Smith International, Inc.

Bourns Incorporated

James N McPherson

David R Hall

Bela A Geczy

Allen Howe Andrews

John Matthew Hendrie

Robert G Toth

John Thomas Burns, Jr

Polycrystalline diamond wear surfaces in bearing structures are maintained at temperatures that prevent thermal degradation in spite of exceptionally high loads. This temperature control is accomplished by segmenting the diamond wear surface to provide interrupt channels through which the energy build-up at the diamond wear surface is maintained below the thermal degradation level. Cooling fluid may be caused to flow through the interrupt channels, the higher the velocity of fluid flow around the diamond bearing surface, the greater the cooling effect.

Cooling networks for PCD bearing surfaces

Bearing rings containing PCD faced bearing inserts are mounted adjacent tungsten carbide radial bearing surfaces at the ends of respective bearing sleeves attached to the drive shaft of a down hole well drilling motor, thereby preventing excessive wear at the extremities of the radial bearing surface in controlled and steerable drilling applications.

PCD enhanced radial bearing

A unitary sleeve mounts both thrust and radial bearings, the radial bearing being fabricated of macro-crystalline tungsten carbide powder and cemented tungsten carbide cobalt chips in a recessed area on an elongated extension and the thrust bearing comprising a ring carrying diamond inserts residing in through holes, the ring and inserts being brazed on a hub at the thrust head end of the extension.

Bearing structure for downhole motors

A structure and method for attaching bearing inserts including a bearing ring having through holes therein into which said inserts are press fitted and an underlying brazing ring, which, when heated, attaches the bearing inserts to the bearing ring and the bearing ring and inserts to an adjoining structural member.

Diamond bearing and manufacture thereof

First and second pressure sensitive diaphragm assemblies are mutually spaced at a substantially constant distance by a rigid member, whereby the diaphragm assemblies flex in unison in response to imposed pressure differentials. A longitudinally rigid but transversely flexible and resilient means such as a strut wire couples the diaphragm assemblies with a deflectable motion sensing means such as a cantilever beam bearing at least one strain gage. The coupling means flexingly accommodates to normal transverse deflection movements made by the motion sensing means, thereby significantly reducing both the strain on the motion sensing means and distortions in the readout obtained therefrom. In a preferred embodiment a hollow tube is employed to space the diaphragm assemblies. A motion sensing beam projects inwardly through an opening in the tube and is joined therein to a strut wire which extends inside the tube from one of the diaphragm assemblies. The strut wire flexes transversely when the diaphragm assemblies flex to a new position, permitting the beam to move in a normal arcuate path.

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Orange, CA, United States of America

James N McPherson