US2578593A - Auger-type drill bit - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 11, 1951 o.- PHIPPS AUGER-TYPE DRILL BIT Filed Oct. 29, 1946 O IL m Jm

9 N m m a 5. v R w QMEMS Q w Patented Dec. 11, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUGER-TYPE DRILL BIT Orville Phipps, Adams County, near Denver, 0010.

Application October 29, 1946, Serial No. 706,365

1 Claim.

. 1 This invention relates to auger-type drills adapted for use in the bore-developing penetration of relativelyref-ractorymaterials and natural strata, such as rock, coal, mineralized beds, concrete, and the like, and more particularly to bit of an auger :drill.

A further objectof the invention :is to provide an improved auger drill bit particularly adapted for the efiicientdevelopment of bores at various angles t thevertical.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved auger drill bit that is self-piloted .for the development of straight bores regardless of bore depth orfinclination angle. 7

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved auger drill bit of enhanced penetrative effect and bore-scavenging characteristic.

.A further object of the invention .is to provide an improved auger'drill bit free from tendency to .bind in the bore under development, operatively productive of a smooth right-cylindrical bore of uniform diameter, and cooperative with conventional auger-type drill stock for the rapid and eifective clearing of drillings from the bore being drilled.

A further object of the invention is'to provide an improved auger dri'll'bit that is simple and inexpensive .ofmanufacture, readily removable and replaceable as the cutting tip of an actuating string line, characterized by high operative efi'iciency throughout a long life of practical use, and susceptible of simple and convenient repetitlous rehabilitation" in the field. With the lioregoing and otherob'jects in view, .my invention consists zinthe construction, ar- :rangement, and combination of elements here'- inaftervset forth, pointed out :in my claims, and illustrated by the accompanying drawing; in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of'the cutting end or faceof atypical bit construction embodying the principles of the invention. Figure 2 is a side elevation :of the showing according to Figure 1 as :operativelyassociated with a length of conventional auger-:stockshown zinebroken lines. Fig ure+3 is ia'xz'section longitudinally throughtheiconistruction accordingto the precedingfigures', taken substantially on the indicated line 3-3 of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a fragmentary, detail section taken through and substantially axially of a centering or pilot element adapted for removal and replacement relative to the bit assembly.

A shown in the drawing, the improved bit is a unitary assembly of elements adapted for removable and replaceable association with and as an outer terminal on a line or section of conventional, spirally-fluted auger stock or stem, illustration of the latter being omitted from the drawing as being, in and of itself, no part of the present invention.

The improved bit ha a unitary, homogeneous, body portion l0 formed from any suitable tractable or readily-worked material, such as steel, in any convenient or desired manner, as by means of forging, pressing, rolling, or the like, to present the form and interrelation of constituent elements illustrated and hereinafter specified. A central portion of the body [0 is formed as'a generally circular web I 0 concentric with the ultimate bit axis, of suitable thickness in the direction of said axis, and preferably conically tapered from an outer greater and toward an inner lesser base. Centrally of the body web lesser base, an integral mounting stem ll, suitably angular in cross section, projects axially of the bit assembly and away from the body web greater base, said stem I I being sized and shaped to enter and be telescopically received within an end-opening socket formed for such purpose axially of one end of the actuating stem or stock ll" of the conventional drilling apparatus. Any suitable'means, such as a hole I2 laterally traversing the stem I! for registration with correspondingly-located holes in they actuating stem'or stock, may be provided to receive means, such as a tapered pin, for separably interlocking the stem II and body I0 to and in mounted relation on the end of the associated actuating means. Integral with, uniformly spaced angularly about, and correspondingly disposed relative to the greater 'b'aseaside or the body web, a plurality, in this instance three, of identical fingers I3 project parallel to the axis of the assembly and in a direction opposite to the disposition of the stem l I; Each of the fingers 13 defines an outer edge margin l3a paralleling the assembly axis and at a radial distance therefrom corresponding to the radius of the desired bore, an axially-parallel, substantially-radial plane face I319 perpendicular to therdirection of bit rotation and having a width "inwardly from said outer edge margin [3a on the order drone-half to three-quarters of the radius determined by said edge marg an ially-parallel, inner plane face #30 perpendicular to said substantially-radial face I3b at the inner margin of the latter, and an arcuate outer surface I3d eccentric to the assembly and the desired bore so disposed as to position its margin I3e trailing in the direction of bit rotation more nearly adjacent the bit assembly center than its leading margin I3a. Inner ends of the fingers I 3 base solidly in and upstand perpendicularly from the body ID Web portion I and arcuate marginal segments of the latter between the trailing margin I36 of one said finger and the leading margin I3a of the next succeeding finger are dubbed away to planes substantially tangent to the leading finger arcuate outer surface I3d at the trailing margin I3e of said finger to provide marginally-o en areas through which drillings may freely pass from the working face and to the auger stem when the bit is operating within and for the extension of a bore. Outer ends of the fingers I3 are worked to recede, either arcuately or along a bevel plane, in trailing relation with a forwardly-directed cutting edge margin I3) laterally traversing the radially-disposed, plane forward face I31) of each finger perpendicular to the bit assem ly axis, so that the said cutting ed e margins l3f of the fingers lie in a common plane defining a working face perpendicular to the drill assembly and bore axis, and corresponding inner corners of said finger outer ends are preferably relieved to inwardly and axially converging surfaces I 4 which interrupt the associated fin er cutting edge margin I3 for inclination of the inward portion thereof out of the common working face plane at an angle toward the body web l0.

