Thrust bearing with tilting pad
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsMichael Rimmer, Philip John Ekins
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A thrust bearing for an electric submersible pump includes a ring or mounting clips that include spring elements and retaining tangs, and pads each including a fluid interface surface and a pivot surface. Slots are formed between the pivot surface and the fluid interface surface. The spring elements engage the slots to secure the pads to the ring or mounting clips. The thrust bearing further includes a housing including an axial surface interfacing with the pivot surfaces. The ring or mounting clips are affixed to the housing. The retaining tangs radially constrain the pads.
Claims20
A thrust bearing for an electric submersible pump, comprising:
- a mounting ring comprising spring elements;
- pads each comprising a fluid interface surface and a pivot surface, wherein slots are formed between the pivot surface and the fluid interface surface, and wherein the spring elements engage the slots to secure the pads to the mounting ring;
- and
- a housing comprising an axial surface interfacing with the pivot surfaces, and an inner circumferential surface radially constraining the pads, wherein the housing surrounds the mounting ring.
A thrust bearing for an electric submersible pump, comprising:
- mounting clips comprising spring elements and retaining tangs;
- pads each comprising a fluid interface surface and a pivot surface, wherein slots are formed between the pivot surface and the fluid interface surface, and wherein the spring elements engage the slots to secure the pads to the mounting clips;
- and
- a housing comprising an axial surface interfacing with the pivot surfaces, wherein the mounting clips are affixed to the housing, and wherein the retaining tangs radially constrain the pads.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.