Bearings, bearing apparatus, and systems including the same
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.
1. A bearing apparatus comprising:
a first bearing ring comprising:
a body;
a first plurality of bearing elements mounted to the body along a first radius;
a second plurality of bearing elements mounted to the body along a second radius, each of the second plurality of bearing elements being larger than each of the first plurality of bearing elements, wherein a quantity of the second plurality of bearing elements is different than a quantity of the first plurality of bearing elements;
a second bearing ring comprising:
a body;
a first plurality of bearing elements mounted to the body along a first radius;
a second plurality of bearing elements mounted to the body along a second radius;
wherein the first bearing ring and the second bearing ring are positioned adjacent each other such that the first plurality of bearing elements of the first bearing ring are aligned with the first plurality of bearing elements of the second bearing ring and the second plurality of bearing elements of the first bearing ring are aligned with the second plurality of bearing elements of the second bearing ring.
2. The bearing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the first plurality of bearing elements of the first bearing ring and each of the second plurality of bearing elements of the first bearing ring is disposed in a bearing element pocket defined in the body of the first bearing ring.
3. The bearing apparatus of claim 2 , wherein each of the first plurality of bearing elements of the second bearing ring and each of the second plurality of bearing elements of the second bearing ring is disposed in a bearing element pocket defined in the body of the second bearing ring.
4. The bearing apparatus of claim 2 , wherein each of the first plurality of bearing elements of the first bearing ring is substantially equally circumferentially spaced and wherein each of the second plurality of bearing elements of the first bearing ring is substantially equally circumferentially spaced.
5. The bearing apparatus of claim 4 , wherein each of the first plurality of bearing elements of the second bearing ring is substantially equally circumferentially spaced and wherein each of the second plurality of bearing elements of the second bearing ring is substantially equally circumferentially spaced.
6. The bearing apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first radius of the first bearing ring is larger than the second radius of the first bearing ring.
7. The bearing apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the first radius of the second bearing ring is larger than the second radius of the second bearing ring.
8. The bearing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each bearing element of the first and second pluralities of bearing elements of the first bearing ring exhibits a substantially cylindrical geometry.
9. The bearing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each bearing element of the first and second pluralities of bearing elements of the first bearing ring comprises at least one of: polycrystalline diamond; tungsten carbide; silicon carbide; and cubic boron nitride.
10. The bearing apparatus of claim 9 , wherein each bearing element of the first and second pluralities of bearing elements of the second bearing ring comprises at least one of: polycrystalline diamond; tungsten carbide; silicon carbide; and cubic boron nitride.
11. The bearing apparatus of claim 9 , wherein each bearing element of the first and second pluralities of bearing elements of the first bearing ring comprises a top surface, a side surface and a bevel between the top surface and the side surface.
12. The bearing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first bearing ring comprises a rotor and wherein the second bearing ring comprises a stator.
13. The bearing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein, in the second bearing ring, each of the second plurality of bearing elements are larger than each of the first plurality of bearing elements and wherein a quantity of the second plurality of bearing elements is different than a quantity of the first plurality of bearing elements.
14. 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:
a first bearing ring comprising:
a body;
a first plurality of bearing elements mounted to the body along a first radius;
a second plurality of bearing elements mounted to the body along a second radius, each of the second plurality of bearing elements being larger than each of the first plurality of bearing elements, wherein a quantity of the second plurality of bearing elements is different than a quantity of the first plurality of bearing elements;
a second bearing ring comprising:
a body;
a first plurality of bearing elements mounted to the body along a first radius;
a second plurality of bearing elements mounted to the body along a second radius;
wherein the first bearing ring and the second bearing ring are positioned adjacent each other such that the first plurality of bearing elements of the first bearing ring are aligned with the first plurality of bearing elements of the second bearing ring and the second plurality of bearing elements of the first bearing ring are aligned with the second plurality of bearing elements of the second bearing ring.
15. The drilling system of claim 14 , wherein the bearing apparatus comprises a thrust bearing.
16. The drilling system of claim 14 , wherein the first bearing ring comprises a rotor and wherein the second bearing ring comprises a stator.
17. The drilling system of claim 14 , wherein each of the first plurality of bearing elements of the first bearing ring is substantially equally circumferentially spaced and wherein each of the second plurality of bearing elements of the first bearing ring is substantially equally circumferentially spaced.
18. The drilling system of claim 17 , wherein each of the first plurality of bearing elements of the second bearing ring is substantially equally circumferentially spaced and wherein each of the second plurality of bearing elements of the second bearing ring is substantially equally circumferentially spaced.
19. The drilling system of claim 14 , wherein the first radius of the first bearing ring is larger than the second radius of the first bearing ring.
20. The drilling system of claim 19 , wherein the first radius of the second bearing ring is larger than the second radius of the second bearing ring.
21. The drilling system of claim 14 , wherein each bearing element of the first and second pluralities of bearing elements of the first bearing ring comprises at least one of: polycrystalline diamond; tungsten carbide; silicon carbide; and cubic boron nitride.
22. The drilling system of claim 21 , wherein each bearing element of the first and second pluralities of bearing elements of the second bearing ring comprises at least one of: polycrystalline diamond; tungsten carbide; silicon carbide; and cubic boron nitride.
23. The bearing apparatus of claim 21 , wherein each bearing element of the first and second pluralities of bearing elements of the first bearing ring comprises a top surface, a side surface and a bevel between the top surface and the side surface.
24. The bearing apparatus of claim 14 , wherein, in the second bearing ring, each of the second plurality of bearing elements are larger than each of the first plurality of bearing elements and wherein a quantity of the second plurality of bearing elements is different than a quantity of the first plurality of bearing elements.