EP0376433A1 — Cutting tool for removing packers or the like fro…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 239 words

In a cutting tool adapted to be positioned downhole in a well bore for removing man-made members held in stationary position from the well bore; a generally cylindrical tool body adapted to be received within said well bore and to be supported at its upper end for rotation about its longitudinal axis; a plurality of blades at spaced intervals on the body extending downwardly from the lower end of the tool body and inwardly from the outer peripheral surface of the body, each of said blades having a base with a leading surface relative to the direction of rotation; a plurality of closely spaced cutting elements of hard cutting material secured to said leading surface of the base each being of a predetermined size and shape and arranged in a predetermined pattern on the base relative to the other elements, each of said cutting elements having an exposed front cutting face forming a cutting surface, a rear face secured to the leading surface of said base, a peripheral surface extending between said faces, and a relatively sharp edge formed at the juncture of the front face and peripheral surface; each of said blades having a pair of adjacent rows of cutting elements below the end of the tool body extending transversely of the tool body, the cutting elements on said adjacent rows being offset whereby the cutting elements on adjacent rows are adapted to cut concentric offset cutting paths.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 239 words

In a cutting tool adapted to be positioned downhole in a well bore for removing man-made members held in stationary position from the well bore; a generally cylindrical tool body adapted to be received within said well bore and to be supported at its upper end for rotation about its longitudinal axis; a plurality of blades at spaced intervals on the body extending downwardly from the lower end of the tool body and inwardly from the outer peripheral surface of the body, each of said blades having a base with a leading surface relative to the direction of rotation; a plurality of closely spaced cutting elements of hard cutting material secured to said leading surface of the base each being of a predetermined size and shape and arranged in a predetermined pattern on the base relative to the other elements, each of said cutting elements having an exposed front cutting face forming a cutting surface, a rear face secured to the leading surface of said base, a peripheral surface extending between said faces, and a relatively sharp edge formed at the juncture of the front face and peripheral surface; each of said blades having a pair of adjacent rows of cutting elements below the end of the tool body extending transversely of the tool body, the cutting elements on said adjacent rows being offset whereby the cutting elements on adjacent rows are adapted to cut concentric offset cutting paths.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 29 words

In a cutting tool as set forth in claim 1; said blades extending radially inwardly below the lower end of said tool body and secured to said lower end.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 27 words

In a cutting tool as set forth in claim 1; said tool body having a central bore thereon and said blades extending upwardly within said central bore.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 22 words

In a cutting tool as set forth in claim 1; said blades extending upwardly along the outer periphery of said tool body.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 40 words

In a cutting tool as set forth in claim 1; the front face of each cutting element having a surface irregularity therein for directing a metal turning from the member being cut to effect a breaking of the metal turning.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 34 words

In a cutting tool as set forth in claim 1; said leading surface of said base having positioning marks thereon for said cutting elements for precisely positioning the cutting elements in said predetermined pattern.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 33 words

In a cutting tool as set forth in claim 6; said positioning marks comprising recesses on said leading surface of said blade to receive the rear faces of the associated cutting elements therein.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 29 words

In a cutting tool as set forth in claim 7; the recesses on said blades being arranged in transversely extending rows with the recesses on adjacent rows being staggered.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 50 words

In a cutting tool as set forth in claim 8; the depth of each of said recesses in a generally vertical direction progressively increasing from the upper end thereof thereby to provide a negative axial rake relative to the longitudinal axis of said tool body for cutting elements secured therein.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 57 words

In a cutting tool as set forth in claim 5; said irregularity in the front face of each cutting element comprises an annular groove tapering radially inwardly from the peripheral surface and terminating inwardly at an arcuate radius to receive an end of a metal turning and direct it forwardly with respect to the direction of rotation.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 29 words

In a cutting tool as set forth in claim 1; said blades being straight blades extending in a generally radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis of said body.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 22 words

In a cutting tool as set forth in claim 1; said cutting elements comprising cylindrical discs of a similar size and shape.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 32 words

In a cutting tool as set forth in claim 5; said irregularity elements being of a semi-circular shape arranged in transversely extending rows with the cutting elements in adjacent rows being staggered.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 28 words

In a cutting tool as set forth in claim 1; said cutting elements on corresponding rows of adjacent blades being staggered horizontally for following different concentric cutting paths.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 51 words

In a cutting tool as set forth in claim 1; each of said blades having a trailing surface with respect to the direction of rotation in opposed relation to said leading surface; and reinforcing means secured to said trailing surface and to said tool body for reinforcing and strengthening said blade.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 37 words

In a cutting tool as set forth in claim 15; said reinforcing means comprising crushed tungsten carbide chips embedded in a matrix of a powder metallurgy composite material and secured to said trailing surface of each blade.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 258 words

