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US 6,883,624 B2Granted
Multi-lobed cutter element for drill bit
AssigneeSmith International, Inc.
InventorScott McDonough
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Cutter elements for a drill bits having particular, but not exclusive, application on the nose portion of the cone cutters of a rolling cone bit include a base, a cutting portion, and a plurality of cutting lobes extending radially from the cutting portion. Each lobe includes a forward-facing cutting face and trailing portion having a trailing surface that intersects the cutting face in a nonlinear cutting edge. The trailing surface is non-planar and recedes away from the cutting edge. In certain embodiments, the trailing surface is a partial dome shaped surface. The trailing portion provides strength and buttresses the cutting edge.
Claims45
A cutter element for a drill bit comprising:
- a base portion and a cutting portion extending from said base portion along a central axis;
- said base portion comprising a generally cylindrical member having a circular cross-section for insertion into a generally circular bore in a drill bit;
- a plurality of cutting lobes radiating from said cutting portion wherein said lobes include a forward facing cutting face, a trailing portion buttressing said cutting face, and a nonlinear cutting edge at the intersection of said trailing portion and said forward facing cutting face, said trailing portion of said lobe having a non-planar surface receding away from said cutting edge.
A cutter element for a drill bit comprising:
- a base portion and a cutting portion extending from said base portion along a central axis;
- a plurality of cutting lobes radiating from said cutting portion wherein said lobes include a forward facing cutting face, a trailing portion buttressing said cutting face, and a nonlinear cutting edge at the intersection of said trailing portion and said forward facing cutting face, said trailing portion of said lobe having a non-planar surface receding away from said cutting edge, wherein said base portion defines an outer profile and wherein said lobes do not extend beyond said outer profile.
A cutter element for a drill bit comprising:
- a base portion and a cutting portion extending from said base portion along a central axis;
- a plurality of cutting lobes radiating from said cutting portion wherein said lobes include a forward facing cutting face, a trailing portion buttressing said cutting face, and a nonlinear cutting edge at the intersection of said trailing portion and said forward facing cutting face, said trailing portion of said lobe having a non-planar surface receding away from said cutting edge, wherein said base portion defines an outer profile and wherein said lobes do not extend beyond said outer profile and wherein said lobes have an angular length of between 45 and 90 degrees.
A cutter element for a drill bit comprising:
- a base portion and a cutting portion extending from said base portion along a central axis;
- a plurality of cutting lobes radiating from said cutting portion wherein said lobes include a forward facing cutting face, a trailing portion buttressing said cutting face, and a nonlinear cutting edge at the intersection of said trailing portion and said forward facing cutting face, said trailing portion of said lobe having a non-planar surface receding away from said cutting edge, wherein said base portion defines an outer profile and wherein said lobes do not extend beyond said outer profile and wherein said lobes include a leading end and a trailing end and wherein said trailing end is recessed from the outer profile to a greater extent than said leading end.
A cutter element for a drill bit comprising:
- a base portion and a cutting portion extending from said base portion along a central axis;
- a plurality of cutting lobes radiating from said cutting portion wherein said lobes include a forward facing cutting face, a trailing portion buttressing said cutting face, and a nonlinear cutting edge at the intersection of said trailing portion and said forward facing cutting face, said trailing portion of said lobe having a non-planar surface receding away from said cutting edge, wherein said base portion defines an outer profile and wherein said lobes do not extend beyond said outer profile and wherein said cutter element includes four lobes having identical angular lengths.
A cutter element for a drill bit comprising:
- a base portion and a cutting portion extending from said base portion along a central axis;
- a plurality of cutting lobes radiating from said cutting portion wherein said lobes include a forward facing cutting face, a trailing portion buttressing said cutting face, and a nonlinear cutting edge at the intersection of said trailing portion and said forward facing cutting face, said trailing portion of said lobe having a non-planar surface receding away from said cutting edge, wherein lobes include a leading end and a trailing end and wherein said trailing end is recessed from the outer profile to a greater extent than is said leading end, wherein lobes include a leading end and a trailing end and wherein said trailing end is recessed from the outer profile to a greater extent than is said leading end and wherein said forward facing cutting face is non-planar.
A cutter element for mounting in a drill bit for rotation in a predetermined direction of rotation, the cutter element comprising:
- a base portion having an outer surface defining an outer profile;
- said base portion comprising a generally cylindrical member having a circular cross-section for insertion into a generally circular bore in a drill bit;
- a cutting portion extending from said base portion wherein said cutting portion includes a plurality of radially extending lobes;
- wherein said lobes comprise a cutting surface facing in a predetermined direction and a trailing portion extending behind said cutting surface and intersecting said cutting surface to form a cutting edge, said trailing portion having a non-planar surface with a leading end at said cutting edge and a trailing end, wherein said trailing end is recessed away from the outer profile of said base.
