Flex pad bearing pad configuration

A flex pad bearing assembly comprising:

• a bearing base;
• and
• a plurality of flex pads coupled with the bearing base to support radial loads, the plurality of flex pads arranged about a central axis of the flex pad bearing assembly, each one of the plurality of flex pads including:
• a flex pad body having a bearing contact surface defined by an arc having a first radial distance from the central axis of the flex pad bearing assembly, a first sidewall extending from the bearing contact surface, a second sidewall extending from the bearing contact surface and circumferentially offset with respect to the first sidewall, the first sidewall and the second sidewall each extending radially outward to at least a second radial distance from the central axis of the flex pad bearing assembly;
• and
• a ligament integrally connected to the flex pad body, the ligament having a first end at the bearing base and a second end at the flex pad body, the second end of the ligament connected to the flex pad body at a third radial distance from the central axis of the flex pad bearing assembly between the first radial distance and the second radial distance.

A flex pad to couple with a bearing base of a flex pad bearing assembly to support radial loads, the flex pad comprising:

• a flex pad body to be arranged about a central axis of the flex pad bearing assembly, the flex pad body having
• a bearing contact surface defined by an arc to have a first radial distance from the central axis of the flex pad bearing assembly,
• a first sidewall extending from the bearing contact surface,
• a second sidewall extending from the bearing contact surface and circumferentially offset with respect to the first sidewall, the first sidewall and the second sidewall each to extend radially outward to at least a second radial distance from the central axis of the flex pad bearing assembly;
• and
• a ligament integrally connected to the flex pad body, the ligament having
• a first end at the bearing base and
• a second end at the flex pad body, the second end of the ligament connected to the flex pad body to be at a third radial distance from the central axis of the flex pad bearing assembly between the first radial distance and the second radial distance.

A flex pad bearing assembly comprising:

• a bearing base;
• and
• a plurality of flex pads coupled with the bearing base to support radial loads, the plurality of flex pads arranged about a central axis of the flex pad bearing assembly, each one of the plurality of flex pads including:
• a flex pad body having a bearing contact surface defined by an arc having a first radial distance from the central axis of the flex pad bearing assembly, a first sidewall extending from the bearing contact surface, a second sidewall extending from the bearing contact surface and circumferentially offset with respect to the first sidewall, a back wall opposite the bearing contact surface, the back wall having a plurality of segments each located at a different radial distance from the central axis of the flex pad bearing assembly;
• and
• a ligament integrally connected to the flex pad body, the ligament having a first end at the bearing base and a second end at the flex pad body, the back wall extending from the first sidewall and the second sidewall to the ligament, the back wall defined by an average radial distance from the central axis of the flex pad bearing assembly as the back wall extends from the first sidewall and the second sidewall to the ligament, the flex pad bearing assembly defining a central passage having a passage diameter defined by respective opposing bearing contact surfaces of the plurality of flex pads, each respective flex pad body of the plurality of flex pads having a thickness defined between the first radial distance of the arc of the bearing contact surface and the average radial distance of the back wall from the central axis of the flex pad bearing assembly, a ratio of the thickness of each flex bad body to the passage diameter between at least approximately 0.36 and 0.48.