Drill tool

Claim 2

A drill tool comprising: a. a body member having a passage therein, said passage extending along a longitudinal axis of said body member and between a fluid receiving end and a closed end; b. a plurality of circumferentially spaced arms extending from said body member adjacent the closed end of said passage in said body member, said arms each having an inwardly facing surface; c. a plurality of axle portions each exteding from the inwardly facing surface of a respective one of said arms and along a respective axis intersecting the longitudinal axis of said body member in a manner to define a respective acute angle between the axis of the respective axle portion and the longitudinal axis of said body member; d. a plurality of cutting cones each rotatably mounted on a respective one of said axle portions and having a base surface in facing relation with the inwardly facing surface of the respective arm, said cutting cones each having cavity defining surfaces in engagement with respective exterior surfaces of said respective axle portions; e. means on each of said axle portions for retaining lubrication material and for circulating same to the exterior surface thereof; f. means on the cavity defining surfaces of each of said cutting cones for circulating lubrication material within the cavity thereof and thereby lubricating engaging surfaces of said cutting cones and axle portions; g. a plurality of annular seal members each mounted on the base surface of a respective one of said cutting cones and in engagement with the inwardly facing surface of said respective arm for retaining the lubrication material between the engaging surfaces of said respective cutting cones and axle portions; and h. means on the base surface of each of said cutting cones defining at least one recess therein for a respective one of said seal members to be mounted thereon, said means defining each of said recesses including: 1. an abutment surface extending substantially normal to the base surface of said respective cutting cone and positioned to be engaged by said respective seal member; and 2. a ramp surface intersecting the base surface of said respective cutting cone and positioned to define a ramp for outward movement of said respective seal member and toward said abutment surface in response to movement of said base surface of said respective cutting cone toward the inwardly facing surface of said respecTive arm.

Claim 3

a connecting surface extending between said pair of surfaces.

Claim 4

a connecting surface extending between said pair of surfaces.

Claim 5

a ramp surface intersecting the base surface of said respective cutting cone, said ramp surface being positioned to define a ramp for outward movement of said seal member toward said inwardly facing surface of said respective arm; and

Claim 6

a ramp surface intersecting the base surface of said respective cutting cone, said ramp surface being positioned to define a ramp for outward movement of said seal member toward said inwardly facing surface of said respective arm; and

Claim 7

a ramp surface intersecting the base surface of said respective cutting cone and positioned to define a ramp for outward movement of said respective seal member and toward said abutment surface in response to movement of said base surface of said respective cutting cone toward the inwardly facing surface of said respecTive arm.

Claim 8

a ramp surface intersecting the base surface of said respective cutting cone and positioned to define a ramp for outward movement of said respective seal member and toward said abutment surface in response to movement of said base surface of said respective cutting cone toward the inwardly facing surface of said respecTive arm.

Claim 9

A drill tool as set forth in claim 1 wherein: a. each of said axle portions has a reservoir open to the exterior surface thereof; b. said reservoirs are each adapted to receive and retain lubrication material therein; c. each of said axle portions has at least one passage thereon for communicating said respective reservoir with the exterior surface of said respective axle portion for flow of lubrication material between said respective reservoir and the respective exterior surface for lubricating engagement with the engaging surfaces of each of said cutting cones and said respective axle portion; and d. the cavity defining surfaces of each of said cutting cones each have spirally arranged grooves therein for flow of lubrication material received from said respective reservoir and passage to thereby lubricate engaging surfaces of said cutting cones and axle portions.

Claim 10

an abutment surface extending substantially normal to said base surface and positioned to be engaged by said respective seal member; and

Claim 11

an abutment surface extending substantially normal to said base surface and positioned to be engaged by said respective seal member; and

Claim 12

a ramp surface intersecting the base surface of said respective cutting cone, said ramp surface being positioned to define a ramp for outward movement of said seal member toward said abutment surface in response to movement of said base surface of said respective cutting cone toward said inwardly facing surface of said respective arm; i. means on one of said arms defining a flow passage therethrough with a portion thereof extending along the axis of rotation of said respective cutting cone mounted on said axle portion of said one arm; j. means on said cutting cone rotatably mounted on said one arm defining an end surface and a surface defining an aperture through the end surface for discharge of drilled fluid through said axle portion and cutting cone thereon; k. at least one seal member mounted on the aperture defining surface of said cutting conE rotatably mounted on said one arm and in engagement with the exterior surface of said axle portion of said one arm; and l. means on said aperture defining surface of said cutting cone rotatably mounted on said axle portion of said one arm defining a recess therein for each seal member to be mounted therein, each recess comprising:

