Bearing assemblies and apparatuses including tilting superhard bearing elements, and motor assemblies using the same

A bearing apparatus, comprising:

• a first bearing assembly including:
• a first support ring;
• a first support ring;
• a plurality of superhard bearing elements positioned on the support ring, each of the plurality of superhard bearing elements including a superhard element having a bearing surface and a base portion bonded to the superhard element;
• a plurality of tilting members, each of the plurality of tilting members attached to or integrated with a corresponding one of the base portions, each the plurality of tilting members configured to allow a corresponding one of the plurality of superhard bearing elements to tilt about a corresponding tilt axis;
• and
• a second bearing assembly including:
• a second plurality of superhard bearing elements generally opposed the plurality of superhard bearing elements of the first bearing assembly;
• and
• a second support ring that carries the second plurality of superhard bearing elements.

A motor assembly for use in drilling a subterranean formation, the motor assembly comprising:

• a motor operable to apply torque to a rotary drill bit, the motor operably coupled to a bearing apparatus, the bearing apparatus including a rotor and a stator;
• and
• wherein at least one of the stator or the rotor includes:
• a support ring;
• a plurality of superhard bearing elements positioned on the support ring, each of the plurality of superhard bearing elements including a superhard element having a bearing surface and a base portion bonded to the superhard element;
• and
• a plurality of tilting members, each of the plurality of tilting members attached to or integrated with a corresponding one of the base portions, each the plurality of tilting members configured to allow a corresponding one of the plurality of superhard bearing elements to tilt about a corresponding tilt axis.