Bearings for downhole tools, downhole tools incorporating such bearings, and methods of cooling such bearings

US8834026B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Baker Hughes Holdings LLC · US

Inventors

• Alejandro Flores · Newton, US
• Aaron J. Dick · Houston, US
• Chih Lin · Taipei, TW
• John F. Bradford · Diemelstraße, US
• Louise F. van Staden · Benoni, ZA
• Gregory B. Swanepoel · Randburg, ZA
• Clement D. van der Riet · Spring, US
• Siu-Wah Wai · Echunga, AU
• Dragan Vukovic · Biggenden, AU
• Klaus Tank · Germiston, ZA

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 30, 2011
• Grant date: Sep 16, 2014
• Expiry date: Dec 30, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T29/49679
• WIPO field: Mechanical elements
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Bearings for downhole tools including a first bearing member and a second bearing member, at least one of the first and second bearing members having a channel formed therein. Methods of cooling bearings of downhole tools comprise flowing a fluid within a channel formed in at least one bearing member. Heat is transferred from at least the at least one bearing member to the fluid. The fluid is flowed away from the at least one bearing member.