Rotatable cutters and elements for use on earth-boring tools in subterranean boreholes, earth-boring tools including same, and related methods

Abstract

Rotatable elements for use with earth-boring tools include a movable element and a stationary element. The rotatable element may include a void within the support structure and at least one pin protruding from the void through an exterior side of the support structure. The rotatable element may further include at least one aperture configured to provide a vent to the void. The rotatable element may be disposed at least partially within a cavity of the stationary element. The stationary element may further include a track configured to interact with the at least one pin.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to devices and methods involving cutting and other rotatable elements for earth-boring tools used in earth boring operations and, more specifically, to cutting elements for earth-boring tools that may rotate in order to alter the rotational positioning of the cutting edge and cutting face of the cutting element relative to an earth-boring tool to which the cutting element is coupled, to earth-boring tools so equipped, and to related methods.

BACKGROUND

Various earth-boring tools such as rotary drill bits (including roller cone bits and fixed-cutter or drag bits), core bits, eccentric bits, bicenter bits, reamers, and mills are commonly used in forming boreholes or wells in earth formations. Such tools often may include one or more cutting elements on a formation-engaging surface thereof for removing formation material as the earth-boring tool is rotated or otherwise moved within the borehole.

For example, fixed-cutter bits (often referred to as “drag” bits) have a plurality of cutting elements affixed or otherwise secured to a face (i.e., a formation-engaging surface) of a bit body. Cutting elements generally include a cutting surface, where the cutting surface is usually formed out of a superabrasive material, such as mutually bound particles of polycrystalline diamond. The cutting surface is generally formed on and bonded to a supporting substrate of a hard material such as cemented tungsten carbide. During a drilling operation, a portion of a cutting edge, which is at least partially defined by the peripheral portion of the cutting surface, is pressed into the formation. As the earth-boring tool moves relative to the formation, the cutting element is dragged across the surface of the formation and the cutting edge of the cutting surface shears away formation material. Such cutting elements are often referred to as “polycrystalline diamond compact” (PDC) cutting elements, or cutters.

During drilling, cutting elements are subjected to high temperatures due to friction between the cutting surface and the formation being cut, high axial loads from the weight on bit (WOB), and high impact forces attributable to variations in WOB, formation irregularities and material differences, and vibration. These conditions can result in damage to the cutting surface (e.g., chipping, spalling). Such damage often occurs at or near the cutting edge of the cutting surface and is caused, at least in part, by the high impact forces that occur during drilling. Damage to the cutting element results in decreased cutting efficiency of the cutting element. When the efficiency of the cutting element decreases to a critical level the operation must be stopped to remove and replace the drill bit or damaged cutters, which is a large expense for an operation utilizing earth-boring tools.

Securing a PDC cutting element to a drill bit restricts the useful life of such cutting element, as the cutting edge of the diamond table wears down as does the substrate, creating a so-called “wear flat” and necessitating increased weight on bit to maintain a given rate of penetration of the drill bit into the formation due to the increased surface area presented. In addition, unless the cutting element is heated to remove it from the bit and then rebrazed with an unworn portion of the cutting edge presented for engaging a formation, more than half of the cutting element is never used.

Attempts have been made to configure cutting elements to rotate such that the entire cutting edge extending around each cutting element may selectively engage with and remove material. By utilizing the entire cutting edge, the effective life of the cutting element may be increased. Some designs for rotating cutting elements allow the cutting element to freely rotate even when under a cutting load. Rotating under a load results in wear on internal surfaces, exposing the cutting element to vibration, which can damage the cutting elements reducing their life, and may result in uneven wear on the cutting edge of the cutting element.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In some embodiments, the present disclosure includes a rotatable cutter for use on an earth-boring tool in a subterranean borehole. The rotatable cutter may include a rotatable element. The rotatable element may include a cutting surface over a support structure. The rotatable element may further include a void within the support structure. The rotatable element may also include at least one pin protruding from the void through an exterior side of the support structure. The rotatable element may further include at least one aperture configured to provide a vent to the void. The rotatable cutter may further include a stationary element. The stationary element may include a cavity, wherein the rotatable element is disposed at least partially within the cavity. The stationary element may further include a track configured to interact with the at least one pin.

In additional embodiments, the present disclosure includes an earth-boring tool. The earth-boring tool may include a tool body and at least one rotatable cutting element coupled to the tool body. The rotatable cutting element may include a stationary element coupled to the tool body. The stationary element may include a cavity and an indexing feature defined within the cavity. The rotatable cutting element may also include a movable element. The movable element may include a cutting surface over a support structure wherein the support structure is disposed at least partially within the cavity. The movable element may further include a void within the support structure. The movable element may also include at least one pin protruding from the void through an exterior side of the support structure. The movable element may further include at least one passage passing between the void in the support structure and the cavity in the stationary element, the at least one passage configured to provide a vent to the void.

