BEARING CONTACT PRESSURE REDUCTION IN WELL TOOLS

摘要

A method of reducing contact pressure between bearing surfaces of a well tool can include constructing a structure which supports one bearing surface in contact with the other bearing surface, and reducing contact pressure between the bearing surfaces by relieving strain energy in the structure. A well tool can include one bearing surface which contacts another bearing surface. There is a transition between contact and lack of contact between the bearing surfaces. A structure supporting one of the bearing surfaces can have a reduced stiffness, whereby a contact pressure between the bearing surfaces is reduced at the transition. The bearing surfaces can be formed on a thrust bearing, plain bearing, or other type of bearing between components of the well tool.