Resilient Bit Systems and Methods

Abstract

The present invention relates to drill bits and methods of making drill bits. In one embodiment, a drill bit includes a bit body having at least one independent blade, in which the blade is attached to the bit body by way of a piece that is attached to a force absorbing material. In another embodiment, a drill bit includes an integrated blade, in which the blade is cut into segments allowing the segments of the blade to independently flex.

1 . A drill bit for subsurface drilling, comprising:
 a body configured to sustain at least one blade; and   a material disposed between the at least one blade, or portion of a blade, and the body;   wherein the material allows the blade, or portion of a blade, to deflect while sustained by the body.   
   
   
       2 . The drill bit of  claim 1 , wherein the body is configured to sustain at least one blade, or portion of a blade, by having at least one shaped geometry cut. 
   
   
       3 . The drill bit of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one blade, or portion of a blade, includes a secondary blade retention configuration corresponding to the shape of the at least one shaped geometry cut. 
   
   
       4 . The drill bit of  claim 3 , wherein one shaped geometry cut, one secondary blade retention configuration, and a material disposed between the one shaped geometry cut and the one secondary blade configuration form a force absorbing assembly. 
   
   
       5 . The drill bit of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one blade comprises 1 to 4 force absorbing assemblies. 
   
   
       6 . The drill bit of  claim 1 , wherein the material is a vibration absorbing material. 
   
   
       7 . The drill bit of  claim 1 , wherein the material is an elastomer. 
   
   
       8 . A drill bit for subsurface drilling, comprising:
 a body configured with at least one blade; and   wherein the body is configured with at least one void to permit the at least one blade, or portion of a blade, to flex.   
   
   
       9 . The drill bit of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one blade, or portion of a blade, is cut into at least one segment. 
   
   
       10 . The drill bit of  claim 9 , wherein the segments are capable of flexing independent of each other. 
   
   
       11 . The drill bit of  claim 9 , wherein the segments are formed by decoupling cuts that run from a front of the blade toward a back of the blade to decouple portions of the blade into segments. 
   
   
       12 . The drill bit of  claim 9 , wherein at least one flex cut located behind the front side of the at least one blade and between two or more decoupling cuts to form at least one segment to provide space allowing each segment to flex. 
   
   
       13 . The drill bit of  claim 9 , wherein the void is created by a void cut located behind the front side of the at least one blade and between two or more decoupling cuts to form at least one void to provide space allowing each segment to flex. 
   
   
       14 . The drill bit of  claim 13 , wherein each segment comprises at least one void cut. 
   
   
       15 . The drill bit of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one blade comprises a backstop that limits the amount of flex of the segments. 
   
   
       16 . The drill bit of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one blade contains a backstop that limits the amount of flex of the segments to the elastic limit of the blade material. 
   
   
       17 . The drill bit of  claim 9 , wherein each blade comprises from 2 to 10 segments. 
   
   
       18 . The drill bit of  claim 9 , wherein each segment comprises from 1 to 5 cutting elements. 
   
   
       19 . A method for producing a drill bit for subsurface drilling, comprising:
 configuring a body to sustain at least one blade; and   disposing a material between the at least one blade and the body, the material   allowing the blade to deflect while sustained by the body.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein configuring a body to sustain at least one blade includes: cutting a void space into a bit body; configuring a blade having a retention configuration; and placing the retention configuration into a portion of the void space in the bit body. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the step of disposing a material includes injecting a material to fill the remaining void space. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the step of disposing a material includes: molding an absorbing material to fit the remaining void space of the bit body; adding an adhesive to the absorbing material; and connecting the absorbing material to the void space of the bit body and the retention configuration of the blade. 
   
   
       23 . A method for producing a drill bit for subsurface drilling, comprising:
 configuring a body with at least one blade, the blade having a front side and a back side; and   configuring the body with a void to permit a segment of the at least one blade to flex.   
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the step of configuring the body with a void to permit a portion of the at least one blade to flex includes the steps of: cutting two or more decoupling cuts from the front side of the at least one blade toward the back side of the at least one blade; cutting a flex cut located behind the front side of the at least one blade and between two or more decoupling cuts to form at least one segment of the blade; and cutting a void cut located behind the front side of the at least one blade and between two or more decoupling cuts to form at least one void. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the cuts are made by an electronic discharge machine, laser, water jet, saw cut or milled. 
   
   
       26 . A drill bit for subsurface drilling, comprising:
 a body configured to sustain at least one blade; and   the body including a material disposed between the at least one blade and the body;   wherein the material allows the blade to deflect while sustained by the body and   the body is configured with a void to permit at least a portion of the at least one blade to flex.   
   
   
       27 . The drill bit of  claim 26 , wherein the body is configured to sustain at least one blade by having at least one shaped geometry cut. 
   
   
       28 . The drill bit of  claim 27 , wherein the at least one blade includes a secondary blade retention configuration capable of fitting within the at least one shaped geometry cut. 
   
   
       29 . The drill bit of  claim 28 , wherein one shaped geometry cut, one secondary blade retention configuration, and a material disposed between the one shaped geometry cut and the one secondary blade configuration form a force absorbing assembly. 
   
   
       30 . The drill bit of  claim 29 , wherein the at least one blade comprises at least one force absorbing assembly. 
   
   
       31 . The drill bit of  claim 26 , wherein the material is an elastomer. 
   
   
       32 . The drill bit of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one blade comprises at least one segment. 
   
   
       33 . The drill bit of  claim 32 , wherein the segments are capable of flexing independent of each other. 
   
   
       34 . The drill bit of  claim 32 , wherein the segments are made by decoupling cuts that run from the front of the blade toward the back of the blade to decouple portions of the blade into segments. 
   
   
       35 . The drill bit of  claim 32 , wherein the blade includes a flex cut is located behind a front side of the at least one blade and between two or more decoupling cuts to provide space allowing a segment to flex. 
   
   
       36 . The drill bit of  claim 32 , wherein the blade includes a void cut located behind a front side of the at least one blade and between two or more decoupling cuts to provide space allowing a segment to flex. 
   
   
       37 . The drill bit of  claim 36 , wherein each segment comprises at least one void cut. 
   
   
       38 . The drill bit of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one blade comprises a backstop that limits the amount of flex of the segments. 
   
   
       39 . The drill bit of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one blade contains a backstop that limits the amount of flex of the segments to the elastic limit of the blade material.