Tilting pad bearing assemblies; bearing apparatuses and methods of using the same
View Patent ↗Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to tilting pad bearing assemblies and bearing apparatuses using the same. As will be discussed in more detail below, the tilting pad bearing assemblies include a plurality of tilting pads. The tilting pads include at least one or more first tilting pads and one or more second tilting pads. Each of the first tilting pads includes a first superhard bearing surface having a first material. Each of the second tilting pads includes a second bearing surface having a second material. The first material includes a superhard material and the second material includes a material that is different than the first material.
1. A system, comprising:
a shaft; and
a bearing apparatus including:
a first bearing assembly including:
a first support ring defining a first hole that receives the shaft; and
one or more bearing elements extending circumferentially about an axis, the one or more bearing elements including a bearing surface, the one or more bearing element secured to the first support ring; and
a second bearing assembly including:
a second support ring defining a second hole that receives the shaft; and
a plurality of tilting pads distributed circumferentially about the axis, each of the plurality of tilting pads tilted and/or tiltably secured relative to the second support ring, the plurality of tilting pads including:
one or more first tilting pads, each of the one or more first tilting pads including a first superhard bearing surface having a first material, the first material including a superhard material; and
one or more second titling pads that are distinct from the one or more first tilting pads, each of the one or more second tilting pads including a second bearing surface comprising a second material that is different than the first material; and
wherein the shaft is secured to the first support ring or the second support ring.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more bearing elements includes a superhard material.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more bearing elements includes a plurality of sliding bearing elements.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more bearing elements includes an at least substantially continuous bearing element.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the shaft is secured to the first support ring or the second support ring by press-fitting or a threaded connection.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first material includes polycrystalline diamond.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first material includes at least one of silicon carbide, silicon nitride, a reaction bonded ceramic, a carbide, or boron nitride.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second material is a superhard material.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second material is a non-superhard material.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the non-superhard material includes at least one of a ceramic, a polymer, or a composite.
11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the non-superhard material includes high carbon steel, low carbon steel, poly(aryl ether ketone), bronze, or white metal.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein a position of the first superhard bearing surface is adjustable depending on operation conditions of the bearing apparatus.
13. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an apparatus coupled to the shaft, the apparatus configured to rotate the shaft.
14. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a housing that is coupled to the first support ring or the second support ring that is not secured to the shaft.
15. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a drill bit connected to the shaft.
16. A system, comprising:
a shaft;
a housing; and
a bearing apparatus including:
a rotor including:
a first support ring secured to the housing, the first support ring defining a first hole that receives the shaft; and
one or more bearing elements extending circumferentially about an axis, the one or more bearing elements including a bearing surface, the one or more bearing element secured to the first support ring; and
a stator including:
a second support ring defining a second hole, wherein the second hole receives and is secured to the shaft; and
a plurality of tilting pads distributed circumferentially about the axis, each of the plurality of tilting pads tilted and/or tiltably secured relative to the second support ring, the plurality of tilting pads including:
one or more first tilting pads, each of the one or more first tilting pads including a first superhard bearing surface having a first material, the first material including a superhard material; and
one or more second titling pads that are distinct from the one or more first tilting pads, each of the one or more second tilting pads including a second bearing surface comprising a second material that is different than the first material; and
wherein the shaft is secured to the first support ring and the housing is secured to the second support ring.
17. The system of claim 16 , further comprising a downhole drilling motor enclosed in the housing, the downhole drilling motor coupled to the shaft, the downhole drilling motor configured to rotate the shaft.
18. A method of operating a system, the method comprising:
providing a bearing apparatus, the bearing apparatus including:
a first bearing assembly including:
a first support ring defining a first hole that receives the shaft; and
one or more bearing elements extending circumferentially about an axis, the one or more bearing elements including a bearing surface, the one or more bearing element secured to the first support ring; and
a second bearing assembly including:
a second support ring defining a second hole that receives the shaft; and
a plurality of tilting pads distributed circumferentially about the axis, each of the plurality of tilting pads tilted and/or tiltably secured relative to the second support ring, the plurality of tilting pads including:
one or more first tilting pads, each of the one or more first tilting pads including a first superhard bearing surface having a first material, the first material including a superhard material; and
one or more second titling pads that are distinct from the one or more first tilting pads, each of the one or more second tilting pads including a second bearing surface comprising a second material that is different than the first material; and
rotating a shaft that is secured to the first support ring or the second support ring.
19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising pumping lubrication, drilling fluid, mud, or another fluid between the shaft and a housing and between the one or more bearing elements and the plurality of tilting pads.
20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising forming a fluid film between the one or more bearing elements and the plurality of tilting pads.