Drill bit and stabilizer combination

Claim 2

In a rotary drill bit and stabilizer apparatus for drilling a bore hole in a formation: a body structure having an upper connector adapted to secure said structure to a drilling string; said body structure having a lower cutting portion for drilling the bore hole to a predetermined diameter and an outer gage portion of extended length integral with said lower cutting portion and having an effective diameter conforming to said predetermined bore hole diameter; a separate elongate stabilizer movable over said connector and along said body structure toward and into engagement with said outer gage portion; and means for securing said stabilizer to said body structure for simultaneous rotation with said lower cutting portion, said stabilizer having circumferentially spaced, externally arcuate elongate vertical pads providing a large bearing area with respect to the wall surface of the bore hole, said pads having an effective diameter conforming to the diameter of said hole and outer gage portion, the lower end of said stabilizer being contiguous the upper end of said gage portion, said stabilizer constituting an upward continuation of said gage portion.

Claim 3

In apparatus as defined in claim 1; said stabilizer comprising an elongate sleeve having an effective outside diameter conforming to the predetermined bore hole diameter; said securing means securing said sleeve to said body structure for rotation by said body structure jointly with said lower cutting portion.

Claim 4

In apparatus as defined in claim 1; said lower cutting portion including a fluid passage and spaced waterways in the end face of said cutting portion communicating with said passage and providing lands in said end face therebetween; cutting elements on said lands; said gage portion having spaced vertical waterways in its periphery communicating with said other waterways and providing spaced vertical lands therebetween; said stabilizer having spaced vertical elongate waterways in its periphery aligned with and communicating with said vertical waterways of said gage portion, said stabilizer waterways defining said spaced vertical elongate pads therebetween forming upward continuations of the vertical gage portion lands; the lower ends of said stabilizer waterways and stabilizer pads being contiguous the upper ends of said gage portion vertical waterways and vertical lands, respectively.

Claim 5

In apparatus as defined in claim 1; said stabilizer comprising an elongate sleeve having an effective outside diameter conforming to the predetermined bore hole diameter; said securing means securing said sleeve to said body structure for rotation by said body structure jointly with said lower cutting portion; said lower cutting portion including a fluid passage and spaced waterways in the end face of said cutting portion communicating with said passage and providing lands in said end face therebetween; cutting elements on said lands; said gage portion having spaced vertical waterways in its periphery communicating with said other waterways and providing spaced vertical lands therebetween; said stabilizer sleeve having spaced vertically elongate waterways in its periphery aligned with and communicating with said vertical waterways of said gage portion, said stabilizer sleeve waterways said spaced vertical elongate pads therebetween forming upward continuations of the vertical gage portion lands; the lower ends of said stabilizer sleeve waterways and stabilizer sleeve pads being contiguous the upper ends of said gage portion vertical waterways and vertical lands, respectively.

Claim 6

In rotary drill bit and stabilizer apparatus for drilling a bore hole in a formation: a body structure having an upper connector adapted to secure said structure to a drilling string; said body structure having a lower cutting portion for drilling the bore hole to a predetermined diameter and an outer gate portion of extended length integral with said lower cutting portion and having an effective diameter conforming to said predetermined bore hole diameter; a separate elongate stabilizer sleeve movable over said connector and along the exterior of said body structure above said outer gage portion toward and into engagement with said outer gate portion, said sleeve having circumferentially spaced, externally arcuate elongate vertical pads providing a large bearing area with respect to the wall surface of the bore hole, said pads having an effective diameter conforming to the diameter of said hole and outer gage portion, the lower end of said sleeve being contiguous the upper end of said gage portion, said sleeve constituting an upward continuation of said gage portion; and clutching means securing said sleeve to said body structure, whereby said cutting portion and sleeve rotate together.

Claim 7

In rotary drill bit and stabilizer apparatus for drilling a bore hole in a formation: a body structure having an upper connector adapted to secure said structure to a drilling string; said body structure having a lower cutting portion for drilling the bore hole to a predetermined diameter and an outer gate portion of extended length integral with said lower cutting portion and having an effective diameter conforming to said predetermined bore hole diameter; a separate elongate stabilizer sleeve movable over said connector and along the exterior of said body structure above said outer gage portion toward and into engagement with said outer gate portion, said sleeve having circumferentially spaced, externally arcuate elongate vertical pads providing a large bearing area with respect to the wall surface of the bore hole, said pads having an effective diameter conforming to the diameter of said hole and outer gage portion, the lower end of said sleeve being contiguous the upper end of said gage portion, said sleeve constituting an upward continuation of said gage portion; and clutching means securing said sleeve to said body structure, whereby said cutting portion and sleeve rotate together.

Claim 8

In apparatus as defined in claim 5; said clutching means comprising intermeshing axially extending dogs on the lower portion of said sleeve and upper portion of said gage portion.