Claim 13

a ramp surface intersecting the base surface of said respective cutting cone, said ramp surface being positioned to define a ramp for outward movement of said seal member toward said abutment surface in response to movement of said base surface of said respective cutting cone toward said inwardly facing surface of said respective arm; i. means on one of said arms defining a flow passage therethrough with a portion thereof extending along the axis of rotation of said respective cutting cone mounted on said axle portion of said one arm; j. means on said cutting cone rotatably mounted on said one arm defining an end surface and a surface defining an aperture through the end surface for discharge of drilled fluid through said axle portion and cutting cone thereon; k. at least one seal member mounted on the aperture defining surface of said cutting conE rotatably mounted on said one arm and in engagement with the exterior surface of said axle portion of said one arm; and l. means on said aperture defining surface of said cutting cone rotatably mounted on said axle portion of said one arm defining a recess therein for each seal member to be mounted therein, each recess comprising:

Claim 14

a connecting surface extending between said pair of surfaces.

Claim 15

a connecting surface extending between said pair of surfaces.

Claim 16

a connecting surface extending between said ramp surface and said abutment surface; and m. means on said aperture defining wall of said cutting cone to define a recess adapted to receive and retain therein said seal member in sealing engagement with said adjacent exterior surface of said axle portion of one arm, said recess defining means for said aperture defining wall of said cutting cone rotatably mounted on said axle portion of said one arm comprising:

Claim 17

a connecting surface extending between said ramp surface and said abutment surface; and m. means on said aperture defining wall of said cutting cone to define a recess adapted to receive and retain therein said seal member in sealing engagement with said adjacent exterior surface of said axle portion of one arm, said recess defining means for said aperture defining wall of said cutting cone rotatably mounted on said axle portion of said one arm comprising:

Claim 18

A drill tool comprising: a. a body member having a passage therein, said passage extending along a longitudinal axis of said body member and between a fluid receiving end and a closed end; b. a plurality of circumferentially spaced arms extending from said body member adjacent the closed end of said passage in said body member, said arms each having an inwardly facing surface; c. a plurality of axle portions each extending from the inwardly facing surface of a respective one of said arms and along a respective axis intersecting the longitudinal axis of said body member in a manner to define a respective acute angle between the axis of the respective axle portion and the longitudinal axis of said body member, the axis of each axle portion defining an axis of rotation; d. a plurality of cutting cones each rotatably mounted on a respective one of said axle portions for rotation about the axis of rotation defined thereby and having a base surface in facing relation with the inwardly facing surface of the respective arm, said cutting cones each having cavity defining surfaces in engagement with respective exterior surfaces of said respective axle portions; e. means on each of said axle portions for retaining lubrication material and for circulating same to the exterior surface thereof; f. means on the cavity defining surfaces of each of said cutting cones for circulating lubrication material within the cavity thereof and thereby lubricating engaging surfaces of said cutting cones and axle portions; g. a plurality of annular seal members each mounted on the base surface of a respective one of said cutting cones and in engagement with the inwardly facing surface of said respective arm for retaining the lubrication material between the engaging surfaces of said respective cutting cones and axle portions; h. means on the base surface of each of said cutting cones defining at least one recess therein for a respective one of said seal members to be mounted thereon, said means defining each of said recesses including:

Claim 19

A drill tool comprising: a. a body member having a passage therein, said passage extending along a longitudinal axis of said body member and between a fluid receiving end and a closed end; b. a plurality of circumferentially spaced arms extending from said body member adjacent the closed end of said passage in said body member, said arms each having an inwardly facing surface; c. a plurality of axle portions each extending from the inwardly facing surface of a respective one of said arms and along a respective axis intersecting the longitudinal axis of said body member in a manner to define a respective acute angle between the axis of the respective axle portion and the longitudinal axis of said body member, the axis of each axle portion defining an axis of rotation; d. a plurality of cutting cones each rotatably mounted on a respective one of said axle portions for rotation about the axis of rotation defined thereby and having a base surface in facing relation with the inwardly facing surface of the respective arm, said cutting cones each having cavity defining surfaces in engagement with respective exterior surfaces of said respective axle portions; e. means on each of said axle portions for retaining lubrication material and for circulating same to the exterior surface thereof; f. means on the cavity defining surfaces of each of said cutting cones for circulating lubrication material within the cavity thereof and thereby lubricating engaging surfaces of said cutting cones and axle portions; g. a plurality of annular seal members each mounted on the base surface of a respective one of said cutting cones and in engagement with the inwardly facing surface of said respective arm for retaining the lubrication material between the engaging surfaces of said respective cutting cones and axle portions; h. means on the base surface of each of said cutting cones defining at least one recess therein for a respective one of said seal members to be mounted thereon, said means defining each of said recesses including:

Claim 20

A drill tool as set forth in claim 3 wherein: (a) each of said axle portions has a reservoir open to the exterior surface thereof; (b) said reservoirs are each adapted to receive and retain lubrication material therein; (c) each of said axle portions has at least one passage thereon for communicating said respective reservoir with the exterior surface of said respective axle portion for flow of lubrication material between said respective reservoir and the respective exterior surface for lubricating engagement with the engaging surfaces of each of said cutting cones and said respective axle portion; and (d) the cavity defining surfaces of each of said cutting cones each have spirally arranged grooves therein for flow of lubrication material received from said respective reservoir and passage to thereby lubricate engaging surfaces of said cutting cones and axle portions.

