US 12,352,110 B2
Drill bit cutter with stress reducing features
Kevin Clark, Willis, TX (US); Randy T. Howell, Conroe, TX (US); Jeffrey G. Thomas, Conroe, TX (US); Nicholas Allison, Conroe, TX (US); John Varner, The Woodlands, TX (US); and Kelley Plunkett, The Woodlands, TX (US)
Assigned to Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., Houston, TX (US)
Filed by Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Jun. 13, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/209,224.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/353,265, filed on Jun. 17, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0407708 A1, Dec. 21, 2023
Int. Cl. E21B 10/573 (2006.01); E21B 10/42 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 10/573 (2013.01) [E21B 10/42 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A drill bit, comprising:
a bit body defining a rotational axis and having a plurality of cutter pockets formed thereon, each cutter pocket shaped to receive a respective substrate of a cutter with a cutting table secured thereon, wherein the substrate of at least one cutter has an outer profile defining an area of increased braze gap, wherein the area of increased braze gap is along an annular gap defined between the cutter pocket and the substrate, wherein the cutter has a central cutter axis and a cutter length in an axial direction, and the area of increased braze gap has an axial length of between 5% and 90% of the overall cutter length, and wherein the area of increased braze gap extends axially along the substrate and is no more than 20% of the overall cutter length away from the front of the cutting table; and
a braze interface comprising a braze alloy disposed in each cutter pocket between the inner profile of the cutter pocket and the outer profile of the respective substrate, such that a thickness of the braze alloy is greater at the area of increased braze gap.