Bearings, bearing apparatus, and systems including the same
AssigneeUS Synthetic Corporation
InventorsCraig H. Cooley, Timothy N. Sexton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A bearing ring for use in bearing apparatuses is disclosed. Such a bearing ring may comprise a body having a first array and a second array of bearing elements mounted to the body. The body may have an annular shape and the first array and the second array may be a concentric elliptical shapes, including circles. The body may comprise a plurality of bearing element pockets into which the bearing elements are disposed. In one aspect of the instant disclosure, the material of the bearing elements comprises polycrystalline diamond. A bearing apparatus comprising a first bearing ring and a second bearing ring is also disclosed. A drilling system for use in drilling subterranean formations employing the bearing apparatus is also disclosed.
Claims18
A bearing ring comprising:
- a body including a first face and a second face opposing the first face;
- a plurality of bearing elements comprising:
- a first array of bearing elements mounted to the body, wherein each bearing element of the first array of bearing elements is substantially centered along a common radial arc such that the first array of bearing elements exhibits a substantially circular shape;
- wherein the first array of bearing elements is substantially equally, circumferentially spaced and wherein the first array of bearing elements includes a repeating pattern of bearing elements exhibiting at least two different diameters.
A bearing apparatus comprising:
- a first bearing ring, the first bearing ring comprising:
- a first body including a first face and a second face opposing the first face;
- a first array of bearing elements mounted to the first body, wherein the first array of bearing elements includes at least two differently sized bearing elements, each bearing element of the first array of bearing elements being substantially centered along a common radial arc such that the first array of bearing elements mounted to the body of the first bearing ring exhibits a substantially circular shape, and wherein the first array of bearing elements mounted to the body of the first bearing ring includes a repeating pattern of bearing elements exhibiting at least two different diameters;
- and
- a second bearing ring, the second bearing ring comprising:
- a second body including a first face and a second face opposing the first face;
- a first array of bearing elements mounted to the second body including at least two differently sized bearing elements.
A drilling system for use in drilling subterranean formations, the drilling system comprising:
- a motor configured to apply a torque to a rotary drill bit, the motor operably coupled to a bearing apparatus;
- wherein the bearing apparatus comprises:
- at least one bearing ring comprising:
- a body including a first face and a second face opposing the first face;
- a first array of bearing elements mounted to the body, wherein each bearing element of the first array of bearing elements is substantially centered along a common radial arc such that the first array of bearing elements exhibits a substantially circular shape;
- and
- wherein the first array of bearing elements is substantially equally, circumferentially spaced and wherein the first array of bearing elements includes a repeating pattern of bearing elements exhibiting at least two different diameters.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.