Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A rolling cutter drill bit for drilling through underground formations, said bit comprising: a main body having an upper end adapted for interconnection in a drilling string; a plurality of legs extending downwardly from said body, each having an inwardly projecting bearing journal formed thereon; a generally frustoconical cutter rotatably mounted on each said bearing journal, having a rotational axis generally coinciding with the central axis of said journal, and having a plurality of hard metal cutting elements inserted therein and protruding from the surface thereof; bearing means between each said cutter and bearing journal; said drill bit having a cutting diameter defined by the radially outermost located of said cutting elements on each said cutter and having a bit rotational axis passing longitudinally therethrough; and, the central axes of said journals being offset from said bit axis by an amount ranging from about one-sixteenth inch per inch to about one-eighth inch per inch of bit cutting diameter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
A rolling cutter drill bit for drilling through underground formations, said bit comprising: a main body having an upper end adapted for interconnection in a drilling string; a plurality of legs extending downwardly from said body, each having an inwardly projecting bearing journal formed thereon; a generally frustoconical cutter rotatably mounted on each said bearing journal, having a rotational axis generally coinciding with the central axis of said journal, and having a plurality of hard metal cutting elements inserted therein and protruding from the surface thereof; bearing means between each said cutter and bearing journal; said drill bit having a cutting diameter defined by the radially outermost located of said cutting elements on each said cutter and having a bit rotational axis passing longitudinally therethrough; and, the central axes of said journals being offset from said bit axis by an amount ranging from about one-sixteenth inch per inch to about one-eighth inch per inch of bit cutting diameter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
The rolling cutter drill bit of claim 1 wherein said legs and cutters each number three and said cutting elements protrude at least one-half of the insert diameter from the cutter surface; said inserts being formed of a tungsten carbide-cobalt material wherein the cobalt content by weight ranges from about five percent to about twenty percent and the hardness of said insert is from about 85 Rockwell A to about 90 Rockwell A.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
142 words
A tri-cone rolling cutter drill bit comprising: a bit body having an upper threaded pin end for engaging a section of drill string, and further having an axis of rotation; three downwardly extending, generally equispaced legs on said bit body, each having a cylindrical bearing journal extending radially inward and downwardly from the lower end thereof; a generally frustoconical cutter rotatably mounted on each said bearing journal, and having a rotational axis generally coinciding with the central longitudinal axis of said journal; bearing means between each said cutter and bearing journal; a plurality of hard metal cutting elements inserted in each said cutter and protruding outwardly therefrom; and, wherein said cutter rotational axes are offset from said bit rotational axis by a distance of from about one-sixteenth inch per inch to about one-eighth inch per inch of the diameter of said bit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
142 words
A tri-cone rolling cutter drill bit comprising: a bit body having an upper threaded pin end for engaging a section of drill string, and further having an axis of rotation; three downwardly extending, generally equispaced legs on said bit body, each having a cylindrical bearing journal extending radially inward and downwardly from the lower end thereof; a generally frustoconical cutter rotatably mounted on each said bearing journal, and having a rotational axis generally coinciding with the central longitudinal axis of said journal; bearing means between each said cutter and bearing journal; a plurality of hard metal cutting elements inserted in each said cutter and protruding outwardly therefrom; and, wherein said cutter rotational axes are offset from said bit rotational axis by a distance of from about one-sixteenth inch per inch to about one-eighth inch per inch of the diameter of said bit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The tri-cone drilling bit of claim 3 in which said cutting elements comprise tungsten carbide grains in a cobalt matrix and the shape of the cutting elements protruding outwardly beyond the cutter surface is substantially conical with a rounded top.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The tri-cone drill bit of claim 4 wherein the portion of each cutting element protruding beyond the cutter surface is of generally conical shape and has a rounded tip.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The tri-cone drill bit of claim 3 wherein at least one of said cutting elements comprises a tungsten carbide-cobalt insert having a chisel-shaped protruding portion.