Bearing assemblies, and bearing apparatuses using the same

A bearing apparatus, comprising:

• a rotor;
• a stator;
• and
• wherein at least one of the rotor or the stator includes:
• a support ring;
• a retention ring assembled with the support ring;
• a plurality of superhard bearing elements each of which includes a lateral periphery extending between a base and a superhard bearing surface;
• and
• wherein the lateral periphery of each of at least a number of the plurality of superhard bearing elements and the retention ring are cooperatively configured to restrict displacement of the at least a number of the plurality of superhard bearing elements away from the support ring, and the base of each of the at least a number of the plurality of superhard bearing elements contacts the support ring.

A motor assembly for use in drilling a subterranean formation, comprising:

• a motor operable to apply torque to a rotary drill bit;
• and
• a bearing apparatus operably coupled to the motor, the bearing apparatus including a rotor and a stator;
• and
• wherein at least one of the rotor or the stator includes:
• a support ring;
• a retention ring assembled with the support ring;
• a plurality of superhard bearing elements each of which includes a lateral periphery extending between a base and a superhard bearing surface;
• and
• wherein the lateral periphery of each of at least a number of the plurality of superhard bearing elements and the retention ring are cooperatively configured to restrict displacement of the at least a number of the plurality of superhard bearing elements away from the support ring, and the base of each of the at least a number of the plurality of superhard bearing elements contacts the support ring.