Flow through gauge for drill bit

Abstract

An apparatus that includes one or more flow channels and method for fabricating such flow channels. The apparatus includes a body, one or more blades from one end of the body, and a corresponding gauge section disposed adjacently and in alignment with a respective blade. Each gauge section 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 at least one of the trailing edge section or the face section.

1 . A downhole tool, comprising:
 a body having a bore formed therein;   a plurality of blades extending from a face of the body, the plurality of blades forming a cutting surface;   a junk slot formed between each consecutive blade;   a nozzle disposed in the body adjacent each junk slot and for discharging drilling fluid from the bore and up the respective junk slot; and   a plurality of polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) cutters coupled to each blade, spaced along each blade, and extending outwardly from a surface thereof for cutting through earth formations; and   a plurality of gauge sections operable to define and hold a full diameter of a hole drilled by the downhole tool, each gauge section disposed adjacently and in alignment with a respective blade, each gauge section comprising:
 a leading edge section; 
 a trailing edge section; and 
 a face section extending from the leading edge section to the trailing edge section, 
 wherein:
 a deep groove is formed across an outer surface of each face section from the respective leading edge section to the respective trailing edge section, and 
 each deep groove is operable to receive the drilling fluid and cuttings therethrough. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein each deep groove is oriented at an upward angle. 
     
     
         3 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein each deep groove is curved. 
     
     
         4 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein each deep groove has a depth of at least one-fourth inch. 
     
     
         5 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein each deep groove at the leading edge section and at the trailing edge section is wider than a portion of the respective deep groove therebetween. 
     
     
         6 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein a second deep groove is formed across an exterior surface of each face section and is parallel to the respective deep groove. 
     
     
         7 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein each deep groove is linear. 
     
     
         8 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each face section comprises a pod, and   each deep groove surrounds the respective pod.   
     
     
         9 . The downhole tool of  claim 8 , wherein each pod is selected from the group consisting of circular-shaped, diamond-shaped, rectangular-shaped, triangular-shaped, and a non-geometric shape. 
     
     
         10 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a plurality of flow channels are formed through each blade,   the flow channels are spaced along each blade,   the flow channels each extend from a leading edge section to a trailing edge section of the respective blade,   the flow channels extend beneath the cutters of the respective blade, and   the flow channels are operable to receive the drilling fluid and cuttings therethrough.   
     
     
         11 . The downhole tool of  claim 1 , wherein each blade and each gauge section are formed integrally with the body. 
     
     
         12 . The downhole tool of  claim 11 , wherein the body is made from steel.