Drilling bit with full release void areas

Claim 2

A bit for use in drilling earthen formations, comprising: a body including a bit face on one end and a shank on the opposite end with means for connection to a drill string for rotation about a longitudinal axis, the bit body having a tubular bore which communicates with an interior bore of the drill string for circulation of fluids, the bit face increasing in external diameter in the direction of the shank to form a gage region of the bit; at least one fluid opening communicating the bit face with the tubular bore for circulating fluid to the bit face; and a plurality of fluid courses disposed on the exterior of the bit body and extending from a lowermost downhole location upwardly in the direction of the shank, the fluid courses becoming ever wider and ever deeper along their entire disposition from their lowermost incorporation through the gage region thereof.

Claim 3

A bit for use in drilling a hole downwardly in an earthen formation, comprising: a body including a bit face on one end and a shank on the opposite end with means for connection to a drill string for rotation about a longitudinal axis, the bit body having a tubular bore which communicates with an interior bore of the drill string for circulation of fluids, the bit face increasing in external diameter between a nose and a gage region of the bit; a plurality of fluid openings communicating the bit face with the tubular bore for circulating fluid to the bit face; and a plurality of fluid courses disposed on the exterior of the bit body and extending from a lowermost downhole location upwardly in the direction of the shank, each fluid course comprising a groove of lesser relative external diameter located between two lands of greater relative external diameter, the lands having cutter elements mounted therein for drilling the earthen formation, the fluid courses becoming ever wider and ever deeper along their entire disposition from their lowermost incorporation through the gage region thereof.

Claim 4

A bit for use in drilling a hole downwardly in an earthen formation, comprising: a body including a bit face on one end and a shank on the opposite end with means for connection to a drill string for rotation about a longitudinal axis, the bit body having a tubular bore which communicates with an interior bore of the drill string for circulation of fluids, the bit face increasing in external diameter between a nose and a gage region of the bit; a plurality of fluid openings communicating the bit face with the tubular bore for circulating fluid to the bit face; and a plurality of fluid courses disposed on the exterior of the bit body and extending from a lowermost downhole location upwardly in the direction of the shank, each fluid course comprising a groove of lesser relative external diameter located between two lands of greater relative external diameter, the lands having cutter elements mounted therein for drilling the earthen formation, the fluid courses becoming ever wider and ever deeper along their entire disposition from their lowermost incorporation through the gage region thereof.

Claim 5

The bit of claim 2, wherein a normal plane drawn through a fluid course at one incremental location increases in cross-sectional area in the uphole direction and decreases in cross-sectional area in the downhole direction.

Claim 6

A matrix bit for use in drilling earthen formations, comprising: a body including a bit face on one end formed from a cast matrix material bonded to a metallic shank on the opposite end with means for connection to a drill string for rotation about a longitudinal axis, the bit body having a tubular bore which communicates with an interior bore of the drill string for circulation of fluids, the bit face increasing the external diameter between a nose and a gage region of the bit; a plurality of fluid openings communicating the bit face with the tubular bore for circulating fluid to the bit face; a plurality of fluid courses on the bit face extending from the fluid openings, each fluid course comprising a groove of lesser relative external diameter located between two lands of greater relative external diameter on the bit body, the lands having polycrystalline diamond cutter elements mounted therein within backings of the matrix for drilling the earthen formation, the fluid courses becoming ever wider and ever deeper along the face of the bit from the nose through the gage region thereof.

Claim 7

A matrix bit for use in drilling earthen formations, comprising: a body including a bit face on one end formed from a cast matrix material bonded to a metallic shank on the opposite end with means for connection to a drill string for rotation about a longitudinal axis, the bit body having a tubular bore which communicates with an interior bore of the drill string for circulation of fluids, the bit face increasing the external diameter between a nose and a gage region of the bit; a plurality of fluid openings communicating the bit face with the tubular bore for circulating fluid to the bit face; a plurality of fluid courses on the bit face extending from the fluid openings, each fluid course comprising a groove of lesser relative external diameter located between two lands of greater relative external diameter on the bit body, the lands having polycrystalline diamond cutter elements mounted therein within backings of the matrix for drilling the earthen formation, the fluid courses becoming ever wider and ever deeper along the face of the bit from the nose through the gage region thereof.

Claim 8

The matrix bit of claim 4, wherein the face region of the bit is formed in a ballistic shape and wherein the lands begin as convex ridges extending from the nose and terminate in planar pads at the gage region.

Claim 9

The matrix bit of claim 5, wherein the lands begin at a central location on the bit face and extend outwardly and upwardly in the direction of the shank with each land being spaced circumferentially from the next adjacent land.