US2069795A

US2069795A - Cutter assembly for oil well tools

Info

Publication number: US2069795A
Application number: US86686A
Authority: US
Inventors: John A Zublin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1936-06-22
Filing date: 1936-06-22
Publication date: 1937-02-09
Anticipated expiration: 1954-02-09

Description

Feb. -9, 1937. J. A. ZUBLIN CUTTER ASSEMBLY FOR OIL WELL TOOLS Filed June gz, 193s k ll M 1111 A. Zl/bl/[I l P WE a E m. .2 N

Patented Feb. 9, 1937 UNITED STATES Y PATENT OFFICE While the present invention relates genera y to oil well tools, it is especially concerned with.

replaceable cutter assemblies for tools adapted to operate in relatively hard formations. These cutter assemblies may be'used in various tools having diflerent uses, and reference may be had to my copending applications for typical tools. A drill bit is shown in my two applications on Drill bit with rolling cutters, Ser. No. 56,252, flied De-.

cember 26, 1935, now Patent No. 2,050,989 and Ser. No. 71,600, filedMarch 30, 1936 now Patent No. 2,050,988; while my applications entitled "Core drill Serial No. 86,688, and "Reaming tool" Serial No. 86,687 filed on even date herewith show various core barrels and reamers using these assemblies.

For reasons well known in the art, tools for use in rock and other hard formations generally use rolling cutters since they produce the best.

To permit adequate kind of cutting motion.

penetration of the formation, the cutters are small and have only a small number of teeth in contact with the formation at onetime. By mounting a number of such rollingcutters on a carrier which is in turn rotatably mounted upon crease in total cutting surface greatly lengthens the lifeof the tool and the distance 'it will drill before becoming dull.

My previously filed applications have shown all the roller cutters on one'carrier in one and the same position. However, since the carrier rotates in only one plane, difierent positions'of cutters 40 on the same carrier are advantageous for various reasons. For example, on some tools, a combination of cutting positions may be desired, so that the cutters will cut on portions of the hole which are at angles to each other, as the sides and bot- 45 tom of the hole, or in some formations a different or combination motion of the various cutters will be'most efllcient; or it may bedesired to change a portion of the cutters to influence the speed of carrier rotation, as described in my prior ap- 50 pllcations. v

It is also a distinct advantage to have the cutter assembly made as a unit. The tool shank is subjected to very little wear and will outlast a great fraction is operative at any one time. The incarrier by welding since this procedure is simple, inexpensive, and, most important, it is effective in preventing loss of cutters. The carrierwith its attached cutters is treated as a unit and the complete assembly is readily detachable from the tool 5 shank when the cutters are worn. For this reason the replacements are not single cutters, but an entire assembly manufactured as a unit in a factory and shipped, as a separate article of manufacture, to the field where it is inserted in a 10 tool shank in place of an assembly with worn cutters.

It is a general object of my invention to provide on a cutter carrier which rotates in one plane, a numberof cutters which move with a 15 substantiallyrolling motion over different faces of the formation which lie at various angles to each other and to the plane of the carrier.

Thus it is also an object 'of my invention to make a cutter assembly with rolling cutters that go issimply and easilymade and handled as a unit,

' and can be mounted on a tool body to give a large amount of cutting'surface with only a small part active at any one time. a Another object is to provide a cutter assembly a with cutters mounted to revolve about axes at angles to each other so that various cutters have ,.diiferent rolling motions that combine to produce a particularly effective cutting action.

Another object is to provide a cutter assembly in which the cutter positions canbe adapted to suit various tools and types of drilling conditions.

'Ihese objects are attained in my improved cutter assembly by using a wheel-like carrier that can be rotatably mounted on the tool body.

Around the rim of the carrier are mounted anumber of rolling cutters with certain cutters or groups of cutters mounted to rotate about axes at an angle to the axes of other cutters. Preferably the cutters are placed in two or more groups, the axes being similarly disposed within each group, but differently disposed between groups.

How the above. and other objects and advantages of my invention are attained will be more clearly understood by referenceto the following 4:!

description and annexed drawing, in which:

, Fig. lis a side elevation of a cutter assembly, partially broken away;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 2-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig.- 3 is a side elevation of a variational form of cutterassembly:

Fig. 41s a vertical section on line 4-'-l of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of another variational u form of cutter assembly;

- termed similar.

shape suitable to permit rotational: mounting of the carrier so that it.revolves about a central axis; or the carrier may have an integrally formed shaft.

