BEARING ASSEMBLIES AND BEARING APPARATUSES

摘要

In an embodiment, a bearing apparatus comprises a first bearing assembly including a plurality of circumferentially-spaced first bearing elements each of which includes a first bearing surface. The bearing apparatus further includes a second bearing assembly including a plurality of circumferentially-spaced second bearing elements each of which includes a second bearing surface oriented to engage the first bearing surfaces of the first bearing assembly during operation. At least one of the second bearing elements may be circumferentially spaced from an adjacent one of the second bearing elements by a lateral spacing greater than a lateral dimension of the at least one of the second bearing elements.

主权项

1. A bearing support ring for use in a bearing assembly of a bearing apparatus used in a subterranean drilling system, the bearing support ring comprising:
a support ring body defining a plurality of circumferentially-spaced recesses, each of the plurality of circumferentially-spaced recesses configured to receive a corresponding one of a plurality of superhard bearing elements; and at least one flow obstruction element positioned and configured to inhibit fluid flow between the plurality of superhard bearing elements, the at least one flow obstruction element positioned circumferentially between circumferentially adjacent recesses of the plurality of circumferentially-spaced recesses, the at least one flow obstruction element including a terminal surface positioned below each bearing surface of the plurality of superhard bearing elements.