Claim 9

In apparatus as defined in claim 5; and means on said body structure engaging said sleeve for holding said sleeve downwardly and said clutching means engaged.

Claim 10

In apparatus as defined in claim 5; said clutching means comprising intermeshing axially extending dogs on the lower portion of said sleeve and upper portion of said gage portion; and means on said body structure engaging said sleeve for holding said sleeve downwardly and said dogs intermeshed.

Claim 11

In apparatus as defined in claim 5; and means on said body structure engaging said sleeve for holding said sleeve downwardly and said clutching means engaged; and means threaded on said body structure above said sleeve and engaging the upper end of said sleeve for holding said sleeve downwardly and said dogs intermeshed.

Claim 12

In apparatus as defined in claim 5; said lower cutting portion including a fluid passage and spaced waterways in the end face of said cutting portion communicating with said passage and providing lands in said end face therebetween; cutting elements on said lands; said gage portion having spaced vertical waterways in its periphery communicating with said other waterways and providing spaced vertical lands therebetween; said stabilizer sleeve having spaced vertical elongate waterways in its periphery aligned with and communicating with said vertical waterways of said gage portion, said stabilizer sleeve waterways defining said spaced vertical elongate pads therebetween forming upward continuations of the vertical gage portion lands; the lower ends of said stabilizer sleeve waterways and stabilizer sleeve pads being contiguous the upper ends of said gage portion vertical waterways and vertical lands, respectively.

Claim 13

In apparatus as defined in claim 5; said lower cutting portion including a fluid passage and spaced waterways in the end face of said cutting portion communicating with said passage and providing lanDs in said end face therebetween; cutting elements on said lands; said gage portion having spaced vertical waterways in its periphery communicating with said other waterways and providing spaced vertical lands therebetween; said stabilizer sleeve having spaced vertical elongate waterways in its periphery aligned with and communicating with said vertical waterways of said gage portion, said stabilizer sleeve waterways defining said spaced vertical elongate pads therebetween forming upward continuations of the vertical gage portion lands; the lower ends of said stabilizer sleeve waterways and stabilizer sleeve pads being contiguous the upper ends of said gage portion vertical waterways and vertical lands, respectively; said clutching means comprising intermeshing axially extending dogs on the lower portion of said sleeve and upper portion of said gage portion; and means on said body structure engaging said sleeve for holding said sleeve downwardly and said dogs intermeshed.

Claim 14

In rotary drill bit and stabilizer apparatus for drilling a bore hole in a formation: a body structure adapted to be connected to a drilling string; said body structure having a lower cutting portion for drilling the bore hole to a predetermined diameter, said lower cutting portion including an outer gage portion of an effective diameter conforming to said predetermined bore hole diameter; a separate stabilizer sleeve encompassing said body structure above said outer gage portion, said sleeve having an effective diameter conforming to the diameter of said hole and outer gage portion, the lower end of said sleeve being contiguous the upper end of said gage portion, said sleeve constituting an upward continuation of said gage portion; and clutching means securing said sleeve to said body structure, whereby said cutting portion and sleeve rotate together; said lower cutting portion including a fluid passage and spaced waterways in the end face of said cutting portion communicating with said passage and providing lands in said end face therebetween; cutting elements on said lands; said gage portion having spaced vertical waterways in its periphery communicating with said other waterways and providing spaced vertical lands therebetween; said stabilizer sleeve having spaced vertical elongate waterways in its periphery aligned with and communicating with said vertical waterways of said gage portion, said stabilizer sleeve waterways defining spaced vertical elongate lands therebetween forming upward continuations of the vertical gage portion lands; the lower ends of said stabilizer sleeve waterways and stabilizer sleeve lands being contiguous the upper ends of said gage portion vertical waterways and vertical lands, respectively; said clutching means comprising intermeshing axially extending dogs on the lower portion of said sleeve and upper portion of said gage portion; and means threaded on said body structure and engaging the upper end of said sleeve for holding said sleeve downwardly and said dogs intermeshed.

