Apparatus and Method of Manufacture for a Mechanical Radial Drilling Cutting Head

Abstract

A cutting head apparatus for mechanical radial drilling that includes one or more cutting inserts and at least one fluid passage way for the flow of drilling fluid through the cutting head.

1 . A cutting-head apparatus for mechanical radial-drilling comprising:
 one or more cutting inserts; and   at least one fluid passage way for the flow of drilling fluid through the cutting head.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising the cutting inserts having a profiled cutting edge that point loads a rock being cut. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting inserts are PDC inserts. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising two or more cutting inserts each having different but complimentary cutting profiles; said inserts positioned upon the cutting head to successively cut portions of a rock that are left uncut by another cutting insert. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein drilling-fluid exiting the cutting head contacts a lower portion of the cutting inserts. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein drilling-fluid traverses through a centrally located orifice on the cutting head. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the drilling-fluid exits the cutting head and is split by the one or more cutting inserts. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a groove that extends longitudinally along the cutting head to channel drilling fluid away from the cutting inserts. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein one or more cutting inserts have a bottom edge with a chamfer. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein one or more cutting inserts have a bottom edge with a radius. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one cutting insert comprises a cutting edge with a chip breaker. 
     
     
         12 . A cutting-head apparatus for mechanical radial drilling comprising:
 two or more cutting inserts having a profiled cutting edge that point-loads a rock being cut, each having different but complimentary cutting profiles, said inserts positioned upon the cutting head to successively cut portions of the rock that are left uncut by another cutting insert;   at least one fluid passage-way for the flow of drilling fluid through the cutting head;   wherein drilling-fluid exiting the cutting-head contacts a lower portion of the cutting inserts.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the cutting inserts are PDC cutting inserts. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein drilling fluid traverses through a centrally located orifice on the cutting head. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the drilling fluid exits the cutting head and is split by the one or more cutting inserts. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a groove that extends longitudinally along the cutting head to channel drilling fluid away from the cutting inserts. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein one or more cutting inserts have a bottom edge with a chamfer. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein at least one cutting insert comprises a cutting edge with a radius. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein at least one cutting insert comprises a cutting edge with a chip breaker. 
     
     
         20 . A method of manufacturing a profile on an insert used on a cutting head for radial drilling comprising electrical discharge machining the insert. 
     
     
         21 . A method of placing a cutting insert on a cutting head used in radial drilling comprising positioning an insert with a first shape that mates into a second shape in a seat on the cutting head.