# US 10,480,577 B2 · Asymmetrical radial bearing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,480,577 B2 - Document ID: US10480577B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/776,870 - Filed: 2016-12-21 - Published: 2018-11-22 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2016-01-06 - Assignees: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Applicants: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc. - Inventors: Steven Graham Bell - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480577B2 ## CPC - F16C 33/26: made from wire coils; made from a number of discs, rings, rods, or other members - E21B 4/003: {Bearing, sealing, lubricating details (for roller bits E21B10/22)} - E21B 23/0419: {using down-hole motor and pump arrangements for generating hydraulic pressure} - F16C 17/02: for radial load only - F16C 33/043: {Sliding surface consisting mainly of ceramics, cermets or hard carbon, e.g. diamond like carbon [DLC]} - F16C 2206/04: Diamond like carbon [DLC] - F16C 2240/40: Linear dimensions, e.g. length, radius, thickness, gap - F16C 2352/00: Apparatus for drilling - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A radial bearing for transmitting a radial load, including a first radial bearing component defining a first radial bearing surface and an orientable second radial bearing component defining a second radial bearing surface. At least a portion of the first radial bearing surface is provided by a first radial bearing material. A portion of the second radial bearing surface is provided by a second radial bearing material. The first radial bearing component and the second radial bearing component interact to transmit the radial load between the first radial bearing component and the second radial bearing component at a radial load location on the second radial bearing component. The second radial bearing material is provided as the portion of the second radial bearing surface such that the second radial bearing material is concentrated at the radial load location. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drilling apparatus for use in drilling a borehole, wherein the drilling apparatus has a primary axis, the drilling apparatus comprising: a housing; a shaft within the housing, wherein the shaft is rotatable relative to the housing, wherein the shaft has a shaft axis, and wherein the shaft axis is oblique to the primary axis so that the drilling apparatus has a bend; a bearing assembly for rotatably supporting the shaft within the housing, wherein the bearing assembly comprises one or more thrust bearings and radial bearings, and wherein at least one radial bearing comprises: a first radial bearing component defining a first radial bearing surface, wherein at least a portion of the first radial bearing surface is provided by a first radial bearing material; and a second radial bearing component fixedly connected with the housing and defining a second radial bearing surface, wherein a portion of the second radial bearing surface is provided by a second radial bearing material, wherein the second radial bearing material is a wear resistant material, wherein the first radial bearing component and the second radial bearing component interact to transmit the radial load between the first radial bearing component and the second radial bearing component at a radial load location on the second radial bearing component, wherein the second radial bearing material is provided as the portion of the second radial bearing surface such that the second radial bearing material is concentrated at the radial load location, and wherein the radial load location is defined by the bend in the drilling apparatus. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The drilling apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second radial bearing surface has a circumference and wherein the second radial bearing material is provided along a portion of the circumference of the second radial bearing surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The drilling apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the second radial bearing surface has a length and wherein the second radial bearing material is provided along a portion of the length of the second radial bearing surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The drilling apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second radial bearing surface has a length and wherein the second radial bearing material is provided along a portion of the length of the second radial bearing surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The drilling apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the second radial bearing material is provided along less than one-half of the circumference of the second radial bearing surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The drilling apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second radial bearing material comprises one or more inserts mounted in the second radial bearing component. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The drilling apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second radial bearing material comprises a coating on the second radial bearing component. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The drilling apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein a portion of the second radial bearing component is formed from the second radial bearing material so that the second radial bearing component provides the second radial bearing material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The drilling apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second radial bearing material comprises a plurality of inserts mounted in the second radial bearing component, wherein the plurality of inserts has an area density, and wherein the area density of the inserts is concentrated at the radial load location. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The drilling apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the drilling apparatus is a drilling motor and wherein the bend in the drilling apparatus is provided by a bend in an exterior of the housing, by a bend in an interior of the housing, or by an articulation of the shaft within the housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The drilling apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the drilling apparatus is a rotary steerable drilling apparatus, wherein the rotary steerable drilling apparatus comprises a deflection mechanism, and wherein the bend in the drilling apparatus is caused by a radial deflection of the shaft within the housing by the deflection mechanism. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The drilling apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second radial bearing material is selected from the group of wear resistant materials consisting of a polycrystalline diamond compact material, a diamond impregnated material, a tungsten carbide material, a wear resistant steel material, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The drilling apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one radial bearing further comprises a support ring of a support second radial bearing material, wherein the support ring is provided as a portion of the second radial bearing surface, and wherein the support ring is separate from and axially spaced from the second radial bearing material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The drilling apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the second radial bearing surface has a circumference and wherein the support ring extends around the circumference of the second radial bearing surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The drilling apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first radial bearing surface has a circumference and wherein the first radial bearing material extends substantially around the entire circumference of the first radial bearing surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The drilling apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the first radial bearing material is a wear resistant material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The drilling apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the first radial bearing material comprises one or more inserts mounted in the first radial bearing component. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The drilling apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the first radial bearing material comprises a coating on the first radial bearing component. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The drilling apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein at least a portion of the first radial bearing component is formed from the first radial bearing material so that the first radial bearing component provides the first radial bearing material.