Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 49
Claim 1
Independent Claim
50 words
A cutting element for a rotary drag bit for drilling subterranean formations, comprising: a substantially planar table of superhard material; and at least one elongated strut member comprising at least one strut including a web, said at least one strut extending rearwardly from said table and at least partially thereacross.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
50 words
A cutting element for a rotary drag bit for drilling subterranean formations, comprising: a substantially planar table of superhard material; and at least one elongated strut member comprising at least one strut including a web, said at least one strut extending rearwardly from said table and at least partially thereacross.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The cutting element of claim 1, wherein said table is substantially circular, and said at least one strut comprises a single, diametrically disposed strut.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The cutting element of claim 2, further including a substrate supporting said table from the rear, the web of said single, diametrically disposed strut extending into said substrate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The cutting element of claim 1, wherein said at least one strut member comprises a plurality of laterally adjacent struts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The cutting element of claim 4, further including a substrate supporting said table from the rear, the webs of said plurality of struts extending into said substrate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The cutting element of claim 5, further including at least one passage proximate the rear of said table and defined between the webs of two of said laterally adjacent struts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The cutting element of claim 1, wherein said at least one elongated strut member is of the same material as said table.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The cutting element of claim 7, wherein said at least one elongated strut member is integral with said table.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The cutting element of claim 1, wherein said at least one elongated strut member comprises a single, diametrically disposed strut extending at least partially across the rear of said table, said strut having an enlarged base portion abutting said table and tapering into said web.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cutting element of claim 9, wherein said strut further includes an enlarged tail portion to the rear of said web.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The cutting element of claim 1, wherein said table is substantially circular and said at least one elongated strut member comprises a plurality of radially-extending struts.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cutting element of claim 1, wherein said at least one strut includes at least one cavity in the web thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The cutting element of claim 12, wherein said at least one cavity comprises an aperture extending through said at least one strut.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The cutting element of claim 1, wherein said at least one strut member is adapted to reinforce said table against bending stresses.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The cutting element of claim 1, wherein said at least one strut member is adapted to transfer heat away from said table.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The cutting element of claim 1, further including a substrate supporting said table from the rear, wherein said at least one elongated strut member extends to the rear of said substrate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The cutting element of claim 1, further including a substrate supporting said table from the rear, wherein said substrate covers the rear extent of said at least one elongated strut member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
54 words
A cutting element for a rotary drag bit for drilling subterranean formations, comprising: a substantially planar table of superhard material; a grid-like substrate having a plurality of apertures therein in transverse orientation to and in communication with the rear of said table; and strut members comprising plugs disposed in said plurality of substrate apertures.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
54 words
A cutting element for a rotary drag bit for drilling subterranean formations, comprising: a substantially planar table of superhard material; a grid-like substrate having a plurality of apertures therein in transverse orientation to and in communication with the rear of said table; and strut members comprising plugs disposed in said plurality of substrate apertures.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
The cutting element of claim 18, wherein said cutting element is substantially circular and at least some of said plurality of apertures are disposed adjacent the periphery of said table.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The cutting element of claim 18, wherein said plugs comprise means for transferring heat away from said table.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
79 words
A cutting structure for a rotary drag bit for drilling subterranean formations, comprising: a substantially planar table of superhard material having a cutting face on one side thereof and a cutting edge at the periphery thereof adjacent said cutting face; a substrate supporting said table on the side thereof opposite said cutting face; and structure for conducting heat away from said table extending through said substrate to an outer surface of said substrate not in contact with said table.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
79 words
A cutting structure for a rotary drag bit for drilling subterranean formations, comprising: a substantially planar table of superhard material having a cutting face on one side thereof and a cutting edge at the periphery thereof adjacent said cutting face; a substrate supporting said table on the side thereof opposite said cutting face; and structure for conducting heat away from said table extending through said substrate to an outer surface of said substrate not in contact with said table.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The cutting structure of claim 21, wherein said structure for conducting heat is located on the side of said table opposite said cutting face.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
The cutting structure of claim 22, further including a carrier for mounting said table via said substrate on a rotary drag bit, said carrier including an interface for receiving heat from said heat conducting structure.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
