# US 2009/0260887 A1 · Spring preloaded bearing assembly and well drilling equipment comprising same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2009/0260887 A1 - Document ID: US20090260887A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/455,740 - Filed: 2009-06-05 - Published: 2009-10-22 - Earliest claimed: 2007-08-27 - Inventors: John R. Williams - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260887A1 ## CPC - E21B 33/085: {Rotatable packing means, e.g. rotating blow-out preventers} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A well drilling head comprises a housing and a bearing assembly. The housing has a sidewall structure defining a central bore. The bearing assembly includes an outer barrel, an inner barrel, bearing units and a preload force exerting member. The outer barrel has a central bore and the inner barrel is removably seated within the housing central bore. The bearing units are coupled between the barrels for providing concentric alignment of the barrels and allowing rotation therebetween. A first one of the bearing units is configured for carrying loads exerted radially between the barrels and a second one of the bearing units is configured for carrying loads exerted longitudinally between the barrels. The preload force exerting member maintains force on the longitudinal load carrying bearing unit and said barrels thereby preloading the longitudinal load carrying bearing unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bearing assembly for a well drilling head, comprising: an outer barrel having a central bore; an inner barrel at least partially disposed within the central bore of the outer barrel; a plurality of bearing units coupled between said barrels for providing concentric alignment of said barrels and allowing rotation therebetween, wherein said plurality of bearing units jointly carry loads exerted radially between said barrels and loads exerted longitudinally between said barrels; and a preload force exerting member disposed between said barrels, wherein the inner barrel extends through an opening within the preload force exerting member and wherein the preload force exerting member maintains force on said barrels and on at least one said bearing units carry load exerted longitudinally between said barrels. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bearing assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a stripper rubber attachment structure integral with a lower end portion of the inner barrel, wherein each one of said bearing units includes spaced apart races with a plurality of roller members disposed therebetween and wherein said force urges said races against said roller members of at least one of said bearing units. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The bearing assembly of claim 1 wherein: the outer barrel has a shoulder extending from a surface thereof within the outer barrel central bore; the inner barrel has a shoulder extending from an exterior surface thereof a first one of said bearing units is disposed between said shoulders; the first one of said bearing units is engaged with a first one of said shoulders; and the preload force exerting member is disposed between the first one of said bearing units and a second one of said shoulders. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The bearing assembly of claim 1 wherein the preload force exerting member is one of a force exerting washer and a spring. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The bearing assembly of claim 1 wherein the preload force exerting member is a Belleville washer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The bearing assembly of claim 5 wherein: each one of said bearing units includes spaced apart races with a plurality of roller members disposed therebetween; and said force urges said races against said roller members of a first one of said bearing units. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The bearing assembly of claim 6 wherein: the outer barrel has a shoulder extending from a surface thereof within the outer barrel central bore; the inner barrel has a shoulder extending from an exterior surface thereof the first one of said bearing units is disposed between said shoulders; the first one of said bearing units is engaged with a first one of said shoulders; and the preload force exerting member is disposed between the first one of said bearing units and a second one of said shoulders. ### Claim 8 A bearing assembly for a well drilling head, comprising: an outer barrel having a central bore and a shoulder extending from a surface thereof within the outer barrel central bore; an inner barrel having a shoulder extending from an exterior surface thereof, wherein the inner barrel is at least partially disposed within the outer barrel central bore; a plurality of bearing units coupled between said barrels for providing concentric alignment of said barrels and allowing rotation therebetween, wherein said bearing units jointly carry loads exerted radially between said barrels and loads exerted longitudinally between said barrels and wherein a first one of said bearing unit is disposed between said shoulders; and a belleville washer disposed between said shoulders, wherein the inner barrel extends through an opening within the belleville washer and wherein the belleville washer maintains force on the first one of said bearing units and said barrels thereby preloading the first one of said bearing units. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The bearing assembly of claim 8, further comprising: a stripper rubber attachment structure integral with a lower end portion of the inner barrel, wherein each one of said bearing units includes spaced apart races with a plurality of roller members disposed therebetween and wherein said force urges said races against said roller members the first one of said bearing units. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The bearing assembly of claim 8 wherein: the first one of said bearing units is engaged with a first one of said shoulders; and the preload force exerting member is disposed between the first one of said bearing units and a second one of said shoulders. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The bearing assembly of claim 10 wherein: each one of said bearing units includes spaced apart races with a plurality of roller members disposed therebetween; and said force urges said races against said roller members of the first one of said bearing units. ### Claim 12 A well drilling head, comprising: a housing having a sidewall structure defining a central bore; and a bearing assembly including an outer barrel, an inner barrel, a plurality of bearing units and a preload force exerting member, wherein the outer barrel has a central bore, wherein the inner barrel extends through an opening within the preload force exerting member, wherein the outer barrel is removably seated within the housing central bore, wherein said bearing units are coupled between said barrels for providing concentric alignment of said barrels and allowing rotation therebetween, wherein the inner barrel is at least partially disposed within the outer barrel central bore, wherein said bearing units jointly carry loads exerted radially between said barrels and loads exerted longitudinally between said barrels, and wherein the preload force exerting member maintains force on a first one of said bearing units and said barrels thereby preloading the first one of said bearing units. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The well drilling head of claim 12, further comprising: a stripper rubber attachment structure integral with a lower end portion of the inner barrel, wherein each one of said bearing units includes spaced apart races with a plurality of roller members disposed therebetween and wherein said force urges said races against said roller members the first one of said bearing units. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The well drilling head of claim 12 wherein: the outer barrel has a shoulder extending from a surface thereof within the outer barrel central bore; the inner barrel has a shoulder extending from an exterior surface thereof the first one of said bearing units is disposed between said shoulders; the first one of said bearing units is engaged with a first one of said shoulders; and the preload force exerting member is disposed between the first one of said bearing units is engaged with a second one of said shoulders. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The well drilling head of claim 12 wherein the preload force exerting member is one of a force exerting washer and a spring. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The well drilling head of claim 12 wherein the preload force exerting member is a Belleville washer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The well drilling head of claim 16 wherein: said longitudinal load carrying bearing unit includes spaced apart races with a plurality of roller members disposed therebetween; said force urges said races against said roller members of the first one of said bearing units. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The well drilling head of claim 17 wherein: the outer barrel has a shoulder extending from a surface thereof within the outer barrel central bore; the inner barrel has a shoulder extending from an exterior surface thereof the first one of said bearing units is disposed between said shoulders; the first one of said bearing units is engaged with a first one of said shoulders; and the preload force exerting member is disposed between the first one of said bearing units is engaged with a second one of said shoulders.