Self-Aligning Insert for Drill Bits
The present invention is generally directed to various embodiments of a self-aligning insert for use with roller cone drill bits. In one illustrative embodiment, the insert comprises a generally cylindrical body, a cutting surface, a bottom surface, a tapered surface adjacent the cylindrical body, and a generally cylindrical section positioned between the bottom surface and the tapered surface. The inserts of the present invention may be installed in a roller cone of a roller cone drill bit.
1 . A rolling cutter insert, comprising:
a generally cylindrical body, a cutting surface, and a bottom surface;
a tapered surface adjacent said generally cylindrical body; and
a generally cylindrical section positioned between said bottom surface and said tapered surface.
2 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a radiused corner region adjacent said bottom surface, said radiused corner region being positioned between said bottom surface and said generally cylindrical section.
3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein said generally cylindrical section is adjacent said radiused corner region.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said generally cylindrical body has a diameter that is greater than a diameter of said generally cylindrical section.
5 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a radiused region positioned between said tapered surface and said generally cylindrical section.
6 . The device of claim 2 , wherein said radiused corner region defines a transition between said bottom surface and said generally cylindrical section.
7 . The device of claim 5 , wherein said radiused region defines a transition between said cylindrical section and said tapered surface.
8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said tapered surface is formed at an angle of approximately 15 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of said generally cylindrical body.
9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said radiused corner region has a radius of approximately 0.020 inches.
10 . The device of claim 5 , wherein said radiused region has a radius of approximately 0.20 inches.
11 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said generally cylindrical section has an axial length of approximately 0.020 inches.
12 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a roller cutter drill bit comprised of at least one roller cone, wherein said roller cutter insert is press fit into an opening formed in said roller cone.
13 . A rolling cutter insert, comprising:
a generally cylindrical body, a cutting surface, and a bottom surface;
a tapered surface adjacent said generally cylindrical body;
a radiused corner region adjacent said bottom surface; and
a generally cylindrical section positioned between said radiused corner region and said tapered surface, wherein said radiused corner region defines a transition between said bottom surface and said generally cylindrical section.
14 . The device of claim 13 , wherein said generally cylindrical body has a diameter that is greater than a diameter of said generally cylindrical section.
15 . The device of claim 13 , further comprising a radiused region positioned between said tapered surface and said generally cylindrical region.
16 . The device of claim 15 , wherein said radiused region defines a transition between said generally cylindrical section and said tapered surface.
17 . The device of claim 13 , wherein said tapered surface is formed at an angle of approximately 15 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of said generally cylindrical body.
18 . The device of claim 13 , further comprising a roller cutter drill bit comprised of at least one roller cone, wherein said roller cutter insert is press fit into an opening formed in said roller cone.
19 . A rolling cutter insert, comprising:
a generally cylindrical body, a cutting surface, and a bottom surface;
a tapered surface adjacent said generally cylindrical body;
a radiused corner region adjacent said bottom surface;
a generally cylindrical section positioned between said radiused corner region and said tapered surface, wherein said radiused corner region defines a transition between said bottom surface and said generally cylindrical section; and
a radiused region positioned between said tapered surface and said generally cylindrical section, wherein said radiused region defines a transition between said generally cylindrical section and said tapered surface.
20 . The device of claim 19 , wherein said generally cylindrical body has a diameter that is greater than a diameter of said generally cylindrical section.
21 . The device of claim 19 , wherein said tapered surface is formed at an angle of approximately 15 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of said generally cylindrical body.
22 . The device of claim 19 , further comprising a roller cutter drill bit comprised of at least one roller cone, wherein said roller cutter insert is press fit into an opening formed in said roller cone.
23 . A rolling cutter insert, comprising:
a generally cylindrical body, a cutting surface, and a bottom surface;
a tapered surface adjacent said generally cylindrical body; and
a region of material positioned between said bottom surface and said tapered surface, said region of material positioned outside of a volume defined, at least in part, by an intersection of a linear extension of said tapered surface with said bottom surface.
24 . The device of claim 23 , further comprising a generally cylindrical section positioned between said tapered surface and said bottom surface, wherein at least a portion of said generally cylindrical section defines at least a part of said region of material.
25 . The device of claim 24 , further comprising a radiused corner region between said generally cylindrical section and said bottom surface.
26 . The device of claim 25 , wherein at least a portion of said radiused corner region defines at least part of said region of material.
27 . The device of claim 25 , wherein said generally cylindrical section is adjacent said radiused corner region.
28 . The device of claim 23 , further comprising a radiused corner region positioned adjacent said bottom surface, wherein at least a portion of said radiused corner region defines at least part of said region of material.
29 . The device of claim 24 , wherein said generally cylindrical body has a diameter that is greater than a diameter of said generally cylindrical section.
30 . The device of claim 24 , further comprising a radiused region positioned between said tapered surface and said generally cylindrical section.
31 . The device of claim 25 , wherein said radiused corner region defines a transition between said bottom surface and said generally cylindrical section.
32 . The device of claim 30 , wherein said radiused region defines a transition between said generally cylindrical section and said tapered surface.
33 . The device of claim 23 , wherein said tapered surface is formed at an angle of approximately 15 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of said generally cylindrical body.
34 . A rolling cutter insert, comprising:
a generally cylindrical body;
a cutting surface; and
a bottom portion extending from said generally cylindrical body, said bottom portion comprising a bottom surface and a tapered surface, said tapered surface being formed adjacent said generally cylindrical body, wherein said bottom portion is configured such that there is a region of material positioned between said bottom surface and said tapered surface, said region of material being positioned outside of a volume defined, at least in part, by an intersection of a linear extension of said tapered surface with said bottom surface.
35 . The device of claim 34 , further comprising a generally cylindrical section positioned between said tapered surface and said bottom surface, wherein at least a portion of said generally cylindrical section defines at least a part of said region of material.
36 . The device of claim 35 , further comprising a radiused corner region between said generally cylindrical section and said bottom surface.
37 . The device of claim 36 , wherein at least a portion of said radiused corner region defines at least part of said region of material.
38 . The device of claim 36 , wherein said generally cylindrical section is adjacent said radiused corner region.
39 . The device of claim 34 , further comprising a radiused corner region positioned adjacent said bottom surface, wherein at least a portion of said radiused corner region defines at least part of said region of material.
40 . The device of claim 35 , wherein said generally cylindrical body has a diameter that is greater than a diameter of said generally cylindrical section.
41 . The device of claim 35 , further comprising a radiused region positioned between said tapered surface and said generally cylindrical section.
42 . The device of claim 36 , wherein said radiused corner region defines a transition between said bottom surface and said generally cylindrical section.
43 . The device of claim 41 , wherein said radiused region defines a transition between said generally cylindrical section and said tapered surface.
44 . The device of claim 34 , wherein said tapered surface is formed at an angle of approximately 15 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of said generally cylindrical body.