Further embodiments of the present disclosure include a method of assembling a rotatable cutting element. The method may include compressing at least one pin into a void in a support structure of a movable portion of a rotatable cutting element. The method may further include venting fluid contained in the void through at least one passage through the movable portion of the rotatable cutting element. The method may also include inserting the support structure at least partially into a cavity in a stationary portion of the rotatable cutting element. The method may further include extending the at least one pin at least partially out of the void in the support structure after the support structure is at least partially inserted into the cavity. The method may also include securing the movable portion to the stationary portion through an interface between the at least one pin and an indexing structure defined in the cavity of the stationary portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming embodiments of the present disclosure, the advantages of embodiments of the disclosure may be more readily ascertained from the following description of embodiments of the disclosure when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a fixed-cutter earth-boring tool commonly known as a “drag-bit,” in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a rotatable cutter in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional side view of a rotatable cutter in a first position in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional side view of a rotatable cutter in a second position in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a rotatable cutter in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a rotatable cutter in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of the rotatable cutter shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the rotatable cutter shown in FIGS. 5 and 6;

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of another embodiment of a rotatable element that may be used in a rotatable cutter like that of FIGS. 5-7;

FIG. 9 is a cut-away view of the rotatable element of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a cut-away view of a rotatable cutter with the rotatable element of FIGS. 8 and 9; and

FIGS. 11A and 11B are isometric views of embodiments of a pin of the rotatable cutter of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The illustrations presented herein are not meant to be actual views of any particular earth-boring tool, rotatable cutting element or component thereof, but are merely idealized representations employed to describe illustrative embodiments. The drawings are not necessarily to scale.

Disclosed embodiments relate generally to rotatable elements (e.g., cutting elements) for earth-boring tools that may rotate in order to alter the positioning of the cutting element relative to an earth-boring tool to which the cutting element is coupled. For example, such a configuration may enable the cutting element to present a continuously sharp cutting edge with which to engage an earth formation while still occupying substantially the same amount of space as conventional fixed cutting elements. Some embodiments of such rotatable cutting elements may include a stationary element and a rotatable element with an index positioning feature. The index positioning feature may act to rotate and/or control rotation of the cutting element. In some embodiments, the index positioning feature may act to enable rotation of the cutting element when the cutting element is not actively engaged in removing material, while stopping rotation of the cutting element when the cutting element is actively engaged in removing material.

Such rotatable elements may be implemented in a variety of earth-boring tools, such as, for example, rotary drill bits, percussion bits, core bits, eccentric bits, bicenter bits, reamers, expandable reamers, mills, drag bits, roller cone bits, hybrid bits, and other drilling bits and tools known in the art.

As used herein, the term “substantially” in reference to a given parameter means and includes to a degree that one skilled in the art would understand that the given parameter, property, or condition is met with a small degree of variance, such as within acceptable manufacturing tolerances. For example, a parameter that is substantially met may be at least about 90% met, at least about 95% met, or even at least about 99% met.

Referring to FIG. 1, a perspective view of an earth-boring tool 10 is shown. The earth-boring tool 10 may have blades 20 in which a plurality of cutting elements 100 (e.g., cutters, rotatable cutting elements, rotatable cutters, etc.) may be secured. The cutting elements 100 may have a cutting table 101 with a cutting surface 102, which may form the cutting edge of the blade 20. The earth-boring tool 10 may rotate about a longitudinal axis of the earth-boring tool 10. When the earth-boring tool 10 rotates, the cutting surface 102 of the cutting elements 100 may contact the earth formation and remove material. The material removed by the cutting surfaces 102 may then be removed through the junk slots 40. The earth-boring tool 10 may include nozzles which may introduce drilling fluid, commonly known as drilling mud, into the area around the blades 20 to aid in removing the sheared material and other debris from the area around the blades 20 to increase the efficiency of the earth-boring tool 10.

In applications where the cutting elements 100 are fixed, only the edge of the cutting surface 102 of the cutting elements 100 that is exposed above the surface of the blade 20 will contact the earth formation and wear down during use. By rotating the cutting element 100, relatively more of (e.g., a majority of, a substantial entirety of) the edge of the cutting surface 102 may be exposed to wear and may act to extend the life of the cutting element 100. Additional control over the frequency of the rotation, as well as the amount of rotation, may further extend the life of the cutting element 100.

Referring to FIG. 2, a perspective view of an embodiment of a rotatable cutter 100 is shown. The rotatable cutter 100 may comprise the cutting table 101 with the cutting surface 102 and a substrate 108. The cutting table 101 may be formed from a polycrystalline material, such as, for example, polycrystalline diamond or polycrystalline cubic boron nitride. The rotatable cutter 100 may be secured to the earth-boring tool 10 (FIG. 1) by fixing an exterior surface of the substrate 108 to the earth-boring tool 10. This is commonly achieved through a brazing process.

