Downhole bearing assembly which accommodates compressive and tensile axial

A bearing assembly for bearing tensile and compressive axial loads, including:

• an outer tubular member having a central longitudinal axis and an inner surface defining a first shoulder and a second shoulder;
• an inner tubular member, having a second central longitudinal axis coinciding with the central longitudinal axis, positioned relative to the outer tubular member with freedom to rotate about the central longitudinal axis relative to the outer tubular member and at least limited freedom to translate relative to the outer tubular member along the central longitudinal axis, the inner tubular member having an outer surface defining a third shoulder and a fourth shoulder;
• and
• a thrust bearing subassembly in a chamber between the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member, said chamber being bounded by the first shoulder, the second shoulder, the third shoulder, and the fourth shoulder, wherein the thrust bearing subassembly has an overall axial length sufficiently short so that the inner tubular member is free to translate along the central longitudinal axis relative to the outer tubular member between a tensile load configuration in which the thrust bearing subassembly bears a tensile axial load and a compressive load configuration in which the thrust bearing subassembly bears a compressive axial load, wherein the thrust bearing subassembly includes:
• a pair of side members;
• and
• a thrust bearing between the side members, where each of the side members has a flat end face abutting the thrust bearing and an angled end surface opposite the flat end face, wherein each said angled end surface has a central portion farthest from the flat end face, and two surface portions which meet at an acute angle at the central portion.