Abstract: A fixed bladed drill bit has a working face that includes a plurality of blades converging at a center of the working face and diverging towards a gauge of the bit, each blade having a leading face and a trailing face, and at least one row of cutting elements disposed on at least one of the plurality of blades proximate to the leading face of the blade, where the row of cutting elements includes at least one pointed cutting element having a cutting end with a rounded apex and at least one shearing cutter. The at least one shearing cutter includes a first shearing cutter positioned proximate to a periphery of the working face.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a downhole fixed bladed bit comprises a working surface comprising a plurality of blades converging at a center of the working surface and diverging towards a gauge of the bit, at least on blade comprising a cutting element comprising a superhard material bonded to a cemented metal carbide substrate at a non-planer interface, the cutting element being positioned at a positive rake angle, and the superhard material comprising a substantially conical geometry with an apex comprising a curvature.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a degradation element includes a substrate bonded to a sintered polycrystalline ceramic. The sintered polycrystalline ceramic has a tapering shape and a rounded apex. The rounded apex has a curvature with a 0.050 to 0.150 inch radius when viewed from a direction normal to a central axis of the degradation element that intersects the curvature. The rounded apex includes the characteristic of when the rounded apex is loaded against a rock formation, the rounded apex fails the rock formation forming a crushed barrier ahead of the rounded apex that shields the rounded apex from a virgin portion of the rock formation while still allowing the rounded apex to penetrate below a surface of the rock formation.

Abstract: A fixed bladed drill bit has a working face that includes a plurality of blades converging at a center of the working face and diverging towards a gauge of the bit, each blade having a leading face and a trailing face, and at least one row of cutting elements disposed on at least one of the plurality of blades proximate to the leading face of the blade, where the row of cutting elements includes at least one pointed cutting element having a cutting end with a rounded apex and at least one shearing cutter. The at least one shearing cutter includes a first shearing cutter positioned proximate to a periphery of the working face.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a fixed bladed drill bit comprises a working surface comprising a plurality of blades converging at a center of the working surface and diverging towards a gauge of the bit. Each blade comprises a plurality of pointed cutting elements and another plurality of shearing cutters. The plurality of shearing cutters comprises a first shearing cutter. The first shearing cutter on each blade tracks the first shearing cutter on other blades along a common circular cutting path.

Abstract: A downhole fixed bladed bit comprises a working surface comprising a plurality of blades converging at a center of the working surface and diverging towards a gauge of the bit, at least one blade comprising a cutting element comprising a superhard material bonded to a cemented metal carbide substrate at a non-planer interface, the cutting element being positioned at a positive rake angle, and the superhard material comprising a substantially conical geometry with an apex comprising a curvature.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a downhole fixed bladed bit comprises a working surface comprising a plurality of blades converging at a center of the working surface and diverging towards a gauge of the bit, at least on blade comprising a cutting element comprising a superhard material bonded to a cemented metal carbide substrate at a non-planer interface, the cutting element being positioned at a positive take angle, and the superhard material comprising a substantially conical geometry with an apex comprising a curvature.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a downhole fixed bladed bit comprises a working surface comprising a plurality of blades converging at a center of the working surface and diverging towards a gauge of the bit, at least on blade comprising a cutting element comprising a superhard material bonded to a cemented metal carbide substrate at a non-planer interface, the cutting element being positioned at a positive rake angle, and the superhard material comprising a substantially conical geometry with an apex comprising a curvature.

