US 12,326,170 B2
Polycrystalline diamond radial bearing
David P. Miess, Magnolia, TX (US); Gregory Prevost, Spring, TX (US); Michael V. Williams, Conroe, TX (US); Edward C. Spatz, Spring, TX (US); Michael R. Reese, Houston, TX (US); and William W. King, Houston, TX (US)
Assigned to XR Reserve LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed by XR Reserve, LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Aug. 11, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/448,293.
Application 18/448,293 is a continuation of application No. 17/572,234, filed on Jan. 10, 2022, granted, now 11,761,481.
Application 17/572,234 is a continuation of application No. 16/926,627, filed on Jul. 10, 2020, granted, now 11,242,891, issued on Feb. 8, 2022.
Application 16/926,627 is a continuation of application No. 16/049,608, filed on Jul. 30, 2018, granted, now 10,738,821, issued on Aug. 11, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0044362 A1, Feb. 8, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F16C 17/02 (2006.01); F16C 33/04 (2006.01)
CPC F16C 17/02 (2013.01) [F16C 33/043 (2013.01); F16C 2206/04 (2013.01); F16C 2380/26 (2013.01)] 28 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A bearing assembly, the bearing assembly comprising:
a component having a metal surface, the metal surface comprising a metal containing at least 2 wt. % of a diamond solvent or diamond catalyst based on a total weight of the metal;
a polycrystalline diamond element having a diamond surface;
wherein a contact area of the diamond surface is in sliding contact with the metal surface, and wherein the contact area is less than 80% of a total surface area of the diamond surface.
 
14. A method of providing a bearing, the method comprising:
providing a component having a metal surface, the metal surface comprising a metal containing at least 2 wt. % of a diamond solvent or diamond catalyst based on a total weight of the metal;
providing a polycrystalline diamond element having a diamond surface;
engaging a contact area of the diamond surface with the metal surface, wherein the contact area is less than 80% of a total surface area of the diamond surface, and wherein the engaging includes avoiding contact of an edge of the diamond surface with the metal surface.
 
15. A system comprising:
a rotor;
a stator;
wherein one of the rotor and the stator comprises a metal surface, the metal surface comprising a metal containing at least 2 wt. % of a diamond solvent or diamond catalyst based on a total weight of the metal;
wherein the other of the rotor and the stator comprises a first plurality of polycrystalline diamond elements, wherein each polycrystalline diamond element of the first plurality of polycrystalline diamond elements has a diamond surface that is in sliding contact with the metal surface.