Cutter assemblies for rotary drill bits

摘要

A cutter assembly for a rotary drag-type drill bit includes a preform cutting element comprising a front facing table of polycrystalline diamond bonded to a tungsten carbide substrate, the cutting element being mounted on a tungsten carbide carrier which is received in a socket in the body of the drill bit. The carrier comprises a sector-shaped portion of a disc, and the cutting element is bonded to one of the straight edge surfaces of the carrier, adjacent the apex of the sector shape. The side surfaces of the carrier taper inwardly, as viewed in cross-section, as they extend towards the curved edge surface of the carrier.