Piston-based backup assembly for drill bit

A drill bit, comprising:

• a bit body defining a rotational axis and including a cone region, a nose region, a shoulder region, and a gauge region;
• one or more primary cutters secured to at least one of the cone, nose, shoulder, or gage regions of the bit body;
• and
• a reciprocating backup assembly on the bit body, the backup assembly comprising a piston bore defined in the bit body, a piston reciprocally disposed in the piston bore, a biasing member biasing the piston outwardly to a neutral position, an active backup element on an outwardly facing end of the piston to cut rock ahead of the one or more primary cutters, and a piston retainer comprises a retention hole defined transversely through the piston and a fastener extending through the retention hole and into the bit body to retain the piston within the piston bore, wherein the retention hole in the piston is wider than the fastener in an axial direction of the piston to allow reciprocation of the piston within the piston bore.

A method, comprising:

• rotating a drill bit about a rotational axis while engaging a formation, the drill bit including one or more cutters secured to the bit body, the cutters collectively defining a cutting profile about the rotational axis;
• limiting a depth of cut of one or more of the cutters by engaging the formation with a backup element supported on a piston moveably coupled to the bit body at the cone region, nose region, or shoulder region;
• biasing the backup element outwardly toward a neutral position while allowing the piston to reciprocate inward from the neutral position in relation to a force of engagement with the formation;
• rotatably supporting the backup element on the piston about a rolling element axis transverse to an axial direction of the piston;
• and
• allowing the backup element to roll about the rolling element axis while allowing the piston to reciprocate.