# US 2013/0156357 A1 · Bearing assemblies, apparatuses, and motor assemblies using the same

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- Number: US 2013/0156357 A1
- Document ID: US20130156357A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/432,224
- Filed: 2012-03-28
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2011-05-26
- Assignees: US Synthetic Corporation
- Inventors: S. Barrett Peterson; Jair J. Gonzalez; Kenneth E. Bertagnolli; Debkumar Mukhopadhyay; David P. Miess; Mark P. Chapman; Ronald W. Ward; Nicholas Christensen; Damon B. Crockett; Mohammad N. Sani
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130156357A1

## CPC

- F16C 33/108: {with a plurality of elements forming the bearing surfaces, e.g. bearing pads}
- B21K 1/04: ball-races {or sliding bearing races}
- E21B 4/003: {Bearing, sealing, lubricating details (for roller bits E21B10/22)}
- E21B 17/03: between drilling rod or pipe and drill motor {or surface drive}, e.g. between drilling rod and hammer
- E21B 23/0419: {using down-hole motor and pump arrangements for generating hydraulic pressure}
- F16C 33/043: {Sliding surface consisting mainly of ceramics, cermets or hard carbon, e.g. diamond like carbon [DLC]}
- F16C 33/1085: {Channels or passages to recirculate the liquid in the bearing}
- F16C 33/26: made from wire coils; made from a number of discs, rings, rods, or other members
- F16C 37/002: {of fluid bearings}
- F16C 17/02: for radial load only
- F16C 17/04: for axial load only
- F16C 2206/04: Diamond like carbon [DLC]
- F16C 2206/82: based on tungsten carbide [WC]
- F16C 2240/42: Groove sizes
- F16C 2240/48: Particle sizes
- F16C 2352/00: Apparatus for drilling
- Y10T 29/49645: Thrust bearing
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- B21K: MAKING FORGED OR PRESSED METAL PRODUCTS, e.g. HORSE-SHOES, RIVETS, BOLTS OR WHEELS (making particular articles by working sheet metal without essentially removing material B21D; processing wire B21F; making pins, needles or nails B21G; making particular articles by rolling B21H; forging machines, pressing machines, hammering machines, in general B21J; making chains B21L; plating B23K)
- E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

Bearing assemblies, apparatuses, and motor assemblies using the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a bearing assembly may include a plurality of superhard bearing elements distributed circumferentially about an axis. Each of the superhard bearing elements may include a bearing surface. At least one of the plurality of superhard bearing elements may include at least one texture feature that may be formed in a lateral surface thereof. The bearing assembly may also include a support ring that carries the superhard bearing elements.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A bearing assembly, comprising:
a plurality of superhard bearing elements distributed circumferentially about an axis, each of the plurality of superhard bearing elements including a bearing surface, at least one of the plurality of superhard bearing elements including at least one texture feature formed in a lateral surface thereof; and
a support ring that carries the plurality of superhard bearing elements.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The bearing assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one texture feature is positioned and configured to direct lubricating fluid over and/or around one or more of the plurality of superhard bearing elements.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The bearing assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one texture feature is effective to increase a surface area of the at least one of the plurality of superhard bearing elements in contact with lubricating fluid.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The bearing assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one texture feature extends between the bearing surface of the at least one of the plurality of superhard bearing elements and a location positioned between an upper surface of the support ring and a bottom surface of the at least one of the plurality of superhard bearing elements.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The bearing assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one texture feature follows a path substantially extending between the bearing surface of the at least one of superhard bearing elements and a bottom surface of the at least one of the plurality of superhard bearing elements.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The bearing assembly of claim 5, wherein the path comprises at least one of a generally curved path, a generally linear path, a generally semi-cylindrical path, or a generally helical curved path.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The bearing assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the at least one texture feature includes a cross-sectional area at least partially defined between opposing sidewalls, the cross-sectional area having a generally v-shaped geometry, a generally parabolic geometry, or a generally rectangular geometry.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The bearing assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one texture feature includes a length extending along a portion of the lateral surface of the at least one of the plurality of the superhard bearing elements and a depth extending between the lateral surface and a bottom portion of the at least one texture feature.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The bearing assembly of claim 8, wherein the length of the at least one texture feature is about four hundred (400) percent to eight hundred (800) percent of the depth of the at least one texture feature.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The bearing assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one texture feature follows a path substantially extending between a first end surface and a second end surface of one or more of the at least one of the plurality of superhard bearing elements.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The bearing assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one texture feature comprises a plurality of grooves.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The bearing assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one texture feature comprises dimples, recesses, protrusions, or cross-hatching grooves.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The bearing assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the plurality of superhard bearing elements comprises a non-cylindrical superhard bearing element.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The bearing assembly of claim 1, wherein the axis is a thrust axis, and wherein the support ring and the plurality of superhard bearing elements define a thrust-bearing assembly; or wherein the axis is a rotation axis, and wherein the support ring and the plurality of superhard bearing elements define a radial bearing assembly.

### Claim 15

A bearing apparatus, comprising:
a first bearing assembly including:
a first plurality of superhard bearing elements distributed circumferentially about an axis, each of the first plurality of superhard bearing elements including a bearing surface, at least one of the first plurality of superhard bearing elements including at least one texture feature formed in a lateral surface thereof; and
a first support ring that carries the first plurality of superhard bearing elements; and
a second bearing assembly including:
a second plurality of superhard bearing elements generally opposed the first plurality of superhard bearing elements of the first bearing assembly; and
a second support ring that carries the second plurality of superhard bearing elements.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The bearing assembly of claim 15, wherein the first bearing assembly is configured as a rotor, and the second bearing assembly is configured as a stator.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The bearing apparatus of claim 15, wherein at least one of the second plurality of superhard bearing elements comprises at least one texture feature formed in a lateral surface thereof.

### Claim 18

A method for manufacturing a bearing assembly, the method comprising:
forming at least one texture feature in a lateral surface of a superhard bearing element; and
securing the superhard bearing element to a support ring.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one texture feature is formed in the lateral surface of the at least one superhard bearing element before the at least one superhard bearing element is secured to the support ring.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein forming the at least one texture feature comprises at least one of laser-cutting or electro-discharge machining the at least one texture feature in the lateral surface.

### Claim 21 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein forming the at least one texture feature in the bearing surface comprises computer numerical control milling the at least one texture feature in the lateral surface.