Conical Bearing Assembly for Axial Misalignment Compensation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Bearing apparatuses in subterranean drilling systems experience axial misalignment due to repeated deflection of the output shaft, leading to decreased performance and potential failure.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates inner and outer bearing assemblies with specific surface configurations, including partially spherical convex and partially conical concave shapes, allowing for engagement and accommodating misalignment while maintaining contact between bearing elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional radial bearing surfaces are used, then simple manufacturing is achieved, but axial misalignment compensation is not provided leading to bearing failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebearing performanceVSAvoidbearing surface configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies spherical curvature to the bearing surfaces by configuring the outer bearing elements with a concave spherical surface and the inner bearing elements with a convex spherical surface. This spherical geometry enables the bearing elements to accommodate axial misalignment between the rotor and stator while maintaining continuous contact, thereby compensating for deflection-induced misalignment and improving bearing reliability without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Adaptability or versatility

If bearing elements are rigidly fixed, then manufacturing precision is maintained, but misalignment accommodation is prevented causing bearing failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemisalignment accommodationVSAvoidbearing element alignment

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic bearing surface configuration where the spherical concave-convex interface allows the inner and outer bearing elements to dynamically adjust their relative positions. This dynamic adaptation enables the bearing assembly to accommodate axial misalignment caused by rotor deflection while maintaining precise contact between bearing surfaces, thus providing both adaptability and manufacturing precision simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20250263980A1Bearing assemblies, apparatuses, and methods including bearing elements

Publication Date: 2025.08.21 US SYNTHETIC CORP

AI summary

Bearing assemblies, apparatuses, systems, and methods include bearing assemblies where one of the bearing assemblies may include bearing surfaces defining an at least partially conical surface.