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US 4,764,036 AGranted
PCD enhanced radial bearing
AssigneeSmith International, Inc.
InventorJames N. McPherson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Bearing rings containing PCD faced bearing inserts are mounted adjacent tungsten carbide radial bearing surfaces at the ends of respective bearing sleeves attached to the drive shaft of a down hole well drilling motor, thereby preventing excessive wear at the extremities of the radial bearing surface in controlled and steerable drilling applications.
Claims21
A bearing structure, comprising:
- a radial bearing having a cylindrical wear surface formed on a cylindrical radial bearing support surface, said wear surface extending less than the entire length of said bearing support surface, leaving a portion of said radial bearing support surface exposed;
- and
- means on the exposed portion of said radial bearing support surface for arraying diamond faced bearing inserts for carrying radial bending loads.
A bearing structure, comprising:
- a unitary bearing sleeve having a thrust head at one end and an elongated recessed outer cylindrical surface at the opposite end;
- a radial bearing having a wear surface including tungsten carbide formed on said recessed outer cylindrical surface, said wear surface extending less than the entire length of said recessed outer cylindrical surface, leaving a portion of said outer cylindrical surface exposed;
- and
- means on the exposed portion of said outer cylindrical surface for arraying PCD faced bearing inserts for carrying radial bending loads.
1 more element
Downhole drilling apparatus comprising:
- a drive shaft;
- upper and lower radial bearings mounted on said drive shaft, said upper radial bearing including an upper bearing ring at the upper end thereof, the lower radial bearing including a lower bearing ring at the lower end thereof, the upper and lower bearing rings each carrying polycrystalline diamond (PCD) faced bearing insert means disposed for carrying radial loads.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.