Referring to FIG. 3A, a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of the rotatable cutter 100 in a compressed position is shown. To enable the cutting surface 102 to rotate, the substrate 108 of the rotatable cutter 100 may be separated into multiple parts, for example, an inner cutting element (e.g., a rotatable element 104) and an outer element (e.g., a stationary element 106 or sleeve). The stationary element 106 may define the exterior surface of the substrate 108. A cavity 110 in the stationary element 106 may receive the rotatable element 104. For example, the rotatable element 104 may be disposed at least partially within the cavity 110. The substrate 108, or portions thereof (e.g., the rotatable element 104 and/or stationary element 106), may be formed from a hard material suitable for use in a borehole, such as, for example, a metal, an alloy (e.g., steel), ceramic-metal composite material (e.g., cobalt-cemented tungsten carbide), or combinations thereof.

The rotatable element 104 may be configured to rotate about and move along the longitudinal axis L₁₀₀ of the rotatable cutter 100 relative to the stationary element 106. The rotatable cutter 100 may rotate the rotatable element 104 by translating the rotatable element 104 between a first axial position along the longitudinal axis L₁₀₀ (e.g., a compressed position as shown in FIG. 3A) and a second axial position along the longitudinal axis L₁₀₀ (e.g., an expanded position as shown in FIG. 3B) with an index positioning feature 120. The index positioning feature 120 may be used for rotating the rotatable element 104 as the rotatable element 104 is translated between the first axial position and the second axial position through interaction of components of the index positioning feature 120 during such axial movement, as discussed below in greater detail.

The rotatable element 104 may comprise a cutting surface 102 over a support structure 112. In some embodiments, the rotatable element 104 may be sized and configured such that the cutting table 101 is at least the same diameter as the stationary element 106. For example, a shoulder 114 may rest against the stationary element 106 to support the cutting table 101, for example, when the cutting surface 102 is engaged in removing material. The lower portion of the support structure 112 may be of a smaller diameter to facilitate being at least partially disposed within the stationary element 106. The support structure 112 of the rotatable element 104 may have a base 116 opposite the cutting surface 102. A motivating element 118 may be interposed between the stationary element 106 and the rotatable element 104 (e.g., positioned within an internal portion of the cavity 110). The motivating element 118 may be configured to act on the base 116, to move (e.g., translate, slide) the rotatable element 104 longitudinally along the longitudinal axis L₁₀₀ of the rotatable cutter 100 between the first axial position and the second axial position.

In some embodiments, the motivating element 118 may comprise a biasing element. The biasing element may be configured to bias the rotatable element 104 in the first axial position in a direction away from the stationary element 106. Examples of biasing elements that may be used, by way of example but not limitation, are springs, washers (e.g., Bellville washers), compressible fluids, magnetic biasing, resilient materials, or combinations thereof.

An index positioning feature 120 may be positioned between (e.g., laterally between) the rotatable element 104 and the stationary element 106. The index positioning feature 120 may enable the rotatable element 104 to move along the longitudinal axis L₁₀₀ between the first compressed axial position and the expanded second axial position and prevent the rotatable element 104 from moving beyond one or more of the first axial position and the second axial position (e.g., beyond the expanded position). When the cutting surface 102 is engaged with another structure (e.g., a portion of an earth formation), the rotatable element 104 may be in the first compressed axial position. When the cutting surface 102 is disengaged from the structure, the force (e.g., the constant force that is overcome by engagement of the rotatable element 104 with the formation) applied by the motivating element 118 on the base 116 may move the rotatable element 104 from the first axial position to the second axial position.

In some embodiments, when the rotatable element 104 is in one or more of the first axial position and the second axial position (e.g., both positions), the index positioning feature 120 may act to at least partially prevent rotation of the rotatable element 104. For example, the index positioning feature 120 may act to substantially secure the rotatable element 104 when the rotatable element 104 is in one or more of the first axial position and the second axial position to inhibit substantial rotation of the rotatable element 104.

In some embodiments, some of the features may be coated with wear resistant and/or low friction coatings. Features, such as, for example, the shoulder 114, the stationary element 106, the rotatable element 104 and the index positioning feature 120 may benefit from different coatings. The coatings may include low friction coatings and/or wear resistant coatings capable of withstanding downhole conditions, such as, by way of example but not limitation, Diamond-like Carbon (DLC), soft metals (e.g., materials having relatively lower hardness, copper), dry lube films, etc. The coatings may be positioned on the interface surfaces between one or more of the features where there may be a high potential for increased wear. In some embodiments, different coatings may be used on different surfaces within the same rotatable cutter 100, as different coatings may have additional benefits when applied to different surfaces. For example, the interface between the shoulder 114 and the stationary element 106 may be coated with a relatively soft metal while the index positioning feature 120 may be coated with a DLC coating. Additional examples may include any variations of low friction or wear resistant materials.

In some embodiments, the rotatable cutter 100 may include one or more seals 142 configured to the form a seal between the rotatable element 104 and the stationary element 106 to prevent drilling mud and formation debris from stalling rotation of the rotatable element 104.

