Bearing assemblies including tilting bearing elements and superhard sliding bearing elements, bearing assemblies including a substantially continuous bearing element and superhard sliding bearing elements, and related bearing apparatuses and methods
US9732791B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 25, 2015 |
| Grant date | Aug 15, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 21, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16C2352/00
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Bearing assemblies and bearing apparatuses are disclosed. In an embodiment, a first bearing assembly includes tilting pads and a first plurality of sliding superhard bearing elements secured to a first support ring. In an embodiment, a second bearing assembly includes a substantially continuous bearing element secured to a second support ring. In an embodiment, a bearing apparatus includes the first bearing assembly and the second bearing assembly, with the substantially continuous bearing element generally facing the tilting pads. At relatively low rotational speeds, the first plurality of superhard bearing elements supports at least a portion of a load exerted on the bearing assembly. At relatively high rotational speeds, the tilting pads support at least a majority of the load.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.