Patent ID: RE42445

Claim:
An earth boring bit, comprising: a bit body having a bit axis of rotation; first, second and third cones rotatably mounted to the bit body, each of the cones having a plurality of rows of cutting elements, each of the cutting elements comprising an insert having a barrel pressed into a mating hole in one of the cones, the rows of cutting elements including a heel row and an adjacent row; the heel row of the first cone having at least equal the number of cutting elements as the heel row of the second cone and 20-50% more cutting elements than the heel row of the third cone; and the adjacent row of the second cone having at least 90 percent as many cutting elements as the heel row of the first cone . ; wherein the heel row and the adjacent row of the second cone are staggered relative to each other such that an outermost portion of the barrel of each of the cutting elements of the adjacent row of the second cone is substantially as far from the bit axis as an innermost portion of the barrel of each of the cutting elements of the heel row of the second cone; and wherein the heel row and the adjacent row of the third cone are staggered relative to each other such that an outermost portion of the barrel of each of the cutting elements of the adjacent row of the third cone is substantially as far from the bit axis as an innermost portion of the barrel each of the cutting elements of the heel row of the third cone.