ROLLING CUTTER WITH SIDE RETENTION

• US 20140326516A1
• Filed: 11/16/2012
• Published: 11/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smith International Incorporated (SLB)
• Original Assignee: Smith International Incorporated (SLB)
• Inventors: Zhang, Youhe, Haugvaldstad, Kjell
• Granted Patent: US 9,624,731 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 175/366
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 10/567 with preformed cutting elements mounted on a distinct support, e.g. polycrystalline inserts
• 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 10/633 independently detachable

Abstract

A cutter assembly may include a sleeve having at least one passageway extending through the sleeve from a outer surface thereof into an inner surface thereof; at least one rotatable cutting element disposed in the sleeve, wherein the at least one rotatable cutting element has a circumferential groove formed in a side surface thereof, wherein when the inner rotatable cutting element is disposed in the sleeve, the circumferential groove is aligned with the passageway; and a retention element disposed in at least a portion of the passageway and the circumferential groove to retain the at least one rotatable cutting element in the sleeve, wherein the retention element has an axis that is parallel to a tangent of the rotatable cutting element side surface at least one point of contact with the rotatable cutting element.

Claims

1. A cutter assembly, comprising:

a sleeve having at least one passageway extending through the sleeve from a outer surface thereof into an inner surface thereof;

at least one rotatable cutting element disposed in the sleeve, wherein the at least one rotatable cutting element has a circumferential groove formed in a side surface thereof, wherein when the at least one rotatable cutting element is disposed in the sleeve, the circumferential groove is aligned with the passageway; and

a retention element disposed in at least a portion of the passageway and the circumferential groove to retain the at least one rotatable cutting element in the sleeve, wherein the retention element has an axis that is parallel to a tangent of the rotatable cutting element side surface at at least one point of contact with the rotatable cutting element.

2. The cutter assembly of claim 1, wherein the passageway terminates in a groove formed in the inner surface of the sleeve, wherein the circumferential groove is aligned with the passageway and the groove in the inner surface of the sleeve, and wherein the retention element is disposed in at least a portion of the circumferential groove and the sleeve groove.

3. The cutter assembly of claim 1, wherein the sleeve comprises two of such passageways each terminating in a sleeve groove, and wherein two retention elements are disposed in portions of the circumferential groove and sleeve grooves to retain the at least one rotatable cutting element within the sleeve.

4. The cutter assembly of claim 1, wherein the retention element comprises a rod.

5. The cutter assembly of claim 1, wherein the sleeve comprises two of such passageways, wherein the retention element comprises a retaining clip having, each end inserted into the two passageways and disposed in portions of the circumferential groove to retain the at least one rotatable cutting element within the sleeve.

6. The cutter assembly of any of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of balls disposed between a bottom face of the at least one rotatable cutting element and a bottom portion of the sleeve.

7. The cutter assembly of claim 1, wherein a bottom portion of the sleeve interfaces a bottom face of the at least one rotatable cutting element at less than the entire surface area of the bottom face of the at least one rotatable cutting element.

8. The cutter assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one rotatable cutting element comprises an ultrahard material on its bottom face.

9. The cutter assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one interfacing surface between the at least one rotatable cutting element and the sleeve comprises diamond.

18. A downhole cutting tool, comprising:

a cutting element support structure having at least one cutter pocket formed therein; and

a cutter assembly of claim 1 disposed in the cutter pocket.

10. A downhole cutting tool, comprising:

a cutting element support structure having at least one cutter pocket formed therein;

wherein the cutting element support structure has at least one passageway extending from a top, outer surface of the cutting element support structure into the cutter pocket;

at least one rotatable cutting element disposed in the at least one cutter pocket, wherein the at least one rotatable cutting element has a circumferential groove formed in a side surface thereof, wherein when the at least one rotatable cutting element is disposed in the cutter pocket, the circumferential groove is aligned with the passageway; and

a retention element disposed in at least a portion of the passageway and the circumferential groove to retain the at least one rotatable cutting element on the downhole cutting tool, wherein the retention element has an axis that is parallel to a tangent of the rotatable cutting element side surface at at least one point of contact with the rotatable cutting element.

11. The downhole cutting tool of claim 10, wherein the passageway terminates in a groove formed in the inner surface of the cutter pocket, wherein the circumferential groove is aligned with the passageway and the groove in the inner surface of the pocket, and wherein the retention element is disposed in at least a portion of the circumferential groove and the pocket groove.

12. The downhole cutting tool of claim 10, wherein the cutting element support structure comprises two of such passageways terminating in a pocket groove, and wherein two retention elements are disposed in portions of the circumferential groove and pocket grooves to retain the at least one rotatable cutting element within the cutter pocket.

13. The downhole cutting tool of claim 10, wherein the cutting element support structure comprises two of such passageways each terminating in a pocket groove, wherein the retention element comprises a retaining clip having each end inserted into the two passageways and disposed in portions of the circumferential groove and pocket grooves to retain the at least one rotatable cutting element within the cutter pocket.

14. The downhole cutting tool of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of balls disposed between a bottom face of the at least one rotatable cutting element and a back wall of the cutter pocket.

15. The downhole cutting tool of claim 10, wherein a back wall of the cutter pocket interfaces a bottom face of the at least one inner rotatable cutting element at less than the entire surface area of the bottom face of the at least one rotatable cutting element.

16. The downhole cutting tool of claim 10, wherein the at least one rotatable cutting element comprises an ultrahard material on its bottom face.

17. The downhole cutting tool of claim 10, wherein at least one interfacing surface between the at least one rotatable cutting element and the cutting element support structure comprises an ultrahard material.