US 12,071,818 B2
Mechanical attachment of cutting elements to an earth-boring bit
Richard Sauvageau, Conroe, TX (US); Konstantin Morozov, The Woodlands, TX (US); and Bradley Ivie, The Woodlands, TX (US)
Assigned to NATIONAL OILWELL DHT, L.P., Houston, TX (US)
Appl. No. 17/774,102
Filed by National Oilwell DHT, L.P., Houston, TX (US)
PCT Filed Nov. 2, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/058579
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 3, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/091834, PCT Pub. Date May 14, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/931,359, filed on Nov. 6, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/938,669, filed on Nov. 21, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0389769 A1, Dec. 8, 2022
Int. Cl. E21B 10/633 (2006.01); E21B 10/43 (2006.01); E21B 10/573 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 10/633 (2013.01) [E21B 10/43 (2013.01); E21B 10/573 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An earth-boring bit comprising:
a body having a rotational axis;
a blade extending axially and radially from the body, the blade having a leading face and an edge;
a cavity formed in the blade, the cavity leading to a first opening in the edge of the blade, the cavity leading to a second opening in the leading face of the blade;
the cavity being configured to receive a cutting element and a retainer through the first opening, the cutting element having a cylindrical lateral surface and a flared lateral surface that points inwards in a direction toward a cutting face of the cutting element, a portion of a wall of the cavity being complementary to a shape of the flared lateral surface of the cutting element;
wherein the cutting element is prevented from rotating inside the cavity after the flared lateral surface of the cutting element is engaged with the portion of the wall of the cavity;
wherein the cavity is configured to receive the retainer after the cutting element is engaged with the portion of the wall of the cavity such that the retainer is capable of abutting the cutting element and a back wall of the cavity; and
wherein the retainer is releasably attached to the blade.