Power rotation of the bit assembly about its axis with the finger I3 outer ends in pressure engagement against the material to be penetrated is effective through the finger outer end cutting edge margins I3f to develop an annular channel in said material having an outer diameter determined by the spacing of the finger outer edge margins I3a radially of the bit and an inner diameter determined by the radial disposition of the finger inner edge margins determined by intersection of the finger plane faces I 3b and I 30, the floor of said channel having an outer annular portion perpendicular to the bore axis and an inner annular portion of outwardly-directed, fiat cone form; the eccentric disposition of the finger arcuate exterior surfaces I 3d assuring ample clearance for the fingers I3 Within the channel cut by the finger working edges I3 and thereby eliminating any tendency of the assembly to bind within the bore. When susceptible of convenient, economical working and forming by conventiona tools and methods, the material from which the body I0, shank II, and fingers I3 is formed will not long successfully resist, no matter how tempered and treated, the abrasive forces tending to deform and wear away the working margins of the bit, particularly when in contact with highly refractory material, hence a significant feature of the invention is the arming of the bit working margins with insert blocks of tough, hard, abrasive-resistant material having a wear characteristi v s ch as will impart long useful life to the bit. Various a loys highly res stant to wear are presently known and available, one of which, in particular, a nonerrous alloy compounded from tungsten, titanium, tantalum, nickel, and

ment to other metals by means of welding and brazing, and capable of being ground to desired form and shape, hence is well adapted for use to arm the cutting members of the improved bit. Whatever be the material employed for the bitarming elements, fiat blocks I5 of the selected material are provided in a uniform thickness suited to resist the operative stresses contemplated, a width corresponding with or slightly exceeding that of the finger I3 radially-disposed plane faces I32), and a length on the order of one-half the finger I3 length, one such block [5 being provided for each of the bit fingers I3, and each of said blocks is seated within an angular notch or recess formed for its reception in laterally-traversing relation across and to open through the opposite side margins and outer end of each finger I3 radially-disposed plane face I31: and is therein secured by welding or brazing of its surfaces and margins to the finger I3 material thereby engaged. As mounted and secured in filling relation with its accommodating recess, each block I5 preferably presents a straight inner end based against the recess shoulder along a line perpendicular to the bit assembly axis, a fiat face paralleling said axis and leading in the direction of bit rotation, inner and outer side or edge margins smoothly conforming with the adjacent finger I3 surfaces I30 and I3d, and an end or cutting edge margin conforming with the finger outer end leading margin I3 as above described, it being expedient to slightly bevel the working end of each block to provide a forwardly-directed chisel edge productive of advantageous bite during operation of the tool, and to slightly bevel or relieve outer corners of the blocks I5, as indicated at I6. As so mounted, the blocks I5 are rigidly aflixed to and securely backed by the outer finger I3 portions in position to dispose the block end and side margins as the actual cutting and channel-forming agents of their respective fingers, the special alloy material from which said blocks are formed withstanding operative wear and abrasive effects to maintain the cutting efficiency of the tool and protecting the less resistant metal of the body, shank, and fingers from deforming contact with the material being penetrated, any appreciable wear adversely affecting the cutting efiiciency of the block working margins being subject to convenient correction through simple regrinding operations readily accomplished in the field.

