Roof drill bit and associated coupler

Abstract

A coupler for use with a roof drill bit includes an elongate coupler body having a forward end for removably attaching the roof drill bit thereto and a rearward drive end. The elongate coupler body contains an interior bore therein and a dust port formed on an outer surface of the elongate coupler body, wherein the dust port is in communication with the interior bore.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A coupler for use with a roof drill bit, comprising:
 an elongate coupler body having a forward end for removably attaching the roof drill bit thereto and a rearward drive end, the elongate coupler body containing an interior bore therein and a dust port formed on an outer surface of the elongate coupler body, wherein the dust port is in communication with the interior bore.   
     
     
         2 . The coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate coupler body includes an attachment opening formed in the forward end for cooperating with at least a portion of the roof drill bit. 
     
     
         3 . The coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate coupler body includes an additional dust port symmetrically opposed to the dust port. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a roof drill bit for drilling a bore hole in a mine roof, the roof drill bit having a cutting end and an opposing attachment end; and   a coupler having a forward end for cooperating with the attachment end of the roof drill bit and a rearward drive end, the coupler containing an interior bore therein and a dust port formed on an outer surface of the coupler, wherein the dust port is in communication with the interior bore.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the roof drill bit is removably attached to the coupler. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the coupler includes an additional dust port symmetrically opposed to the dust port. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the coupler includes an attachment opening formed in the forward end thereof for cooperating with at least a portion of the roof drill bit. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further including means for removably attaching the roof drill bit to the coupler. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the roof drill bit includes a cutting insert at the cutting end thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the roof drill bit further includes a roof bit base at the attachment end thereof, wherein the cutting insert is affixed to the roof bit base. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the roof bit base is removably attached to the forward end of the coupler. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further including means for removably attaching the roof bit base to the forward end of the coupler. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the dust port is adjacent the forward end of the coupler. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the dust port is proximate to the roof drill bit. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the roof drill bit is replaceable. 
     
     
         16 . A roof drill bit assembly for use in drilling a bore hole in a mine roof, comprising:
 a roof drill bit having a cutting insert and a roof bit base, wherein the cutting insert is affixed to the roof bit base; and   a coupler having a forward end for cooperating with the roof bit base of the roof drill bit and a rearward end, the coupler containing means for removing debris while drilling the bore hole.   
     
     
         17 . The roof drill bit assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the roof drill bit is removably attached to the coupler. 
     
     
         18 . The roof drill bit assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the means for removing debris includes at least one vacuum port formed on an outer surface of the coupler, the at least one vacuum port in communication with an interior bore formed in the coupler. 
     
     
         19 . The roof drill bit assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the vacuum port is adjacent the forward end of the coupler. 
     
     
         20 . The roof drill bit assembly of  claim 16 , further including means for removably attaching the roof bit base to the forward end of the coupler