ROTATIONALLY INDEXABLE CUTTING ELEMENTS AND DRILL BITS THEREFOR

摘要

A cutting element (40, 140, 240) for use with a drill bit (10, 110, 210) includes a substrate (42, 142, 242) having a longitudinal axis (50, 150, 250), a lateral surface (52, 152, 242) substantially symmetric about the longitudinal axis and one or more key elements (54, 154, 254) coupled to the lateral surface (52, 152, 242). The lateral surface (52, 152, 242) lies between an insertion end (56, 156, 256) and a cutting end (58, 158) of the substrate (42, 142, 242). The one or more key elements (54, 154, 254) are substantially axially aligned with the longitudinal axis (50) and configured to selectively rotationally locate the substrate in a pocket (41, 141, 241). A drill bit (10, 110, 210) configured for retaining a cutting element 40, 140, 240 having one or more key elements (54, 154, 254) is also disclosed.