| US 7,481,284 B2 | ||
| Converging diverging nozzle for earth-boring drill bits, method of substantially bifurcating a drilling fluid flowing therethrough, and drill bits so equipped | ||
| Michael R. Wells, Lakewood, Colo. (US); and Chad J. Beuershausen, The Woodlands, Tex. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Baker Hughes Incorporated, Houston, Tex. (US) | ||
| Filed on Jan. 19, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/336,415. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/646963, filed on Jan. 25, 2005. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2008/0121434 A1, May 29, 2008 | ||
| Int. Cl. E21B 10/60 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 175—393 [175/340; 175/429; 175/424] | 56 Claims |
| 1. A nozzle for use on a rotary drill bit for forming a subterranean borehole, the nozzle comprising:
a nozzle body configured to be secured within a drill bit; and
at least one fluid passageway extending through the nozzle body from an inlet to an exit aperture, the at least one fluid
passageway comprising:
a converging region extending from a converging region entrance to a throat, the cross-sectional area of the at least one
fluid passageway being a minimum at the throat; and
a diverging region extending from the throat to an exit aperture, the cross-sectional area of the at least one fluid passageway
increasing at least substantially continuously from the throat to the exit aperture, at least a portion of the diverging region
of the at least one fluid passageway being at least substantially bifurcated, wherein a cross-sectional area of the at least
one fluid passageway at the throat is between about fifty percent (50%) and about (80%) of a cross-sectional area of the at
least one fluid passageway at the inlet.
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