Referring to FIG. 3B, a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of the rotatable cutter 100 in an expanded position is shown. As depicted, when the cutting surface 102 is disengaged from a structure, the motivating element 118 may act on the base 116 to move the rotatable element 104 relative to the stationary element 106 to the second axial position (e.g., expanded position). As the rotatable element 104 moves a separation may be introduced between the shoulder 114 and the stationary element 106. The pin 122 may interact with the index positioning feature 120 to prevent the rotatable element 104 from moving beyond the second axial position.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. Referring to FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 4, the index positioning feature 120 may comprise one or more protrusions (e.g., pin 122) and one or more tracks 121. For example, the track 121 may be defined in the rotatable element 104 by one or more track portions 124, 126 (e.g., undulating upper and lower track portions 124, 126 including protrusions and recesses positioned on each longitudinal side of the track 121). The engagement of the pins 122 in the track 121 may be configured to rotate the rotatable element 104 relative to the stationary element 106 when the rotatable element 104 is moved toward the second axial position or toward the first axial position. As depicted, the offset peaks and valleys in each track portion 124, 126 enable the pins 122, in conjunction with the forced axial movement of the rotatable element 104 (e.g., due to external forces and/or the force of the motivating element 118), to slide on one of the track portions 124, 126 in order to rotate the rotatable element 104. In some embodiments, the pins 122 may be positioned on the stationary element 106 and the track 121 may be defined on the support structure 112 of the rotatable element 104. In some of these embodiments, the pins 122 may comprise at least two pins 122 arranged about (e.g., around) the longitudinal axis L₁₀₀. As depicted, the track 121 may be recessed into a portion of the rotatable element 104 as shown in FIG. 4. In some embodiments, the track 121 may protrude from the rotatable element 104 with pins 122 following outer surfaces of the track 121.

As depicted, the pins 122 may be at least partially disposed within the stationary element 106. The stationary element 106 may have pin passages 128 to facilitate assembly. For example, the pins 122 may be at least partially (e.g., entirely) removed in order to provide clearance for the rotatable element 104 to be inserted into and removed from the stationary element 106. The pins 122 may be inserted through the pin passages 128 in the stationary element 106 and secured to the stationary element 106. The pins 122 may have a pin shoulder 130 to maintain the pins 122 within the stationary element 106 with a pin tip 132 entering the cavity 110 to engage the track 121 on the rotatable element 104.

The track 121 may be used to control the rotational motion of the rotatable element 104. In some embodiments, the track 121 may be disposed within the support structure 112 of the rotatable element 104. The track 121 may be configured to substantially inhibit rotation of the rotatable element 104 when the rotatable element 104 is in at least one of the first axial position or the second axial position. In some embodiments, the track 121 may be configured to at least partially inhibit rotation of the rotatable element 104 when the rotatable element 104 is in both the first axial position and the second axial position. As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 4, one of the track portions (e.g., track portion 124 positioned in an upper position relatively closer to the cutting surface 102) may include a top track detent 134 that may arrest the pin 122 inhibiting the rotation of the rotatable element 104 when the rotatable element 104 is in the first axial position. Another one of the track portions (e.g., track portion 126 positioned in a lower position relatively further away from the cutting surface 102) may include a bottom track detent 136, which may act in a similar fashion to the top track detent 134 when the rotatable element 104 is in the second axial position.

The interaction between the pins 122 and the track 121 may be configured to impart rotation on the rotatable element 104 when the rotatable element 104 moves between the first axial position and the second axial position. For example, the pin 122 may engage the upper track portion 124 when the rotatable element 104 moves from the second axial position to the first axial position. The pattern in the upper track portion 124 may include a top track ramp 138. The pin 122 may engage the top track ramp 138 when moving from the second axial position to the first axial position (e.g., a compressed position as shown in FIG. 3A). The top track ramp 138 may impart rotation on the rotatable element 104 as the pin 122 acts on and travels along the top track ramp 138. The pin 122 may engage the lower track portion 126 when the rotatable element 104 travels from the first axial position to the second axial position (e.g., an expanded position as shown in FIG. 3B). For example, the lower track portion 126 may include a bottom track ramp 140, which may act in a similar fashion to the top track ramp 138 as the rotatable element 104 travels from the first axial position to the second axial position.

The spacing of the top and bottom track detents 134 and 136, and ramps 138 and 140 may be configured to incrementally rotate the cutting surface 102 of the rotatable cutter 100 relative to an earth-boring tool 10 on which the rotatable cutter 100 is attached. Incrementally rotating the rotatable cutter 100 may result in the ability to incrementally present portions of the cutting table 101 in a position relative to the formation. Such incremental rotation may result in enabling the cutting table 101 to selectively wear numerous portions of the cutting table 101 around the circumference of the cutting surface 102, which may extend the life of the rotatable cutter 100. Incrementally rotating the rotatable cutter 100 may also give the operator greater control over the frequency of the rotation.

