Bearing assemblies, and related methods

A bearing assembly, comprising:

• a first tilting pad bearing assembly including a first support body including an annular channel and a plurality of first tilting pad bearings at least partially positioned in the annular channel and circumferentially spaced from each other, the first support body and the plurality of first tilting pad bearings being cooperatively configured to limit tilting of each of the plurality of first tilting pad bearings to substantially only a circumferential direction and a radial direction;
• a second tilting pad bearing assembly including a plurality of second tilting pad bearings circumferentially spaced from each other;
• and
• a runner bearing disposed between the first and second tilting pad bearing assemblies, the runner including a third bearing surface and a fourth bearing surface, the third bearing surface generally opposing the plurality of first tilting pad bearings, and the fourth bearing surface generally opposing the plurality of second tilting pad bearings.

A pump, comprising:

• a pump shaft;
• and
• a bearing assembly operably coupled to the pump shaft, the bearing assembly including:
• a first tilting pad bearing assembly including a first support body and a plurality of first tilting pad bearings attached to the first support body and circumferentially spaced from each other, the first support body and the plurality of first tilting pad bearings being cooperatively configured to limit tilting of each of the plurality of first tilting pad bearings to no more than two degrees of tilting freedom;
• a second tilting pad bearing assembly including a plurality of second tilting pad bearings circumferentially spaced from each other;
• a runner bearing disposed between the first and second tilting pad bearing assemblies, the runner including a third bearing surface and a fourth bearing surface, the third bearing surface generally opposing the plurality of first tilting pad bearings, and the fourth bearing surface generally opposing the plurality of second tilting pad bearings;
• and
• wherein the first support body includes an annular channel and each of the plurality of first tilting pad bearings is at least partially positioned within the annular channel.