Bearing assemblies, apparatuses, and motor assemblies using the same
View Patent ↗Various embodiments of the invention relate to bearing assemblies, apparatuses and motor assemblies that include geometric features configured to impart a selected amount of heat transfer and/or hydrodynamic film formation. In an embodiment, a bearing assembly may include a plurality of superhard bearing pads distributed circumferentially about an axis. At least some of the plurality of superhard bearing pads may include a plurality of sub-superhard bearing elements defining a bearing surface. At least some of the plurality of sub-superhard bearing elements may be spaced from one another by one or more voids to impart a selected amount of heat transfer and hydrodynamic film formation thereon during operation. The bearing assembly may also include a support ring that carries the plurality of superhard bearing pads. In addition, at least a portion of the sub-superhard bearing elements may extend beyond the support ring.
1. A bearing assembly, comprising:
a plurality of superhard bearing pads distributed circumferentially about an axis, at least some of the plurality of superhard bearing pads including:
a plurality of sub-superhard bearing elements at least partially defining a bearing surface, at least some of the plurality of sub-superhard bearing elements spaced from one another by a plurality of voids to impart a selected amount of heat transfer and hydrodynamic film formation during operation, the plurality of voids exhibiting non-uniform widths that provide at least one non-uniform flow path therethrough; and
a sintered carbide substrate supporting the plurality of sub-superhard bearing elements;
wherein the plurality of voids extend from the bearing surface to the substrate; and
a support ring that carries the plurality of superhard bearing pads, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of sub-superhard bearing elements extend beyond the support ring.
2. The bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein some of the plurality of sub-superhard bearing elements are positioned substantially equidistantly from adjacent ones of the plurality of sub-superhard bearing elements.
3. The bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sub-superhard bearing elements are staggered relative to one another, are positioned in one or more rows, or combinations thereof.
4. The bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of sub-superhard bearing elements comprise a generally cylindrical body, a generally hexagonal body, an irregularly shaped body, or a generally rounded rectangular body.
5. The bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein a width of at least one of the plurality of voids is between about 0.0025 mm and about 2.5 mm.
6. The bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein a width of at least one of the plurality of voids is between about 0.005 mm and about 0.5 mm.
7. The bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein a width of at least one of the plurality of voids is about five (5) percent to about ninety (90) percent of a width of at least one of the plurality of sub-superhard bearing elements.
8. The bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein a width of at least one of the plurality of voids is about ten (10) percent to about eighty (80) percent of a width of at least one of the plurality of sub-superhard bearing elements.
9. The bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein a width of at least one of the plurality of voids is about five (5) percent to about fifty (50) percent of a height of at least one of the plurality of sub-superhard bearing elements.
10. The bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of superhard bearing pads comprises a first plurality of superhard bearing pads, and wherein the plurality of voids between the plurality of sub-superhard bearing elements are positioned and configured to promote developing a fluid film between the first plurality of superhard bearing pads and a second plurality of superhard bearing pads carried by a second support ring, the second plurality of superhard bearing pads being generally opposed the first plurality of superhard bearing pads.
11. The bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of superhard bearing pads comprises a grouping of generally cylindrical polycrystalline diamond compacts.
12. The bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of superhard bearing pads comprise a non-cylindrical superhard bearing element.
13. A bearing apparatus, comprising:
a first bearing assembly including:
a first plurality of superhard bearing pads distributed circumferentially about an axis, at least some of the first plurality of superhard bearing pads including:
a first plurality of sub-superhard bearing elements at least partially defining a bearing surface, at least some of the first plurality of sub-superhard bearing elements spaced from one another by a plurality of voids to impart a selected amount of heat transfer and hydrodynamic film formation during operation, the plurality of voids exhibiting non-uniform widths that provide at least one non-uniform flow path therethrough; and
a sintered carbide substrate supporting the plurality of sub-superhard bearing elements;
wherein the plurality of voids extend from the bearing surface to the substrate; and
a first support ring that carries the first plurality of superhard bearing pads, wherein at least a portion of the first plurality of sub-superhard bearing elements extend beyond the first support ring;
a second bearing assembly including:
a second plurality of superhard bearing pads generally opposed to the first plurality of superhard bearing pads of the first bearing assembly;
a second support ring that carries the second plurality of superhard bearing pads; and
wherein the first bearing assembly is configured as a rotor or a stator and the second bearing assembly is configured as the other of the rotor or the stator.
14. The bearing apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the first bearing assembly is configured as a rotor, and the second bearing assembly is configured as a stator.
15. The bearing apparatus of claim 13 , wherein each of the second plurality of bearing pads comprises a second plurality of sub-superhard bearing elements.
16. The bearing apparatus of claim 13 , wherein a first plurality of gaps are located between the first plurality of superhard bearing pads and a second plurality of gaps are located between the second plurality of superhard bearing pads.
17. The bearing apparatus of claim 16 , wherein a width of at least one of the first plurality of gaps is greater than a width of at least one of the second plurality of gaps.
18. The bearing apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the first plurality of gaps and the plurality of voids of the first plurality of sub-superhard bearing elements are configured to promote developing a fluid film between the first plurality of superhard bearing pads and the second plurality of superhard bearing pads.
19. A bearing apparatus, comprising:
a first bearing assembly including:
a first plurality of superhard bearing pads distributed circumferentially about an axis, at least some of the first plurality of superhard bearing pads including:
a first plurality of sub-superhard bearing elements at least partially defining a bearing surface, at least some of the first plurality of sub-superhard bearing elements spaced from one another by one or more voids to impart a selected amount of heat transfer and hydrodynamic film formation during operation, the plurality of voids exhibiting non-uniform widths that provide at least one non-uniform flow path therethrough; and
a substrate supporting the first plurality of sub-superhard bearing elements; and
a first support ring that carries the first plurality of superhard bearing pads, wherein at least a portion of the first plurality of sub-superhard bearing elements extend beyond the first support ring;
a second bearing assembly including:
a second plurality of superhard bearing pads generally opposed to the first plurality of superhard bearing pads of the first bearing assembly; and
a second support ring that carries the second plurality of superhard bearing pads,
wherein a first plurality of gaps are located between the first plurality of superhard bearing pads and a second plurality of gaps are located between the second plurality of superhard bearing pads, and wherein a width of at least one of the first plurality of gaps is greater than a width of at least one of the second plurality of gaps.