In some embodiments, the top and bottom track detents 134 and 136, respectively, may act to secure the rotatable element 104 when the rotatable element 104 is in one or more of the first axial position and the second axial position to at least partially prevent rotation of the rotatable element 104.

The top and bottom track detents 134 and 136, respectively, may have varying degrees of separation in different embodiments to provide a selected amount of radial positions for the rotatable element 104. For example, there may be eight evenly spaced top track detents 134 and eight evenly spaced bottom track detents 136. The eight detents may be spaced at 45 degree intervals. In an embodiment with eight detents, the rotatable element 104 may incrementally rotate 45 degrees each time. In another embodiment, there may be two top track detents 134 and two bottom track detents 136 evenly spaced at 180 degree intervals. In an embodiment with two detents, the rotatable element 104 may incrementally rotate 180 degrees each time. Other embodiments may have detents that are not evenly spaced. For example, an embodiment may have four detents each placed at different degree intervals, or placed in pairs with a smaller interval such as 45 degrees separating two of the detents and a larger interval such as 135 degrees separating the two pairs. There may be many other combinations of numbers of detents and degrees of separation that may be used in other embodiments.

In some embodiments, the index positioning feature 120 may rotate the rotatable element 104 one part (e.g., portion, fraction) of an incremental rotation (e.g., half, 60%, 70%) when the rotatable element 104 is moved toward the first axial position and another part of the incremental rotation (e.g., the other half, 40%, 30%) when the rotatable element 104 is moved toward the second axial position. For example, the top and bottom track detents 134 and 136 and ramps 138 and 140 may be offset from one another as shown in FIG. 4. As the rotatable element 104 travels from the first axial position to the second axial position, the top track ramp 138 may act on the rotatable element 104 through the pin 122 to rotate the rotatable element 104 through a portion of the incremental rotation until the pin 122 reaches the top track detent 134 stopping the rotation. As the rotatable element 104 travels in the opposite direction from the second axial position to the first axial position, the bottom track ramp 140 may act on the rotatable element 104 through the pin 122 to complete the incremental rotation. In some embodiments, the ramps 138 and 140 may have different slopes. The different slopes may enable the rotatable element 104 to rotate through a smaller part of the rotation (e.g., less than 50%, 40%, 30%, or less) when the rotatable element 104 travels from the first axial position to the second axial position by engaging a steeper slope. Likewise, the different slopes may enable the rotatable element 104 to rotate through a larger part of the rotation (e.g., more than 50%, 60%, 70%, or greater) when the rotatable element 104 travels from the second axial position to the first axial position by engaging a shallower slope. In other embodiments, the slopes may be different to allow the rotatable element 104 to rotate through a larger portion of the rotation when the rotatable element 104 travels from the first axial position to the second axial position. The increment of the rotation may be determined by the degrees of separation of the top and bottom track detents 134 and 136 as discussed above.

Referring to FIG. 5, a perspective view of an additional embodiment of a rotatable cutter 200 is shown. An exterior of the rotatable cutter 200 may be somewhat similar to embodiment of the rotatable cutter 100 shown and described in FIGS. 2 through 4. The rotatable cutter 200 may include a cutting table 201 a cutting surface 202 and a substrate 208. The rotatable cutter 200 may be secured to the earth-boring tool 10 by fixing an exterior surface of the substrate 208 to the earth-boring tool 10.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are a cross-sectional side view and an exploded view, respectively, of the rotatable cutter 200. The substrate 208 of the rotatable cutter 200 may comprise a rotatable element 204, a sleeve element 242, and an index positioning feature 220.

The rotatable element 204 may include the cutting table 201 with the cutting surface 202 that is configured to engage a portion of a subterranean borehole over a support structure 212. The cutting table 201 may have a diameter at least as large as the sleeve element 242. The support structure 212 may have a diameter less than an interior diameter of the sleeve element 242 such that the rotatable element 204 may be disposed at least partially within the sleeve element 242. The rotatable element 204 may be configured with a shoulder 214 for additional support of the cutting table 201 when the cutting table 201 is engaging a portion of the subterranean borehole. The rotatable element 204 may be configured to move relative to the sleeve element 242 between a first axial position and a second axial position along a longitudinal axis L200 of the rotatable cutter 200. A motivating element 218 may be interposed between a base 216 of the rotatable element 204 and an assembly base 244. As discussed above, the motivating element 218 may bias the rotatable element 204 in an axial position (e.g., in a position where the rotatable element 204 is spaced from one or more of the sleeve element 242 and a stationary element 206.)

In some embodiments, the sleeve element 242 may act as the stationary element 206. In other embodiments, the sleeve element 242 may be an additional feature fixed to or integrally formed with the stationary element 206 as shown in FIG. 6. The sleeve element 242 may provide an area to facilitate the index positioning feature 220.

