# US 10,502,001 B2 · Earth-boring tools carrying formation-engaging structures > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,502,001 B2 - Document ID: US10502001B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/933,908 - Filed: 2015-11-05 - Published: 2017-05-11 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2015-11-05 - Assignees: Baker Hughes, A Ge Company, LLC - Applicants: Baker Hughes, a GE company, LLC - Inventors: Don Quy Nguyen; Juan Miguel Bilen; Steven C. Russell; Kenneth R. Evans - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10502001B2 ## CPC - E21B 10/633: independently detachable - E21B 10/55: with preformed cutting elements - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract An earth-boring tool includes a blade located on a body of the earth-boring tool with a pocket formed in an exposed outer surface of the blade. A formation-engaging structure is affixed within the pocket. The formation-engaging structure includes a distal end, a proximal end and a tapered sidewall therebetween. The distal end of the formation-engaging structure includes a formation-engaging surface. The tapered sidewall engages a tapered inner surface of the pocket. The tapered sidewall of the formation-engaging structure and the tapered inner surface of the pocket are each sized and configured to provide an interference fit between the formation-engaging structure and the pocket of the blade. In additional embodiments, instead of retention by interference fit, the formation-engaging structure is retained to the blade by a threaded fastener threaded within a tapped bore extending through the blade. The threaded fastener is received within a receiving formation of the formation-engaging structure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An earth-boring tool, comprising: at least one blade located on a body of the earth-boring tool; cutting elements positioned in respective cutting element pockets on an exposed outer surface of the at least one blade, wherein the cutting elements comprise a polycrystalline diamond compact; a pocket opening onto the exposed outer surface of the at least one blade; a tapped bore extending through the at least one blade from at least one of a rotationally leading surface and a rotationally trailing surface of the at least one blade to the pocket, the rotationally leading surface being a leading surface of the blade as the at least one blade rotates around an axis of rotation of the body of the earth-boring tool, the rotationally trailing surface being a trailing surface of the blade as the at least one blade rotates around the axis of rotation of the body of the earth-boring tool; a formation-engaging structure received within the pocket of the at least one blade, the formation-engaging structure positioned intermediate at least two cutting elements along a radial axis of the body of the earth-boring tool, the formation-engaging structure having a distal end, a proximal end and a sidewall therebetween, and the distal end of the formation-engaging structure having a formation-engaging surface; a receiving formation located in the sidewall of the formation-engaging structure; and a threaded fastening element threaded within the tapped bore extending through the at least one blade, the threaded fastening element threadably engaging threads of the tapped bore, a first end of the threaded fastening element engaging the receiving formation of the formation-engaging structure, the threaded fastening element, as engaged, configured to retain the formation-engaging structure within the pocket of the at least one blade. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The earth-boring tool of claim 1, wherein the receiving formation comprises a receiving surface configured to engage the first end of the threaded fastening element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The earth-boring tool of claim 2, wherein the receiving surface is oriented at a non-parallel angle in relation to a longitudinal axis of the formation-engaging structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The earth-boring tool of claim 3, wherein the tapped bore is oriented at a non-perpendicular angle in relation to the longitudinal axis of the formation-engaging structure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The earth-boring tool of claim 3, wherein the receiving surface of the receiving formation is planar, and the threaded fastening element comprises a set screw with a swivel tip having a planar bearing surface oriented co-planar with the receiving surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The earth-boring tool of claim 1, further comprising a second threaded fastening element threaded within the tapped bore, a second end of the threaded fastening element adjacent a first end of the second threaded fastening element, the second threaded fastening element retaining the threaded fastening element within the tapped bore. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The earth-boring tool of claim 1, wherein the formation-engaging surface of the formation-engaging structure is ovoid. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The earth-boring tool of claim 1, wherein the formation-engaging structure comprises a volume of superabrasive material disposed over a substrate, the formation-engaging surface comprising a surface of the volume of superabrasive material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The earth-boring tool of claim 8, wherein the volume of superabrasive material of the formation-engaging structure comprises polycrystalline diamond. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The earth-boring tool of claim 2, wherein an outer surface of the receiving surface of the receiving formation is recessed relative to an outer surface of the sidewall of the formation-engaging structure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The earth-boring tool of claim 1, wherein the cutting elements are located on the rotationally leading surface of the at least one blade and the formation-engaging structure is located rotationally behind the cutting elements. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The earth-boring tool of claim 1, wherein the formation-engaging structure is located at a rotationally leading position relative to the cutting elements. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The earth-boring tool of claim 1, wherein the formation-engaging structure is an insert. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The earth-boring tool of claim 1, wherein the formation-engaging structure is a non-cutting bearing element positioned and oriented on the body as a rubbing surface configured to rub against a formation as the body of the earth-boring tool is rotated within a wellbore. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The earth-boring tool of claim 1, wherein the earth-boring tool comprises a fixed-cutter earth-boring rotary drill bit comprising a bit body having generally radially projecting and longitudinally extending blades, the pocket being located on a leading end of a respective blade. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The earth-boring tool of claim 1, wherein the tapped bore comprises a blind bore extending through the at least one blade from the rotationally trailing surface of the at least one blade to the pocket. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The earth-boring tool of claim 1, wherein each of the threaded fastening element and the receiving formation of the formation-engaging structure are sized and configured to rigidly retain the formation-engaging structure within the pocket of the at least one blade. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The earth-boring tool of claim 1, wherein the formation-engaging surface of the formation-engaging structure comprises a wear-resistant material comprising cemented tungsten carbide.