Claim 15

In rotary drill bit and stabilizer apparatus for drilling a bore hole in a formation: a body structure adapted to be connected to a drilling string; said body structure having a lower cutting portion for drilling the bore hole to a predetermined diameter, said lower cutting portion including an outer gage portion of an effective diameter conforming to said predetermined bore hole diameter; a separate stabilizer sleeve encompassing said body structure above said outer gage portion, said sleeve having an effective diameter conforming to the diameter of said hole and outer gage portion, the lower end of said sleeve being contiguous the upper end of said gage portion, said sleeve constituting an upward continuation of said gage portion; and clutching means securing said sleeve to said body structure, whereby said cutting portion and sleeve rotate together; said lower cutting portion including a fluid passage and spaced waterways in the end face of said cutting portion communicating with said passage and providing lands in said end face therebetween; cutting elements on said lands; said gage portion having spaced vertical waterways in its periphery communicating with said other waterways and providing spaced vertical lands therebetween; said stabilizer sleeve having spaced vertical elongate waterways in its periphery aligned with and communicating with said vertical waterways of said gage portion, said stabilizer sleeve waterways defining spaced vertical elongate lands therebetween forming upward continuations of the vertical gage portion lands; the lower ends of said stabilizer sleeve waterways and stabilizer sleeve lands being contiguous the upper ends of said gage portion vertical waterways and vertical lands, respectively; said clutching means comprising intermeshing axially extending dogs on the lower portion of said sleeve and upper portion of said gage portion; and means threaded on said body structure and engaging the upper end of said sleeve for holding said sleeve downwardly and said dogs intermeshed.

Claim 16

In rotary drill bit and stabilizer apparatus for drilling a bore hole in a formation: a body structure having an upper connector adapted to secure said structure to a drilling string; said body structure having a lower cutting portion for drilling the bore hole to a predetermined diameter and an outer gage portion of extended length integral with said lower cutting portion and having an effective diameter conforming to said predetermined bore hole diameter; a separate stabilizer sleeve movable over said connector and along the exterior of said body structure above said outer gage portion toward and into engagement with said outer gage portion, said sleeve having circumferentially spaced, externally arcuate elongate vertical pads providing a large bearing area with respect to the wall surface of the bore hole, said pads having an effective diameter conforming to the diameter of said hole and outer gage portion, the lower end of said sleeve being contiguous the upper end of said gage portion, Said sleeve constituting an upward continuation of said gage portion; and means securing the upper portion of said sleeve to said body structure, whereby said cutting portion and sleeve rotate together.

Claim 17

In rotary drill bit and stabilizer apparatus for drilling a bore hole in a formation: a body structure having an upper connector adapted to secure said structure to a drilling string; said body structure having a lower cutting portion for drilling the bore hole to a predetermined diameter and an outer gage portion of extended length integral with said lower cutting portion and having an effective diameter conforming to said predetermined bore hole diameter; a separate stabilizer sleeve movable over said connector and along the exterior of said body structure above said outer gage portion toward and into engagement with said outer gage portion, said sleeve having circumferentially spaced, externally arcuate elongate vertical pads providing a large bearing area with respect to the wall surface of the bore hole, said pads having an effective diameter conforming to the diameter of said hole and outer gage portion, the lower end of said sleeve being contiguous the upper end of said gage portion, Said sleeve constituting an upward continuation of said gage portion; and means securing the upper portion of said sleeve to said body structure, whereby said cutting portion and sleeve rotate together.

Claim 18

In apparatus as defined in claim 13; said securing means including a threaded connection between said body structure and upper portion of said stabilizer sleeve.

Claim 19

In apparatus as defined in claim 13; said lower cutting portion including a fluid passage and spaced waterways in the end face of said cutting portion communicating with said passage and providing lands in said end face therebetween; cutting elements on said lands; said gage portion having spaced vertical waterways in its periphery communicating with said other waterways and providing spaced vertical lands therebetween; said stabilizer sleeve having spaced vertical elongate waterways in its periphery aligned with and communicating with said vertical waterways of said gage portion, said stabilizer sleeve waterways defining said spaced vertical elongate pads therebetween forming upward continuations of the vertical gage portion lands; the lower ends of said stabilizer sleeve waterways and stabilizer sleeve pads being contiguous the upper ends of said gage portion vertical waterways and vertical lands, respectively.

Claim 20

In apparatus as defined in claim 13; said lower cutting portion including a fluid passage and spaced waterways in the end face of said cutting portion communicating with said passage and providing lands in said end face therebetween; cutting elements on said lands; said gage portion having spaced vertical waterways in its periphery communicating with said other waterways and providing spaced vertical lands therebetween; said stabilizer sleeve having spaced vertical elongate waterways in its periphery aligned with and communicating with said vertical waterways of said gage portion, said stabilizer sleeve waterways defining said spaced vertical elongate pads therebetween forming upward continuations of the vertical gage portion lands; the lower ends of said stabilizer sleeve waterways and stabilizer sleeve pads being contiguous the upper ends of said gage portion vertical waterways and vertical lands, respectively; said securing means including a threaded connection between said body structure and upper portion of said stabilizer sleeve.

