Rotary drill bits may include on or more cutting element assemblies which include a cutter and a mounting system. In one embodiment, the mounting system includes a housing, a first bearing component disposed within the housing, and a second bearing component associated with the cutting element. In certain embodiments, the bearing components may comprise a table of superhard material bonded with a substrate. In one or more embodiments, the bearing components may include bearing surfaces that are arcuate. For example, the bearing surfaces may be substantially spherical (a portion of a sphere). The bearing components may be arranged to act as a radial bearing as well as a thrust bearing for the cutting element, enabling the cutting element to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the cutter, relative to the housing, while also enabling the longitudinal axis of the cutter to be displaced (change angles) relative to the housing.

Rotary drill bits may include on or more cutting element assemblies which include a cutter and a mounting system. In one embodiment, the mounting system includes a housing, a first bearing component disposed within the housing, and a second bearing component associated with the cutting element. In certain embodiments, the bearing components may comprise a table of superhard material bonded with a substrate. In one or more embodiments, the bearing components may include bearing surfaces that are arcuate. For example, the bearing surfaces may be substantially spherical (a portion of a sphere). The bearing components may be arranged to act as a radial bearing as well as a thrust bearing for the cutting element, enabling the cutting element to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the cutter, relative to the housing, while also enabling the longitudinal axis of the cutter to be displaced (change angles) relative to the housing.

Methods of preventing or reducing cutter loss in a steel body PDC drilling tool may include applying a hardfacing layer on a surface of a PDC cutter pocket to form a covered PDC cutter pocket, the hardfacing layer comprising a metal binder and coated tungsten carbide particles; and bonding a PDC cutter into the covered PDC cutter pocket with a brazing material. Steel body PDC drilling tools may include a steel body, a PDC cutter, a PDC cutter pocket, and a hardfacing layer. Methods of preventing or reducing cutter loss in a steel body PDC drilling tool may include applying a hardfacing layer on a surface of a PDC cutter pocket of the steel body PDC drilling tool; applying a coated buffering layer on the hardfacing layer to form a coated PDC cutter pocket; and bonding the PDC cutter into the coated PDC cutter pocket with a brazing material.

In accordance with some embodiments, a downhole drilling tool comprises a bit body, a blade on an exterior portion of the bit body, and a gage pad on the blade. The gage pad includes a ball retainer and a ball located in the ball retainer such that an exposed portion of the ball is positioned to contact a wellbore and rotate in response to frictional engagement with the wellbore.

In accordance with some embodiments, a downhole drilling tool comprises a bit body, a blade on an exterior portion of the bit body, and a gage pad on the blade. The gage pad includes a ball retainer and a ball located in the ball retainer such that an exposed portion of the ball is positioned to contact a wellbore and rotate in response to frictional engagement with the wellbore.

Embodiments of the present invention provides cutting elements for use on rotary drill bits for drilling subterranean formations. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to cutting elements having a shaped upper surface including at least one spoke for cutting and/or failing subterranean formations during drilling. The present disclosure also relates to drill bits incorporating one or more of such cutting elements.

Embodiments of the present invention provides cutting elements for use on rotary drill bits for drilling subterranean formations. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to cutting elements having a shaped upper surface including at least one spoke for cutting and/or failing subterranean formations during drilling. The present disclosure also relates to drill bits incorporating one or more of such cutting elements.

A bit has a bit body. A pocket is formed in a surface of the bit body. The pocket has an opening at the surface and is defined by a rear wall with a sidewall extending between the rear wall and the surface. The pocket includes a stress relief feature at a front end of the sidewall to reduce stress concentrations in the bit body at or near the pocket, a stress relief feature at a rear end of the sidewall to reduce stress concentrations in the bit body at or near the pocket, or stress relief features at both front and rear ends of the sidewall.

A bit has a bit body. A pocket is formed in a surface of the bit body. The pocket has an opening at the surface and is defined by a rear wall with a sidewall extending between the rear wall and the surface. The pocket includes a stress relief feature at a front end of the sidewall to reduce stress concentrations in the bit body at or near the pocket, a stress relief feature at a rear end of the sidewall to reduce stress concentrations in the bit body at or near the pocket, or stress relief features at both front and rear ends of the sidewall.

A method of treating a cutter element comprises contacting at least a portion of a volume of polycrystalline diamond with an electrolyte solution, applying an electrical current between the volume of the polycrystalline diamond and a counter electrode to maintain a predetermined electrochemical potential between a reference electrode and the volume of polycrystalline diamond, and corroding at least a portion of the catalyst material from the interstitial spaces between the diamond grains in the volume of polycrystalline diamond. The volume of the polycrystalline diamond comprises interbonded diamond grains and a catalyst material disposed in the interstitial spaces between adjacent diamond grains in the volume of polycrystalline diamond. The counter electrode is in contact with the electrolyte solution, and the electrical current is supplied at a substantially constant electrochemical potential between a reference electrode and the volume of polycrystalline diamond.