Directable nozzle for rock drilling bits

Abstract

A directable nozzle assembly 100 for a rotary drill bit 10 is disclosed, having a nozzle 110 comprising a generally spherical body 112, and having an extension 114 extending from the body 112. A passage 116 extends through the body 112 and extension 114 portions. A seal 130 is provided for sealing the nozzle 110 to the nozzle boss area 14 of the rotary drill bit 10. A removable retainer 140 is provided having a hollow interior, an angle limiter surface 146, and an interior compression surface 150. In another embodiment is a wear resistant sleeve 160, having a collar 162 with a nozzle seat 164 and a body 170, inserted into a flow port 12 of rotary drill bit 10.

1 . A directable nozzle assembly for a rotary drill bit, comprising: 
 a nozzle comprising: 
 a generally spherical body;  
 an extension extending from the body; and,  
 a passage extending through the body and extension;  
   a seal; and,    a removable retainer comprising: 
 a hollow interior;  
 a nozzle boss connection means;  
 a limiter surface; and,  
 an interior compression surface.  
   
     
     
         2 . The directable nozzle assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 wherein interference between the limiter surface and the extension limits the angular disposition of the nozzle passage relative to the retainer.    
     
     
         3 . The directable nozzle assembly of  claim 1 , the nozzle further comprising: 
 a first portal formed at the intersection of the passage and the body; and,    a second portal formed at the intersection of the passage and the extension.    
     
     
         4 . The directable nozzle assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 the limiter surface preventing location of the first portal beyond a flow port in a rotary drill bit.    
     
     
         5 . The directable nozzle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle boss connection means further comprises a threaded external surface.  
     
     
         6 . The directable nozzle assembly of  claim 1 , the retainer further comprising: 
 the limiter surface being frustum shaped.    
     
     
         7 . The directable nozzle assembly of  claim 1 , the retainer further comprising: 
 the interior compression surface being spherically shaped.    
     
     
         8 . The directable nozzle assembly of  claim 1 , the retainer further comprising: 
 a wrench receptacle on a first end.    
     
     
         9 . The directable nozzle assembly of  claim 1 , the retainer further comprising: 
 a second end seal surface; and,    wherein the seal surface restricts expansion of a packing seal.    
     
     
         10 . A directable nozzle assembly for a rotary drill bit, comprising: 
 a nozzle comprising: 
 a generally spherical body;  
 an extension extending from the body;  
 a passage extending through the body and extension;  
 a first portal formed at the intersection of the passage and the body;  
 a second portal formed at the intersection of the passage and the extension; and,  
   a hollow sleeve comprising: 
 a collar having a seat receivable of the nozzle body;  
 a body insertable into a flow port of a rotary drill bit; and,  
   a seal; and,    a removable retainer comprising: 
 a hollow interior;  
 a nozzle boss connection means;  
 a limiter surface; and,  
 an interior compression surface.  
   
     
     
         11 . The directable nozzle assembly of  claim 10 , the sleeve further comprising: 
 wherein the collar of the sleeve is receivable in a seal groove of a rotary drill bit.    
     
     
         12 . The directable nozzle assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 wherein the outside diameter of the body is receivable in close tolerance fit within a flow port of a drill bit.    
     
     
         13 . The directable nozzle assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 wherein the outside diameter of the body is receivable in interference fit within a flow port of a drill bit.    
     
     
         14 . The directable nozzle assembly of  claim 10 , the sleeve further comprising: 
 a taper at the end of the body opposite to the collar.    
     
     
         15 . The directable nozzle assembly of  claim 10 , the sleeve further comprising: 
 a seal slot located in the collar.    
     
     
         16 . The directable nozzle assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 wherein interference between the limiter surface and the extension limits the angular disposition of the nozzle passage relative to the retainer.    
     
     
         17 . The directable nozzle assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 the limiter surface preventing location of the first portal beyond a inside diameter of the sleeve body.    
     
     
         18 . The directable nozzle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle boss connection means further comprises a threaded external surface.  
     
     
         19 . The directable nozzle assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 wherein the sleeve is made of a material having a hardness greater than the hardness of a flow port of a rotary drill bit in which the sleeve is installed.    
     
     
         20 . The directable nozzle assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 wherein the sleeve is made of tungsten carbide or titanium carbide.    
     
     
         21 . A rotary drill bit, adapted for use with a directable nozzle assembly, comprising: 
 a flow port;    a nozzle boss connected to the flow port;    a retainer connection means;    a groove for receiving a seal; and,    a spherical segment shaped nozzle seat adapted for complementary engagement with a spherical nozzle body.    
     
     
         22 . The rotary drill bit of  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 the nozzle seat being in the shape of a spherical section.    
     
     
         23 . The rotary drill bit of  claim 22 , the retainer connection means further comprising: 
 an internally threaded portion.    
     
     
         24 . The rotary drill bit of  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 a bore relief; and,    a packing seal located in the bore relief.    
     
     
         25 . A rotary drill bit, comprising: 
 a flow port;    a nozzle boss connected to the flow port;    a retainer connection means;    a groove for receiving a seal;    a spherical segment shaped nozzle seat;    a seal located in the groove;    a nozzle comprising: 
 a spherical body complementarily engaged with the nozzle seat;  
 an extension extending from the body; and,  
 a passage extending through the body and extension; and  
   a removable retainer comprising: 
 a hollow interior;  
 a nozzle boss connection means connected to the retainer connection means;  
 a limiter surface through which the extension of the nozzle extends; and,  
 a spherical segment interior compression surface complementarily engaged with the nozzle body.  
   
     
     
         26 . A rotary drill bit, comprising: 
 a flow port;    a nozzle boss connected to the flow port;    a retainer connection means;    a bore relief;    a groove;    a seal located in the bore relief;    a nozzle comprising: 
 a generally spherical body;  
 an extension extending from the body;  
 a passage extending through the body and extension;  
   a hollow sleeve made of wear resistant material, comprising: 
 a collar located in the groove of the nozzle boss;  
 a spherical segment shaped nozzle seat on the collar;  
 a body located in the flow port; and,  
 a hollow interior;  
 a nozzle boss connection means connected to the retainer connection means;  
 a limiter surface through which the extension of the nozzle extends; and,  
 a spherical segment interior compression surface complementarily engaged with the nozzle body.