Claim 21

In rotary drill bit and stabilizer apparatus for drilling a bore hole in a formation: a body structure having an upper connector adapted to secure said structure to a drilling string; said body structure having a lower cutting portion for drilling the bore hole to a predetermined diameter, said lower cutting portion including an outer gage portion of an effective diameter conforming to said predetermined bore hole diameter; a separate stabilizer sleeve movable over said connector and along the exterior of said body structure above said outer gage portion toward and into engagement with said outer gage portion, said sleeve having an effective diameter conforming to the diameter of said hole and outer gage portion, the lower end of said sleeve being contiguous the upper end of said gage portion, said sleeve constituting an upward continuation of said gage portion; and means securing the upper portion of said sleeve to said body structure, whereby said cutting portion and sleeve rotate together; said securing means including a threaded connection between said body structure and upper portion of said stabilizer sleeve; said securing means further including a weld integrating said upper portion of said sleeve to said body structure.

Claim 22

In rotary drill bit and stabilizer apparatus for drilling a bore hole in a formation: a body structure having an upper connector adapted to secure said structure to a drilling string; said body structure having a lower cutting portion for drilling the bore hole to a predetermined diameter, said lower cutting portion including an outer gage portion of an effective diameter conforming to said predetermined bore hole diameter; a separate stabilizer sleeve movable over said connector and along the exterior of said body structure above said outer gage portion toward and into engagement with said outer gage portion, said sleeve having an effective diameter conforming to the diameter of said hole and outer gage portion, the lower end of said sleeve being contiguous the upper end of said gage portion, said sleeve constituting an upward continuation of said gage portion; and means securing the upper portion of said sleeve to said body structure, whereby said cutting portion and sleeve rotate together; said securing means including a threaded connection between said body structure and upper portion of said stabilizer sleeve; said securing means further including a weld integrating said upper portion of said sleeve to said body structure.

Claim 23

In rotary drill bit and stabilizer apparatus for drilling a bore hole in formation: a body structure having an upper connector adapted to secure said structure to a drilling string; said body structure having a lower cutting portion for drilling the bore hole to a predetermined diameter, said lower cutting portion including an outer gage portion of an effective diameter conforming to said predetermined boRe hole diameter; a separate stabilizer sleeve movable over said connector and along the exterior of said body structure above said outer gage portion toward and into engagement with said outer gage portion, said sleeve having an effective diameter conforming to the diameter of said hole and outer gage portion, the lower end of said sleeve being contiguous the upper end of said gage portion, said sleeve constituting an upward continuation of said gage portion; and means securing the upper portion of said sleeve to said body structure, whereby said cutting portion and sleeve rotate together; said lower cutting portion including a fluid passage and spaced waterways in the end face of said cutting portion communicating with said passage and providing lands in said end face therebetween; cutting elements on said lands; said gage portion having spaced vertical waterways in its periphery communicating with said other waterways and providing spaced vertical lands therebetween; said stabilizer sleever having spaced vertical elongate waterways in its periphery aligned with and communicating with said vertical waterways of said gage portion, said stabilizer sleeve waterways defining spaced vertical elongate lands therebetween forming upward continuations of the vertical gage portion lands; the lower ends of said stabilizer sleeve waterways and stabilizer sleeve lands being contiguous the upper ends of said gage portion vertical waterways and vertical lands, respectively; said securing means including a threaded connection between said body structure and upper portion of said stabilizer sleeve; said securing means further including a weld integrating said upper portion of said sleeve to said body structure.

Claim 24

In rotary drill bit and stabilizer apparatus for drilling a bore hole in formation: a body structure having an upper connector adapted to secure said structure to a drilling string; said body structure having a lower cutting portion for drilling the bore hole to a predetermined diameter, said lower cutting portion including an outer gage portion of an effective diameter conforming to said predetermined boRe hole diameter; a separate stabilizer sleeve movable over said connector and along the exterior of said body structure above said outer gage portion toward and into engagement with said outer gage portion, said sleeve having an effective diameter conforming to the diameter of said hole and outer gage portion, the lower end of said sleeve being contiguous the upper end of said gage portion, said sleeve constituting an upward continuation of said gage portion; and means securing the upper portion of said sleeve to said body structure, whereby said cutting portion and sleeve rotate together; said lower cutting portion including a fluid passage and spaced waterways in the end face of said cutting portion communicating with said passage and providing lands in said end face therebetween; cutting elements on said lands; said gage portion having spaced vertical waterways in its periphery communicating with said other waterways and providing spaced vertical lands therebetween; said stabilizer sleever having spaced vertical elongate waterways in its periphery aligned with and communicating with said vertical waterways of said gage portion, said stabilizer sleeve waterways defining spaced vertical elongate lands therebetween forming upward continuations of the vertical gage portion lands; the lower ends of said stabilizer sleeve waterways and stabilizer sleeve lands being contiguous the upper ends of said gage portion vertical waterways and vertical lands, respectively; said securing means including a threaded connection between said body structure and upper portion of said stabilizer sleeve; said securing means further including a weld integrating said upper portion of said sleeve to said body structure.