Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for improving drill bit stability

US5558170A · kind A · utility

156Cited by
19References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 6, 1994
Grant dateSep 24, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 6, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE21B10/5671
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A drag bit having a plurality of blades or ribs on its end face has one or more pockets milled into the top surfaces of said blades. A tungsten carbide button or insert is positioned at the gauge diameter to reduce impact on the gauge diameter cutter in each of the fibs. The tungsten carbide button extends to the borehole gauge diameter to stabilize the bit within the borehole to limit bit whirling. The tungsten carbide button extends just forward of at least the final cutter assembly with respect to the direction of bit rotation to take the impact instead of the cutters. An additional tungsten carbide button or a shaped cutter is used along the blades in line with PDC cutting assemblies for limiting the penetration of the PDC cutting assemblies to thereby limit bit whirling or tilting instabilities. A shaped PDC cutter has a beveled edge with a bevel angle greater than the backrake angle of the PDC cutter so that engagement with the borehole wall is made with the tungsten carbide body rather than the PDC cutting portion to thereby function as a penetration limiter. As the bit wears, the PDC cutting portion begins to engage the formation in the same manner as the other PDC cutting …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.