A cutting element includes a sleeve, a rotatable cutting element, and at least one retaining ring. The sleeve has a first inner diameter and a second inner diameter, wherein the second inner diameter is larger than the first inner diameter and located at a lower axial position than the first inner diameter. The rotatable cutting element has an axis of rotation extending therethrough, a cutting face, a body extending axially downward from the cutting face, wherein the body has a shaft that is disposed within the sleeve, and a circumferential groove formed around an outer surface of the shaft. The at least one retaining ring is disposed in the circumferential groove and extends at least around the entire circumference of the shaft, wherein the at least one retaining ring protrudes from the circumferential groove, thereby retaining the rotatable cutting element within the sleeve.

A cutting element includes a sleeve, a rotatable cutting element, and at least one retaining ring. The sleeve has a first inner diameter and a second inner diameter, wherein the second inner diameter is larger than the first inner diameter and located at a lower axial position than the first inner diameter. The rotatable cutting element has an axis of rotation extending therethrough, a cutting face, a body extending axially downward from the cutting face, wherein the body has a shaft that is disposed within the sleeve, and a circumferential groove formed around an outer surface of the shaft. The at least one retaining ring is disposed in the circumferential groove and extends at least around the entire circumference of the shaft, wherein the at least one retaining ring protrudes from the circumferential groove, thereby retaining the rotatable cutting element within the sleeve.

Earth boring tools are described herein employing sintered cemented carbide compositions in conjunction with thin-walled architectures. In some embodiments, an earth boring tool comprises a drill bit comprising a cutting portion and a body portion, the body portion including a sintered cemented carbide shell having wall thickness of 5 percent to 25 percent of the drill bit diameter.

A cutter head arrangement comprising a cutter head portion including a cutter head side wall to define a chamber (or cavity) surrounded by the cutter head side wall. A substantially circular rim portion extends from (a distal end of) the cutter head side wall, the rim portion defining a working, contact face of the cutter head portion. A recessed wall portion extends away from the rim portion inwardly into the chanber so as to be surrounded by the cutter head side wall, with the rim portion and/or the recessed wall portion being fitter with a plurality of cutter elemenets, to enable the cutter head portion to blind bore a pilot hole in use. The recessed wall portion that extends away from the rim portion inwardly into the chamber is a substantially conical body so as to define a conical recess.

A cutter head arrangement comprising a cutter head portion including a cutter head side wall to define a chamber (or cavity) surrounded by the cutter head side wall. A substantially circular rim portion extends from (a distal end of) the cutter head side wall, the rim portion defining a working, contact face of the cutter head portion. A recessed wall portion extends away from the rim portion inwardly into the chanber so as to be surrounded by the cutter head side wall, with the rim portion and/or the recessed wall portion being fitter with a plurality of cutter elemenets, to enable the cutter head portion to blind bore a pilot hole in use. The recessed wall portion that extends away from the rim portion inwardly into the chamber is a substantially conical body so as to define a conical recess.

Methods of forming an earth-boring tool may involve attaching one or more cutting elements to a replaceable cutting structure and positioning the replaceable cutting structure proximate a region of a body of an earth-boring tool that is susceptible to at least one of localized wear and localized impact damage. The replaceable cutting structure may be secured to the body. Methods of repairing an earth-boring tool may involve bringing a replaceable cutting structure proximate at least one portion of a body of an earth-boring tool exhibiting at least one of localized wear and localized impact damage. The replaceable cutting structure may be attached to the earth-boring tool at the at least one portion.

Methods of forming an earth-boring tool may involve attaching one or more cutting elements to a replaceable cutting structure and positioning the replaceable cutting structure proximate a region of a body of an earth-boring tool that is susceptible to at least one of localized wear and localized impact damage. The replaceable cutting structure may be secured to the body. Methods of repairing an earth-boring tool may involve bringing a replaceable cutting structure proximate at least one portion of a body of an earth-boring tool exhibiting at least one of localized wear and localized impact damage. The replaceable cutting structure may be attached to the earth-boring tool at the at least one portion.

An earth-boring tool comprises a bit body and first and second depth of cut control (DOCC) features mounted thereon. The first and second DOCC features comprise a first rubbing surface having a first surface area and a second rubbing surface having a second surface area, respectively, for contacting a subterranean formation. The second surface area is different from the first surface area such that the first and second DOCC features distribute a load attributable to applied weight on bit over the first and second rubbing surfaces at different rates. Methods of forming an earth-boring tool include selecting first and second DOCC features having different rates of engagement with the subterranean formation and mounting the first and second DOCC features on a bit body.

Binder compositions for use in forming a bit body of an earth-boring bit include at least one of cobalt, nickel, and iron, and at least one melting point-reducing constituent selected from at least one of a transition metal carbide up to 60 weight percent, a transition metal boride up to 60 weight percent, and a transition metal silicide up to 60 weight percent, wherein the weight percentages are based on the total weight of the binder. Earth-boring bit bodies include a cemented tungsten carbide material comprising tungsten carbide and a metallic binder, wherein the tungsten carbide comprises greater than 75 volume percent of the cemented tungsten carbide material.

A drill bit in which a cutting element support shoe is mounted to a drill bit member so that it covers a portion of a number cutting elements while leaving the cutting edges of cutting elements exposed to the formation. The drill bit member may include a bit body, blade, arm, or roller, for example. The drill bit member may include a recess into which the cutting element support shoe is received. Cutting element support shoe provides mechanical holding of the cutting elements within their pockets in addition to conventional brazing or other mounting techniques. Once installed, a hard facing material may be applied over the cutting element support shoe as appropriate for increased erosion resistance. In one embodiment, the cutting element support shoe is sized so that when mounted to the drill bit member it is elastically deformed, thereby providing additional cutter retaining force upon attachment.