US 10,598,221 B2 · Permanent magnet thrust bearing

Abstract

A magnetic thrust bearing is designed for use in a pumping system that includes a pump driven by a motor through a shaft. The magnetic thrust bearing includes one or more platters that remain stationary with respect to the shaft and one or more thrust discs connected to the shaft and interleaved with the one or more platters. Each of the one or more platters includes a plurality of platter magnets and each of the one or more thrust discs includes a plurality of thrust disc magnets. The magnets on the platters and thrust discs are configured to produce repulsive magnetic forces as the thrust discs approach the platters.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An electric submersible pumping system for use in pumping fluids from a wellbore, the electric submersible pumping system comprising:

a motor;
a pump driven by the motor;
and
a thrust chamber connected between the motor and the pump, wherein the thrust chamber comprises:
a housing;
a shaft;
and
a magnetic thrust bearing, wherein the magnetic thrust bearing comprises:
a first platter connected to the housing, wherein the first platter produces a first platter magnetic field;
a second platter connected to the housing, wherein the second platter produces a second platter magnetic field;
and
a first thrust disc connected to the shaft and located between the first platter and the second platter, wherein the first thrust disc produces a first thrust disc magnetic field that opposes both the first platter magnetic field and the second platter magnetic field.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Permanent magnet thrust bearing

Life of this patent

Permanent magnet thrust bearing

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20