Rolling cutter

• US 9,033,070 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2014
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2006
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Smith International Incorporated (SLB)
• Original Assignee: Smith International Incorporated (SLB)
• Inventors: Shen, Yuelin, Zhang, Youhe, Yong, Zhou, Yu, Jiaqing, Keshavan, Madapusi K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stephenson, Daniel P
• Application Number:
  US14/456,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20140345951A1
• Time in Patent Office: 281 Days
• Field of Search: 175/426, 175/430, 175/434, 175/432
• US Class Current: 175/430
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 10/52 with chisel- or button-type inserts
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 10/5673 having a non planar or non circular cutting face
• 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: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49963 Threaded fastener

Abstract

A cutting element for a drill bit includes an outer support element and an inner rotatable cutting element, a portion of which is disposed in the outer support element, where the inner rotatable cutting element has a body with a non-planar cutting face.

Claims

1. A cutting element for a drill bit, comprising:

an outer support element; and

an inner rotatable cutting element, a portion of which is disposed in the outer support element, the inner rotatable cutting element comprising;

a body having a non-planar cutting face;

wherein the body comprises an ultra hard material body disposed on a substrate, the ultra hard material body forming the non-planar cutting face; and

wherein a radial bearing is formed between a portion of the ultra hard material body and the outer support element.

2. The cutting element of claim 1, wherein the ultra hard material body comprises diamond.

3. The cutting element of claim 1, wherein the outer support element covers a portion of the non-planar cutting face.

4. A cutting element for a drill bit, comprising:

an outer support element;

an inner rotatable cutting element, a portion of which is disposed in the outer support element, the inner rotatable cutting element comprising;

a non-planar cutting face;

a body comprising a shaft portion, the shaft portion having a diameter less than the diameter of the non-planar cutting face; and

an axial bearing formed between a portion of the outer support element and the inner rotatable cutting element.

5. The cutting element of claim 4, wherein the non-planar cutting face comprises a plurality of surface alterations formed thereon.

6. The cutting structure of claim 5, wherein the surface alterations have a depth ranging from 0.001 to 0.05 inches.

7. The cutting element of claim 4, wherein the non-planar cutting face is dome shaped, the dome shape extending across the diameter of the non-planar cutting face.

8. The cutting element of claim 4, wherein the non-planar cutting face has a convex shape.

9. The cutting element of claim 4, wherein the cutting element further comprises at least one retention mechanism disposed between the inner rotatable cutting element and the outer support element.

10. A drill bit, comprising:

a bit body having a plurality of blades extending radially from the bit body and axially along a length of the bit body; and

at least one cutting element of claim 4 mounted to at least one of the plurality of blades.

11. The cutting element of claim 4, wherein the non-planar cutting face is saddle shaped.

12. A cutting structure for a cutting tool, comprising:

an outer support element having a bottom portion and a side portion; and

an inner rotatable cutting element, a portion of which is disposed in the outer support element;

wherein the outer support element further comprises an inner shaft portion extending from the bottom portion into the inner rotatable cutting element.

13. The cutting structure of claim 12, wherein the inner shaft portion is threadedly attached to the bottom portion.

14. The cutting structure of claim 12, wherein the inner shaft portion is integral with the bottom portion.

15. The cutting structure of claim 12, wherein an upper end of the inner shaft portion extends partially over a cutting face of the inner rotatable cutting element.

16. The cutting structure of claim 12, wherein at least a portion of a bearing surface of the outer support element comprises a lubricious material.

17. The cutting structure of claim 12, wherein the outer support element is integral with a cutting tool body.

18. The cutting structure of claim 12, wherein at least a side portion of the outer support element is a blade of a cutting tool.

19. The cutting structure of claim 12, wherein the outer support element is a discrete element.

20. A drill bit, comprising:

a bit body having a plurality of blades extending radially therefrom; and

at least one cutting element of claim 12 mounted to at least one of the plurality of blades.