Similar to the embodiment of the rotatable cutter 100 described above, the index positioning feature 220 may be defined between the rotatable element 204 and the sleeve element 242. The index positioning feature 220 may be configured to rotate the rotatable element 204 relative to the sleeve element 242 when the rotatable element 204 is moved from the first axial position toward the second axial position and when the rotatable element 204 is moved from the second axial position toward the first axial position. When the cutting table 201 is engaged with a portion of the subterranean borehole, the rotatable element 204 may be in the first axial position (e.g., a compressed position somewhat similar to that shown in FIG. 3A). When the cutting table 201 is disengaged from the subterranean borehole, the motivating element 218 may act on the base 216 to move the rotatable element 204 from the first axial position to the second axial position (e.g., to an expanded position somewhat similar to that shown in FIG. 3B).

In some embodiments, one or more protrusions (e.g., pins 222) may be positioned on the support structure 212 of the rotatable element 204 and at least one track 224 may be defined on the stationary element 206 or the sleeve element 242 as shown in FIG. 6. The interaction between the pin 222 and the track 224 may cause the rotatable element 204 to rotate and/or limit (e.g., at least partially or entirely prevent) the rotatable element 204 from rotating.

In some embodiments, the support structure 212 of the rotatable element 204 may include one or more pin passages 228 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The pin 222 may be at least partially disposed within the pin passage 228 in the support structure 212 of the rotatable element 204. In some embodiments, such as the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, there may be two pins 222 that interact with the track 224 on opposite sides of the rotatable element 204. In some embodiments, there may be a biasing member 246 (e.g., a spring) located within the pin passage 228 that allows the pin 222 to be disposed (e.g., forced) entirely within the rotatable element 204 during assembly. The biasing member 246 may contact a pin shoulder 230 forcing a pin tip 232 out of the pin passage 228 and into the track 224 after assembly or during disassembly.

At least one pin 222 may be retained in the track 224. The track 224 may be disposed within one or more of the stationary element 206 and the sleeve element 242. The track 224 may be configured similar to the embodiment of the rotatable cutter 100 described in FIG. 4 with a top track and a bottom track utilizing detents and ramps to interact with the at least one pin 222. However, as depicted, the track 224 is positioned on the outer component (e.g., the sleeve element 242) rather than an inner element (e.g., the rotatable element 204) as shown in FIG. 4. The respective ramps may be configured to impart rotation on the rotatable element 204 when the rotatable element 204 slides between the first axial position and the second axial position, and the respective detents may be configured to stop rotation when the rotatable element 204 is in the first axial position or the second axial position.

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of the rotatable element 204. The support structure 212 of the rotatable element 204 may include a vent passage 802 separate from the pin passage 228. The vent passage 802 may extend through a sidewall of the support structure 212. In some embodiments, the vent passage 802 may extend through another wall of the support structure 212 such as a bottom wall of the base 216 of the support structure 212 or through the cutting surface 202 of the rotatable cutter 200. In some embodiments, the vent passage 802 may only extend out through one wall of the support structure 212, such that the support structure may only include one vent passage 802. In some embodiments, the support structure 212 may include multiple vent passages 802 through multiple walls of the support structure 212, such as a vent passage 802 through a side wall and a vent passage 802 through a bottom wall.

In some embodiments, the vent passage 802 may have a substantially circular cross section. In some embodiments, the vent passage 802 may have a cross section of another shape, such as square, rectangle, triangle, oval, etc. In some embodiments, the vent passage 802 may be formed in the support structure 212 through a process such as drilling after the support structure 212 is formed. In some embodiments, the vent passage 802 may be formed into the support structure 212 during the forming process such as through a molding or forging process.

FIG. 9 illustrates a cross sectional view of the rotatable element 204 illustrated in FIG. 8. The vent passage 802 may pass from the sidewall of the support structure 212 to the pin passage 228. The vent passage 802 may be configured to provide a separate passage from the pin passage 228 to an exterior of the support structure 212. For example, the vent passage 802 may enable fluid to pass from the pin passage 228 to an exterior portion of the support structure 212.

In some embodiments, the pin passage 228 may include a lubricating fluid, such as oil, grease, etc. The lubricating fluid may enable substantially free movement of the pin 222 (FIG. 10) during assembly or disassembly of the rotatable cutter 200. The vent passage 802 may substantially prevent fluid locking of the pin 222 (FIG. 10) in the pin passage 228. For example, once a pin 222 is inserted into each side of the pin passage 228, the fluid inside the pin passage 228 may substantially resist further compression of the pins 222 into the pin passage 228 due to a low compressibility of the fluid in the pin passage 228. This phenomenon is referred to in the art as a “hydraulic lock” or “hydro lock”. In some embodiments, after the pins 222 are compressed into the pin passage 228, the pins 222 may be substantially prevented from expanding back out of the pin passage 228 due to suction generated by the fluid in the pin passage 228. This phenomenon is referred to in the art as “a vacuum lock.”

