# US 10,502,000 B2 · Reamer cutting insert for use in drilling operations > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,502,000 B2 - Document ID: US10502000B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/387,875 - Filed: 2016-12-22 - Published: 2018-03-01 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2014-11-05 - Applicants: Duane Shotwell - Inventors: Duane Shotwell - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10502000B2 ## CPC - E21B 10/26: Drill bits with leading portion, i.e. drill bits with a pilot cutter; Drill bits for enlarging the borehole, e.g. reamers (percussion drill bits with leading portion E21B10/40) - E21B 10/62: characterised by parts, e.g. cutting elements, which are detachable or adjustable (E21B10/64 takes precedence; for roller bits E21B10/20; for augers E21B10/44) - E21B 10/627: with plural detachable cutting elements - E21B 7/128: from floating support with independent underwater anchored guide base - E21B 7/28: Enlarging drilled holes, e.g. by counterboring - E21B 10/44: Bits with helical conveying portion, e.g. screw type bits; Augers with leading portion or with detachable parts (E21B10/42 takes precedence) - E21B 10/56: Button-type inserts (E21B10/52 takes precedence) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract The invention relates to reamers used in downhole oil well drilling operations, particularly in reaming while drilling applications. Presented is a reamer having an interior channel which runs along an elongate axis of the entire body of the reamer, wherein there are openings along both ends of the reamer, exposing the interior channel. Additionally presented in the reamer are a plurality of paths extending parallel to the interior channel along the exterior of the body of the reamer, and running in a helical pattern along the entirety of the exterior of the body of the reamer. Disposed within the helical paths are a plurality of cutting inserts, which cutting inserts are enabled to provides a uniform cutting surface against a well bore, which preferably improves cutting action and reduces strain on the reamer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cutting insert for coupling with a reamer, the cutting insert comprising: a unitary structure forming an exposed planar top side, an attachment side and a sidewall whereby when the cutting insert is coupled to a reamer and the top side is exposed and positioned to cut against a borehole wall, a substantial shear force is experienced by the cutting insert when the cutting insert is separating material from the borehole wall; the attachment side adapted for insertion into a reamer and the attachment side is further adapted to enable positioning of the planar top side parallel to a central elongate axis of the reamer; the sidewall extending axially from the attachment side to the insert top side and along a sidewall diameter extending parallel to the top side and radially from and perpendicular to a central axis of the cutting insert to an outside maximum radius of the cutting insert, and the sidewall adapted for at least partial insertion into the reamer; and the planar top side comprising an outer cutting edge, wherein the outer cutting edge is circular or axi-symmetric to the cutting insert central axis, an inner cutting edge, wherein the inner cutting edge is circular or axi-symmetric to the cutting insert central axis, and a depression, the depression having a maximum radial distance parallel to the top side and extending from the top side inner cutting edge and toward the attachment side, and the depression maximum radial distance extending for no more than 90% of the outside maximum radius of the cutting insert, and the depression including a depression conical section that extends along the cutting insert central axis and presenting a maximal radius orthogonal to the cutting insert central axis at least ⅓ length of the outside maximum radius of the cutting insert. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cutting insert of claim 1, wherein the outer cutting edge is a closed polygon axi-symmetric and normal to a cutting insert central axis. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The cutting insert of claim 1, wherein the depression further comprises a cylindrical section. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The cutting insert of claim 1, wherein the width of the depression extends from the cutting insert central axis to a radius no greater than ⅔ of the outside maximum radius of the cutting insert. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The cutting insert of claim 1, wherein the depression conical section extends along a cutting insert central axis to a depth of at least ½ fraction of a maximal height of the sidewall ending in a cylindrical section. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cutting insert of claim 1, wherein the cutting insert comprises a metal matrix composite. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The cutting insert of claim 1, wherein the cutting insert comprises a tungsten carbide compound. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The cutting insert of claim 1, wherein the cutting insert is a homogeneous unitary structure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The cutting insert of claim 1, wherein the central axis of the cutting insert is perpendicular to the central elongate axis of the reamer. ### Claim 10 A cutting insert for coupling with a reamer, the cutting insert comprising: a unitary structure forming an exposed planar top side, an attachment side and a sidewall; the attachment side adapted for insertion into a reamer; the sidewall extending from the attachment side to the top side and along a sidewall diameter extending parallel to the top side and radially from and perpendicular to a central axis of the cutting insert to an outside maximum radius of the cutting insert, and the sidewall adapted for at least partial insertion into the reamer; and the planar top side comprising an outer cutting edge, an inner cutting edge, and a depression, the depression having a maximum radial distance parallel to the top side and extending from the top side inner cutting edge and toward the attachment side, and the depression maximum radial distance extending for less than ½ of the outside maximum radius of the cutting insert, wherein the depression extends the full length of the insert sidewall. ### Claim 11 A cutting insert for coupling with a reamer, the cutting insert comprising: a unitary structure forming an exposed planar top side, an attachment side and a sidewall; the attachment side adapted for insertion into a reamer; the sidewall extending from the attachment side to the insert top side and along a sidewall diameter extending parallel to the top side and radially from and perpendicular to a central axis of the cutting insert to an outside maximum radius of the cutting insert, and the sidewall adapted for at least partial insertion into the reamer; and the planar top side comprising an outer cutting edge, an inner cutting edge, and a depression, the depression having a maximum radial distance parallel to the top side and extending from the top side inner cutting edge and toward the attachment side, and the depression maximum radial distance extending for less than ½ of the outside maximum radius of the cutting insert, wherein the depression extends along the central axis of the cutting insert from the top side to a depth of greater than ½ fraction of a maximal height of the sidewall as extending along cutting insert central axis. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The cutting insert of claim 11, wherein the depression comprises a cylindrical section that extends from the top side along the cutting insert central axis. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The cutting insert of claim 11, wherein the cutting insert comprises tungsten carbide. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The cutting insert of claim 11, wherein the planar top side extends toward the cutting insert central axis from the outer cutting edge to the inner cutting edge. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The cutting insert of claim 14, wherein the planar top surface extends along a plane substantively normal to the cutting insert central axis. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The cutting insert of claim 15, wherein an axisymmetric external surface about the cutting insert central axis of the co-centric depression is cylindrical. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The cutting insert of claim 15, wherein the outer cutting edge is circular. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The cutting insert of claim 17, wherein the inner cutting edge is circular. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The cutting insert of claim 18, wherein the perimeter of the depression is circular. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The cutting insert of claim 11, wherein the cutting insert is a homogeneous unitary structure. ### Claim 21 (depends on 11) The cutting insert of claim 11, wherein the central axis of the cutting insert is perpendicular to the central elongate axis of the reamer. ### Claim 22 (depends on 11) The cutting insert of claim 11, wherein the inner cutting edge is circular or axi-symmetric to the cutting insert central axis. ### Claim 23 (depends on 11) The cutting insert of claim 11, wherein the outer cutting edge is circular or axi-symmetric to the cutting insert central axis.