Bearing section of a downhole drilling motor
US9915097B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 25, 2015 |
| Grant date | Mar 13, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 25, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16D1/10
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A bearing assembly for a downhole motor is provided. The bearing assembly includes a housing and a drive shaft designed to rotate with respect to the housing. The bearing assembly also includes stackable thrust bearings, each pre-loaded via a corresponding spring component. Some thrust bearings are arranged such that their spring components distribute axial loads from the housing in a first direction to the thrust bearings. Other thrust bearings are arranged such that their spring components distribute axial loads from the drive shaft in the first direction to the thrust bearings. Thus, the bearing assembly may be tailored via the stackable bearings to distribute axial thrust forces on the downhole motor evenly across the different thrust bearings. The bearing section may include a machinable spacer used to provide a double shouldered connection between the drive shaft and a drive shaft cap used to compress the stackable bearings.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.