The vent passage 802 may enable the fluid within the pin passage 228 to communicate with a fluid, such as air, other lubricating fluid, etc. in a separate reservoir or volume of space. Thus, the vent passage 802 may enable fluid in the pin passage 228 to exit the pin passage 228 when the pins 222 are compressed into the pin passage 228 and enable the fluid to re-enter the pin passage 228 when the pins 222 are retracted out from the pin passage 228.

FIG. 10 illustrates a cut-away view of an assembled rotatable cutter 200. The rotatable element 204 may be at least partially inserted into the stationary element 206. The pin 222 may extend from the pin passage 228 into the track 224 of the stationary element 206 forming the index positioning feature 220. In some embodiments, the vent passage 802 may be configured to at least partially align with the void 1002 created between the rotatable element 204 and the stationary element 206 by the track 224. In some embodiments, the vent passage 802 may extend from the pin passage 228 through the base 216 of the rotatable element 204, such that the vent passage 802 is substantially aligned with a central void in the motivating element 218.

When assembling the rotatable cutter 200, the pins 222 may be compressed into the pin passage 228 such that the pins 222 may be at least substantially completely inside the pin passage 228. The support structure 212 may then be inserted into the cavity of the stationary element 206. Compressing the pins 222 into the pin passage 228 may displace at least a portion of a fluid in the pin passage 228 into the vent passage 802. In some embodiments, the pin passage 228 may include an environmental fluid, such as air or water. In some embodiments, as discussed above, the pin passage 228 may include a lubricating fluid such as grease or oil. Once the pins 222 reach the track 224 defined in the stationary element 206, the biasing member 246 may extend the pins 222 partially out of the pin passage 228, such that the pin tip 232 on a radially outward side of the pin 222 extends into the track 224 while at least a portion of the pin shoulder 230 remains within the pin passage 228. The vent passage 802 may enable any fluid that was displaced when the pins 222 where compressed to re-enter the pin passage 228.

FIGS. 11A and 11B illustrate embodiments of a pin 1108, 1110. In some embodiments the pin 1108 may include one or more vent passages 1102 formed in an exterior portion of the pin 1108, such as in the pin shoulder 1112, as illustrated in FIG. 11A. The vent passages 1102 may be configured to enable fluid to pass from the pin passage 228 to an exterior portion of the support structure 212, similar to the vent passage 802 discussed above. The one or more vent passages 1102 may be formed as channels in the pin shoulder 1112 region of the pin 1108. In some embodiments, the pin 1108 may include more than one vent passages 1102 radially spaced about the pin shoulder 1112 region of the pin 1108. For example, the pin 1108 may include two vent passages 1102 on opposing sides of the pin 1108. In some embodiments, the pin 1108 may include three or more vent passages 1102 radially spaced about the pin shoulder 1112 region. In some embodiments, the vent passages 1102 may be equally spaced about the pin shoulder 1112, such as with an equal displacement angle between each of the vent passages 1102. In some embodiments, the vent passages 1102 may not be equally spaced.

In some embodiments, the vent passages 1102 may be substantially straight extending from a rear portion of the pin shoulder 1112 to a front portion of the pin shoulder 1112 wherein the vent passages 1102 are in substantially the same radial position at both the rear portion of the pin shoulder 1112 and the front portion of the pin shoulder 1112. The vent passages 1102 may be substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis 1104 of the pin 1108. In some embodiments, the vent passages 1102 may extend at an angle to the longitudinal axis 1104 of the pin 1108, such that the vent passages 1102 may form a spiraling channel about the exterior surface of the pin shoulder 1112. For example, the vent passage 1102 may begin at a first radial position at a rear portion of the pin shoulder 1112 and extend in a spiraling channel about the exterior surface of the pin shoulder 1112 such that the vent passage 1102 may end at a different radial position at the front portion of the pin shoulder 1112.

FIG. 11B illustrates another embodiment of a pin 1110. In some embodiments, the pin 1110 may include a vent passage 1106 passing through a central portion of the pin 1110. For example, the vent passage 1106 may be substantially coaxial with the pin 1110 extending along the longitudinal axis 1104 of the pin 1110. The vent passage 1106 may extend through the entire length of the pin 1110 such that a fluid on one side of the pin 1110 may communicate with a fluid on the opposing side of the pin 1110 through the vent passage 1106.

As described above, the rotatable cutter 200 may include two pins 1108, 1110 that interact with the track 224 on opposite sides of the rotatable element 204. In some embodiments, each of the pins 1108, 1110 may include one or more vent passages 1102, 1106. In some embodiments, only one of the pins 1108, 1110 may include one or more vent passages 1102, 1106. For example, a first pin 1108, 1110 may include one or more vent passages 1102, 1106 and a second pin may not include any vent passages 1102, 1106, such that the only communication between the fluid in the pin passage 228 and the fluid outside the pin passage 228 is through the first pin 1108, 1110. In some embodiments, one or more pins 1108, 1110 having one or more vent passages 1102, 1106 may be used in a rotatable element 204 having one or more vent passages 802 formed in the support structure 212 of the rotatable element 204.

