Bearing assembly, and bearing apparatus and motor assembly using same

A bearing apparatus, comprising:

• a first bearing assembly comprising:
• a support ring including a plurality of recesses and at least one opening, the support ring further including at least one wall partially defining at least one of the recesses, the at least one wall including a through slot extending therethrough;
• a plurality of first bearing elements each of which includes a first bearing surface, each of the first bearing elements positioned generally within a corresponding one of the recesses, at least one of the first bearing elements including at least one groove exposed through the through slot in the at least one wall of the support ring;
• and
• at least one retention element positioned generally within the at least one opening and adjacent to the at least one groove;
• and
• a second bearing assembly rotatable relative to the first bearing assembly, the second bearing assembly comprising a plurality of second bearing elements each of which includes a second bearing surface, the second bearing assembly positioned so that the second bearing surfaces generally oppose the first bearing surfaces.

A motor assembly for use in drilling subterranean formations, comprising:

• a motor operable to apply torque to a rotary drill bit, the motor operably coupled to a bearing apparatus, the bearing apparatus comprising:
• a first bearing assembly comprising:
• a support ring including a plurality of recesses and at least one opening, the support ring further including at least one wall partially defining at least one of the recesses, the at least one wall including a through slot extending therethrough;
• a plurality of first bearing elements each of which includes a first bearing surface, each of the first bearing elements positioned generally within a corresponding one of the recesses, at least one of the first bearing elements including at least one groove exposed through the through slot in the at least one wall of the support ring;
• and
• at least one retention element positioned generally within the at least one opening and adjacent to the at least one groove;
• and
• a second bearing assembly rotatable relative to the first bearing assembly, the second bearing assembly comprising a plurality of second bearing elements each of which includes a second bearing surface, the second bearing assembly positioned so that the second bearing surfaces generally oppose the first bearing surfaces.