Patent ID: 7958951

Claim:
A method for assembling an underreaming tool, comprising the steps of: providing a tubular body, a drive tube, at least one blade element, at least one wedge element, and a stop mechanism, wherein: the tubular body comprises: an axial cavity configured to house the drive tube, the axial cavity spanning an entire length of the tubular body; and at least one guide channel configured to, at least, partially house the at least one blade element and the at least one wedge element, the at least one guide channel comprising an opening in the tubular body that opens into the axial cavity; the drive tube comprises at least one longitudinal groove axially disposed along a length of the drive tube; the at least one wedge element comprises: a first side having at least one lateral projection configured to axially slide into the at least one longitudinal groove to couple the at least one wedge element to the drive tube; and a second side configured to slideably couple the at least one wedge element to the at least one blade element; and the stop mechanism comprises a threaded sleeve configured to screw onto the drive tube such that the threaded sleeve directly locks the at least one wedge element in the at least one longitudinal groove once the at least one lateral projection is slid into the at least one longitudinal groove and the threaded sleeve is screwed onto the drive tube; and coupling the at least one wedge element to the at least one blade element; housing the at least one blade element in the at least one guide channel; inserting the drive tube into the axial cavity; sliding the at least one lateral projection into the at least one longitudinal groove; and screwing the threaded sleeve onto the drive tube.