Abstract: A needle for a choke valve assembly includes a base portion formed from a first non-superhard material and a tip portion formed from a superhard material. The needle also includes a brazed connection coupling the tip portion to the base portion. The brazed connection includes an insert formed from a second non-superhard material, in which the second non-superhard material is harder than the first non-superhard material and softer than the superhard material. In addition, the brazed connection includes a shim disposed between the insert and the base portion, a first layer of brazing material disposed between the base portion and the shim, and a second layer of brazing material disposed between the shim and the insert.

Abstract: A needle for a choke valve assembly includes a base portion formed from a first non-superhard material and a tip portion formed from a superhard material. The needle also includes a brazed connection coupling the tip portion to the base portion. The brazed connection includes an insert formed from a second non-superhard material, in which the second non-superhard material is harder than the first non-superhard material and softer than the superhard material. In addition, the brazed connection includes a shim disposed between the insert and the base portion, a first layer of brazing material disposed between the base portion and the shim, and a second layer of brazing material disposed between the shim and the insert.

Abstract: A needle for a choke valve assembly includes a base portion formed from a first non-superhard material and a tip portion formed from a superhard material. The needle also includes a brazed connection coupling the tip portion to the base portion. The brazed connection includes an insert formed from a second non-superhard material, in which the second non-superhard material is harder than the first non-superhard material and softer than the superhard material. In addition, the brazed connection includes a shim disposed between the insert and the base portion, a first layer of brazing material disposed between the base portion and the shim, and a second layer of brazing material disposed between the shim and the insert.

Abstract: A drilling tool having a body, at least one blade extending from the body, and a first cutting element attached to the at least one blade. The first cutting element includes a cutting face at an opposite axial end from a base, a side surface extending from the base to the cutting face, an edge formed at the intersection between the cutting face and the side surface, and an elongated protrusion formed at the cutting face and extending between opposite sides of the edge. The elongated protrusion has a geometry including a border extending around a concave surface, a face chamfer formed around the border, and sloped surfaces extending between the border and the edge. An edge chamfer is between the face chamfer and the edge.

Abstract: A cutting element may include a body, a concave cutting face formed at a first end of the body, the cutting face including one or more cutting ridges adjacent a cutting tip that are raised above the concavity of the cutting face and having a length that is at least about 10% of a diameter of the cutting face. An edge is formed around a perimeter of the cutting face, and the edge has an edge angle defined between a tangent of the cutting face and a cylindrical side surface of the body, the edge angle being acute at the cutting tip and varying around the perimeter of the cutting face.

Abstract: A drilling tool having a body, at least one blade extending from the body, and a first cutting element attached to the at least one blade. The first cutting element includes a cutting face at an opposite axial end from a base, a side surface extending from the base to the cutting face, an edge formed at the intersection between the cutting face and the side surface, and an elongated protrusion formed at the cutting face and extending between opposite sides of the edge. The elongated protrusion has a geometry including a border extending around a concave surface, a face chamfer formed around the border, and sloped surfaces extending between the border and the edge. An edge chamfer is between the face chamfer and the edge.

Abstract: A cutting element has a cutting face at an opposite axial end from a base, a side surface extending from the base to the cutting face, an edge formed at the intersection between the cutting face and the side surface, and an elongated protrusion formed at the cutting face and extending between opposite sides of the edge, wherein the elongated protrusion has a geometry including a border extending around a concave surface and sloped surfaces extending between the border and the edge, and wherein the concave surface has a major axis dimension measured between opposite sides of the border and a minor axis dimension measured perpendicularly to the major axis dimension and ranging from 50 percent to 99 percent of the major axis dimension.

Abstract: A cutting element may include a body, a concave cutting face formed at a first end of the body, the cutting face including one or more cutting ridges adjacent a cutting tip that are raised above the concavity of the cutting face and having a length that is at least about 10% of a diameter of the cutting face. An edge is formed around a perimeter of the cutting face, and the edge has an edge angle defined between a tangent of the cutting face and a cylindrical side surface of the body, the edge angle being acute at the cutting tip and varying around the perimeter of the cutting face.

Abstract: A cutting element has a cutting face at an opposite axial end from a base, a side surface extending from the base to the cutting face, an edge formed at the intersection between the cutting face and the side surface, and an elongated protrusion formed at the cutting face and extending between opposite sides of the edge, wherein the elongated protrusion has a geometry including a border extending around a concave surface and sloped surfaces extending between the border and the edge, and wherein the concave surface has a major axis dimension measured between opposite sides of the border and a minor axis dimension measured perpendicularly to the major axis dimension and ranging from 50 percent to 99 percent of the major axis dimension.

Abstract: An ultra-hard cutting element for use in a drill bit, such as a percussion drill bit, a rotary cone drill bit, a drag bit, or a reamer. The ultra-hard cutting element includes a base portion, an extension portion on an end of the base portion, and a lip on an outer surface of the extension portion. At least a portion of the outer surface of the extension portion includes an ultra-hard abrasive material. The ultra-hard abrasive material may be polycrystalline diamond or polycrystalline cubic boron nitride.

Abstract: An ultra-hard cutting element for use in a drill bit, such as a percussion drill bit, a rotary cone drill bit, a drag bit, or a reamer. The ultra-hard cutting element includes a base portion, an extension portion on an end of the base portion, and a lip on an outer surface of the extension portion. At least a portion of the outer surface of the extension portion includes an ultra-hard abrasive material. The ultra-hard abrasive material may be polycrystalline diamond or polycrystalline cubic boron nitride.

Abstract: A drill bit including at least one stress-relieved cutting element, wherein the at least one cutting element is mounted on the drill bit, wherein the stress-relieved cutting element includes a substrate, at least one transition layer disposed upon the substrate and a polycrystalline diamond layer having a thickness of at least 0.008 inches disposed upon the at least one transition layer.

Abstract: A drill bit including at least one stress-relieved cutting element, wherein the at least one cutting element is mounted on the drill bit, wherein the stress-relieved cutting element includes a substrate, at least one transition layer disposed upon the substrate and a polycrystalline diamond layer having a thickness of at least 0.008 inches disposed upon the at least one transition layer.