Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
In a rolling cutter of an earth-boring bit having a gage surface for contacting a sidewall of a borehole as the cutter rotates about its axis and rolls over the bottom of the borehole, the gage surface having a plurality of gage inserts secured thereto, an improved gage insert comprising: a body formed of hard, fracture-tough material secured in a selected socket in the gage surface; a cutting end of the insert formed of super-hard material and adapted to extend, during drilling, a selected distance from the gage surface, the cutting end defining a cutting edge to shear the sidewall of the borehole, the cutting end further defining a cutting surface adjacent the cutting edge, the cutting surface defining a negative rake angle with respect to the portion of the sidewall of the borehole being sheared.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
In a rolling cutter of an earth-boring bit having a gage surface for contacting a sidewall of a borehole as the cutter rotates about its axis and rolls over the bottom of the borehole, the gage surface having a plurality of gage inserts secured thereto, an improved gage insert comprising: a body formed of hard, fracture-tough material secured in a selected socket in the gage surface; a cutting end of the insert formed of super-hard material and adapted to extend, during drilling, a selected distance from the gage surface, the cutting end defining a cutting edge to shear the sidewall of the borehole, the cutting end further defining a cutting surface adjacent the cutting edge, the cutting surface defining a negative rake angle with respect to the portion of the sidewall of the borehole being sheared.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improved gage insert according to claim 1 wherein: the hard, fracture-tough material is cemented tungsten carbide; and the super-hard material is polycrystalline diamond.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The improved gage insert according to claim 1, wherein the cutting end of the insert extends at least 0.010 inch from the gage surface during drilling operation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
132 words
In a rolling cutter of an earth-boring bit having a gage surface for contacting a sidewall of a borehole as the cutter rotates about its axis and rolls over the bottom of the borehole, the gage surface having a plurality of gage inserts secured thereto, an improved gage insert comprising: a body formed of hard, fracture-tough material secured in a selected socket in the gage surface; a cutting end of the insert formed of super-hard material and extending a selected distance from the gage surface, the cutting end defining a cutting edge to shear the sidewall of the borehole, the cutting end further defining a cutting surface adjacent the cutting edge, the cutting surface defining a negative rake angle with respect to the portion of the sidewall of the borehole being sheared.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
132 words
In a rolling cutter of an earth-boring bit having a gage surface for contacting a sidewall of a borehole as the cutter rotates about its axis and rolls over the bottom of the borehole, the gage surface having a plurality of gage inserts secured thereto, an improved gage insert comprising: a body formed of hard, fracture-tough material secured in a selected socket in the gage surface; a cutting end of the insert formed of super-hard material and extending a selected distance from the gage surface, the cutting end defining a cutting edge to shear the sidewall of the borehole, the cutting end further defining a cutting surface adjacent the cutting edge, the cutting surface defining a negative rake angle with respect to the portion of the sidewall of the borehole being sheared.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improved gage insert according to claim 4 wherein: the hard, fracture-tough material is cemented tungsten carbide; and the super-hard material is polycrystalline diamond.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The improved gage insert according to claim 4 wherein the cutting end of the insert extends at least 0.010 inch from the gage surface during drilling operation.