The pins 1108 and 1110 of FIGS. 11A and 11B may be employed in any of the rotatable cutting elements described herein.

Embodiments of rotatable cutters described herein may improve the wear characteristics on the cutting elements of the rotatable cutters. Rotating the cutters with an index positioning feature that enables positive, incremental rotation of the cutter may allow for tighter control of the rotation of the rotatable cutter that may ensure more even wear on the cutting surface.

Embodiments of the disclosure may be particularly useful in providing a cutting element with improved wear characteristics of a cutting surface that may result in a longer service life for the rotatable cutting elements. Extending the life of the rotatable cutting elements may, in turn, extend the life of the earth-boring tool to which they are attached. Replacing earth-boring tools or even tripping out an earth-boring tool to replace worn or damaged cutters is a large expense for earth-boring operations. Often earth-boring tools are on a distal end of a drill string that can be in excess of 40,000 feet long. The entire drill string must be removed from the borehole to replace the earth-boring tool or damaged cutters. Extending the life of the earth-boring tool may result in significant cost savings for the operators of an earth-boring operation.

The embodiments of the disclosure described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures do not limit the scope of the invention, since these embodiments are merely examples of embodiments of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Any equivalent embodiments are intended to be within the scope of this disclosure. Indeed, various modifications of the present disclosure, in addition to those shown and described herein, such as alternative useful combinations of the elements described, may become apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. Such modifications and embodiments are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims

1. A rotatable cutter for use on an earth-boring tool in a subterranean borehole, comprising: a rotatable element comprising: a cutting surface over a support structure;a void within the support structure;at least one pin protruding from the void through an exterior side of the support structure; andat least one aperture configured to provide a vent to the void; anda stationary element comprising: a cavity, the rotatable element disposed at least partially within the cavity; anda track configured to interact with the at least one pin.

2. The rotatable cutter of claim 1, further comprising a fluid within the void.

3. The rotatable cutter of claim 2, wherein the at least one aperture is configured to enable passage of the fluid from the void to a volume outside the void.

4. The rotatable cutter of claim 2, wherein the fluid comprises a lubricating fluid.

5. The rotatable cutter of claim 1, wherein the at least one pin is configured to translate along an axis of the pin within the void.

6. The rotatable cutter of claim 5, further comprising a biasing element within the void configured to bias the at least one pin in a radially outward direction away from the void.

7. The rotatable cutter of claim 1, wherein the at least one aperture passes through a side wall of the support structure.

8. The rotatable cutter of claim 1, wherein the at least one aperture is substantially parallel with the at least one pin.

9. The rotatable cutter of claim 1, wherein the at least one aperture passes through a base of the support structure.

10. The rotatable cutter of claim 1, wherein the at least one aperture is substantially aligned with the track.

11. An earth-boring tool comprising: a tool body; andat least one rotatable cutting element coupled to the tool body, the rotatable cutting element comprising: a stationary element coupled to the tool body comprising: a cavity; andan indexing feature defined within the cavity; anda movable element comprising: a cutting surface over a support structure, the support structure disposed at least partially within the cavity;a void within the support structure;at least one pin protruding from the void through an exterior side of the support structure; andat least one passage passing between the void in the support structure and the cavity in the stationary element, the at least one passage configured to provide a vent to the void.

12. The at least one rotatable cutting element of the earth-boring tool of claim 11, further comprising at least two pins protruding from opposing sides of the void.

13. The at least one rotatable cutting element of the earth-boring tool of claim 12, wherein the at least one passage only passes through one pin of the at least two pins.

14. The at least one rotatable cutting element of the earth-boring tool of claim 11, wherein the at least one passage is substantially parallel with the at least one pin.

15. The at least one rotatable cutting element of the earth-boring tool of claim 14, wherein the at least one passage passes through a shoulder region of the at least one pin.

16. The at least one rotatable cutting element of the earth-boring tool of claim 15, further comprising at least two passages passing through the shoulder region of the at least one pin, wherein the at least two passages are substantially equally radially spaced about the shoulder region of the at least one pin.

17. The at least one rotatable cutting element of the earth-boring tool of claim 14, wherein the at least one passage is substantially coaxial with the at least one pin.

18. A method of assembling a rotatable cutting element comprising: compressing at least one pin into a void in a support structure of a movable portion of a rotatable cutting element;venting fluid contained in the void through at least one passage through the movable portion of the rotatable cutting element;inserting the support structure at least partially into a cavity in a stationary portion of the rotatable cutting element;extending the at least one pin at least partially out of the void in the support structure after the support structure is at least partially inserted into the cavity; andsecuring the movable portion to the stationary portion through an interface between the at least one pin and an indexing structure defined in the cavity of the stationary portion.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising displacing at least a portion of the fluid contained in the void into the at least one passage while compressing the at least one pin into the void.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising extending the at least one pin at least partially out of the void with a biasing element in the void.