Bearing Assemblies, Apparatuses, And Methods Including Bearing Elements

What is this patent about?

’995 is related to the field of bearing assemblies , particularly those used in high-load applications such as subterranean drilling systems, turbomachinery, and power plant machinery. These assemblies are crucial for supporting axial and radial loads generated during operation, and their performance directly impacts the efficiency and longevity of the equipment.

The underlying idea behind ’995 is to improve bearing performance and reduce failure rates by using a combination of spheroid convex bearing surfaces on one set of bearing elements and planar bearing surfaces on the opposing set. This configuration allows for a degree of misalignment between the rotor and stator while maintaining sufficient contact area to support high loads.

The claims of ’995 focus on a bearing assembly comprising a first bearing assembly with a first support ring and one or more first bearing elements having bearing surfaces each exhibiting a partially spheroid convex shape, and a second bearing assembly comprising a second support ring and second bearing elements having bearing surfaces each exhibiting a planar shape, the second bearing elements positioned at an oblique angle relative to an intended axis of rotation of a portion of the bearing assembly, wherein the second bearing elements are positioned substantially symmetrically about a partially conical surface substantially centered about the intended axis of rotation, wherein the bearing surfaces of the second bearing elements are configured to engage with the bearing surfaces of the one or more first bearing elements, wherein engagement of the bearing surfaces of the one or more first bearing elements with the bearing surfaces of the second bearing elements is configured to primarily support a load applied between the first bearing assembly and the second bearing assembly.

In practice, the bearing assembly operates by allowing the spheroid convex surfaces of the first bearing elements to roll or slide against the planar surfaces of the second bearing elements. The oblique angle of the planar surfaces relative to the axis of rotation creates a conical bearing surface, which accommodates some degree of axial misalignment or deflection of the rotating shaft. This is particularly important in applications like drilling, where the output shaft can experience significant angular deviations.

This design differentiates itself from traditional bearing assemblies that rely on matching curved surfaces, which can be more sensitive to misalignment and require tighter manufacturing tolerances. By using planar surfaces on one set of bearing elements, the ’995 design simplifies manufacturing and potentially reduces costs, while still providing robust load support and accommodating shaft deflections. The point contact between the spherical apex and planar surface may also reduce friction and heat generation compared to line contact configurations.