Dresser Industries, Inc.

Robert C Gum

Thomas M Dennis

William D Vanderford

A gage surface cutting element (22, 30, 50, 70, 100, 120) for a cutter (20) in a roller cone drill bit (10) has a generally cylindrical body (32, 52, 72, 102, 122) formed of a hard and wear-resistant material. The cutting end (34, 54, 74, 104, 124) of the cutting element (22, 30, 50, 70, 100, 120) has a generally conical cutting surface (38, 58, 78, 108, 128) substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body (32, 52, 72, 102, 122). A plurality of generally parallel shallow and elongated grooves (40-42, 60-63, 80-82, 110-112, 130-132) are formed in the conical cutting surface (38, 58, 78, 108, 128), and a plurality of elongated strips of an ultra hard material (44-46, 64-67, 84-86, 114-116, 134-136) is disposed in the grooves. The result is a conical cutting surface (38, 58, 78, 108, 128) that has alternating hard and ultra hard cutting surfaces that can be oriented at 0.degree., 90.degree., or any angle in between with respect to the rotational direction of the cutter cone (20).

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Oklahoma City, OK, United States of America

Robert C Gum