The cutting structure of claim 23, further including structure for dissipating heat from said carrier into the body of said rotary drag bit.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
66 words
A cutting structure for a rotary drag bit for drilling subterranean formations, comprising: a substantially planar table of superhard material having a cutting face on one side thereof and a cutting edge at the periphery thereof adjacent said cutting face; structure for conducting heat away from said table located at the periphery of said table and extending away from said table for dissipating heat remotely therefrom.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
66 words
A cutting structure for a rotary drag bit for drilling subterranean formations, comprising: a substantially planar table of superhard material having a cutting face on one side thereof and a cutting edge at the periphery thereof adjacent said cutting face; structure for conducting heat away from said table located at the periphery of said table and extending away from said table for dissipating heat remotely therefrom.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
25 words
The cutting structure of claim 25, wherein said structure for dissipating heat is adapted to be disposed in the body of said rotary drag bit.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
62 words
A cutting structure for a rotary drag bit for drilling subterranean formations, comprising: a substantially planar table of superhard material having a cutting face on one side thereof and a cutting edge at the periphery thereof adjacent said cutting face: a substrate supporting said table; and structure for conducting heat away from said table in contact with the exterior of said substrate.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
62 words
A cutting structure for a rotary drag bit for drilling subterranean formations, comprising: a substantially planar table of superhard material having a cutting face on one side thereof and a cutting edge at the periphery thereof adjacent said cutting face: a substrate supporting said table; and structure for conducting heat away from said table in contact with the exterior of said substrate.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
24 words
The cutting structure of claim 27, wherein said structure for conducting heat includes a cradle for receiving at least a portion of said substrate.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
28 words
The cutting structure of claim 27, wherein said structure for conducting heat includes at least one fin adapted for disposition in a body of said rotary drag bit.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
19 words
The cutting structure of claim 29, wherein said at least one fin comprises a plurality of laterally adjacent fins.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
67 words
A drill bit for drilling subterranean formations, comprising: a bit body having a face defining a profile; at least one cutting element mounted on said bit face, said at least one cutting element including a substantially planar table of superhard material; and at least one stiffening member extending substantially transversely to said superhard material table and to the rear thereof for reinforcing said table against bending stresses.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
67 words
A drill bit for drilling subterranean formations, comprising: a bit body having a face defining a profile; at least one cutting element mounted on said bit face, said at least one cutting element including a substantially planar table of superhard material; and at least one stiffening member extending substantially transversely to said superhard material table and to the rear thereof for reinforcing said table against bending stresses.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
22 words
The drill bit of claim 31, wherein said at least one stiffening member is adapted for conducting heat away from said table.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
20 words
The drill bit of claim 31, wherein said at least one stiffening member is oriented substantially perpendicular to said profile.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
58 words
A drill bit for drilling subterranean formations, comprising: a bit body having a cavity therein for containing drilling fluid; at least one cutting element mounted on a carrier structure, said carrier structure being adapted to transfer heat from said cutting element; and said carrier structure being mounted to said bit body and in communication with said body cavity.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
58 words
A drill bit for drilling subterranean formations, comprising: a bit body having a cavity therein for containing drilling fluid; at least one cutting element mounted on a carrier structure, said carrier structure being adapted to transfer heat from said cutting element; and said carrier structure being mounted to said bit body and in communication with said body cavity.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
36 words
The drill bit of claim 34, further including a passage extending from said body cavity through said carrier structure to said cutting element, and said cutting element includes a blind cavity therein communicating with said passage.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
14 words
The drill bit of claim 34, wherein said carrier structure comprises a preform element.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
19 words
The drill bit of claim 36, wherein said preform element includes heat dissipation structure projecting into said body cavity.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
16 words
The drill bit of claim 37, wherein said heat dissipation structure comprises a plurality of fins.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
45 words
A cutting element for a rotary drag bit for drilling subterranean/formations, comprising: a substantially planar table of superhard material; a substrate supporting said table from the rear; and at least one elongated strut member extending rearwardly from said table to the rear of said substrate.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
45 words
A cutting element for a rotary drag bit for drilling subterranean/formations, comprising: a substantially planar table of superhard material; a substrate supporting said table from the rear; and at least one elongated strut member extending rearwardly from said table to the rear of said substrate.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
26 words
The cutting element of claim 39, wherein said table is substantially circular and said at least one elongated strut member comprises at least one annular strut.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
20 words
The cutting element of claim 40, wherein said at least one annular strut is of lesser diameter than said table.