1 more element
A cutter element for mounting in a drill bit for rotation in a predetermined direction of rotation, the cutter element comprising:
- a base portion having an outer surface defining an outer profile;
- a cutting portion extending from said base portion wherein said cutting portion includes a plurality of radially extending lobes;
- wherein said lobes comprise a cutting surface facing in a predetermined direction and a trailing portion extending behind said cutting surface and intersecting said cutting surface to form a cutting edge, said trailing portion having a non-planar surface with a leading end at said cutting edge and a trailing end;
- wherein said trailing end is recessed away from the outer profile of said base and said lobes include an angular length of between 45 and 90 degrees;
- and
- wherein said cutter element includes four lobes, said cutting surfaces on said lobes are generally planar and said lobes do not extend beyond the outer profile of said base.
3 more elements
A cutter element for mounting in a drill bit for rotation in a predetermined direction of rotation, the cutter element comprising:
- a base portion having an outer surface defining an outer profile;
- a cutting portion extending from said base portion wherein said cutting portion includes a plurality of radially extending lobes;
- wherein said lobes comprise a cutting surface facing in a predetermined direction and a trailing portion extending behind said cuffing surface and intersecting said cuffing surface to form a cutting edge, said trailing portion having a non-planar surface with a leading end at said cutting edge and a trailing end;
- and
- wherein said cutter element includes four lobes, said cutting surfaces on said lobes are generally planar and said lobes have an angular measure of substantially 90 degrees.
2 more elements
A cutter element insert for a drill bit comprising:
- a cutting portion having a central axis and a plurality of cutting lobes oriented for rotation in a predetermined direction of rotation;
- said lobes including a forward facing surface and a trailing surface, said trailing surface and said forward facing surface intersecting and forming a nonlinear cutting edge, wherein said trailing surface recedes away from said cutting edge and extends behind said forward facing surface an angular length of at least 20 degrees.
A cutter element insert for a drill bit comprising:
- a cutting portion having a central axis and a plurality of cutting lobes oriented for rotation in a predetermined direction of rotation;
- said lobes including a forward facing surface and a trailing surface, said trailing surface and said forward facing surface intersecting and forming a nonlinear cutting edge, wherein said trailing surface recedes away from said cutting edge and extends behind said forward facing surface an angular length of at least 20 degrees;
- a base portion having a generally cylindrical surface defining an outer profile;
- and
- wherein said lobes do not extend beyond said outer profile.
2 more elements
A cutter element insert for a drill bit comprising:
- a cutting portion having a central axis and a plurality of cutting lobes oriented for rotation in a predetermined direction of rotation;
- said lobes including a forward facing surface and a trailing surface, said trailing surface and said forward facing surface intersecting and forming a nonlinear cutting edge, wherein said trailing surface recedes away from said cutting edge and extends behind said forward facing surface an angular measure of at least 20 degrees;
- and
- wherein said nonlinear cutting edge has a radius of curvature that varies along the length of said cutting edge.
1 more element
A cutter element insert for a drill bit comprising:
- a cutting portion having a central axis and a plurality of cutting lobes oriented for rotation in a predetermined direction of rotation;
- said lobes including a forward facing surface and a trailing surface, said trailing surface and said forward facing surface intersecting and forming a nonlinear cutting edge, wherein said trailing surface recedes away from said cutting edge and extends behind said forward facing surface an angular measure of at least 20 degrees;
- and
- wherein at least one of said lobes includes a trailing surface that differs in shape from the trailing surface of other of said lobes.
1 more element
A drill bit for drilling through earthen formation and forming a borehole, comprising:
- at least one rolling cone cutter rotatably mounted on the drill bit for rotation in a cutting direction of rotation, said cone cutter including a backface, a nose portion opposite said backface, and a generally conical surface between said nose portion and said backface;
- at least one nose row cutter element mounted in said nose portion of said cone cutter for cutting the central portion of the borehole, wherein said nose row cutter includes a cutting surface having a plurality of cutting lobes extending radially away from a central axis, said lobes including a generally forward facing cutting face and a trailing portion extending behind said forward facing cutting face, said trailing portion including a non-planar surface intersecting said forward facing cutting face to form a curved cutting edge and receding away from said cutting edge and toward said central axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.