Drill bits for drilling subterranean boreholes and mechanically locked cutter elements for same

A cutter element assembly for a fixed cutter drill bit, the cutter element assembly comprising:

• a cutter element carrier configured to be fixable attached to a cutter-supporting surface of a blade of the fixed cutter drill bit, wherein the cutter element carrier has a central axis, a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a receptacle extending axially from the first end;
• and
• a cutter element having a central axis coaxially aligned with the central axis of the cutter element carrier, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end of the cutter element, wherein the cutter element includes a substrate and a cutter layer fixably attached to the substrate, wherein the substrate includes a shaft extending from the second end of the cutter element and a head, wherein the cutter layer is fixably attached to the head and is disposed at the first end of the cutter element;
• wherein the shaft of the substrate is slidingly disposed in the receptacle with the head seated against the first end of the cutter element carrier;
• wherein the cutter element is axially locked relative to the cutter element carrier such that the cutter element is prevented from moving axially relative to the cutter element carrier;
• wherein the cutter element is rotationally locked relative to the cutter element carrier such that the cutter element is prevented from rotating about the central axis of the cutter element relative to the cutter element carrier;
• wherein the receptacle defines a radially inner surface of the cutter element carrier extending from the first end of the cutter element carrier;
• wherein the radially inner surface comprises:
• an annular chamfer extending axially relative to the central axis of the cutter element carrier from the first end of the cutter element carrier;
• a cylindrical surface extending axially relative to the central axis of the cutter element carrier from the annular chamfer;
• an annular recess axially adjacent the cylindrical surface relative to the centra axis of the cutter element carrier and extending radially outward relative to the cylindrical surface;
• and
• a locking recess extending axially relative to the central axis of the cutter element carrier from the annular recess to a closed end of the receptacle.