Rotatable cutters and elements for use on earth-boring tools in subterranean boreholes, earth-boring tools including same, and related methods
AssigneeBaker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC
InventorsJon David Schroder, John Abhishek Raj Bomidi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Rotatable elements for use with earth-boring tools include a movable element and a stationary element. The rotatable element may include a void within the support structure and at least one pin protruding from the void through an exterior side of the support structure. The rotatable element may further include at least one aperture configured to provide a vent to the void. The rotatable element may be disposed at least partially within a cavity of the stationary element. The stationary element may further include a track configured to interact with the at least one pin.
Claims20
A rotatable cutter for use on an earth-boring tool in a subterranean borehole, comprising:
- a rotatable element comprising:
- a cutting surface over a support structure;
- a void within the support structure;
- at least one pin protruding from the void through an exterior side of the support structure;
- and
- at least one aperture configured to provide a vent to the void;
- and
- a stationary element comprising:
- a cavity, the rotatable element disposed at least partially within the cavity;
- and
- a track configured to interact with the at least one pin.
An earth-boring tool comprising:
- a tool body;
- and
- at least one rotatable cutting element coupled to the tool body, the rotatable cutting element comprising:
- a stationary element coupled to the tool body comprising:
- a cavity;
- and
- an indexing feature defined within the cavity;
- and
- a movable element comprising:
- a cutting surface over a support structure, the support structure disposed at least partially within the cavity;
- a void within the support structure;
- at least one pin protruding from the void through an exterior side of the support structure;
- and
- at least one passage passing between the void in the support structure and the cavity in the stationary element, the at least one passage configured to provide a vent to the void.
A method of assembling a rotatable cutting element comprising:
- compressing at least one pin into a void in a support structure of a movable portion of a rotatable cutting element;
- venting fluid contained in the void through at least one passage through the movable portion of the rotatable cutting element;
- inserting the support structure at least partially into a cavity in a stationary portion of the rotatable cutting element;
- extending the at least one pin at least partially out of the void in the support structure after the support structure is at least partially inserted into the cavity;
- and
- securing the movable portion to the stationary portion through an interface between the at least one pin and an indexing structure defined in the cavity of the stationary portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.