CUTTER ASSEMBLIES FOR ROTARY DRILL BITS

摘要

A cutter assembly for a rotary drill bit comprises an elongate stud to be received in a socket in the surface of the bit body, the stud having mounted at one end thereof a preform cutting element. At least a major part of the stud is generally in the form of a cylinder of a circular cross-section having two symmetrically disposed flats extending longitudinally thereof, the flats being inclined towards the longitudinal axis of the stud as they extend towards the end of the stud remote from the cutting element. The flats allow the cutter assemblies to be packed together more closely side-by-side across a convexly curved surface of the body of the drill bit.