Bearing apparatus

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate to tilting pad bearing assemblies and apparatuses. The disclosed tilting pad bearing assemblies and apparatuses may be employed in downhole motors of a subterranean drilling system or other mechanical systems. In an embodiment, a bearing assembly or apparatus includes a support ring and a plurality of tilting pads. Each tilting pad is tilted and/or tiltably secured relative to the support ring. In some embodiments, one or more of the tilting pads include a plurality of superhard bearing segments assembled to form a superhard bearing surface. One or more seams may be positioned between adjacent superhard bearing segments of the superhard bearing segments. In other embodiments, one or more of the tilting pads may include at least one or only one superhard bearing segment, such as a polycrystalline diamond bearing segment.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A bearing apparatus, comprising:
 a first bearing assembly including:
 a first support ring; and 
 a plurality of bearing pads, each of the plurality of bearing pads secured to the first support ring; and 
   a second bearing assembly including:
 a second support ring; and 
 a plurality of superhard bearing segments secured to the second support ring, the plurality of superhard bearing segments forming a substantially continuous superhard bearing surface; 
 wherein one or more seams are positioned between adjacent superhard bearing segments of the plurality of superhard bearing segments. 
   
     
     
         3 . The bearing apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of bearing pads includes a substrate and a superhard table bonded to the substrate. 
     
     
         4 . The bearing apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of bearing pads includes at least one of polycrystalline diamond, cubic boron nitride, and a diamond-silicon carbide composite. 
     
     
         5 . The bearing apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of bearing pads include a superhard bearing surface. 
     
     
         6 . The bearing apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the superhard bearing surface of each of the plurality of bearing pads is substantially planar. 
     
     
         7 . The bearing apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of bearing pads are circumferentially spaced from each other. 
     
     
         8 . The bearing apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of bearing pads exhibit a generally truncated pie-shaped geometry or a generally trapezoidal geometry. 
     
     
         9 . The bearing apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the plurality of bearing pads is formed from only a single segment. 
     
     
         10 . The bearing apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of superhard bearing segments includes a substrate and a superhard table bonded to the substrate. 
     
     
         11 . The bearing apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the superhard table includes at least one of polycrystalline diamond, cubic boron nitride, or a diamond-silicon carbide composite. 
     
     
         12 . The bearing apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of superhard bearing segments are circumferentially spaced from each other. 
     
     
         13 . The bearing apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the plurality of superhard bearing segments defines a portion of an outermost edge of the substantially continuous superhard bearing surface and a portion of an innermost edge of the substantially continuous superhard bearing surface. 
     
     
         14 . The bearing apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of superhard bearing segments exhibit a generally truncated pie-shaped geometry or a generally trapezoidal geometry. 
     
     
         15 . The bearing apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the substantially continuous superhard bearing surface is substantially planar. 
     
     
         16 . The bearing apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of bearing pads is fixed. 
     
     
         17 . The bearing apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more seams includes a gap of about 0.001 mm to about 3.5 mm. 
     
     
         18 . The bearing apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more seams includes a gap of about 0.125 mm to about 1.25 mm. 
     
     
         19 . The bearing apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more seams are substantially straight. 
     
     
         20 . A subterranean drilling system, comprising:
 a first bearing assembly including:
 a first support ring; and 
 a plurality of bearing pads, each of the plurality of bearing pads secured to the first support ring; 
   a second bearing assembly including:
 a second support ring; and 
 a plurality of superhard bearing segments secured to the second support ring, the plurality of superhard bearing segments forming a substantially continuous superhard bearing surface; 
 wherein one or more seams are positioned between adjacent superhard bearing segments of the plurality of superhard bearing segments; 
   a shaft coupled to one of the first support ring or the second support ring; and   a housing coupled to the other of the first support ring or the second support ring.   
     
     
         21 . At least one of a pump, a motor, a compressor, a turbine, a generator, or a gearbox, comprising:
 a first bearing assembly including:
 a first support ring; and 
 a plurality of bearing pads, each of the plurality of bearing pads secured to the first support ring; 
   a second bearing assembly including:
 a second support ring; and 
 a plurality of superhard bearing segments secured to the second support ring, the plurality of superhard bearing segments forming a substantially continuous superhard bearing surface; 
 wherein one or more seams are positioned between adjacent superhard bearing segments of the plurality of superhard bearing segments; 
   a shaft coupled to one of the first support ring or the second support ring; and   a housing coupled to the other of the first support ring or the second support ring.