Oblique Bearing Assembly for Axial Misalignment in Drilling
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Solution Overview
Problem
In subterranean drilling systems, axial misalignment of bearing rotors with respect to stators due to repeated deflection of the output shaft leads to decreased bearing performance or failure, as existing bearing assemblies lack sufficient adaptability to accommodate misalignment without compromising contact and load-bearing capacity.
Innovation Solution
The proposed bearing apparatus features an inner and outer bearing assembly with obliquely positioned bearing elements, where the inner bearing elements have a partially spheroid convex surface and the outer elements have a planar surface at an oblique angle, allowing for angled engagement and accommodating axial misalignment while maintaining contact and load support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If bearing elements are positioned radially outward to bear against opposing surfaces, then load-bearing capacity is improved, but adaptability to axial misalignment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing elements are positioned at an oblique angle relative to the radial direction, introducing an angular dimension to the bearing surface orientation. This allows the bearing elements to simultaneously support radial loads and accommodate axial misalignment between the inner and outer bearing assemblies, resolving the contradiction between load-bearing capacity and adaptability to misalignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing surfaces are configured with specific geometric parameters including oblique angles and curved surface profiles. By optimizing these angular and geometric parameters, the bearing elements can maintain effective contact under both radial loading conditions and axial misalignment, achieving both high load-bearing capacity and adaptability to misalignment.
2Manufacturing precision
If bearing rotor is rigidly aligned with bearing stator, then manufacturing precision is improved, but reliability under shaft deflection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing assembly incorporates elements that can dynamically adjust to misalignment conditions through the oblique positioning and curved surface geometry. This allows the bearing to adapt its contact patterns in response to shaft deflection and axial misalignment, maintaining reliability without requiring rigid precision alignment during installation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If bearing elements are positioned at oblique angles, then adaptability to misalignment is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing assembly is divided into modular inner and outer bearing assemblies, each containing bearing elements with oblique positioning. This segmentation allows the complex oblique-angle geometry to be implemented in standardized modular units, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining adaptability to misalignment.
Data Source
AI summary
Bearing assemblies, apparatuses, systems, and methods include bearing assemblies where one of the bearing assemblies may include angled bearing surfaces having a planar shape.