As above pointed out, the action of the fingers I3 is productive of an annular channel surrounding and defining a cylindrical core or plug of the material being penetrated, and an operatively significant feature of the invention is the provision of a removably and replaceably associated pilot or centering element axially of the bit assembly for the removal of said core or plug in advance of the said fingers and the development 01' a short pilot'bore centrally of the principal bore face for the centering and guiding of the bit assembly and for facilitation of the work to be done by the finger blocks I5. To mount and operatively re ate the pilot or centering element of the invention on and with other elements of the bit assembly. an exernally-threaded boss I I is formed integrally with and to proiect axially from the greater base area of the body web I0 and hence within and uniformly spaced from each of the group of fingers I3. Removably and replaceably engageable with said boss H, a cylin drical member I8 is formed to a length materially xceeding that of the fingers I3 from tractable metal similar to or the same as that used in the body, shank, and finger elements, and to a diameter considerably less than that of the finger l3 inner edge margin orbit but greater than the diameter of the boss l1, so that an internallythreaded axial bore opening through one end of said member I8 may telescopically receive and cooperate with said boss to mount said member to project centrally of the bit assembly within and to extend outwardly beyond the outer end plane of the grouped fingers [3. The end of the member l8 remote from that intersected by its mounting bore is smoothly rounded, or domed, and is diametrically traversed by a relativelydeep, side and end opening slot sized to receive and seat an insert block 19 of special alloy material the same as or similar to that from which the blocks l5 are comprised, said block I9 entirely filling the said member notch and at its inner or base end exceeding in width the diameter of the member 18 to provide wings oppositely projecting radially beyond the adjacent member surfaces a distance significant in operation of the bit and such as will permit free mounting and unmounting rotation of the member within the finger I 3 group. The axially-projected outer edge margin of the block I9 is ground to a smooth arc tangent to the member l8 end at the axis of the unit, and inner corners of said block are advantageously inwardly beveled, so that, the pitch direction of the mounting threads being properly related with the direction of bit rotation, actuation of the bit revolves the member l8 about its axis for the development of cutting effect through the block [9 arcuate end and axially-parallel corners and consequent generation of a pilot bore, of a size to freely accommodate the said member, centrally and in advance of the ultimate bore face, such removal of material from the center of the ultimate bore face expediting and very much facilitating the work of the block-armed fingers I3. The axial depth of the block l9 conveniently equals the corresponding dimension of the blocks I5 to provide for repetitious dressing of the various working elements of the tool throughout a uniform useful life, but impairment or abnormally rapid wear of the member [8 working end is of no material consequence in view of the removable and replaceable mounting of said member.

Correlated with and to enhance the action of the drill stern spiral fiutings in the removal of chips and drillings from the bore under development, a spiral flange section 20 is formed integrally with and to extend outwardly from an inwardly-extended base of one of the fingers 13 in such position as to register with and complement a screw element of the auger stem wherewith the bit assembly is associated, said section 20 attaining a maximum diameter the same as that of the complementary auger element and being related to the angularity of the bit shank H in the same manner as its complementary auger element is related to the angularity of the shank-receiving socket.

Since many changes, variations, and modifications in the specific form, construction, and arrangement, of the elements shown and described may be had without departing from the spirit of my invention, I Wish to be understood as being limited solely by the scope of the appended claim, rather than by any details of the illustrative showing and foregoing description.

I claim as my invention:

In a drill bit of the character described having a body formed with a mounting stem extending axially from one of its sides, fingers integral with and spaced marginally about the side of said body remote from said stem to outstand in parallel, radially-ofiset relation with the body axis and in a direction opposite to the stem extension, insert blocks of hard, tough, abrasive-resistant alloy material, such as tungsten-carbide, fixedly arming the tips of said fingers, and a threaded boss formed integrally with and centrally of said body to outstand axially therefrom on the same side of the body as and in spaced, parallel relation with said fingers, a pilot bit member separably carried by said boss, said member comprising a straight, cylindrical, rigid element of a length exceeding the projection of said fingers from the body, a threaded socket coaxially intersecting one end of said element coactable with and to receive said boss to mount said element on and axially of said body on the same side of the latter as and in spaced parallelism with said fingers, a domed tip defining the end of said element remote from said socket, a slot diametrically of and opening axially of the element through said domed tip, andan insert block of hard, tough, abrasive-resistant alloy material, such as tungsten-carbide, fixedly seated in and to fill said slot with its axially-projected edge tangent to the domed tip at the axis of the element and its opposite side margins similarly projecting laterally of and beyond the element as exposed cutting edges spacedly paralleling the adjacent element wall.

ORVILLE PHIPPS.

, file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 923,513 Hardsocg June 1, 1909 923,514 Hardsocg June 1, 1909 991,830 Clements May 9, 1911 1,387,733 Midgett Aug. 16, 1921 2,101,376 Voigtlander Dec. 7, 1937 2,239,461 Mann Apr. 22, 1941 2,294,004 Serafino Aug. 25, 1942 2,339,104 Phipps Jan. 11, 1944 2,461,305 Winn Feb. 8, 1949 2,464,781 Baker Mar. 22, 1949 2,532,783 Phipps Dec. 5, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 375,596 Great Britain June 30, 1932 409,385 Great Britain Apr. 30, 1934 472,587 Great Britain Sept. 27, 1937 500,147 Great Britain Feb. 3, 1939 518,747 Great Britain Mar. 6, 1940 528,593 Great Britain Nov. 1, 1940

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