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US 8,011,456 B2Granted
Rotationally indexable cutting elements and drill bits therefor
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorWilliam H. Sherwood, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cutting element for use with a drill bit includes a substrate having a longitudinal axis, a lateral surface substantially symmetric about the longitudinal axis and one or more key elements coupled to the lateral surface. The lateral surface lies between an insertion end and a cutting end of the substrate. The one or more key elements are substantially axially aligned with the longitudinal axis and configured to selectively rotationally locate the substrate in a pocket. A drill bit configured for retaining a cutting element having one or more key elements is also disclosed.
Claims21
A cutting element for subterranean drilling, comprising:
- a substrate having a longitudinal axis and a lateral surface substantially symmetric about the longitudinal axis, the lateral surface of the substrate comprising a substantially continuous surface extending between an insertion end and a cutting end of the substrate;
- a superabrasive table disposed on the cutting end of the substrate, the superabrasive table having a face oriented substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis;
- and
- a plurality of key elements spaced at substantially equal circumferential intervals about the lateral surface and substantially axially aligned with the longitudinal axis, wherein at least one key element of the plurality of key elements comprises an element protruding from the lateral surface, and wherein each of the plurality of key elements is complementary to each key element of a plurality of key elements of a cutter pocket formed in a rotary drill bit on which the cutting element is to be installed.
1 more element
A rotary drill bit for subterranean drilling, comprising:
- a bit body with at least one cutter pocket having a plurality of pocket key elements on an interior lateral surface thereof;
- and
- a cutting element comprising:
- a substrate having a longitudinal axis and a lateral surface substantially symmetric about the longitudinal axis, the lateral surface of the substrate comprising a substantially continuous surface extending between an insertion end and a cutting end of the substrate;
- a superabrasive table disposed on the cutting end of the substrate, the superabrasive table having a face oriented substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis;
- a plurality of substrate key elements spaced at substantially equal circumferential intervals about the lateral surface and substantially axially aligned with the longitudinal axis, wherein at least one substrate key element of the plurality of substrate key elements comprises an element protruding from the lateral surface, and wherein each of the plurality of substrate key elements is complementary to each pocket key element of the plurality of pocket key elements of the at least one cutter pocket of the bit body;
- and
- a fastening structure positioned at the insertion end of the cutting element.
5 more elements
A cutting element comprising:
- a substrate having a longitudinal axis, a lateral frustoconical surface substantially symmetric about the longitudinal axis and extending between an insertion end and an opposing, cutting end of the substrate;
- a fastening structure positioned on and extending from the insertion end;
- a superabrasive table coupled to the cutting end, the superabrasive table having a face oriented substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis;
- and
- at least three key elements spaced at substantially equal circumferential intervals about the lateral frustoconical surface and substantially axially aligned with the longitudinal axis, wherein at least one key element of the at least three key elements comprises a spline protruding from the lateral frustoconical surface of the substrate, wherein the at least one key element of the at least three key elements comprises a longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the substrate, and wherein each of the at least three key elements is complementary to each key element of a plurality of key elements of a cutter pocket formed in a rotary drill bit on which the cutting element is to be installed.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.