Bearing apparatuses and motor assemblies using same

摘要

In an embodiment, a bearing apparatus includes a first bearing assembly including a plurality of first superhard bearing elements. The bearing apparatus further includes a second bearing assembly including a plurality of second superhard bearing elements generally opposing and bearing against the plurality of first superhard bearing elements of the first bearing assembly during operation. A support ring carries the plurality of second superhard bearing elements that are distributed circumferentially about an axis. More than one of the plurality of second superhard bearing elements includes an outer convex peripheral surface that is substantially cylindrical and exhibits a convex curvature, and a cutout at least partially defined by a concave peripheral surface that is substantially cylindrical and curved to generally correspond to the convex curvature of the outer convex peripheral surface. The cutout receives an adjacent one of the plurality of superhard bearing elements.

主权项

1. A bearing apparatus, comprising:
a first bearing assembly including a plurality of first superhard bearing elements each of which includes a first superhard bearing surface, each of the first superhard bearing elements spaced from immediately circumferentially adjacent superhard bearing elements of the plurality of first superhard bearing elements by a distance that is about equal to or greater than an average lateral dimension of the plurality of the first superhard bearing elements; and a second bearing assembly including a plurality of second superhard bearing elements generally opposing and bearing against the plurality of first superhard bearing elements of the first bearing assembly during operation and a support ring that carries the plurality of second superhard bearing elements, the plurality of second superhard bearing elements distributed circumferentially about a rotation axis, more than one of the plurality of second superhard bearing elements including:
a second superhard bearing surface;an outer convex peripheral surface that is substantially cylindrical and exhibits a convex curvature;a cutout at least partially defined by a concave peripheral surface that is substantially cylindrical and curved to generally correspond to the convex curvature of the outer convex peripheral surface; and wherein the cutout receives a portion of an adjacent one of the plurality of second superhard bearing elements; and wherein the second superhard bearing surfaces of the more than one of the plurality of second superhard bearing elements collectively define a bearing surface that is substantially perpendicular or substantially parallel to the rotation axis.