Circumvolve cutters for drill bit

Abstract

A drill bit comprising a cutter assembly, further comprising a planar table and a cutter substrate coupled to the planar table, wherein the cutter substrate has a cutter body axis and wherein the planar table is operable to rotate about the cutter body axis. The planar table may be exposed to the rock formation for cutting purposes but may rotate to reduce the time that any specific portion of the cutting edge is exposed to the formation to extend the life of the planar table, among other benefits.

1 . A cutter assembly for a drill bit, comprising:
 a planar table; and   a cutter substrate coupled to the planar table, wherein the cutter substrate has a cutter body axis and wherein the planar table is operable to rotate about the cutter body axis.   
     
     
         2 . The cutter assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a rotary bearing operable to facilitate the rotation of the planar table. 
     
     
         3 . The cutter assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the planar table is positioned on a cutting face of the drill bit and is operable to rotate in response to contact with a solid surface as the drill bit engages the solid surface. 
     
     
         4 . The cutter assembly of  claim 3 , further comprising a dampening mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The cutter assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the cutter assembly is mounted on a profile blade of the drill bit. 
     
     
         6 . A cutter assembly for a drill bit, comprising:
 a planar table; and   a dampening mechanism operable to reduce an impact force applied to the drill bit in response to contact between the planar table and a solid surface as the drill bit engages the solid surface.   
     
     
         7 . The cutter assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the dampening mechanism is operable to provide self-balancing of the drill bit. 
     
     
         8 . The cutter assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the dampening mechanism is operable to reduce overloading of the drill bit. 
     
     
         9 . The cutter assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the dampening mechanism activates when the impact force exceeds a selected amount of force. 
     
     
         10 . The cutter assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a cutter substrate coupled to the planar table, wherein the cutter substrate has a cutter body axis and wherein the planar table is operable to rotate about the cutter body axis. 
     
     
         11 . A method for drilling a formation, the method comprising the steps of
 providing a drill bit comprising a cutter assembly, wherein the cutter assembly comprises a cutter substrate having a planar table operable to rotate axially about a cutter body axis and comprising a cutting surface;   disposing the drill bit in a well bore adjacent to a formation;   rotating the drill bit around a bit axis;   engaging a portion of the planar table against the formation to cut a portion of the formation; and   rotating the planar table.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of rotating the planar table further comprises reducing an amount of time a portion of the cutting surface of the planar table contacts the formation. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of dampening at least a portion of the impact on the cutter assembly resulting from the planar table engaging the formation. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of rotating the planar table further comprises the step of allowing the planar table to circumvolve about the cutter body axis as the planar table contacts the formation. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of substantially evenly distributing abrasive wear across the cutting surface of the planar table during drilling. 
     
     
         16 . A method for drilling a formation, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a drill bit comprising a cutter assembly, wherein the cutter assembly comprises a planar table and a dampening mechanism;   disposing the drill bit in a well bore adjacent to a formation;   rotating the drill bit around a bit axis;   engaging a portion of the planar table against the formation to cut a portion of the formation; and   dampening at least a portion of the impact on the drill bit as the drill bit engages the formation.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of dampening at least a portion of the impact on the drill bit further comprises the step of activating the dampening mechanism at a selected amount of force. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of rotating the planar table as the planar table engages the formation. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of self-balancing the drill bit. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of reducing the overloading of the drill bit.