Pressure diffuser lower bearing

A pressure diffuser, comprising:

• a pressure diffuser shell;
• a pressure diffuser screen assembly configured for reciprocating vertical movement within the pressure diffuser shell;
• a bearing cylinder;
• a screen extension having an upper portion configured to couple to a lower portion of the pressure diffuser screen assembly, the screen extension having a screen extension outer diameter less than a pressure diffuser screen assembly outer diameter and less than an inner diameter of the bearing cylinder;
• and
• a bearing assembly configured to couple to the screen extension at a lower portion of the screen extension, the bearing assembly having a bearing assembly inner diameter corresponding to the screen extension outer diameter and a bearing assembly outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the bearing cylinder,
• wherein an inner diameter of the bearing cylinder comprises a bearing surface for the bearing assembly.

A method for providing a bearing for guiding reciprocating vertical movement of a pressure diffuser screen assembly, wherein the bearing comprises:

• a bearing cylinder;
• a screen extension having an upper portion configured to couple to a lower portion of the pressure diffuser screen assembly, the screen extension having a screen extension outer diameter less than a pressure diffuser screen assembly outer diameter and less than an inner diameter of the bearing cylinder;
• a bearing assembly configured to couple to the screen extension at a lower portion of the screen extension, the bearing assembly having a bearing assembly inner diameter corresponding to the screen extension outer diameter and a bearing assembly outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the bearing cylinder,
• wherein an inner diameter of the bearing cylinder comprises a bearing surface for the bearing assembly,
• the method comprising:
• removing a lower portion of the pressure diffuser screen assembly to form a shortened pressure diffuser screen assembly;
• coupling the bearing assembly to the lower portion of the screen extension;
• positioning the screen extension and the bearing assembly within the inner diameter of the bearing cylinder;
• and
• coupling the upper portion of the screen extension to the lower portion of the shortened pressure diffuser screen assembly.