17

All Sandvik roller cone bits larger than 6 1/4 use the jet
nozzle system. Most bits under 6 use a full center hole.
A jet nozzle circulation system (Figure 14) has jets that
are an extension of the bit body and are located near the
outside diameter of the bit body and positioned between
the cones. The jet nozzle system uses easy-to-remove
orices so that the circulation system maintains proper
back pressures. Sandvik nozzles are retained in one of
two ways: Spring pin or Nail-in nozzle systems (see page
31 and 32).
n addition, most 6 3/4 and larger air bearing bits are
equipped with BFV's (back ow valves) (Figure 15).
BFV's are used as a check value to prevent water and
cuttings that are suspended in the annulus from entering
the bit when the bit air is turned off (Figure 14).
Figure 12
Center Hole
Figure 13
Jet Nozzle
Figure 15
Back ow valve
Bearing Cooling and Cleaning
Cooling and cleaning the bearing requires back pressure
to force air through the bearing and to pressurize the
bearing cavity. The pressurization of the bearing cavity
acts to prevent cuttings and other foreign debris from
entering the bearing, thus reducing bearing life.
n addition, air cools the bearings by transferring heat
from the bearing to the compressed air. n essence, the
air travels through the air tube, into the bearing cavity,
and out of the air exhaust slot that is located between
the cone and the leg (the air tube lters out debris that
could, if it entered the bearing cavity, restrict air ow and
cause the bearing to overheat and fail prematurely). As
the air travels through the bearing cavity, it picks up the
heat generated in the bearing and carries the heat to the
annulus of the hole. Air is forced through the bearings by
creating pressure inside the bit. As mentioned earlier, the
amount of internal pressure is regulated by the nozzle
size. ncrease the size of the nozzle and pressure will be
reduced. Conversely, if the nozzle size is decreased, the
pressure inside the bit will increase. A limited amount of
air can ow through the bearings; therefore, we recom-
mend that the internal bit pressure be set at between 30
and 36 psi (2.1 to 2.5 bar).
Drill bits have to be ported so that the drilling uid can exit
the bit to clean the hole bottom and bail the cuttings out
of the hole. Roller cone bits are typically ported with one
of two congurations, a center hole (Figure 12) or three
jet nozzles (Figure 13). Both congurations direct the bail-
ing media to the hole bottom.
Bearing Cooling and Cleaning
Figure 14
Circulation