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US 10,473,154 B2Granted
Tilting pad bearing assemblies, and bearing apparatuses and methods of using the same
AssigneeUS Synthetic Corporation
InventorJair J. Gonzalez
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to tilting pad bearing assemblies, bearing apparatuses including the tilting pad bearing assemblies, and methods of using the bearing apparatuses. The tilting pad bearing assemblies disclosed herein include a plurality of tilting pads. At least some of the superhard tables exhibit a thickness that is at least about 0.120 inch and/or at least two layers having different wear and/or thermal characteristics.
Claims22
A tilting pad bearing assembly, comprising:
- a support ring;
- and
- a plurality of tilting pads distributed circumferentially about an axis and tilted and/or tiltably secured relative to the support ring;
- each of the plurality of tilting pads including a superhard table having a superhard bearing surface, a lower surface, and at least one peripheral surface extending between the superhard bearing surface and the lower surface;
- wherein the superhard table of at least some of the plurality of tilting pads includes at least one of:
- polycrystalline diamond exhibiting a thickness that is at least 0.200 inch, wherein the thickness of the superhard table is substantially uniform therethrough;
- or
- a lower layer extending from the lower surface towards the superhard bearing surface and an upper layer extending from at least a portion of the superhard bearing surface towards the lower surface, the upper layer exhibiting a higher abrasion resistance than the lower layer.
5 more elements
A bearing apparatus, comprising
- a first bearing assembly including:
- a first support ring;
- and
- one or more bearing elements distributed circumferentially about an axis, the one or more bearing elements including a bearing surface, wherein the one or more bearing elements are secured to the first support ring;
- and
- a second bearing assembly including:
- a second support ring;
- and
- a plurality of tilting pads distributed circumferentially about the axis and tilted and/or tiltably secured relative to the second support ring;
- each of the plurality of tilting pads including a superhard table having a superhard bearing surface, a lower surface, and at least one peripheral surface extending between the superhard bearing surface and the lower surface;
- wherein the superhard table of at least some of the plurality of tilting pads includes at least one of:
- polycrystalline diamond exhibiting a thickness that is at least 0.200 inch, wherein the thickness of the superhard table is substantially uniform therethrough;
- or
- a lower layer extending from the lower surface towards the superhard bearing surface and an upper layer extending from at least a portion of the superhard bearing surface towards the lower surface, the upper layer exhibiting a higher abrasion resistance than the lower layer.
11 more elements
A method of operating a bearing apparatus, the method comprising:
- rotating a rotor relative to a stator;
- wherein at least one of the stator or the rotor includes:
- a first support ring;
- and
- one or more bearing elements distributed circumferentially about an axis, the one or more bearing elements including a bearing surface, wherein the one or more bearing elements are secured to the first support ring;
- and
- wherein the other of the stator or the rotor includes:
- a second support ring;
- and
- a plurality of tilting pads distributed circumferentially about the axis and tilted and/or tiltably secured relative to the second support ring;
- each of the plurality of tilting pads including a superhard table having a superhard bearing surface, a lower surface, and at least one peripheral surface extending between the superhard bearing surface and the lower surface;
- wherein the superhard table of at least some of the plurality of tilting pads includes at least one of:
- polycrystalline diamond exhibiting a thickness that is at least 0.200 inch, wherein the thickness of the superhard table is substantially uniform therethrough;
- or
- a lower layer extending from the lower surface towards the superhard bearing surface and an upper layer extending from at least a portion of the superhard bearing surface towards the lower surface, the upper layer exhibiting a higher abrasion resistance than the lower layer.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.