EARTH BORING BIT HAVING AIR TUBE WITH REMOVABLE CAP

A drill bit has a plurality of air tubes extending into the bowl for separating entrained debris and liquids from air flow used to clean and cool bearings in the cutters of the bit. The air tube is assembled from a tube and a cap. The tube has open ends and a plurality of openings through the sidewall of the tube for allowing air to flow through the openings while preventing large debris from entering the tube. The lower end of the tube is inserted into an inner portion of a fluid passage, and the cap is secured to the upper end of the tube. The cap is removable for providing access to the interior of the tube when necessary to dislodge debris from within the tube.