US 12,416,204 B2
Drill bits having reinforced face
Robert Andrew Corona, Salt Lake City, UT (US); and Kiana Wright, Salt Lake City, UT (US)
Assigned to Boart Longyear Manufacturing And Distribution Inc., Salt Lake City, UT (US)
Appl. No. 18/270,311
Filed by BOART LONGYEAR MANUFACTURING AND DISTRIBUTION INC., Salt Lake City, UT (US)
PCT Filed Dec. 21, 2021, PCT No. PCT/US2021/064596
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 29, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/146782, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 7, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/131,602, filed on Dec. 29, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0052707 A1, Feb. 15, 2024
Int. Cl. E21B 10/54 (2006.01); E21B 10/43 (2006.01); E21B 10/56 (2006.01); E21B 10/60 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 10/54 (2013.01) [E21B 10/43 (2013.01); E21B 10/56 (2013.01); E21B 10/60 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A drill bit for cutting a hole in a formation, the drill bit having a longitudinal axis extending along a center of the drill bit, the drill bit comprising:
a crown comprising a plurality of crown portions that have respective cutting faces positioned at a common axial position along the longitudinal axis of the drill bit; and
a plurality of wear-resistant members embedded in the crown of the drill bit, wherein a distal-most surface of at least one wear-resistant member of the plurality of wear-resistant members extends to within 0.1 inches of the cutting face of at least one crown portion of the plurality of crown portions,
wherein the crown comprises a matrix impregnated with diamonds, wherein the matrix is configured to wear to expose the diamonds, and
wherein each wear-resistant member having a distal-most surface that extends to within 0.1 inches of the cutting face is positioned entirely within a radius of 1 inch from the longitudinal axis of the drill bit.