the drill pipe and through the turbine.

Claim 6

Drilling apparatus comprising a drill string, a turbine located in the drill string adjacent its lower end to be powered by drilling fluid pumped down the drill string, said turbine having an output shaft, a drilling bit including a body attached to the lower end of the drill string for rotation with the drill string around the longitudinal axis of the drill string, a cutter wheel comprising a disc-shaped matrix having a central opening extending laterally therethrough and a plurality of hard abrasive elements, such as diamonds, partially embedded in its continuous, unbroken, outer peRipheral surface to act as cutting teeth, a shaft extending through the central opening of the matrix and mounted in the body to support the cutter wheel for rotation with the shaft around a transverse axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the drill string with the wheel centrally located with respect to the longitudinal axis of the drill string, and power transmitting means connecting the output shaft of the turbine to the shaft supporting the cutter wheel so the turbine will rotate the cutter wheel around said transverse axis as drilling fluid is pumped down the drill pipe and through the turbine.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 4 in which the turbine output shaft has a fluid passageway through which the drilling fluid from the turbine flows after it leaves the turbine and which directs the drilling fluid downwardly against the cutter wheel to clean the cutter wheel as it is rotated by the turbine.

Claim 8

A drill bit comprising a body for attaching to the lower end of a drill string for rotation therewith as the drill string is rotated around its longitudinal axis, a cutter wheel for cutting away the earth as the drill bit is forced against the bottom of a well bore, means mounting the cutter wheel on the body for rotation around an axis transverse the axis of rotation of the body, and means for transmitting power from a downhole engine carried by the drill string above the bit to rotate the cutter wheel around said transverse axis as the wheel and the body are rotated by the drill string around the longitudinal axis of the drill string, the power transmitting means including two parallel spaced stub shafts mounted for rotation on the body on opposite sides of the cutter wheel, gear means mounted on said shafts for meshing with gear means on the output shaft of said downhole engine whereby rotation of said output shaft will rotate the stub shafts in the same direction, and gear means operatively connecting the stub shafts and the cutter wheel to rotate the cutter wheel around said transverse axis when the stub shafts are rotated by the downhole engine.

Claim 9

A drill bit comprising a body for attaching to the lower end of a drill string for rotation therewith as the drill string is rotated around its longitudinal axis, a cutter wheel for cutting away the earth as the drill bit is forced against the bottom of a well bore, means mounting the cutter wheel on the body for rotation around an axis transverse the axis of rotation of the body, and means for transmitting power from a downhole engine carried by the drill string above the bit to rotate the cutter wheel around said transverse axis as the wheel and the body are rotated by the drill string around the longitudinal axis of the drill string, the power transmitting means including two parallel spaced stub shafts mounted for rotation on the body on opposite sides of the cutter wheel, gear means mounted on said shafts for meshing with gear means on the output shaft of said downhole engine whereby rotation of said output shaft will rotate the stub shafts in the same direction, and gear means operatively connecting the stub shafts and the cutter wheel to rotate the cutter wheel around said transverse axis when the stub shafts are rotated by the downhole engine.

Claim 10

Drilling apparatus for connecting to the lower end of a drill string for drilling a hole into the earth, said apparatus comprising a fluid powered motor having an outer housing for connecting to the lower end of the drill string for rotation therewith and an output shaft that is rotated by drilling mud pumped down the drill pipe, a drill bit including a body connected to the housing of the motor for rotation with the housing as it is rotated by the drill pipe, a shaft supported by the body with its longitudinal axis intersecting and perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the body, a cutter wheel mounted on the shaft for rotation with the shaft relative to the body around the longitudinal axis of the shaft, said cutter wheel comprising a disc-shaped member having a continuous, unbroken outer peripheral surface with cutting teeth attached thereto, and gear means operatively connecting the output shaft of the fluid engine to the shaft supporting the cutter wheel whereby the cutter wheel will be rotated with the shaft around the longitudinal axis of the shaft as drilling mud is pumped down the drill pipe while rotating with the bit housing around the longitudinal axis of the drill string.

Claim 11

Drilling apparatus for connecting to the lower end of a drill string for drilling a hole into the earth, said apparatus comprising a fluid powered motor having an outer housing for connecting to the lower end of the drill string for rotation therewith and an output shaft that is rotated by drilling mud pumped down the drill pipe, a drill bit including a body connected to the housing of the motor for rotation with the housing as it is rotated by the drill pipe, a shaft supported by the body with its longitudinal axis intersecting and perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the body, a cutter wheel mounted on the shaft for rotation with the shaft relative to the body around the longitudinal axis of the shaft, said cutter wheel comprising a disc-shaped member having a continuous, unbroken outer peripheral surface with cutting teeth attached thereto, and gear means operatively connecting the output shaft of the fluid engine to the shaft supporting the cutter wheel whereby the cutter wheel will be rotated with the shaft around the longitudinal axis of the shaft as drilling mud is pumped down the drill pipe while rotating with the bit housing around the longitudinal axis of the drill string.

Claim 12

A drill bit for drilling a well bore in the ground comprising a body for attaching to a drill string for rotation therewith as the drill string is rotated around its longitudinal axis, a cutter wheel comprising a matrix having a continuous, unbroken, peripheral surface to engage the bottom of a well bore in the ground and a plurality of hard, abrasive elements, such as diamonds, partially embedded in the peripheral surface of the cutter wheel to cut away the ground at the bottom of the well bore when the cutter wheel is rotated in engagement therewith, means mounting the cutter wheel for rotation around an axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the drill string to which the bit is to be attached and centrally located with Respect to the outer peripheral surface of the wheel, said means further mounting the cutter wheel for the wheel to be symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of the drill string, when the bit is attached thereto, and power transmission means for transmitting power from the output shaft of a downhole motor located in a drill string above the bit to rotate the cutter around said transverse axis.

Claim 13

A drill bit for drilling a well bore in the ground comprising a body for attaching to a drill string for rotation therewith as the drill string is rotated around its longitudinal axis, a cutter wheel comprising a matrix having a continuous, unbroken, peripheral surface to engage the bottom of a well bore in the ground and a plurality of hard, abrasive elements, such as diamonds, partially embedded in the peripheral surface of the cutter wheel to cut away the ground at the bottom of the well bore when the cutter wheel is rotated in engagement therewith, means mounting the cutter wheel for rotation around an axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the drill string to which the bit is to be attached and centrally located with Respect to the outer peripheral surface of the wheel, said means further mounting the cutter wheel for the wheel to be symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of the drill string, when the bit is attached thereto, and power transmission means for transmitting power from the output shaft of a downhole motor located in a drill string above the bit to rotate the cutter around said transverse axis.