The carrier may be provided on one orbothside faces withan annular groove l2, which forms part of a channel to hold ball bearings that provide a thrust bearing between the carrier and an adjoining member, which may be either another carrier or a portion of a tool body.

About the periphery of the carrier and extending radially inwardly therefrom are a number of slots i4 and I5 of suitable size and shape to receive one ofthe roller cutters 24. Adjoining each of these radial slots is a pair of notches [6 adapted to receive an axle pin I8 upon which the cutters are rotatably mounted. Notches l6 are located on opposite sides of the slots so that the axle pins extend across them. The pins l8 may be secured in place by any suitable means but are preferably welded to the carrier, as at 20, since this is a very simple and economical means of safely securing the pins in place.

As a means of conducting circulation fluid to opening II in order to provide lubrication for the bearing, circular passage 2 l .connects the bottoms of slots l5, and radial passages 22 connect with slots I4, I 5 and passage 2| to conduct fluid to opening II.

The roller cutters 24 are preferably substantially cylindrical in shape, and provided with cutting teeth which may have any desired shape and spacing. The cutters 24 that are placed in slots l4, lie entirely between the side faces of the carrier but project radially beyond the periphery of the carrier where they come into cutting engagement with the formation; while the cutters that are placed in slots l5 do not extend radially beyond the carrier, but are so placed asto project beyond one side face of the carrier where they giome into cutting engagement with the forma- It will be seen that the cutter assembly in Fig; 1 -is provided 'with two groups of cutters. Onegroup is mounted to rotate about similar axes which are parallel to each other and to the axis of carrier rotation, and consequently perpendicular to the plane of carrier rotation. Another group of cutters is mounted to rotate about similar axes which lie in a plane of carrier rotation and are tangential to the carrier axis. The

phrase a plane of carrier rotation is usedto include any plane perpendicular to the axis of carrier rotation and lying between the side faces of the carrier, and is not to be construed as limited to the median plane of the carrier perpendicular to its axis.

Since in each group the axes have these common or similarly defined positions, they are It will be noted that the axes of one group are at an angle to the axes of the other group, in this particular instance the angle being a right angle. While the location of the cutters may be .as desired, they are preferably located as shown with successive cutters belonging to alternate groups.

The cutter assembly shown in Fig. 3 is generally similar to the one already described, except that slots l5 have been replaced by'a different type of slot 26. Cutters 24 are mounted in. these slots by means of axle pins l8a which have. a head on one end and are tightly seated in a single notch Isa in the carrier. Taper pin 28 holds the axle pin in place and the large end of the taper pin is welded to the carrier to hold it against removal. To facilitate removal of the taper pin, the bore holding it is continued on at the small end through the carrier at 29, so that an instrument may be inserted to drive out the pin.

Like the cutters in slots IS, the cutters in slots 26 come into cutting engagement with the formation only by projecting beyond one side face. of the carrier and do not project radially beyond the carrier.

As before, the carrier of Fig. 3 is provided with two groups of cutters, each group rotating about similar axes. In this form of assembly,

the axes of one group are all parallel to the cutter axis, while the axes of the other group of carriers all lie in a plane of carrier rotation and extend radially from the carrier axis.

The form of carrier shown in Fig. 5 represents another combination of the three groups of cutters described in connection with the earlier figures. The carrier is provided with slots l5, as

in Fig. 1, and with slots 26 as in Fig. 3, and

of cutters within a group may lie in difierentplanes of rotation.

The axes of the cutters in groups so far described have been either parallel, or radial, or tangential with respect to the carrier axis. These axial relationships generally correspond to the 2:, .y, and z axes of solid geometry and so involve as a rule a right angle relation between any two groups, though the groups may be combined, as in Fig. 5, to give an oblique relation. It will, of course, be evident that the axes may occupy one of various intermediate positions, two other oblique positions being shown in Figs. '7 and 8. In Fig. '7, pin IN) is tilted from a position parallel to the carrier axis so that it is inclined to, and when projected intersects; the carrier axis. In Fig. 8, pin lac has been inclined so that it is no longer parallel to the carrier axis but still lies in a parallel plane, and. so will not intersect the carrier axis when projected. From" these two examples, it will be understood how the other pins may be tilted to give a number'of different combinations of cutter axes, and under these circumstances the axes of the various groups of cutters are oblique to one another rather than at right angles or perpendicular, as in Figs. 1 and 3.

