Bearing assemblies, apparatuses, and related methods of manufacture

摘要

In an embodiment, a bearing assembly may include a support ring to which one or more superhard bearing elements may be mounted. The support ring may include one or more relief features configured to reduce residual stresses in the superhard bearing elements that are induced by brazing the superhard bearing elements to the support ring, operational loads, other processes, or combinations of the foregoing. Reducing the residual stresses in the superhard bearing elements may help prevent damage to the superhard bearing elements. The bearing assembly may be used in subterranean drilling systems and/or other types of systems.

主权项

1. A bearing assembly for use in a subterranean drilling system, the bearing assembly comprising:
a plurality of superhard bearing elements; and a support ring including:
a plurality of recesses distributed circumferentially about a rotation axis, wherein a corresponding one of the plurality of superhard bearing elements is affixed to the support ring in a corresponding one of the plurality of recesses; anda plurality of relief features formed in the support ring including two closed ends that are bounded by the support ring, each of the plurality of relief features disposed between adjacent recesses of the plurality of recesses.