Abstract: A downhole fixed bladed bit comprises a working surface comprising a plurality of blades converging at a center of the working surface and diverging towards a gauge of the bit, at least on blade comprising a cutting element comprising a superhard material bonded to a cemented metal carbide substrate at a non-planer interface, the cutting element being positioned at a positive rake angle, and the superhard material comprising a substantially conical geometry with an apex comprising a curvature.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a drill bit assembly for downhole drilling comprises an outer bit comprising a central axis and an outer cutting area and an inner bit disposed within the outer bit and comprising an inner cutting area. The outer bit comprises a first plurality of cutting elements and the inner bit comprises a second plurality of cutting elements wherein an average distance of each cutting element in the first plurality to the central axis forms a first moment arm and an average distance of each cutting element in the second plurality to the central axis forms a second moment arm. A ratio of the inner cutting area to the outer cutting area is substantially equal to a ratio of the outer moment arm to the inner moment arm.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a degradation element includes a substrate bonded to a sintered polycrystalline ceramic. The sintered polycrystalline ceramic has a tapering shape and a rounded apex. The rounded apex has a curvature with a 0.050 to 0.150 inch radius when viewed from a direction normal to a central axis of the degradation element that intersects the curvature. The rounded apex includes the characteristic of when the rounded apex is loaded against a rock formation, the rounded apex fails the rock formation forming a crushed barrier ahead of the rounded apex that shields the rounded apex from a virgin portion of the rock formation while still allowing the rounded apex to penetrate below a surface of the rock formation.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a fixed bladed drill bit comprises a working surface comprising a plurality of blades converging at a center of the working surface and diverging towards a gauge of the bit. Each blade comprises a plurality of pointed cutting elements and another plurality of shearing cutters. The plurality of shearing cutters comprises a first shearing cutter. The first shearing cutter on each blade tracks the first shearing cutter on other blades along a common circular cutting path.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a drill bit assembly for downhole drilling comprises an outer bit comprising a central axis and an outer cutting area and an inner bit disposed within the outer bit and comprising an inner cutting area. The outer bit comprises a first plurality of cutting elements and the inner bit comprises a second plurality of cutting elements wherein an average distance of each cutting element in the first plurality to the central axis forms a first moment arm and an average distance of each cutting element in the second plurality to the central axis forms a second moment arm. A ratio of the inner cutting area to the outer cutting area is substantially equal to a ratio of the outer moment arm to the inner moment arm.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a downhole fixed bladed bit comprises a working surface comprising a plurality of blades converging at a center of the working surface and diverging towards a gauge of the bit, at least on blade comprising a cutting element comprising a superhard material bonded to a cemented metal carbide substrate at a non-planer interface, the cutting element being positioned at a positive rake angle, and the superhard material comprising a substantially conical geometry with an apex comprising a curvature.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a downhole fixed bladed bit comprises a working surface comprising a plurality of blades converging at a center of the working surface and diverging towards a gauge of the bit, at least on blade comprising a cutting element comprising a superhard material bonded to a cemented metal carbide substrate at a non-planer interface, the cutting element being positioned at a positive rake angle, and the superhard material comprising a substantially conical geometry with an apex comprising a curvature.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a downhole fixed bladed bit comprises a working surface comprising a plurality of blades converging at a center of the working surface and diverging towards a gauge of the bit, at least on blade comprising a cutting element comprising a superhard material bonded to a cemented metal carbide substrate at a non-planer interface, the cutting element being positioned at a positive rake angle, and the superhard material comprising a substantially conical geometry with an apex comprising a curvature.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a downhole fixed bladed bit comprises a working surface comprising a plurality of blades converging at a center of the working surface and diverging towards a gauge of the bit, at least on blade comprising a cutting element comprising a superhard material bonded to a cemented metal carbide substrate at a non-planer interface, the cutting element being positioned at a positive rake angle, and the superhard material comprising a substantially conical geometry with an apex comprising a curvature.

Abstract: A dressing blade for finishing and reconditioning new and used abrasive grinding and cutting tools has a slab-shaped shank with an extension protruding longitudinally from the shank. Superabrasive grains are disposed on the surface of the extension and held in place by a brazed metal composition. This composition is formed by brazing a powdered mixture of brazing metal components and active metal components. Specific extension configurations are provided which allow aligning the superabrasive grains in single layer arrangement for precise dressing and simple fabrication of the tool. The novel dressing tool exhibits excellent wear characteristics.