Inspection of the drawing will show that the cutters on a carrier may be grouped in various ways and may be arranged in more than two groups, depending upon'the definition or common characteristic of the axes used to determine the group. Also, each of the groups may have varying numbers of cutters, difierent groups not of the hole being drilled, as the sides and bottom.

The cutters effectively attack parts of the formation lying at difierent angles to each other and to the carrier even though the carrier revolves in only one plane.

It will be understood that changes may be made in the construction and the arrangement of the various parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and it is therefore to be understood that the -appended claims are illustrative of rather than restrictive upon the broad scope oi!v my invention.

I claim as my inverition;

l. A cutter assembly for an earth boring tool comprising a wheel-like carrier adapted to be rotatably mounted on the tool body, and a plu- 'rality of cutters rotatably mounted on the' carrier, one group of cutters being mounted to rotate about similar axes'relative to the carrier axis and another group of cutters being mountedto rotate about similar "axes at a different angle tot-he carrier axis.

2. A cutter assembly for an earth boring tool comprising a wheel-like carrier adapted to be rotatably mounted on the-tool body, and a plurality of cutters rotatably mounted on the carrier,\ one group of cutters being mounted to rotate about similar axes relative to the carrier axis and another group of cutters being mounted to rotate about similar axes at a different angle to the carrier axis, successive cutters belonging to alternate groups.

3. A cutter assembly for an earth boring tool comprising a wheel-like carrier adapted to be rotatably mounted-on the tool body, and a plurality of cutters rotatably mounted on the carrier, one group of cutters being mounted to rotate about ,axes parallel to the carrier axis and another group of cutters being mounted to rotate about axes that are inclined to the carrier axis.

4. A cutter assembly for an earth boring tool comprising a wheel-like carrier adapted to be rotatably mounted on the tool body, and a plurality of cutters rotatably mounted on the carrier, onegroup of cutters being mounted to rotate about axes lying in a single plane and another group of cutters being mounted to rotate about axes similar relative to the carrier axis and at an angle to said plane.

5. A cutter assembly for an earth boring tool the carrier.

rotate about axes similar relative to the carrier axis and that are at an angle to said plane.

x 6. A cutter assembly for an earth boring tool comprising a wheel-like carrier adapted to be rotatably mounted on the tool body, and a plurality of cutters rotatably mounted on the carrier, one group of cutters being mounted to rotate about parallel axes at an angle to the plane of carrier rotation and another group of cutters being mounted to rotate about axes that are similar relative to the carrier axis and that are oblique and oppositely disposed to the axes of the first group.

'7. A cutter assemblyfor an earth boring tool comprising a wheel-like carrieradapted to be rotatably mounted on the tool body, and a pluralityof cutters rotatably mounted on the carrier, one group of cutters being mounted to rorier rotation.

8. A cutter assembly for an earth boring tool comprising a wheel-like carrier adapted to be rotatably mounted on the tool body, and a plurality of cutters rotatably mounted on the carrier, one group of cutters being mounted to rotate about tangential" axes lying in a plane of carrier rotation and tangent to a circle of rotation and another group of cutters being mounted to rotate about. axes parallel to the axis of carrier rotation.

9. A cutter assembly for an earth boring tool comprising a wheel-like carrier adapted to be roed to rotate about axes parallel to the axis of carrier rotation.

10. A cutter assembly for an earth boring tool comprising a wheel-like carrier adapted to be rotatably mounted on the tool body, and a plurality of cutters rotatably mounted on the carrier, one group of cutters being mounted to rotate about radial axes lying in a plane of carrier rotation, and another group of cutters being mounted to rotate about tangential axes lying in a plane of carrier rotation and tangent to a circle of rotation.

11. A cutter assembly for an earth boring tool comprising a Wheel-like carrier adapted to be r0- tatabl y mounted on the tool body, and a plurality of cutters rotatably mounted on the carrier, one group of cutters being mounted to rotate about similar axes and another group of cutters being mounted to rotate about similar axes that are at an angle to the axes of the first group, the. cutters of one group lying entirely between the side faces of the carrier and projecting radially beyond the carrier, while the cutters of the other group extend beyond only one side face of JOHN A; ZUBLIN.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,069,795. I February 9, 1937.

JOHN A. ZUBLIN;

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, second column, line 2, claim 5, strike out the words ','that are"; and that the said Letters Patent. should be read with this correction therein, that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office Signed and sealed this 11th day of May, A. D.'-' 1937-.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.