Tilting pad bearing assemblies; bearing apparatuses and methods of using the same

A bearing apparatus, comprising:

• a first bearing assembly including:
• a first support ring;
• and
• a plurality of tilting pads distributed circumferentially about an axis, each of the plurality of tilting pads tilted and/or tiltably secured relative to the support ring wherein the plurality of tilting pads include:
• one or more of first tilting pads, each of the one or more first tilting pads including a first superhard bearing surface including a first material comprising a superhard material;
• and
• one or more of second tilting pads that are distinct from the one or more first tilting pads, each of the one or more second tilting pads including a second bearing surface comprising a second material that is different than the first material;
• and
• a second bearing assembly including:
• a second support ring;
• and
• an at least substantially continuous bearing element extending about the axis, the at least substantially continuous bearing element includes an at least substantially continuous bearing surface, the at least substantially continuous bearing element secured to the second support ring.

A bearing apparatus, comprising:

• a stator assembly including:
• a first support ring;
• and
• a plurality of tilting pads distributed circumferentially about an axis, each of the plurality of tilting pads tilted and/or tiltably secured relative to the support ring wherein the plurality of tilting pads include:
• one or more of first tilting pads, each of the one or more first tilting pads including a first superhard bearing surface including a first material comprising a superhard material;
• and
• one or more of second tilting pads that are distinct from the one or more first tilting pads, each of the one or more second tilting pads including a second bearing surface comprising a second material that is different than the first material;
• and
• a rotor assembly including:
• a second support ring;
• and
• one or more superhard bearing elements extending about the axis, each of the one or more superhard bearing elements including a superhard bearing surface, each of the one or more superhard bearing elements secured to the second support ring;
• wherein at least one of the one or more first tilting pads, one or more second tilting pads, or the one or more superhard bearing elements include polycrystalline diamond, the polycrystalline diamond including a plurality of diamond grains defining a plurality of interstitial regions.