# US 2015/0144404 A1 · Bearing assemblies and apparatuses including tilting superhard bearing elements, and motor assemblies using the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2015/0144404 A1 - Document ID: US20150144404A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/613,236 - Filed: 2015-02-03 - Published: 2015-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2011-04-19 - Assignees: US Synthetic Corporation - Applicants: US Synthetic Corporation - Inventors: S. Barrett Peterson; Craig H. Cooley; Timothy N. Sexton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20150144404A1 ## CPC - F16C 33/043: {Sliding surface consisting mainly of ceramics, cermets or hard carbon, e.g. diamond like carbon [DLC]} - E21B 4/003: {Bearing, sealing, lubricating details (for roller bits E21B10/22)} - E21B 10/54: the bit being of the rotary drag type, e.g. fork-type bits - E21B 23/0419: {using down-hole motor and pump arrangements for generating hydraulic pressure} - F16C 17/03: with tiltably-supported segments, e.g. Michell bearings {(hydrostatic bearings with tiltably supported bearing pads F16C32/0666; made from a plurality of rods F16C33/26; with flexible leaves F16C17/024; hydrodynamic bearings with chambers F16C33/1075)} - F16C 17/06: with tiltably-supported segments, e.g. Michell bearings {(with flexible leaves F16C17/042; hydrostatic F16C32/0666)} - F16C 43/02: Assembling sliding-contact bearings - F16C 2206/00: Materials with ceramics, cermets, hard carbon or similar non-metallic hard materials as main constituents - F16C 2206/04: Diamond like carbon [DLC] - F16C 2226/76: with tongue and groove or key and slot - F16C 2352/00: Apparatus for drilling - Y10T 29/49647: Plain bearing - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS - 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 Embodiments relate to tilting superhard bearing element bearing assemblies and apparatuses. The disclosed assemblies/apparatuses may be employed in downhole motors of a subterranean drilling system or other mechanical systems. In an embodiment, a bearing assembly may include a support ring and a plurality of superhard bearing elements each of which is tilted and/or tiltably secured relative to the support ring and distributed circumferentially about an axis. Each of the superhard bearing elements includes a bearing surface and a base portion. The base portion of the at least one of the superhard bearing elements may include a tilting feature configured to allow the at least one of the superhard bearing elements to be tiltable about a tilt axis. The bearing assembly includes retaining features that secure the superhard bearing elements to the support ring. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bearing assembly, comprising: 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 plurality of base portions, each of 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bearing assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the corresponding tilt axes is oriented radially or axially relative to an axis of rotation of the support ring. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The bearing assembly of claim 2 wherein each of the radially-oriented tilt axes extends from the axis of rotation of the support ring. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The bearing assembly of claim 3 wherein the axis of rotation of the support ring is substantially perpendicular to each of the corresponding tilt axes. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The bearing assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of tilting members includes a convex tilting feature. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The bearing assembly of claim 5 wherein the convex tilting feature includes at least one of a generally semi-elliptical pivot, a generally semi-hemispherical pivot, a rounded pivot, a rocker pivot, or a generally semi-cylindrical pivot. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The bearing assembly of claim 5 wherein the convex tilting feature includes a generally hemispherical, a rounded, or a generally cylindrical pivot. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The bearing assembly of claim 1 wherein the each of the plurality of tilting members secures a corresponding one of the plurality of superhard bearing elements to the support ring. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The bearing assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of superhard bearing elements is tiltable about the corresponding tilt axis by about 0.5 degrees to about 20 degrees. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The bearing assembly of claim 1 wherein the base portion includes a base recess extending at least partially therethrough and having a corresponding tilting member of the plurality of titling members positioned at least partially therein. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The bearing assembly of claim 10 wherein the base recess is a through hole. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The bearing assembly of claim 10 wherein the base recess is a blind hole. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The bearing assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of tilting members is a pin. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The bearing assembly of claim 1 wherein the base portion includes a metallic portion attached to a substrate that is attached to the superhard element. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The bearing assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the corresponding tilt axes is closer to one of a leading edge or a trailing edge thereof. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The bearing assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the corresponding tilt axes is substantially centered relative to a leading edge and a trailing edge thereof of a corresponding one of the plurality of superhard bearing elements. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The bearing assembly of claim 1 wherein the superhard element includes a polycrystalline diamond body having the bearing surface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The bearing assembly of claim 17 wherein the polycrystalline diamond body is bonded to a substrate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The bearing assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of tilting members allows a corresponding one the plurality of superhard bearing elements to tilt in a single direction. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The bearing assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of tilting members allows a corresponding one the plurality of superhard bearing elements to tilt in two directions. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The bearing assembly of claim 1 wherein: the base portion includes a base recess extending at least partially therethrough and having a corresponding tilting member of the plurality of tilting members positioned at least partially therein; and each of the plurality of tilting members includes a convex tilting feature that has a generally hemispherical, a rounded, or a generally cylindrical pivot. ### Claim 22 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. ### Claim 23 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.