Bearings – Rotary bearing – Plain bearing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-22
2001-02-20
Bonck, Rodney H. (Department: 3681)
Bearings
Rotary bearing
Plain bearing
C029S898041, C029S898140, C384S420000, C384S907100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06190050
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to wear-resistant surfaces for bearings, and particularly to bearings, bushings and runners that require wear-resistant usage, such as those utilized in electric submergible pumping systems.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many types of bearings, bushings and runners have surfaces that slide against a corresponding surface. Such surfaces are subject to wear, and must be replaced if sufficient wear occurs. Replacement or repair of those components can be costly and time-consuming.
For example, in electric submergible pumping systems, utilized in pumping oil and/or other production fluids from producing wells, a variety of thrust bearings, corresponding runners, and radial bearings or bushings are incorporated into the components of the system. However, such systems typically are used in wellbores drilled deep beneath the earth's surface. The time and expense required to withdraw an electric submergible pumping system from the earth to service or replace bearings or other components is extremely costly with respect to both the removal procedure and lost production. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide wear surfaces with wear-resistant materials that reduce or eliminate the need for servicing or replacement of such components.
Various measures are taken to lengthen the life of bearing surfaces, such as the surfaces of thrust bearings and cooperating runners. For example, hardened steels and tungsten carbide have been utilized in making these bearing components. Additionally, circular inserts of polycrystalline diamond have been mounted on or in the bearings. Polycrystalline diamond has traditionally been utilized in small, circular compacts that each must be properly mounted and oriented to form a bearing surface. It would be advantageous to utilize an extremely wear-resistant material, such as polycrystalline diamond, without the constraints of multiple independent compacts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention features a thrust bearing system. The system comprises a thrust bearing including a thrust surface formed of at least two different materials. Of the two different materials, a first material has greater wear-resistant properties than a second material, and the first material is arranged in strips along the second material. The resulting contact surface is oriented to contact the thrust surface during relative rotational motion between the thrust bearing and the runner. The contact surface has at least two different materials in which a first runner material has greater wear-resistant properties than a second runner material. The first runner material is disposed in strips that are oriented generally transversely with respect to the strips on the thrust surface.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a bearing system is provided for use in an electric submergible pumping system. The bearing system includes a first bearing component and a second bearing component that slidingly move with respect to one another. The first and second bearing components each have inlaid strips of at least one wear-resistant material, such as polycrystalline diamond. The inlaid strips are arranged in a grid pattern.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for increasing the life of load bearing systems in which a first surface slides with respect to a second surface. The method includes deploying a first plurality of strips of wear-resistant material along the first surface. Additionally, the method includes deploying a second plurality of strips of wear-resistant material along the second surface. The method further includes orienting the first plurality of strips generally transversely with respect to the second plurality of strips, and placing the first plurality of strips in sliding contact with the second plurality of strips.
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Bonck Rodney H.
Camco International Inc.
Fletcher Yoder & Van Someren
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