METHOD OF USING SPRING LOADED BLOCKER TO RETAIN ROLLING CUTTERS OR MECHANICAL LOCK CUTTERS

• US 20140131118A1
• Filed: 11/15/2013
• Published: 05/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith International Incorporated (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Smith International Incorporated (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Chen, Chen, Burhan, Yuri, Shi, Jibin
• Granted Patent: US 9,869,133 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 175/428
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 10/573 characterised by support details, e.g. the substrate construction or the interface between the substrate and the cutting element
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 10/627 with plural detachable cutting elements
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 10/633 independently detachable

Abstract

A cutting element assembly may include a sleeve; an inner cutting element in the sleeve; and a blocker retained in the sleeve with at least one locking device and covering a portion of a cutting face of the inner cutting element. Cutting tools may include a tool body; a plurality of blades extending radially from the tool body, each blade comprising a leading face and a trailing face; a plurality of cutter pockets on the plurality of blades; at least one cutting element in one of the cutter pockets; and at least one blocker positioned adjacent to a cutting face of the at least one cutting element and the leading face of the blade, the blocker being retained to the cutter pocket with at least one locking device.

Claims

1. A cutting element assembly, comprising:

a sleeve;

an inner cutting element at least partially within the sleeve; and

a blocker retained in the sleeve with at least one locking device and covering a portion of a cutting face of the inner cutting element.

2. The cutting element assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner cutting element comprises a diamond table attached to a substrate.

3. The cutting element assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one locking device is disposed within at least one hole formed in the sleeve and at least one hole formed in the blocker.

4. The cutting element assembly of claim 3, wherein the at least one hole formed in the sleeve is a through hole.

5. The cutting element assembly of claim 3, wherein the at least one hole formed in the sleeve is a blind hole.

6. The cutting element assembly of claim 3, wherein the at least one hole formed in the blocker is a through hole.

7. The cutting element assembly of claim 3, wherein the at least one hole formed in the blocker is a blind hole.

8. The cutting element assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one locking device comprises a pin.

9. The cutting element assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one locking device comprises at least one spring and at least one pin.

10. The cutting element assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner cutting element is rotatably retained within the sleeve.

11. The cutting element assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner cutting element is fixed within the sleeve.

12. A cutting tool, comprising:

a tool body;

a plurality of blades extending radially from the tool body, each blade comprising a leading face and a trailing face;

a plurality of cutter pockets on the plurality of blades;

at least one cutting element in one of the cutter pockets; and

at least one blocker positioned adjacent to a cutting face of the at least one cutting element and the leading face of the blade, the blocker being retained to the cutter pocket with at least one locking device.

13. The cutting tool of claim 12, wherein the at least one cutting element comprises a diamond table attached to a substrate.

14. The cutting tool of claim 12, wherein the cutter pocket comprises at least one hole formed in an inner wall of the cutter pocket at an axial distance between the cutting face of the cutting element and the leading face of the blade.

15. The cutting tool of claim 14, wherein the at least one locking device is disposed between at least one hole formed in the cutter pocket and at least one hole formed in the blocker.

16. The cutting tool of claim 15, wherein the at least one hole formed in the blocker is a through hole.

17. The cutting tool of claim 15, wherein the at least one hole formed in the blocker is a blind hole.

18. The cutting tool of claim 12, wherein the at least one locking device comprises a pin.

19. The cutting tool of claim 12, wherein the at least one locking device comprises at least one spring and at least one pin.

20. The cutting tool of claim 12, wherein the cutting element is rotatably retained within the cutter pocket.

21. The cutting tool of claim 12, wherein the cutting element is fixed within the cutter pocket.

22. The cutting tool of claim 12, wherein an outer surface of the blocker is flush with the leading face of the blade.

23. The cutting tool of claim 12, wherein the cutting tool is a drill bit.

24. The cutting tool of claim 12, wherein the cutting tool is a reamer.

25. The cutting tool of claim 12, wherein the cutting tool is a wellbore departure tool.