US 12,006,973 B2
Diamond surface bearings for sliding engagement with metal surfaces
Gregory Prevost, Spring, TX (US); and Edward C. Spatz, Spring, TX (US)
Assigned to Pi Tech Innovations LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed by Pi Tech Innovations LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Nov. 9, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/522,377.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/111,147, filed on Nov. 9, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0145934 A1, May 12, 2022
Int. Cl. F16C 33/04 (2006.01); F16C 33/26 (2006.01)
CPC F16C 33/046 (2013.01) [F16C 33/043 (2013.01); F16C 33/26 (2013.01); F16C 2240/54 (2013.01); F16C 2361/91 (2013.01)] 48 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A split radial journal bearing assembly, the bearing assembly comprising:
a first radial journal bearing and a second radial journal bearing, each radial journal bearing having a bearing body and a radial bearing surface thereon;
a part, the part comprising a body and an opposing bearing surface on the body, wherein the part is positioned between the first and second radial journal bearing, and wherein the first and second radial journal bearings are spaced apart such that at least one gap is between the first and second radial journal bearings;
wherein the radial bearing surfaces comprise polycrystalline diamond, and wherein the opposing bearing surface comprises a metal, the metal containing at least 2 weight percent of a diamond solvent-catalyst based on a total weight of the metal;
wherein each of the radial bearing surfaces is bound by lateral boundary edges that extend about a circumference of the radial journal bearing and longitudinal boundary edges that extend along an axial extent of the radial journal bearing; and
wherein the part is rotatably engaged between the first and second radial journal bearings such that the opposing bearing surface is rotatably slidable along a radial diamond contact area of the radial bearing surfaces, and wherein the metal of the opposing bearing surface is engaged with the polycrystalline diamond along the radial diamond contact area and entirely within the lateral boundary edges of the radial bearing surfaces.
 
29. A bearing assembly, the bearing assembly comprising:
a bearing having a bearing body;
a part having a part body;
wherein the part body has a metal bearing surface thereon, wherein the bearing body has a plurality of polycrystalline diamond bearing elements thereon, each polycrystalline diamond bearing element has a diamond bearing surface that is bound by lateral boundary edges that extend about a circumference of the bearing and longitudinal boundary edges that extend along an axial extent of the bearing, and wherein the metal bearing surface comprises a metal, the metal containing at least 2 weight percent of a diamond solvent-catalyst based on a total weight of the metal; and
wherein the polycrystalline diamond bearing elements are arranged contiguously such that adjacent polycrystalline diamond bearing elements are in contact at longitudinal boundary edges of the adjacent polycrystalline diamond bearing elements, and such that the bearing surfaces of the adjacent polycrystalline diamond bearing elements are flush at the longitudinal boundary edges;
wherein the part is rotatably engaged with the bearing such that the metal bearing surface is engaged with the diamond bearing surfaces of the plurality of polycrystalline diamond bearing elements along a radial diamond contact area that is entirely within the lateral boundary edges of the diamond bearing surfaces.
 
44. A split radial journal bearing assembly, the bearing assembly comprising:
a first radial journal bearing and a second radial journal bearing, each radial journal bearing having a bearing body and a radial bearing surface thereon;
a part, the part comprising a body and an opposing bearing surface on the body, wherein the part is positioned between the first and second radial journal bearing, and wherein the first and second radial journal bearings are spaced apart such that at least one gap is between the first and second radial journal bearings;
wherein the radial bearing surfaces comprise polycrystalline diamond, and wherein the opposing bearing surface comprises a metal, wherein the metal is steel and contains at least 2 weight percent of a diamond solvent-catalyst based on a total weight of the metal;
wherein each of the radial bearing surfaces is bound by lateral boundary edges that extend about a circumference of the radial journal bearing and longitudinal boundary edges that extend along an axial extent of the radial journal bearing;
wherein the part is rotatably engaged between the first and second radial journal bearings such that the opposing bearing surface is rotatably slidable along a radial diamond contact area of the radial bearing surfaces, and wherein the metal of the opposing bearing surface is engaged with the polycrystalline diamond along the radial diamond contact area and entirely within the lateral boundary edges of the radial bearing surfaces.
 
46. A bearing assembly, the bearing assembly comprising:
a bearing having a bearing body;
a part having a part body;
wherein the part body has a metal bearing surface thereon, wherein the bearing body has a plurality of polycrystalline diamond bearing elements thereon, each polycrystalline diamond bearing element has a diamond bearing surface that is bound by lateral boundary edges that extend about a circumference of the bearing and longitudinal boundary edges that extend along an axial extent of the bearing, and wherein the metal bearing surface comprises a metal, wherein the metal is steel and contains at least 2 weight percent of a diamond solvent-catalyst based on a total weight of the metal; and
wherein the polycrystalline diamond bearing elements are arranged contiguously such that adjacent polycrystalline diamond bearing elements are in contact at longitudinal boundary edges of the adjacent polycrystalline diamond bearing elements, and such that the bearing surfaces of the adjacent polycrystalline diamond bearing elements are flush at the longitudinal boundary edges;
wherein the part is rotatably engaged with the bearing such that the metal bearing surface is engaged with the diamond bearing surfaces of the plurality of polycrystalline diamond bearing elements along a radial diamond contact area that is entirely within the lateral boundary edges of the diamond bearing surfaces.
 
48. A method of providing a bearing on a part, the method comprising:
positioning a first radial journal bearing and a second radial journal bearing relative to the part, such that the part is positioned between and rotatably engaged with the first and second radial journal bearings, wherein the first and second radial journal bearings are spaced apart such that at least one gap is between the first and second radial journal bearings;
wherein radial bearing surfaces of the radial journal bearings comprise polycrystalline diamond, and wherein an opposing bearing surface of the part comprises a metal, the metal containing at least 2 weight percent of a diamond solvent-catalyst based on a total weight of the metal;
wherein each radial bearing surface is bound by lateral boundary edges that extend about a circumference of the radial journal bearing and longitudinal boundary edges that extend along an axial extent of the radial journal bearing;
engaging the metal with the polycrystalline diamond; and
rotating the part and the radial journal bearings relative to one another such that the metal slides along a radial diamond contact area of the polycrystalline diamond of each radial bearing surface entirely within the lateral boundary edges of each radial bearing surface.