Bearing assemblies and apparatuses including tilting superhard bearing elements, and motor assemblies using the same

摘要

Embodiments relate to tilting superhard bearing element bearing assemblies and apparatuses. The disclosed assemblies/apparatuses may be employed in downhole motors of a subterranean drilling system or other mechanical systems. In an embodiment, a bearing assembly may include a support ring and a plurality of superhard bearing elements each of which is tilted and/or tiltably secured relative to the support ring and distributed circumferentially about an axis. Each of the superhard bearing elements includes a bearing surface and a base portion. The base portion of the at least one of the superhard bearing elements may include a tilting feature configured to allow the at least one of the superhard bearing elements to be tiltable about a tilt axis. The bearing assembly includes retaining features that secure the superhard bearing elements to the support ring.

主权项

1. A bearing assembly, comprising:
a support ring including a plurality of recesses; a plurality of superhard bearing elements each of which is positioned in a corresponding recess of the plurality of recesses, the plurality of superhard bearing elements distributed circumferentially about an axis, each of the plurality of superhard bearing elements including a superhard element having a bearing surface and a base portion bonded to the superhard element, the base portion including a convex tilting feature configured to allow a corresponding one of the plurality of superhard bearing elements to be tiltable about a corresponding tilt axis; and a plurality of elongated retaining members that tiltably secure the plurality of superhard bearing elements to the support ring, each of the plurality of elongated retaining members having a longitudal axis extending radially when the bearing assembly is a thrust-bearing assembly or extending axially when the bearing assembly is a radial bearing assembly, at least part of each of the plurality of elongated retaining members is positioned in the base portion of the corresponding one of the plurality of superhard bearing elements.