US 11,697,967 B2
Pullback system for drilling tool
Jacob Richard Smith, Altoona, IA (US); Michael David Langenfeld, Pella, IA (US); and Tyler J. Dorin, Pleasant Hill, IA (US)
Assigned to Vermeer Manufacturing Company, Pella, IA (US)
Appl. No. 17/635,509
Filed by Vermeer Manufacturing Company, Pella, IA (US)
PCT Filed Aug. 17, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/046685
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Feb. 15, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/034769, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 25, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/889,717, filed on Aug. 21, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0268100 A1, Aug. 25, 2022
Int. Cl. E21B 7/04 (2006.01); E21B 7/20 (2006.01); E21B 10/42 (2006.01); E21B 10/62 (2006.01); F16L 1/028 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 7/046 (2013.01) [E21B 7/205 (2013.01); E21B 10/42 (2013.01); E21B 10/62 (2013.01); F16L 1/028 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A rotary drill bit for use with a horizontal directional drill string, the rotary drill bit comprising:
a coupler provided at a proximal axial end of the rotary drill bit and configured to attach the rotary drill bit to a drill head at a distal end of the drill string;
a cutting portion provided at a distal axial end of the rotary drill bit and provided with a plurality of vanes with respective cutters that operate to cut a hole in earth when the rotary drill bit is rotated about a central axis, wherein the plurality of vanes project radially outwardly from a surface of the cutting portion such that the surface forms respective troughs circumferentially interspersed with the plurality of vanes, and wherein each of the respective troughs extends from the distal axial end of the rotary drill bit in a direction toward the proximal axial end of the rotary drill bit; and
a plurality of engagement features positioned axially within the cutting portion and within the respective troughs to be radially inward of an outer cutting diameter to facilitate attachment of a product pullback device between the plurality of vanes without removing the rotary drill bit, or any portion thereof, from the drill head, and wherein the plurality of engagement features are positioned at an axial position offset from the distal axial end.