Abstract:
An electrical submersible pump runner having a core layer and a wear layer affixed to the core layer. One embodiment of the invention provides an electrical submersible pump that includes a motor section and a centrifugal pump section. A seal section and rotary gas separator may also be included. The pump is powered by an electric cable that connects the pump. Located in a bore hole, to a power source on the surface. A thrust runner coated with a wear layer (e.g., polymer) is provided in the motor and/or seal section to reduce bearing temperature, provide longer bearing life, reduce costs, and facilitate overhaul. The runner may also function as a rotating up-thrust bearing when the runner is coated with a wear layer on one side that is formed with a bearing geometry. In this case, the up-thrust bearing may be eliminated.
Abstract:
A bearing assembly (30) for an elongated motor having an anular stator with laminas and a segmented rotor. The bearing assemby being located between the rotor segments and including a sleeve (31) for supporting the shaft and a support portion (33) adjacent the stator with a plurality of wheels (37) disposed thereon. The wheels inhibit rotation of the bearing while at the same time permitting easy longitudinal movement of the bearing relative to the stator. The wheels are provided with a spring characteristic by mounting them on an axle (39) which is supported in elastomeric bushings or, alternatively, the axle is supported in a cantilever fashion. The wheels may also be formed of a compressible elastomeric material.
Abstract:
A housed bearing assembly suitable for use as a pillow block bearing unit or flanged bearing unit. The assembly includes a shaft sleeve (21) and roller body (23) secured to one another and enclosed by a housing (10). The roller body (23) is adapted to rool against an inner peripheral surface of the housing (10). A supply of lubricant sufficient to lubricate the roller body (23) is contained within the housing. The housing (10) and rolling body (23) are designed to direct lubricant toward fluid tight areas of the assembly and away from those areas where leakage might occur. A lubricant containment reservoir is formed in either the housing or the shaft such that lubricant will not reach the space or interface betwen the shaft and the housing. The roller body may be provided with a drip edge to further direct lubricant away from the interface between the housing and the shaft. The housing is constructed as a spherical segment seated in a spherical seat to allow pivoting of the inner housing portion to pivot to adjust for misalignement.
Abstract:
A hydrodynamic thrust, journal or combined radial and thrust bearing and methods of manufacturing the same. The bearing includes a bearing pad structure (132) that may change shape and move in any direction (six degrees of freedom) to optimize formation of a converging wedge for hydrodynamic operation, equalization of load on the bearing pads in thrust bearings and to adjust for any shaft misalignment. The bearing pad may be formed so as to contact the shaft in the installed state and to deflect under fluid film pressure. The pad may have undercut grooves (132u).
Abstract:
A lubricated roller assembly which can be constructed entirely of non-metallic components. The roller assembly includes a shaft (20) and roller body (23) secured to one another and enclosed by a housing (10). The roller body is adapted to roll against an inner peripheral surface of the housing. A supply of lubricant (30) sufficient to lubricate the roller body is contained within the housing. A lubricant containment reservoir (7) is formed in either the housing or the shaft such that regardless of the orientation of the roller assembly, lubricant will not reach the interface between the shaft and the housing. The roller body may be provided with a drip edge (103S) to further direct lubricant away from the interface between the housing and the shaft.
Abstract:
A disk drive motor having a low profile, with a gas-lubricated deflecting pad support (32) usable in the motor and elsewhere, includes a cup-shaped rotor (10) having an integral cylindrical portion (12) extending from the base of the cup which may be a shaft or a large hollow extension that encloses the stator windings (21). The stator (20) can be conventional or can have a closed end and/or a cup-like portion (22) to simplify construction and eliminate the need for a seal. A support (30) mounted on stator or rotor supports the rotor for rotation relative to the stator. It can be a deflecting pad such as hydrodynamic bearing, or plane or gas-lubricated deflecting pad supports. The gas-lubricated deflecting pad support (32) includes bearing pads (31) and a support structure (50) which supports the bearings for strictly radial movement. A contoured surface is formed on the pad surfaces, or a support surface opposing the pad surfaces, or both. Relative rotation between pad and support surfaces produces a pressurized gas film between the surfaces.
Abstract:
A hydrodynamic bearing which includes a carrier (10) and a plurality of bearing pads (20) circumferentially spaced about the carrier (10). The carrier is formed with a series of circumferentially spaced groups of pad support openings (17, 18). Each group of pad support openings (17, 18) each of which is capable of supporting a pad, but only one of which supports a pad at any one time. The carrier is designed such that the openings formed therein are supported as sets of supports such that each group of openings includes one opening of each set of openings. The carrier supports the openings such that the support of each opening within each set is substantially identical to that of the other openings in its set, but different than the support of the openings of other sets.
Abstract:
A one piece hydrodynamic bearing which can include hydrostatic support features (30p). The pads (31) are supported on a single thin web (37) for pivoting on a support structure which can include one or more beam-like members (302). The bearings may have hydrostatic and active control attributes and is very attractive in cryogenic applications where it is very difficult to prevent leakage in conventional hydrostatic tilt pad bearings. The hydrostatic feed (30p) through the post (37) eliminates this problem completely and prevents the fretting at the pivots common with conventional tilt pad bearings. A cavity (30g) provided under a pad support membrane (301) can be used as an active control device.
Abstract:
An elastomeric joint (70) is disclosed. The joint (70) can be used as part of an articulated coupling that can be used as part of a progressive cavity device (12, 16) including using the articulate coupling (30, 40, 50, 70) for converting the complex motion of the rotor into simple rotation. The coupling includes two shafts (30, 40) coupled to one another by joint assemblies (70) connected to opposite ends of an intermediate shaft (50). The joint assemblies include interlocked threaded portions (71, 73) and an elastomer (75) filling the spaces between the threaded portions. Under loading the male (71) and female (73) portions move relative to one another so that the elastomer (75) is subject to both compression and shear. Should the elastomer (75) fail, the threaded portions simply lock together thereby allowing fail safe operation. The moving components within the coupling are perfectly isolated from the surrounding environment. The joint and coupling can also be used for other applications, especially those involving high torque.
Abstract:
A hydrodynamic bearing which includes a carrier (10) and a plurality of bearing pads (23) circumferentially spaced about the carrier. The pads may have a modular construction whereby pad portions are secured to support portions (72). The pads may also be releasably secured to the carrier (10). Various bearing pad constructions are contemplated.