In a cutting tool adapted to be positioned downhole in a well bore for removing man-made members held in stationary position from the well bore; a generally cylindrical tool body adapted to be received within said well bore and to be supported at its upper end for rotation about its longitudinal axis; a plurality of blades at spaced intervals on the body extending downwardly from the lower end of said tool body and inwardly from the outer peripheral surface of said body, each of said blades having generally planar opposed leading and trailing surfaces relative to the direction of rotation; a plurality of closely spaced cutting elements of hard cutting material secured to said leading surface of each blade each being of a predetermined size and shape and arranged in a predetermined pattern on the base relative to the other elements, each of said cutting elements having an exposed front cutting face forming a cutting surface, and a rear face secured to the leading surface of said blade; each of said blades having at least a row of cutting elements below the end of the tool body extending generally transversely of the tool body, the cutting elements on corresponding rows of adjacent blades being offset horizontally to provide different concentric cutting paths for the cutting elements on adjacent blades; and reinforcing means secured to said trailing surface of each blade and said tool body for reinforcing and strengthening said blade, said reinforcing means comprising crushed tungsten carbide chips embedded in a matrix of a powder metallurgy composite material.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 258 words

In a cutting tool adapted to be positioned downhole in a well bore for removing man-made members held in stationary position from the well bore; a generally cylindrical tool body adapted to be received within said well bore and to be supported at its upper end for rotation about its longitudinal axis; a plurality of blades at spaced intervals on the body extending downwardly from the lower end of said tool body and inwardly from the outer peripheral surface of said body, each of said blades having generally planar opposed leading and trailing surfaces relative to the direction of rotation; a plurality of closely spaced cutting elements of hard cutting material secured to said leading surface of each blade each being of a predetermined size and shape and arranged in a predetermined pattern on the base relative to the other elements, each of said cutting elements having an exposed front cutting face forming a cutting surface, and a rear face secured to the leading surface of said blade; each of said blades having at least a row of cutting elements below the end of the tool body extending generally transversely of the tool body, the cutting elements on corresponding rows of adjacent blades being offset horizontally to provide different concentric cutting paths for the cutting elements on adjacent blades; and reinforcing means secured to said trailing surface of each blade and said tool body for reinforcing and strengthening said blade, said reinforcing means comprising crushed tungsten carbide chips embedded in a matrix of a powder metallurgy composite material.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 43 words

In a cutting tool as set forth in claim 17; said tool body having a central bore therein and said blades extending upwardly within said central bore, said reinforcing means secured to the inner peripheral surface of said tool defining said central bore.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 38 words

In a cutting tool as set forth in claim 18; at least one of said blades extending radially inwardly from the outer periphery of said tool body to a position past the axis of rotation of said tool.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 220 words

In a cutting tool adapted to be positioned downhole in a well bore for removing metal members held in stationary position from the well bore by first reducing the members to a plurality of metal turnings; a generally cylindrical tool body adapted to be received within said well bore and to be supported at its upper end for rotation about its longitudinal axis; a plurality of blades on the body extending downwardly from the lower end of said tool body and inwardly from the outer periphery surface of said body, each of said blades having generally planar opposed leading and trailing surfaces relative to the direction of rotation; a plurality of closely spaced cutting elements of hard cutting material secured in side by side relation to said leading surface of the base, each of said cutting elements being generally similar in size and arranged in a predetermined pattern of including a plurality of transversely extending rows with the cutting elements in adjacent rows being staggered with respect to each other; said tool body having a central bore and said blades extending upwardly within said central bore; and reinforcing means comprising tungsten carbide chips randomly embedded in a matrix of a powder metallurgy composite material secured to said trailing surface of each blade and said tool body for strengthening said blades.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 220 words

In a cutting tool adapted to be positioned downhole in a well bore for removing metal members held in stationary position from the well bore by first reducing the members to a plurality of metal turnings; a generally cylindrical tool body adapted to be received within said well bore and to be supported at its upper end for rotation about its longitudinal axis; a plurality of blades on the body extending downwardly from the lower end of said tool body and inwardly from the outer periphery surface of said body, each of said blades having generally planar opposed leading and trailing surfaces relative to the direction of rotation; a plurality of closely spaced cutting elements of hard cutting material secured in side by side relation to said leading surface of the base, each of said cutting elements being generally similar in size and arranged in a predetermined pattern of including a plurality of transversely extending rows with the cutting elements in adjacent rows being staggered with respect to each other; said tool body having a central bore and said blades extending upwardly within said central bore; and reinforcing means comprising tungsten carbide chips randomly embedded in a matrix of a powder metallurgy composite material secured to said trailing surface of each blade and said tool body for strengthening said blades.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 74 words

In a cutting tool as set forth in claim 20; one of said blades extending radially inwardly from the outer periphery of said tool body to an innermost position past the axis of rotation of said tool, and said rows of cutting elements on said one blade extend along substantially the entire radial extent of said one blade to said innermost position thereby to cut effectively metal members at the longitudinal axis of rotation.

Cutting tool for removing packers or the like from wells

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