Abstract: A drill bit includes cutters rotatively mounted thereon. A bore is provided either directly in the drill bit or in a sleeve which is mounted on the drill bit. The bore includes a female screw thread, a circumferential groove, and one or more bearing surfaces. A cutter with a hardened table has a generally cylindrical body with a male screw thread, a circumferential groove, and one or more bearing surfaces. The cutter is engaged with the threads of the bore and then advanced until the male screw threads pass beyond the female screw threads. When the cutter is fully installed, the circumferential grooves provide relief for the screw threads so that the cutter can freely rotate within the bore.

Abstract: A drill bit for drilling a borehole in an earthen formation includes a connection member having a pin end. In addition, the drill bit includes a bit body coupled to the connection member and configured to rotate relative to the connection member about a central axis of the bit. The bit body includes a bit face. Further, the drill bit includes a blade extending radially along the bit face. Still further, the drill bit includes a plurality of cutter elements mounted to a cutter-supporting surface of the blade. Moreover, the drill bit includes a depth-of-cut limiting structure slidably disposed in a bore extending axially from the cutter-supporting surface. The depth-of-cut limiting structure is configured to move axially relative to the bit body in response to rotation of the bit body relative to the connection member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for rotatively mounting cutters on a drill bit. A bore is provided either directly in the drill bit or in a sleeve which is mounted on the drill bit. The bore includes a female screw thread, a circumferential groove, and one or more bearing surfaces. A cutter with a hardened table has a generally cylindrical body with a male screw thread, a circumferential groove, and one or more bearing surfaces. The cutter is engaged with the threads of the bore and then advanced until the male screw threads pass beyond the female screw threads. When the cutter is fully installed, the circumferential grooves provide relief for the screw threads so that the cutter can freely rotate within the bore.

Abstract: A drill bit for drilling a borehole in an earthen formation includes a connection member having a pin end. In addition, the drill bit includes a bit body coupled to the connection member and configured to rotate relative to the connection member about a central axis of the bit. The bit body includes a bit face. Further, the drill bit includes a blade extending radially along the bit face. Still further, the drill bit includes a plurality of cutter elements mounted to a cutter-supporting surface of the blade. Moreover, the drill bit includes a depth-of-cut limiting structure slidably disposed in a bore extending axially from the cutter-supporting surface. The depth-of-cut limiting structure is configured to move axially relative to the bit body in response to rotation of the bit body relative to the connection member.

Abstract: Techniques for analyzing operation of drill bit in a borehole are disclosed herein. A method for analyzing operation of a drill bit in a borehole includes providing information describing the drill bit and a bent housing coupled to the drill bit. A path of a cutter of the drill bit is determined based on a ratio of a rotational speed of the bent housing to a combined rotational speed of the drill bit and the bent housing. The combined rotational speed is different from the rotation speed of the bent housing.

Abstract: Techniques for analyzing operation of drill bit in a borehole are disclosed herein. A method for analyzing operation of a drill bit in a borehole includes providing information describing the drill bit and a bent housing coupled to the drill bit. A path of a cutter of the drill bit is determined based on a ratio of a rotational speed of the bent housing to a combined rotational speed of the drill bit and the bent housing. The combined rotational speed is different from the rotation speed of the bent housing.