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US 12,378,991 B2Granted
Contained bearing assemblies and related systems and methods
AssigneeUS Synthetic Corporation
InventorsJair J. Gonzalez, Jair A. Gonzalez, Tyler Kolste, Daryl Wise
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Bearing assemblies, apparatuses, systems, and methods include bearing assemblies with bearing elements that are at least partially contained in the bearing assembly.
Claims20
A bearing assembly, comprising:
- an inner assembly including an inner support ring positioned about an inner ring axis;
- an outer assembly including an outer support ring positioned about an outer ring axis;
- superhard contact elements coupled to the inner support ring and the outer support ring having superhard contact surfaces, the inner assembly configured to move relative to the outer assembly when a rotational force is applied to the bearing assembly;
- and
- one or more thrust bearing elements comprising a hardened surface configured to at least partially contain the inner assembly relative to the outer assembly, the one or more thrust bearing elements positioned and configured to support the bearing assembly when an axial loading is applied between the inner assembly and the outer assembly in a direction at least partially along at least one of the inner ring axis or the outer ring axis.
2 more elements
A bearing assembly, comprising:
- a first assembly including a first support ring positioned about a first ring axis;
- a second assembly including a second support ring positioned about a second ring axis;
- superhard contact elements coupled to the first support ring and the second support ring, superhard contact surfaces of the superhard contact elements configured to rotated relative to each other when a rotational force is applied to the bearing assembly;
- and
- one or more thrust bearing elements configured to contain the first assembly at least partially within the second assembly, the one or more thrust bearing elements positioned and configured to support the first assembly in response to a thrust force applied between the first assembly and the second assembly in a direction at least partially along at least one of the first ring axis or the second ring axis.
2 more elements
A method of providing a bearing assembly between components of a rotating system, the method comprising:
- rotating a shaft about an axis of rotation;
- supporting the rotating shaft with a first ring of the bearing assembly coupled to the shaft and a second ring of the bearing assembly coupled to another component, the first ring and the second ring each having one or more superhard contact elements coupled thereto;
- and
- at least partially containing the first ring within the second ring with one or more thrust bearing elements.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.