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US 12,473,821 B2Granted
Pre-loaded bearings for sensor shell
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorJulien Steimetz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Devices, systems, and methods for stabilizing a gyroscopic sensor include bearings supporting a MEMS-type gyroscope located in a shell. The shell rotates around a secondary shaft connected to an extension arm of a primary shaft. A biasing element pre-loads thrust bearings on either side of the shell against the extension arm, which can limit motion of the shell during operation of the sensor, thereby improving measurements made by the sensor.
Claims19
A sensor support apparatus, comprising:
- a shell configured to encompass a MEMS-type gyroscope;
- a primary shaft including a connection arm;
- a secondary shaft rigidly connected to the primary shaft at the connection arm and extending through the shell;
- one or more bearings supporting rotation of at least one of the primary shaft or the shell around the secondary shaft, the one or more bearings including a thrust bearing between the shell and the connection arm;
- and
- a means for pre-loading the one or more bearings.
3 more elements
A system for supporting a sensor, comprising:
- a shell encompassing a gyroscope;
- a primary shaft including a connection arm;
- a secondary shaft extending through the shell, the secondary shaft rigidly connected to the connection arm at a secondary shaft first end opposite a secondary shaft second end;
- and
- a secondary shaft bearing, including:
- a first shell bearing at the secondary shaft first end, the first shell bearing being located between the shell and the connection arm;
- a retaining member at the secondary shaft second end;
- a second shell bearing between the retaining member and the shell;
- and
- a biasing element exerting a secondary loading force between the retaining member and the second shell bearing.
7 more elements
A method for assembling a gyroscopic sensor, comprising:
- providing a MEMS-type gyroscope in a shell;
- extending a secondary shaft through the shell, a first shaft end of the secondary shaft being rigidly connected to a connection arm on a primary shaft, wherein extending the secondary shaft through the shell includes extending the secondary shaft through a first bearing between the shell and the connection arm and extending the secondary shaft through a second bearing opposite the shell from the first bearing, the second bearing being located at a second shaft end of the secondary shaft;
- and
- pre-loading the first bearing and the second bearing with a biasing element.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.