Cutting element apparatuses, drill bits including same, methods of cutting, and methods of rotating a cutting element
First Claim
1. A rotary drill bit for drilling a subterranean formation, the rotary drill bit comprising:
- a bit body having an external surface, the external surface including a gage portion that is configured to engage a subterranean formation;
at least one cutting element rotatably coupled to the bit body such that at least a portion of the at least one coffin element protrudes from the external surface of the bit body;
at least one clutch mechanism associated with the at least one cutting element, the at least one clutch mechanism configured to selectively permit or inhibit the application of torque to the at least one cutting element, wherein the at least one clutch mechanism and the at least one cutting element are structured to effect rotation of the at least one cutting element relative to the external surface of the bit body when sufficient torque is applied to the at least one cutting element.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A subterranean drilling system may include a drill string and a rotary drill bit coupled to the drill string. The rotary drill bit may include a bit body and a cutting element coupled to the bit body, with the cutting element being structured to rotate in response to torque applied to the cutting element. The system also may include a cam assembly coupled to the drill string, a cam follower assembly in contact with a cam surface of the cam assembly, and a torque-applying structure coupled to the cam follower assembly. The torque-applying structure may be configured to apply torque to the cutting element in response to relative rotation between the cam assembly and the cam follower assembly.
94 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A rotary drill bit for drilling a subterranean formation, the rotary drill bit comprising:
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a bit body having an external surface, the external surface including a gage portion that is configured to engage a subterranean formation; at least one cutting element rotatably coupled to the bit body such that at least a portion of the at least one coffin element protrudes from the external surface of the bit body; at least one clutch mechanism associated with the at least one cutting element, the at least one clutch mechanism configured to selectively permit or inhibit the application of torque to the at least one cutting element, wherein the at least one clutch mechanism and the at least one cutting element are structured to effect rotation of the at least one cutting element relative to the external surface of the bit body when sufficient torque is applied to the at least one cutting element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A rotary drill bit for drilling a subterranean formation, the rotary drill bit comprising:
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a bit body having an external surface, the external surface including a gage portion that is configured to engage a subterranean formation; at least one cutting element rotatably coupled to the bit body such that at least a portion of the at least one cutting element protrudes from the external surface of the bit body; at least one limiting mechanism associated with the at least one cutting element configured to enable rotation of the at least one cutting element relative to the external surface about a first axis in a first direction and inhibit rotation of the cutting element about the first axis in a second, opposite direction. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification