Thrust bearing assembly for a downhole drill motor

Patent · Tue Dec 24 04:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:5911476

Geczy, B A

A bidirectional thrust bearing assembly is used between a downhole fluid motor and a rock bit for drilling oil wells. The bearing assembly has a stationary housing with radial journal bearing sleeves and a rotatable drive shaft also having radial bearing sleeves. A pair of oppositely facing thrust bearing rings are mounted in the housing. A second pair of thrust bearing rings are mounted on the shaft so as to have faces opposing the bearing faces on the first pair of rings. Belleville springs resiliently bias a pair of the thrust bearing rings apart and carry the thrust load between such rings. Each ring has a plurality of inserts of hard material, preferably polycrystalline diamond, at the bearing surface. Means are provided for circulating drilling fluid from the motor through the thrust bearing faces for forming hydrodynamic fluid bearing films in the bearing interfaces.

• Assignee: Smith International Inc.
• Patent Number(s): US 4560014
• OSTI ID: 5911476
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
BEARINGS
DESIGN
DRILL BITS
DRILLING
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
DRILLING FLUIDS
DRILLS
DYNAMIC LOADS
EQUIPMENT
FLUID MECHANICS
FLUIDS
HYDRAULICS
JOURNAL BEARINGS
MACHINE PARTS
MECHANICS
OIL WELLS
ROTARY DRILLING
ROTARY DRILLS
SPRINGS
WELL DRILLING
WELLS