Drill bit mask having sub-millimeter size apertures for reentrant cavitation jet drilling

Abstract

A tricone drill bit having a hollow housing and leg sections holding rotatable cones for drilling rock. The drill bit encloses a cavitation reactor. The cavitation reactor includes liquid and being capable of receiving a laser beam. The cavitation reactor forms cavitation bubbles fin the liquid in response to the laser beam. The cavitation reactor includes a mask having sub millimeter sized apertures for directing cavitation jets formed on the collapse of the cavitation approximately 0.1-10 microns. These reentrant cavitation jets pass easily through the apertures of the mask and to the rock to enable the tricone drill be to operate more efficiently.

1 . A drill bit comprising:
 a housing and rotatable drilling means for drilling rock;   a cavitation reactor including a liquid, the cavitation reactor being capable of communicating a laser beam to the liquid to create cavitation bubbles;   a mask mounted in the cavitation reactor having sub millimeter sized apertures for enabling the cavitation bubbles to collapse to form cavitation jets;   the cavitation jets have a mean diameter of approximately 0.1-10 microns   the apertures of the mask direct the cavitation jets to the rock and thereby assist operation of the drill bit.   
     
     
         2 . The drill bit as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the drill bit is a tricone drill bit. 
     
     
         3 . The drill bit as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the drill bit includes three leg sections and rotatable drilling means includes cones rotatably mounted on each leg section. 
     
     
         4 . The drill bit as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the cones include teeth made from a metal selected from the group consisting of steel, tungsten carbide, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The drill bit as set forth in  claim 3  further comprising a body of the drill bit and a flexible mount between the cavitation reactor and the body to dampen vibrations and shock.