Drilling apparatus with a unitary bearing housing

A drilling apparatus comprising a drive section and a bearing section axially distal to the drive section, wherein the bearing section comprises:

• (a) a unitary bearing housing having a proximal bearing housing end, a distal bearing housing end, and defining a bearing housing bore;
• (b) a driveshaft received within the bearing housing bore, wherein the driveshaft is rotatable relative to the bearing housing;
• and
• (c) a bearing assembly radially interposed between the bearing housing and the driveshaft, for rotatably supporting the driveshaft within the bearing housing bore, wherein the bearing assembly comprises a first bearing comprising a stationary first bearing component, wherein the bearing assembly comprises a first sleeve which is non-rotatably engaged with the bearing housing and which is non-rotatably engaged with the stationary first bearing component so that the stationary first bearing component is non-rotatable relative to the bearing housing, wherein the bearing assembly comprises a second bearing comprising a stationary second bearing component, wherein the bearing assembly comprises a second sleeve which is non-rotatably engaged with the bearing housing and which is non-rotatably engaged with the stationary second bearing component so that the stationary second bearing component is non-rotatable relative to the bearing housing, wherein one of the first bearing and the second bearing is a thrust bearing, and wherein the other of the first bearing and the second bearing is a radial bearing.

A drilling apparatus comprising a drive section and a bearing section axially distal to the drive section, wherein the bearing section comprises:

• (a) a unitary bearing housing having a proximal bearing housing end, a distal bearing housing end, and defining a bearing housing bore;
• (b) a driveshaft received within the bearing housing bore, wherein the driveshaft is rotatable relative to the bearing housing;
• and
• (c) a bearing assembly radially interposed between the bearing housing and the driveshaft, for rotatably supporting the driveshaft within the bearing housing bore, wherein the bearing assembly comprises a first bearing comprising a stationary first bearing component, wherein the bearing assembly comprises a first sleeve which is non-rotatably engaged with the bearing housing and which is non-rotatably engaged with the stationary first bearing component so that the stationary first bearing component is non-rotatable relative to the bearing housing, wherein the bearing assembly comprises a third bearing comprising a stationary third bearing component, wherein the first sleeve is non-rotatably engaged with the stationary third bearing component so that the stationary third bearing component is non-rotatable relative to the bearing housing, wherein one of the first bearing and the third bearing is a thrust bearing, and wherein the other of the first bearing and the third bearing is a radial bearing.

A drilling apparatus comprising a drive section and a bearing section axially distal to the drive section, wherein the bearing section comprises:

• (a) a unitary bearing housing having a proximal bearing housing end, a distal bearing housing end, and defining a bearing housing bore;
• (b) a driveshaft received within the bearing housing bore, wherein the driveshaft is rotatable relative to the bearing housing;
• and
• (c) a bearing assembly radially interposed between the bearing housing and the driveshaft, for rotatably supporting the driveshaft within the bearing housing bore, wherein the bearing assembly comprises a first bearing comprising a stationary first bearing component, wherein the bearing assembly comprises a first sleeve which is non-rotatably engaged with the bearing housing and which is non-rotatably engaged with the stationary first bearing component so that the stationary first bearing component is non-rotatable relative to the bearing housing, wherein the bearing assembly comprises a second bearing comprising a stationary second bearing component, wherein the bearing assembly comprises a second sleeve which is non-rotatably engaged with the bearing housing and which is non-rotatably engaged with the stationary second bearing component so that the stationary second bearing component is non-rotatable relative to the bearing housing, wherein the bearing assembly comprises a third bearing comprising a stationary third bearing component, wherein the first sleeve is non-rotatably engaged with the stationary third bearing component so that the stationary third bearing component is non-rotatable relative to the bearing housing, wherein one of the first bearing and the third bearing is a thrust bearing, and wherein the other of the first bearing and the third bearing is a radial bearing.