Thrust bearing suspension system and apparatus

1. A thrust bearing suspension apparatus comprising:

an impeller and diffuser pump stage having a shaft extending longitudinally therethrough, the shaft having an axis of rotation;

a flanged sleeve secured to the shaft, wherein the flanged sleeve is paired with a bushing positioned concentrically between the flanged sleeve and the diffuser to form a thrust bearing set;

the bushing comprising at least two circumferential grooves about an outer diameter of the bushing, wherein an elastomeric ring is seated in each of the at least two circumferential grooves;

a buffer member extending longitudinally between a bottom of the bushing and the diffuser;

a retaining ring extending across a radial tolerance between a rim proximate a top of the bushing and the diffuser; and

the bushing comprising a rounded outer diameter rockable along the diffuser to align with the axis of rotation of the shaft.

2. The thrust bearing suspension apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the buffer member is one of a spring or an elastomeric insert.

3. The thrust bearing suspension apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pump stage is of one of a surface pump stage or a downhole pump stage.

4. The thrust bearing suspension apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the diffuser comprises a portion surrounding the buffer member defining a bushing stop.

5. The thrust bearing suspension apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the diffuser surrounding the bushing has a recession that receives the bushing rounded outer diameter.

6. The thrust bearing suspension apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the retaining ring is a snap ring.

7. The thrust bearing suspension apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the bushing further comprising a rounded ant-rotation protrusion proximate the rim of the bushing.

8. A thrust bearing suspension system comprising:

a thrust bearing set of an electric submersible pump assembly comprising:

a compliant bushing inserted coaxially between a diffuser and a flanged sleeve;

a spring extending between a bottom of the bushing and the diffuser; and

a pivot key coupling the diffuser and the compliant bushing.

9. The thrust bearing suspension system of claim 8 , further comprising:

a bushing stop formed at a base of the diffuser; and

a retaining ring extending between a rim of the compliant bushing and the diffuser across a radial tolerance.

10. The thrust bearing suspension system of claim 8 , wherein the pivot key comprises a protruding rounded surface on the compliant bushing.

11. The thrust bearing suspension system of claim 10 , wherein the protruding rounded surface projects symmetrically about a waist of the compliant bushing.

12. The thrust bearing suspension system of claim 8 , wherein the bushing comprises an anti-rotation protrusion proximate a top rim of the compliant bushing.

13. A thrust bearing suspension system comprising:

an electric submersible pump comprising at least two impellers, each of the at least two impellers paired with a diffuser;

a thrust bearing set between two of the at least two impellers, the thrust bearing set comprising a bushing moveable axially between the two impellers and pivotable along a bushing-to-diffuser pivot key; and

a retaining ring on a rim of the bushing constraining the axial movement of the bushing, the retaining ring extending across a radial tolerance between the bushing and at least one of the diffusers.

14. The thrust bearing suspension system of claim 13 , wherein the bushing-to-diffuser pivot key comprises a female cradle in the at least one diffuser and a rounded protruding surface on an outer diameter of the bushing that pairs with the female cradle.

15. The thrust bearing suspension system of claim 13 , comprising a bushing-to-diffuser anti-rotation key.

16. The thrust bearing suspension system of claim 15 , wherein the bushing-to diffuser anti-rotation key comprises a rounded protrusion proximate a top rim of the bushing and a paired indentation in the diffuser.