Blade flow pdc bits

Abstract

An apparatus that includes one or more flow channels and method for fabricating such flow channels. The apparatus includes a body and one or more blades extending from one end of the body. Each blade includes a leading section, a trailing section, a face section extending from one end of the leading section to an end of the trailing section, and at least one flow channel extending from the leading edge section to the trailing edge section.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A downhole tool, comprising:
 a body;   one or more blades extending from one end of the body towards a second end of the body, each blade comprising:
 a leading edge section; 
 a trailing edge section; and 
 a face section extending from a longitudinal end of the leading edge section to a longitudinal end of the trailing edge section, 
   wherein at least one flow channel is formed in at least one blade, the at least one flow channel extending from the leading edge section to the trailing edge section.   
     
     
         2 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein the leading edge section comprises at least one inlet opening, the trailing edge section comprises at least one outlet opening, and the flow channel is formed extending from the inlet opening to at least one outlet opening. 
     
     
         3 . The downhole tool of  claim 2 , wherein the flow channel is oriented at an upward angle. 
     
     
         4 . The downhole tool of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one outlet opening is dimensioned larger than the corresponding inlet opening. 
     
     
         5 . The downhole tool of  claim 2 , wherein at least one inlet opening is fluidly communicable with at least two corresponding outlet openings. 
     
     
         6 . The downhole tool of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one flow channel comprises a plurality of flow channels, a first flow channel being parallel to a second flow channel. 
     
     
         7 . The downhole tool of  claim 2 , wherein the shape of the at least one inlet opening is selected from the group consisting of circular-shaped, oval-shaped, crescent-shaped, and rectangular-shaped. 
     
     
         8 . The downhole tool of  claim 7 , wherein the shape of at least one outlet opening is selected from the group consisting of circular-shaped, oval-shaped, crescent-shaped, and rectangular-shaped. 
     
     
         9 . The downhole tool of  claim 8 , wherein the flow channel is curve-shaped. 
     
     
         10 . The downhole tool of  claim 8 , wherein the flow channel is substantially linear. 
     
     
         11 . The downhole tool of  claim 8 , wherein the cross-sectional area of at least one flow channel varies. 
     
     
         12 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein the flow channel is curve-shaped. 
     
     
         13 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein the flow channel is substantially linear. 
     
     
         14 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional area of at least one flow channel varies. 
     
     
         15 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the flowpath comprises an anti-balling coating. 
     
     
         16 . A blade section of a downhole tool, comprising:
 a leading edge section;   a trailing edge section; and   a face section extending from one end of the leading edge section to one end of the trailing edge section,   wherein at least one flow channel is formed within the blade section extending from the leading edge section to the trailing edge section and beneath the face section.   
     
     
         17 . The blade section of  claim 16 , wherein the leading edge section comprises at least one inlet opening, the trailing edge section comprises at least one outlet opening, and the flow channel is formed extending from the inlet opening to the at least one outlet opening. 
     
     
         18 . The blade section of  claim 17 , wherein the flow channel is oriented at an upward angle. 
     
     
         19 . The blade section of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one outlet opening is dimensioned larger than the corresponding inlet opening. 
     
     
         20 . The blade section of  claim 17 , wherein at least one inlet opening is fluidly communicable with at least two corresponding outlet openings. 
     
     
         21 . The blade section of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one flow channel comprises a plurality of flow channels, a first flow channel being parallel to a second flow channel. 
     
     
         22 . The blade section of  claim 17 , wherein the shape of the at least one inlet opening is selected from the group consisting of circular-shaped, oval-shaped, crescent-shaped, and rectangular-shaped. 
     
     
         23 . The blade section of  claim 17 , wherein the shape of at least one outlet opening is selected from the group consisting of circular-shaped, oval-shaped, crescent-shaped, and rectangular-shaped. 
     
     
         24 . The blade section of  claim 16 , wherein the flow channel is curved. 
     
     
         25 . The blade section of  claim 16 , wherein at least a portion of the flowpath comprises an anti-balling coating. 
     
     
         26 . A method of fabricating one or more flow channels in a downhole tool, the method comprising:
 obtaining a downhole tool, comprising:
 a body; 
 one or more blades extending from one end of the body, the plurality of blades forming a cutting surface, each blade comprising:
 a leading edge section; 
 a trailing edge section; and 
 a face section extending from a longitudinal end of the leading edge section to a longitudinal end of the trailing edge section, 
 
 wherein at least one flow channel is formed in at least one blade, the at least one flow channel extending from the leading edge section to the trailing edge section. 
   forming at least one flow channel in at least one blade, the flow channel extending from the leading edge section to the trailing edge section.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein forming at least one flow channel in the blade comprises:
 forming at least one inlet opening in the leading edge section;   forming at least one outlet opening in the trailing edge section; and   forming the flow channel to extend from the at least one inlet opening to the at least one outlet opening.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the flow channel is oriented at an upward angle. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein at least one outlet opening is dimensioned larger than the corresponding inlet opening. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the flow channel is curved. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the shape of the at least one inlet opening is selected from the group consisting of circular-shaped, oval-shaped, crescent-shaped, and rectangular-shaped. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the shape of at least one outlet opening is selected from the group consisting of circular-shaped, oval-shaped, crescent-shaped, and rectangular-shaped. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein at least a portion of the flowpath comprises an anti-balling coating.