Bearing assemblies, and related methods

摘要

Bearing components, bearing assemblies and related methods are provided. In one embodiment, a bearing element includes a base layer and a polycrystalline diamond (PCD) layer comprising a plurality of PCD elements coupled with the base layer wherein each PCD element comprising a substrate and a diamond table. The plurality of PCD elements may be fit together to form a substantially continuous bearing surface. For example, the diamond tables may exhibit substantially square or rectangular geometries that are fit together to define the bearing surface. In other embodiments, the bearing elements may be spaced apart from one another. In other embodiments, the bearing element may include a single PCD element formed from a prefabricated PCD compact or cutting tool blank. Various bearing assemblies may incorporate such a bearing element including, for example, thrust bearings, journal bearings, and tilting pad bearing assemblies.

主权项

1. A bearing assembly, comprising:
a first tilting pad bearing assembly including a first support body and a plurality of first tilting pad bearings attached to the first support body and circumferentially spaced from each other, the plurality of first tilting pad bearings generally defining a first collective bearing surface, the first support body and the plurality of first tilting pad bearings being cooperatively configured to limit tilting of each of the plurality of first tilting pad bearings to no more than two degrees of tilting freedom; a second tilting pad bearing assembly including a plurality of second tilting pad bearings circumferentially spaced from each other and defining a second collective bearing surface; and a runner bearing disposed between the first and second tilting pad bearing assemblies, the runner including a third bearing surface and a fourth bearing surface, the third bearing surface generally opposing the first collective bearing surface of the first tilting pad bearing assembly, and the fourth bearing surface generally opposing the second collective bearing surface of the second tilting pad bearing assembly; wherein:
one or more of the first collective bearing surface, the second collective bearing surface, the third bearing surface, or the fourth bearing surface include superhard material including a polycrystalline diamond (“PCD”) material; andthe PCD material forms one or more of the third bearing surface or the fourth bearing surface.