Blade cap force modulation system for a drill bit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11499378-B2
Application number	US-202017100872-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 21, 2020
Priority date	Nov 21, 2020
Publication date	Nov 15, 2022
Grant date	Nov 15, 2022

Abstract

The force modulation system for a drill bit includes a cutter, a blade cap, a cap retention device, and a first force member. The cutter or cutters fit in the blade cap, and the blade cap fits to the drill bit. The cap retention device exerts a cap retention force in a first direction. The first force member exerts a first force in a second direction. The cutting profile of the force modulation system is now variable in more than one direction so as to avoid excessive forces from more than one direction for each cutter on the blade cap. There can also be a second force member to exert a second force in the first direction for more variability of the cutting profile in the first direction and a third force member to exert a third force in an opposite second direction.

First claim

We claim:

1. A force modulation system for a drill bit, comprising:
a cutter being comprised of a cutter body having a cutting end, and a cutting surface made integral with said cutter body at said cutting end;
a blade cap being comprised of a cap body having an anchor end, a holding end opposite said anchor end, a plurality of cap sides between said anchor end and said holding end, and a cap opening at said holding end, said cutter body being in removable slide fit engagement with said cap opening;
a cap retention means fixedly engaged to at least two cap sides so as to exert a cap retention force in a first direction of said blade cap;
a first force member positioned against said cap body so as to exert a first force in a second direction of said cap body, said second direction being angled offset to said first direction;
a second force member positioned against said cap body so as to exert a second force in said first direction of said cap body; and
a third force member positioned against said cap body so as to exert a third force in said second direction of said cap body opposite said first force member.

2. The force modulation system, according to claim 1 , wherein said cutter is removably engaged with said blade cap, said cutting surface being extended from said blade cap so as to cut a rock formation.

3. The force modulation system, according to claim 1 , wherein said blade cap is comprised of another cap opening, further comprising:
another cutter having another cutter body being in removable slide fit engagement with said another cap opening.

4. The force modulation system, according to claim 1 , wherein said second direction is orthogonal to said first direction.

5. The force modulation system, according to claim 1 , wherein said first direction is a direction of movement of said cap body relative to the drill bit, and wherein said second direction is another direction of movement of said cap body relative to the drill bit.

6. The force modulation system, according to claim 1 , wherein said cap retention force is greater than said second force.

7. The force modulation system, according to claim 1 , wherein said first force member is made integral with said second force member and said third force member.

8. The force modulation system, according to claim 7 , wherein said third force member is comprised of a first spring portion, a second spring portion, and a third spring portion between said first spring portion and said second spring portion, said second force member being comprised of said second spring portion, said third force member being comprised of said third spring portion.

9. The force modulation system, according to claim 1 , wherein said cap body is a wedge, said holding end being an outer perimeter of said wedge, said cap sides being comprised of two flange portions extending from said outer perimeter to said anchor end, said cap retention means being fixedly engaged to said two flange portions.

10. The force modulation system, according to claim 9 , wherein said anchor end is comprised of a pivot point on said two flange portions, and
wherein said cap retention means is comprised of a retention pin inserted through said two flange portions at said anchor end.

11. The force modulation system, according to claim 10 , wherein said first direction is radial from said pivot point, and wherein said second direction is tangent to said first direction.

12. A force modulation system for a drill bit, comprising:
a cutter being comprised of a cutter body having a cutting end, and a cutting surface made integral with said cutter body at said cutting end;
a blade cap being comprised of a cap body having an anchor end, a holding end opposite said anchor end, a plurality of cap sides between said anchor end and said holding end, and a cap opening at said holding end, said cutter body being in removable slide fit engagement with said cap opening;
a cap retention means fixedly engaged to at least two cap sides so as to exert a cap retention force in a first direction of said blade cap; and
a first force member positioned against said cap body so as to exert a first force in a second direction of said cap body, said second direction being angled offset to said first direction;
a second force member positioned against said cap body so as to exert a second force in said first direction of said cap body; and
a third force member positioned against said cap body so as to exert a third force in said second direction of said cap body opposite said first force member,
wherein said cap body is a wedge, said holding end being an outer perimeter of said wedge, said cap sides being comprised of two flange portions extending from said outer perimeter to said anchor end, said cap retention means being fixedly engaged to said two flange portions.

13. The force modulation system, according to claim 12 ,
wherein said second direction is orthogonal to said first direction,
wherein said first direction is radial from said pivot point,
wherein said second direction of said first force is tangent to said first direction, and
wherein said second direction of said third force is tangent to said first direction, said second direction of said third force being opposite said first force.

14. The force modulation system, according to claim 12 , wherein said first force member is made integral with said second force member and said third force member.

15. The force modulation system, according to claim 14 , wherein said third force member is comprised of a first spring portion, a second spring portion, and a third spring portion between said first spring portion and said second spring portion, said second force member being comprised of said second spring portion, said third force member being comprised of said third spring portion.

16. The force modulation system, according to claim 14 , said first force member and said third force member are adjacent to corresponding two flange portions, said second force member being between said holding end and said retention pin.

Assignees

• Cnpc Usa Corp
• Beijing Huamei Inc Cnpc

Inventors

• Zhang Ming
• Cheng Chris
• Yu Jiaqing
• Peng Qi
• Ke Xiaohua

Classifications

• E21B10/62 Primary

  characterised by parts, e.g. cutting elements, which are detachable or adjustable (E21B10/64 takes precedence; for roller bits E21B10/20; for augers E21B10/44) · CPC title

• E21B10/43 Primary

  characterised by the arrangement of teeth or other cutting elements · CPC title