Claim 21

A drill tool comprising: a. a body member having a fluid receiving end and a closed end and a passage extending longitudinally therebetween; b. a plurality of circumferentially spaced arms extending from said body member adjacent the closed end of said passage in said body member, each of said arms having an inwardly facing surface; c. a plurality of axle portions each extending from the inwardly facing surface of a respective one of said arms and downwardly and inwardly toward a longitudinal axis of said body member, said axle portions each defining an axis of rotation; d. a plurality of cutting cones each rotatably mounted on a respective one of said axle portions for rotation about the axis of rotation defined thereby, said cutting cones each having cavity defining surfaces in engagement with respective exterior surfaces of said respective axle portions, said cutting cones each having a base surface in facing relation with the inwardly facing surface of a respective one of said arms; e. means on one of said arms defining a flow passage therethrough with a portion extending along the axis of rotation of said respective cutting cone mounted on said axle portion of said one arm; f. means on said cutting cone rotatably mounted on said axle portion of said one arm defining respective walls engaging said axle portion and defining an aperture through an end of said cutting cone for discharge of drilling fluid through said axle portion and cutting cone thereon; g. at least one annular seal member positioned between said aperture defining wall of said cutting cone and the adjacent exterior surface of said axle portion of said one arm; h. a reservoir in the exterior surface of each of said axle portions, each of said reservoirs being adapted to receive and retain lubrication material therein; i. at least one passage in each of said axle portions for communicating said respective reservoir with the exterior surface of said respective axle portion for flow of lubrication material between said respective reservoir and the exterior surface for lubricating engagement with the engaging surfaces of each of said cutting cones and said respective axle portion; j. spirally arranged grooves in the cavity defining walls of each of said cutting cones for flow of lubrication materiAl received from said respective reservoir and passage to thereby lubricate engaging surfaces of said cutting cones and axle portions; k. at least one annular seal member for each of said cutting cones and each positioned between and in engagement with the inwardly facing surface of said respective arm and the base surface of said respective cutting cone; l. means in the base surface of each of said cutting cones to define a recess adapted to receive and retain therein said seal member in sealing engagement with said inwardly facing surface of said respective arm, said recess defining means for the base surface of each of said cutting cones comprising:

Claim 22

A drill tool comprising: a. a body member having a fluid receiving end and a closed end and a passage extending longitudinally therebetween; b. a plurality of circumferentially spaced arms extending from said body member adjacent the closed end of said passage in said body member, each of said arms having an inwardly facing surface; c. a plurality of axle portions each extending from the inwardly facing surface of a respective one of said arms and downwardly and inwardly toward a longitudinal axis of said body member, said axle portions each defining an axis of rotation; d. a plurality of cutting cones each rotatably mounted on a respective one of said axle portions for rotation about the axis of rotation defined thereby, said cutting cones each having cavity defining surfaces in engagement with respective exterior surfaces of said respective axle portions, said cutting cones each having a base surface in facing relation with the inwardly facing surface of a respective one of said arms; e. means on one of said arms defining a flow passage therethrough with a portion extending along the axis of rotation of said respective cutting cone mounted on said axle portion of said one arm; f. means on said cutting cone rotatably mounted on said axle portion of said one arm defining respective walls engaging said axle portion and defining an aperture through an end of said cutting cone for discharge of drilling fluid through said axle portion and cutting cone thereon; g. at least one annular seal member positioned between said aperture defining wall of said cutting cone and the adjacent exterior surface of said axle portion of said one arm; h. a reservoir in the exterior surface of each of said axle portions, each of said reservoirs being adapted to receive and retain lubrication material therein; i. at least one passage in each of said axle portions for communicating said respective reservoir with the exterior surface of said respective axle portion for flow of lubrication material between said respective reservoir and the exterior surface for lubricating engagement with the engaging surfaces of each of said cutting cones and said respective axle portion; j. spirally arranged grooves in the cavity defining walls of each of said cutting cones for flow of lubrication materiAl received from said respective reservoir and passage to thereby lubricate engaging surfaces of said cutting cones and axle portions; k. at least one annular seal member for each of said cutting cones and each positioned between and in engagement with the inwardly facing surface of said respective arm and the base surface of said respective cutting cone; l. means in the base surface of each of said cutting cones to define a recess adapted to receive and retain therein said seal member in sealing engagement with said inwardly facing surface of said respective arm, said recess defining means for the base surface of each of said cutting cones comprising: