Patent Grant
11933356
The present disclosure relates to bearings that include continuous diamond bearing surfaces, to apparatus and systems including the same, and to methods of making and using the same.
Bearings are employed in myriad applications including, but not limited to, aircraft, aerospace, transportation, defense, agriculture, mining, construction, and energy (e.g., oil and gas drilling and production tools). Bearings can have many different configurations, such as radial bearings, axial bearings (e.g., thrust bearings), combination radial and axial bearings, linear bearings, and power transmission surface bearings.
When diamond elements are used in moving parts, typically both the engagement surface and the opposing engagement surface of the bearing assembly is composed of polycrystalline diamond. This is, at least in part, because thermally stable polycrystalline diamond (TSP), either supported or unsupported by tungsten carbide, and polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) have been considered as contraindicated for use in the machining of diamond reactive materials. At certain surface speeds in moving parts, load and attendant temperature generated, such as at a cutting tip, often exceeds the graphitization temperature of diamond (i.e., about 700° C.), which can, in the presence of a diamond reactive material, lead to rapid wear and failure of components. Without being bound by theory, the specific failure mechanism is believed to result from the chemical interaction of the carbon bearing diamond with the carbon attracting material that is being machined. An exemplary reference concerning the contraindication of diamond for diamond reactive material machining is U.S. Pat. No. 3,745,623. The contraindication of diamond for machining diamond reactive material has long caused the avoidance of the use of diamond in all contacting applications with such materials.
When using diamond as a bearing surface, contact between an edge of the diamond and the opposing bearing surface can lead to undesirable interaction between the diamond and the opposing bearing surface, including gouging of the opposing bearing surface and wear of the diamond bearing surface and/or edges of the diamond bearing surface.
Some embodiments of the present disclosure include a bearing assembly. The bearing assembly includes a bearing and a part. The bearing has a bearing body and a first bearing surface. The part has a body and a second bearing surface. One of the first and second bearing surfaces is a polycrystalline diamond bearing surface, and the other of the first and second bearing surfaces is a metal bearing surface including a metal. The polycrystalline diamond bearing surface has a surface finish of 20 μin Ra or less. The metal contains at least 2 weight percent of a diamond solvent-catalyst based on a total weight of the metal. The bearing is coupled with the part such that the metal bearing surface is engaged with the polycrystalline diamond bearing surface along a diamond contact area of the polycrystalline diamond bearing surface. The polycrystalline diamond bearing surface is a continuous surface along the diamond contact area.
Some embodiments of the present disclosure include a bearing assembly. The bearing assembly includes a bearing and a part. The bearing has a bearing body and a first bearing surface. The part has a body and a second bearing surface. One of the first and second bearing surfaces is a polycrystalline diamond bearing surface, and the other of the first and second bearing surfaces is a metal bearing surface including a metal. The polycrystalline diamond bearing surface has a surface finish of 20 μin Ra or less. The metal contains at least 2 weight percent of iron, cobalt, nickel, titanium, copper, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, chromium, manganese, or tantalum based on a total weight of the metal. The bearing is coupled with the part such that the metal bearing surface is engaged with the polycrystalline diamond bearing surface along a diamond contact area of the polycrystalline diamond bearing surface. The polycrystalline diamond bearing surface is a continuous surface along the diamond contact area.
Some embodiments of the present disclosure include a method of making a bearing assembly. The method includes providing a bearing and a shaft. The bearing has a bearing body and a first bearing surface. The shaft has a shaft body and a second bearing surface. One of the first and second bearing surfaces is a polycrystalline diamond bearing surface, and the other of the first and second bearing surfaces is a metal bearing surface including a metal. The metal contains at least 2 weight percent of a diamond solvent-catalyst based on a total weight of the metal. The method includes lapping the diamond bearing surface, polishing the polycrystalline diamond bearing surface, or combinations thereof such that the polycrystalline diamond bearing surface has a surface finish of 20 μin Ra or less. The method includes coupling the shaft with the bearing such that the metal bearing surface is engaged with the polycrystalline diamond bearing surface along a diamond contact area of the polycrystalline diamond bearing surface. The polycrystalline diamond bearing surface is a continuous surface along the diamond contact area. The polycrystalline diamond bearing surface is bound by boundary edges of the polycrystalline diamond bearing surface, and the metal bearing surface is engaged with the polycrystalline diamond bearing surface entirely within the boundary edges.
Some embodiments of the present disclosure include a method of making a bearing. The method includes providing a bearing body, and applying a polycrystalline diamond layer onto a surface of the bearing body. The polycrystalline diamond layer has a polycrystalline diamond bearing surface. The polycrystalline diamond bearing surface is a continuous surface along a diamond contact area of the bearing. The method includes lapping the polycrystalline diamond bearing surface, polishing the polycrystalline diamond bearing surface, or combinations thereof such that the polycrystalline diamond bearing surface has a surface finish of 20 μin Ra or less.
So that the manner in which the features and advantages of the systems, apparatus, and/or methods of the present disclosure may be understood in more detail, a more particular description briefly summarized above may be had by reference to the embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings that form a part of this specification. It is to be noted, however, that the drawings illustrate only various exemplary embodiments and are therefore not to be considered limiting of the disclosed concepts as it may include other effective embodiments as well.
Certain embodiments of the present disclosure include bearings that include continuous polycrystalline diamond bearing surfaces, to apparatus and systems including the same, and to methods of making and using the same.
The bearing assemblies disclosed herein include a polycrystalline diamond engagement surface (also referred to as a polycrystalline diamond bearing surface) engaged with an opposing engagement surface (also referred to as an opposing bearing surface). The polycrystalline diamond may be or include thermally stable polycrystalline diamond, either supported or unsupported by a support, such as a tungsten carbide support. The polycrystalline diamond may be or include a polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC). In certain applications, the polycrystalline diamond disclosed herein has increased cobalt content transitions layers between an outer polycrystalline diamond surface and a supporting tungsten carbide slug. The polycrystalline diamond may be non-leached, leached, leached and backfilled, thermally stable, or coated with a material via chemical vapor deposition (CVD). In some embodiments, the polycrystalline diamond is formed via a CVD process. Throughout the descriptions of the embodiments in this disclosure, for the sake of brevity and simplicity, “diamond” is used to refer to “polycrystalline diamond.” That is, the “diamond bearing surfaces” disclosed herein are “polycrystalline diamond bearing surfaces” and the “diamond bearing elements” are “polycrystalline diamond bearing elements.”
In some embodiments, the engagement surfaces of the diamond disclosed herein are planar, convex, or concave. In some embodiments, the diamond has prepared edges, such as bevels, radii, or honed edges. One performance criterion is that the diamond is configured and positioned in such a way as to minimize or preclude edge contact with the opposing bearing surface. In some aspects, the diamond is subjected to edge radius treatment to facilitate avoidance of edge contact with the opposing bearing surface. The edge geometry of the diamond can be subjected to a surface roughness reduction process, such as lapping and/or polishing. In other embodiments, the edge geometry of the diamond is not subjected to a surface roughness reduction process.
In certain applications, the diamond, or at least the engagement surface thereof, is lapped or polished, optionally highly lapped or highly polished. Although highly polished diamond is used in at least some applications, the scope of this disclosure is not limited to highly polished diamond and includes diamond that is highly lapped or polished. As used herein, a surface is defined as “highly lapped” if the surface has a surface roughness of 20 μin Ra or less than about 20 μin Ra, such as a surface roughness ranging from about 18 to about 22 μin Ra. As used herein, a surface is defined as “polished” if the surface has a surface roughness of between 2 to about 10 μin. As used herein, a surface is defined as “highly polished” if the surface has a surface roughness of less than 2 μin Ra. Typical “highly polished” surfaces have a surface roughness of from about 0.5 μin to less than about 2 μin.
In some aspects, the diamond bearing surfaces disclosed herein have a surface roughness ranging from 0.5 μin Ra to 20 μin Ra, or from 2 μin Ra to 18 μin Ra, or from 5 μin Ra to 15 μin Ra, or from 8 μin Ra to 12 μin Ra, or less than 20 μin Ra, or less than 18 μin Ra, or less than 10 μin Ra, or less than 2 μin Ra, or any range or value therebetween. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that diamond that has been polished to a surface roughness of 0.5 μin has a coefficient of friction that is less than (e.g., about half or more than half) of standard lapped diamond that has a surface roughness of 20-40 μin. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,447,208 and 5,653,300 to Lund et al. provide disclosure relevant to polishing of diamond. As would be understood by one skilled in the art, surface finish, also referred to as surface texture or surface topography, is a characteristic of a surface as defined by lay, surface roughness, and waviness. Surface finish may be determined in accordance with ASME B46.1-2009. Surface finish or roughness may be measured with a profilometer, laser microscope, or with Atomic Force Microscopy, for example.
In some embodiments, the opposing bearing surface includes a diamond reactive material. As used herein, a “diamond reactive material” is a material that contains more than trace amounts of diamond solvent-catalyst (also referred to as a diamond catalyst-solvent). Some examples of known diamond solvent-catalysts are disclosed in: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,655,845; 3,745,623; 7,198,043; 8,627,904; 5,385,715; 8,485,284; 6,814,775; 5,271,749; 5,948,541; 4,906,528; 7,737,377; 5,011,515; 3,650,714; 2,947,609; and 8,764,295.
As used herein, a material that contains more than “trace amounts” of diamond solvent-catalyst is a material that contains at least 2 percent by weight (wt. %) diamond solvent-catalyst based on a total weight of the material. As would be understood by one skilled in the art, diamond solvent-catalysts are chemical elements, compounds, or materials (e.g., metals) that are capable of catalyzing the formation of diamond, such as by promoting intercrystallite diamond-to-diamond bonding between diamond grains to form a polycrystalline diamond. As would be understood by one skilled in the art, diamond solvent-catalysts are chemical elements, compounds, or materials (e.g., metals) that are capable of solubilizing polycrystalline diamond by catalyzing the reaction of the diamond into graphite, such as under load and at a temperature at or exceeding the graphitization temperature of diamond. Diamond solvent-catalysts are capable of catalyzing the graphitization of diamond (e.g., polycrystalline diamond), such as when under load and at a temperature at or exceeding the graphitization temperature of the diamond (i.e., about 700° C.). Diamond reactive materials include, but are not limited to, metals including metal alloys, and composite materials that contain more than trace amounts of diamond solvent-catalysts. Some exemplary diamond solvent-catalysts include iron, cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, chromium, manganese, copper, titanium, and tantalum. Thus, a diamond reactive material can be a material that includes more than trace amounts of iron, cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, chromium, manganese, copper, titanium, tantalum, or combinations thereof. One exemplary diamond reactive material is steel.
The diamond reactive material disclosed herein may be a metal or metal alloy (collectively referred to herein as a “metal” or a “metallic material”) having a metal surface. As would be understood by one skilled in the art metals include materials that contain metal atoms that are typically characterized by metallic bonding between the metal atoms. That is, metals can be characterized as having metal atoms that are chemically bonded together, with at least predominantly metallic bonding between the metal atoms (e.g., in a crystalline structure of the metal atoms). The metals disclosed herein are not ceramics (e.g., carbides, oxides, nitrides, natural diamond), plastics, or composites (e.g., ceramic matrix composites or metal matrix composites, such as cermets, cemented carbide cobalt composites, PCD cobalt binder composites, CBN cobalt binder composites). In some embodiments the metal is a metal alloy. In other embodiments the metal is not a metal alloy (i.e., contains a single metal). The metal may be ferrous or a ferrous alloy. For example, the metal may be iron or an iron alloy, such as cast iron or steel, such as stainless steel, carbon steel, tool steel, or alloy steels. The metal may be non-ferrous or a non-ferrous alloy. For example, the metal may be nickel or a nickel alloy, cobalt or a cobalt alloy, copper or a copper alloy, titanium or a titanium alloy, ruthenium or a ruthenium alloy, rhodium or a rhodium alloy, palladium or a palladium alloy, chrome or a chrome alloy, manganese or a manganese alloy, or tantalum or a tantalum alloy.
In embodiments where the diamond reactive material is a metal, the opposing bearing surface is a metal surface. The opposing bearing surface may include a metal that contains at least 2 wt. % of a diamond solvent-catalyst based on a total weight of the metal. In some embodiments, the opposing bearing surface is or includes a metal that contains from 2 to 100 wt. %, or from 5 to 95 wt. %, or from 10 to 90 wt. %, or from 15 to 85 wt. %, or from 20 to 80 wt. %, or from 25 to 75 wt. %, or from 25 to 70 wt. %, or from 30 to 65 wt. %, or from 35 to 60 wt. %, or from 40 to 55 wt. %, or from 45 to 50 wt. % of diamond solvent-catalyst based on a total weight of the metal, or any range or value therebetween. In some embodiments, the opposing bearing surface is or includes a metal that contains at least 3 wt. %, or at least 5 wt. %, or at least 10 wt. %, or at least 15 wt. %, or at least 20 wt. %, or at least 25 wt. %, or at least 30 wt. %, or at least 35 wt. %, or at least 40 wt. %, or at least 45 wt. %, or at least 50 wt. %, or at least 55 wt. %, or at least 60 wt. %, or at least 65 wt. %, or at least 70 wt. %, or at least 75 wt. %, or at least 80 wt. %, or at least 85 wt. %, or at least 90 wt. %, or at least 95 wt. %, or at least 99 wt. %, or 100 wt. % of diamond solvent-catalyst based on a total weight of the metal.
In some embodiments, the diamond reactive materials disclosed herein contain from 2 to 100 wt. %, or from 5 to 95 wt. %, or from 10 to 90 wt. %, or from 15 to 85 wt. %, or from 20 to 80 wt. %, or from 25 to 75 wt. %, or from 25 to 70 wt. %, or from 30 to 65 wt. %, or from 35 to 60 wt. %, or from 40 to 55 wt. %, or from 45 to 50 wt. % of metal based on a total weight of the diamond reactive material, or any value or range therebetween. In some embodiments, the diamond reactive materials disclosed herein contain at least 3 wt. %, or at least 5 wt. %, or at least 10 wt. %, or at least 15 wt. %, or at least 20 wt. %, or at least 25 wt. %, or at least 30 wt. %, or at least 35 wt. %, or at least 40 wt. %, or at least 45 wt. %, or at least 50 wt. %, or at least 55 wt. %, or at least 60 wt. %, or at least 65 wt. %, or at least 70 wt. %, or at least 75 wt. %, or at least 80 wt. %, or at least 85 wt. %, or at least 90 wt. %, or at least 95 wt. %, or at least 99 wt. %, or 100 wt. % of metal based on a total weight of the diamond reactive material.
In some embodiments, the diamond reactive materials disclosed herein contain from 2 to 100 wt. %, or from 5 to 95 wt. %, or from 10 to 90 wt. %, or from 15 to 85 wt. %, or from 20 to 80 wt. %, or from 25 to 75 wt. %, or from 25 to 70 wt. %, or from 30 to 65 wt. %, or from 35 to 60 wt. %, or from 40 to 55 wt. %, or from 45 to 50 wt. % of diamond solvent-catalyst based on a total weight of the diamond reactive material, or any value or range therebetween. In some embodiments, the diamond reactive materials disclosed herein contain at least 3 wt. %, or at least 5 wt. %, or at least 10 wt. %, or at least 15 wt. %, or at least 20 wt. %, or at least 25 wt. %, or at least 30 wt. %, or at least 35 wt. %, or at least 40 wt. %, or at least 45 wt. %, or at least 50 wt. %, or at least 55 wt. %, or at least 60 wt. %, or at least 65 wt. %, or at least 70 wt. %, or at least 75 wt. %, or at least 80 wt. %, or at least 85 wt. %, or at least 90 wt. %, or at least 95 wt. %, or at least 99 wt. %, or 100 wt. % of diamond solvent-catalyst based on a total weight of the diamond reactive material.
In some embodiments, less than an entirety of the opposing bearing surface includes the diamond reactive material, with the provision that the metal contact area of the opposing bearing surface includes diamond reactive material in at least one position along the contact path between the metal contact area and the diamond contact area. For example, the opposing bearing surface may include a section of diamond reactive material adjacent a section of another material that is not a diamond reactive material.
In some embodiments, the diamond reactive material is a superalloy including, but not limited to, an iron-based superalloy, a cobalt-based superalloy, or a nickel-based superalloy.
In certain embodiments, the diamond reactive material is not and/or does not include (i.e., specifically excludes) so called “superhard materials.” As would be understood by one skilled in the art, “superhard materials” are a category of materials defined by the hardness of the material, which may be determined in accordance with the Brinell, Rockwell, Knoop and/or Vickers scales. Superhard materials are materials with a hardness value exceeding 40 gigapascals (GPa) when measured by the Vickers hardness test. The diamond reactive materials disclosed herein are softer than a superhard material. For example, the diamond reactive materials disclosed herein may have a hardness value of less than 40 GPa, or less than 35 GPa, or less than 30 GPa, or less than 25 GPa, or less than 20 GPa, or less than 15 GPa, or less than 10 GPa, or less than 8 GPa, or less than 6 GPa, or less than 5 GPa, or less than 4 GPa, or less than 3 GPa, or less than 2 GPa, or less than 1 GPa when measured by the Vickers hardness test. The diamond reactive materials disclosed herein are softer than tungsten carbide (WC), which has a hardness of about 25 GPa. The diamond reactive materials disclosed herein include materials that are softer than tungsten carbide tiles, cemented tungsten carbide, and infiltrated tungsten carbide. The diamond reactive materials disclosed herein include materials that are softer than silicon carbide, silicon nitride, cubic boron nitride, and polycrystalline diamond. One skilled in the art would understand that hardness may be determined by different tests, including a Brinell scale test in accordance with ASTM E10-18; the Vickers hardness test in accordance with ASTM E92-17; the Rockwell hardness test in accordance with ASTM E18; and the Knoop hardness test in accordance with ASTM E384-17.
In some embodiments, the diamond reactive materials are in the form of hardfacings, coatings, or platings on another material, such that the diamond reactive material forms the opposing bearing surface. In such embodiments, the hardfacing, coating, or plating includes the diamond reactive material. In some such embodiment, the material underlying the hardfacing, coating, or plating is not a diamond reactive material. In other such embodiments, the material underlying the hardfacing, coating, or plating is a diamond reactive material (the same or different than the overlying hardfacing, coating, or plating).
In some embodiments, the opposing bearing surface has carbon applied thereto. In some such embodiments, the carbon is applied to the opposing bearing surface prior to engagement with the diamond bearing surface. For example, the opposing bearing surface may be saturated with carbon. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that such application of carbon reduces the ability of the diamond solvent-catalyst in the opposing bearing surface to attract carbon through graphitization of the surface of the polycrystalline diamond element. That is, the carbon that is applied to the opposing bearing surface functions as a sacrificial layer of carbon. In such embodiments, the opposing bearing surface that underlies the carbon includes the diamond reactive material.
In some embodiments, the opposing bearing surface is a treated surface in accordance with U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/425,758. For example, the opposing bearing surface (also referred to as the opposing engagement surface) may be hardened, such as via cold working and work hardening processes including burnishing and shot peening; and/or heat-treating processes including through hardening, case hardening, and subzero, cryogenic, deep-freezing treatments. Also, the opposing bearing surface may be plated and/or coated, such as via electroplating, electroless plating, including chromium plating, phosphating, vapor deposition, including physical vapor deposition (PVD) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD); or anodizing. Also, the opposing bearing surface may be cladded, such as via roll bonding, laser cladding, or explosive welding.
In some embodiments, the opposing bearing surface has a surface roughness of from 0.5 to 2,000 μin Ra, or from 1 to 1,900 μin Ra, or from 5 to 1,500 μin Ra, or from 10 to 1,200 μin Ra, or from 50 to 1,000 μin Ra, or from 100 to 800 μin Ra, or from 200 to 600 μin Ra. In some embodiments, the opposing bearing surface has a surface roughness that is equal to, less than, or greater than the diamond bearing surface.
In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides for interfacing the contact between the diamond bearing surface of a bearing and the opposing bearing surface of a part. Interfacing the contact may include engaging the diamond bearing surface in sliding contact with the opposing bearing surface. As used herein, “engagement surface” or “bearing surface” refers to the surface of a material or component (e.g., the surface of polycrystalline diamond or the surface of a diamond reactive material) that is positioned and arranged within a bearing assembly such that, in operation of the bearing, the “engagement surface” or “bearing surface” is positioned and/or available to interface the contact between two components to bear load (e.g., radial and/or axial load). In some embodiments, the diamond bearing surface disclosed herein is in direct contact with an opposing bearing surface without a fluid film therebetween (i.e., boundary lubrication). In some embodiments, a fluid film is positioned and/or develops between the diamond bearing surface and the opposing bearing surface such that the surfaces are not directly in contact with one another, but are engaged through the fluid film (i.e., hydrodynamic lubrication). In some embodiments, the contact between the diamond bearing surface and opposing bearing surface is between (or a mixture of) or varies between direct contact and fluid film (i.e., mixed boundary lubrication).
In some embodiments, the diamond bearings disclosed herein are coupled with or otherwise incorporated into or with a bearing assembly. For example, the diamond bearings may be a portion of an axial bearing assembly, a radial bearing assembly, or a combined axial and radial bearing assembly. In some embodiments, the bearing assembly is a journal bearing, conical bearing, or spherical bearing. The diamond bearings are not limited to being incorporated into the specific exemplary bearing assemblies shown herein.
Some embodiments include a bearing assembly that includes one or more of the diamond bearing surfaces engaged with one or more of the opposing bearing surfaces. In some such embodiments, the diamond bearing surface is in sliding engagement with the opposing bearing surface. Depending on the desired configuration of the bearing assembly, the sliding engagement between the diamond bearing surface and the opposing bearing surface may be a flat surface interface, a curved (e.g., cylindrical) surface interface, or a combination of flat and curved surface interfaces.
In some embodiments, the diamond bearing disclosed herein is a radial journal bearing having a diamond bearing surface. With reference to
In some embodiments, the bearings disclosed herein have continuous diamond bearing surfaces. For example, a bearing component (e.g., a radial journal bearing) having a diamond bearing surface may be coupled with an opposing bearing component (e.g., a shaft) having an opposing bearing surface such that the opposing bearing is slidingly engaged with the diamond bearing surface along a diamond contact area of the diamond bearing surface, and such that the diamond bearing surface is “continuous” along the diamond contact area. As used herein, “diamond contact area” refers to the entire portion of the surface area of the diamond bearing surface that contacts (directly or through a fluid film) the opposing bearing surface during operation (i.e., relative movement) of the bearing and the part that includes the opposing bearing surface. That is, the diamond contact area is the portion of the surface area of the diamond bearing surface that contacts the opposing bearing surface during operation of the bearing assembly. The diamond contact area is only a portion of the diamond bearing surface, and is spaced apart from each boundary edge of the diamond bearing surface, such that there is at least some surface area of the diamond bearing surface positioned between the diamond contact area and the boundary edges of the diamond bearing surface. In embodiments where the bearing is a radial bearing, the diamond contact area of the radial bearing is the surface area of the diamond bearing surface that contacts the opposing bearing surface during rotation of the opposing component. The diamond contact area has a surface area that is less than a surface area of the diamond bearing surface. That is, less than an entirety of the diamond bearing surface forms the diamond contact area. As used herein, a diamond bearing surface is a “continuous surface” along an entirety of the diamond contact area when the diamond bearing surface is uninterrupted by any diamond edges throughout the entirety of the diamond contact area. That is, during operation, while the opposing bearing surface slides along the diamond contact area, the opposing bearing surface does not slide on, along, or contact any edges of the diamond bearing surface. For example, with reference to
The bearing having the diamond bearing surface may be coupled with the part having the opposing bearing surface such that a metal contact area of the opposing bearing surface is slidingly engaged with the diamond contact area. As used herein, “metal contact area” refers to the entire portion of the surface area of the opposing bearing surface that contacts (directly or through a fluid film) the diamond contact area during operation (i.e., during relative movement) of the bearing and the part that includes the opposing bearing surface. That is, the metal contact area is the portion of the surface area of the opposing bearing surface that contacts the diamond contact area during operation of the bearing assembly. In embodiments where the bearing is a radial bearing, the metal contact area is the surface area of the opposing bearing surface that contacts the diamond contact area during relative rotation of the bearing and part. During operation, while the metal contact area slides along the diamond contact area without sliding on, along, or contacting boundary edges of the diamond bearing surfaces, and the diamond bearing surface slides on, along, and contacts boundary edges of the opposing bearing surface. In some embodiments, such as in a radial bearing, the metal contact area is a radial contact area. That is, the sliding movement of the metal contact area along the diamond contact area is a radial, rotating movement. In other embodiments, the metal contact area is an axial contact area. That is, the sliding movement of the metal contact area on the diamond contact area is an axial movement. In some embodiments, the metal contact area is both a radial and axial diamond contact area. In some embodiments, the metal contact area is an entirety of the opposing bearing surface, such that an entirety of the opposing bearing surface is engaged with less than an entirety of the diamond bearing surface. Both the metal contact area and the diamond contact area are surfaces, such that the contact between the metal contact area and the diamond contact area is a contact between two surface areas (e.g., is a planar contact or contact between two curved surfaces). Thus, contact between the metal contact area and the diamond contact area is a planar contact between the contact areas, or is a contact between two curved surfaces that form the contact areas. As the metal contact area only contacts the diamond bearing surface entirely within the boundary edges of the diamond bearing surface, portions of the diamond bearing surface slide on, along, and contact (directly or through a fluid film) with the boundary edges of the metal bearing surface.
The diamond contact area defines a path (or paths) along which the metal contact area contacts the diamond engagement surface. The path on the diamond engagement surface that is defined by the diamond contact area provides for a purely surface area contact with the metal contact area, with the path tracing a surface area of the diamond engagement surface. Additionally, the metal contact area defines a path (or paths) along which the diamond contact area contacts the opposing engagement surface. The path on the opposing engagement surface that is defined by the metal contact area provides for a purely surface area contact with the diamond contact area, with the path tracing a surface area of the opposing engagement surface.
In some embodiments of operation of the bearing assemblies disclosed herein, the metal contact area does not maintain contact with the diamond contact area throughout the entire path defined by the diamond contact area. For example, the metal contact area may be intermittently spaced apart from the diamond contact area during the tracing of the metal contact area over the path defined by the diamond contact area (e.g., where the metal and diamond contact areas are not perfectly engaged, parallel, and/or aligned). In such embodiments, the contact path (or paths) of the diamond contact area may be engaged by the metal contact area at multiple discrete locations and/or multiple discrete times. In such embodiments, the metal contact area does not slide on, along, or contact the boundary edges of the diamond bearing surface at any of the multiple discrete locations and/or multiple discrete times. Thus, for the diamond bearing surface to be a continuous surface along the entirety of the diamond contact area, it is not necessary for the metal contact area to be continuously in contact with the diamond contact area, provided that the metal bearing surface does not engage with any boundary edges of the diamond bearing surface.
In other embodiments of operation of the bearing assemblies disclosed herein, the metal contact area does maintain contact with the diamond contact area throughout the entire path defined by the diamond contact area. In such embodiments, the metal contact area is in contact with the diamond contact area throughout the tracing of the entire path defined by the diamond contact area. In such embodiments, the metal contact area does not slide on, along, or contact the boundary edges of the diamond bearing surface at any location throughout the entire diamond contact area. In some embodiments, the diamond bearing surface is a single, continuous surface.
While exemplary bearing surfaces disclosed herein are shown and described as curved surfaces such that a section of surface area (the metal contact area) of the opposing bearing surface is in sliding contact with a section of surface area (the diamond contact area) of the diamond bearing surface, the bearing surfaces may have other forms and geometries than those shown herein, provided that metal bearing surface does not engage with any boundary edges of the diamond bearing surface.
While movement between the bearing and part within the exemplary bearing assemblies disclosed herein is described (at least primarily) as being rotational and/or axial movement, the bearing assemblies disclosed herein may exhibit other movements. For example, the bearing assembly may exhibit vibrational movements. Vibrational movements within such a bearing assembly may alter which portions of the surface area of the diamond bearing surface are occupied by the diamond contact area. In such embodiments, the size (e.g., width) of the diamond bearing surface and/or the opposing bearing surface may be designed to account for such vibrational movements such that, regardless of the vibrational movements, the opposing bearing surface does not engage with any boundary edges of the diamond bearing surface. That is, the diamond bearing surface and/or the opposing bearing surface may be provided with tolerance to account for such vibrational movements or other additional movements within the bearing assembly.
While the radial journal bearings of
Some embodiments of the present disclosure include a bearing assembly that includes a bearing having a diamond bearing surface that is in sliding engagement with an opposing bearing surface. With reference to
In some embodiments, the opposing bearing surface 204 is not a continuous bearing surface (i.e., is a discontinuous bearing surface), and may include multiple, discrete bearing surfaces. For example, the opposing bearing surfaces disclosed herein may be surfaces (e.g., metal surfaces) that have edges that are engaged with the diamond contact area of the diamond bearing surface within the boundary edges of the diamond bearing surface.
While the radial journal bearings of
With reference to
While the radial journal bearings of
Some embodiments of the present disclosure include an angular contact bearing, such as a conical bearing. In some such embodiments, a conical bearing assembly that includes a conical bearing having a diamond bearing surface that is in sliding engagement with an opposing bearing bearing surface. With reference to
As shown in
While the conical bearings of
Some embodiments of the present disclosure include an angular contact bearing, such as a spherical bearing assembly. In some such embodiments, the spherical bearing assembly includes a spherical bearing having a diamond bearing surface that is in sliding engagement with an opposing bearing surface. While described as a spherical bearing, the bearings disclosed herein are not limited to this shape, and may have other shapes, including other spheroidal or ellipsoidal shapes or other shapes having arcuate surfaces. In some embodiments, the bearing is a bearing with an elliptical surface, a conical surface, or another surface that defines a curve. With reference to
While the spherical bearings of
Some embodiments of the present disclosure include an angular contact bearing that includes a spherical bearing that allows the opposing bearing element to which it is engaged to pivot and/or articulate relative to the spherical bearing. With reference to
In some embodiments, the bearings assemblies disclosed herein include a hybrid bearing engagement surfaces. For example, the diamond bearing surface can be a conical or cylindrical bearing surface and the opposing bearing surface can be a spherical bearing surface (or vice versa).
While the spherical bearings of
Some embodiments of the present disclosure include an axial bearing assembly that includes an axial bearing having a diamond bearing surface that is engaged with an opposing bearing surface. With reference to
While the axial bearings of
Some embodiments of the present disclosure include a combined axial and radial bearing assembly that includes a combined axial and radial bearing having diamond bearing surfaces that are engaged with opposing bearing surfaces. With reference to
While the combined axial and radial bearings of
In some embodiments of a combined axial and radial bearing assembly, rather than being integral, as is shown in
While both diamond bearing surfaces 904a and 904b are shown as continuous bearing surfaces, in some embodiments one of the diamond bearing surfaces 904a and 904b is replaced with discrete diamond bearing elements rather than a single continuous diamond bearing surface. While the combined axial and radial bearings of
In some embodiments, the concepts described herein are applied to tilting pad bearings. In some such embodiments, the tilting pads of the tilting pad bearings have the opposing bearing surfaces thereon, and the shaft (or other component) has the continuous diamond bearing surface thereon. In other such embodiments, the tilting pads of the tilting pad bearings have the diamond bearing surfaces thereon, and the shaft (or other component) has the opposing bearing surface thereon. The tilting pads can articulate to engage or disengage from the shaft. When the tilting pads are engaged with the shaft, the opposing bearing surfaces on the tilting pads are in contact with the diamond contact area of the diamond bearing surface on the shaft. In such embodiments, the opposing bearing surfaces contact the diamond contact area entirely within the boundary edges of the diamond bearing surface. Such tilting pad bearings may be used to bear radial and/or axial loads. Some examples of tilting bearing pads are disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2020/0325933.
In some embodiments, the coefficient of friction (CoF) exhibited by the engagement between the diamond bearing surfaces and the opposing bearing surfaces disclosed herein is less than 0.1, 0.09 or less, 0.08 or less, 0.07 or less, 0.06 or less, 0.05 or less, 0.04 or less, 0.03 or less, 0.02 or less, or 0.01 or less. In some embodiments, the CoF exhibited by the engagement between the diamond bearing surfaces and the opposing bearing surfaces disclosed herein ranges from 0.01 to 0.09, or 0.01 to 0.07, or 0.01 to 0.05, or 0.01 to 0.03, or any range or value therebetween.
The continuous surface of the diamond bearing surface, along the diamond contact area, provides for the avoidance of the opposing bearing surface contacting a diamond edge or diamond point, which facilitates bearing surface integrity, such as by avoiding gouging of the opposing bearing surface by the diamond. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that continuous diamond bearing surfaces impart less stress on the bearing surfaces of the bearing assembly, at least in part due to the avoidance of diamond edge contact, in comparison to an otherwise identical bearing assembly where the diamond bearing surface is formed of multiple discreet bearing elements. Without being bound by theory, it is also believed that the continuous diamond bearing surfaces disclosed herein are more conducive to the development of a fluid film between the bearing surfaces, in comparison to an otherwise identical bearing assembly where the diamond bearing surface is formed of multiple discreet bearing elements.
In some embodiments, the diamond bearing surfaces disclosed herein are made by a high-pressure and high-temperature process (HPHT diamonds). In some embodiments, the diamond bearing surfaces disclosed herein are made by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or physical vapor deposition (PVD). The thickness of the diamond layer that has the diamond bearing surface may be 0.200″ or less, or 0.150″ or less, or 0.100″ or less, or 0.09″ or less, or 0.08″ or less, or 0.07″ or less, or 0.06″ or less, or 0.05″ or less, or 0.04″ or less, or 0.03″ or less, or 0.02″ or less, 0.010″ or less. The thickness of the diamond layer that has the diamond bearing surface may be from 0.010″ to 0.200″, from 0.02″ to 0.150″, from 0.03″ to 0.100″, from 0.04″ to 0.09″, from 0.05″ to 0.08″, from 0.06″ to 0.07″, or any range or value therebetween. For example, when the diamond layer is made via CVD or PVD, the thickness of the diamond layer that has the diamond bearing surface may be 0.010″ or less, and when the diamond layer is made by a high-pressure and high-temperature process the thickness of the diamond layer that has the diamond bearing surface may be 0.200″ or less. In some embodiments, the diamond is leached, un-leached, or leached and backfilled. As an example, to make a diamond layer using the CVD process, seed diamond particles are attached to a substrate and then placed in a chamber under conditions sufficient to promote the crystalline growth of the seed diamond particles.
While the bearing assemblies disclosed herein are not limited to particular applications, some exemplary applications include journal bearings for an airplane propeller, bearings in a planetary gear box, marine bearings, turbo bearings, gas or steam turbine main shaft bearings, downhole pump bearings (such as an electronic submersible pump), bearings in downhole motors, driveline bearings, and roller ball bearings.
While described as applied to particular bearing geometries, the concepts described in the present disclosure are not limited to being applied to these specific bearing geometries. The concepts described in the present disclosure may be applied to axial bearings, radial bearings, combined axial and radial bearings, roller ball bearings, cam followers, linear bearings, power transmission surfaces (e.g., gears and drivelines), rod guides, pipe protectors, valves, and other assemblies or machines that have moving parts with surfaces that are in sliding engagement with one another. The concepts described in the present disclosure may be applied to assemblies or machines that include two load-transmitting bearing surfaces that are slidingly engaged with one another, in which one of the load-transmitting bearing surfaces is a diamond surface and the other of the load-transmitting bearing surfaces is a metal alloy surface that contains more than 2 wt. % of a diamond solvent-catalyst. In some such embodiments, the slidingly engaged contact area between the two load-transmitting bearing surfaces is contained within a continuous diamond bearing surface that is defined by the boundary edges of the diamond bearing surface. In some such embodiments, the boundary edges of the metal alloy surface contact the diamond surface.
In some embodiments, the bearing assemblies disclosed herein include hybrid bearing bearing surfaces that have different geometries and surface profiles. For example, the diamond bearing can have a first geometric shape with a first surface profile (e.g., a conical or cylindrical bearing surface) and the opposing component can have a second geometric shape with a second surface profile (e.g., a spherical bearing surface). For example, an axial bearing can include a diamond bearing surface that is planar and an opposing bearing surface that is non-planar (or vice versa).
Although the present embodiments and advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present disclosure. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.
The present application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/522,335, filed on Nov. 9, 2021 (now allowed), which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/111,145, filed on Nov. 9, 2020, and entitled “Continuous Diamond Surface Bearings for Sliding Engagement with Metal Surfaces,” the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2693396 | Gondek | Nov 1954 | A |
| 2947609 | Strong | Aug 1960 | A |
| 2947610 | Hall et al. | Aug 1960 | A |
| 3132904 | Kohei et al. | May 1964 | A |
| 3582161 | Hudson | Jun 1971 | A |
| 3603652 | Youden | Sep 1971 | A |
| 3650714 | Farkas | Mar 1972 | A |
| 3745623 | Wentorf et al. | Jul 1973 | A |
| 3752541 | Mcvey | Aug 1973 | A |
| 3866987 | Garner | Feb 1975 | A |
| 3920290 | Evarts | Nov 1975 | A |
| 4085634 | Sattler | Apr 1978 | A |
| 4225322 | Knemeyer | Sep 1980 | A |
| 4275935 | Thompson et al. | Jun 1981 | A |
| 4285550 | Blackburn et al. | Aug 1981 | A |
| 4382637 | Blackburn et al. | May 1983 | A |
| 4410054 | Nagel et al. | Oct 1983 | A |
| 4410284 | Herrick | Oct 1983 | A |
| 4468138 | Nagel | Aug 1984 | A |
| 4525178 | Hall | Jun 1985 | A |
| 4554208 | MacIver et al. | Nov 1985 | A |
| 4560014 | Geczy | Dec 1985 | A |
| 4620601 | Nagel | Nov 1986 | A |
| RE32380 | Wentorf, Jr. et al. | Mar 1987 | E |
| 4662348 | Hall et al. | May 1987 | A |
| 4679639 | Barr et al. | Jul 1987 | A |
| 4689847 | Huber | Sep 1987 | A |
| 4720199 | Geczy et al. | Jan 1988 | A |
| 4729440 | Hall | Mar 1988 | A |
| 4738322 | Hall et al. | Apr 1988 | A |
| 4764036 | McPherson | Aug 1988 | A |
| 4797011 | Saeki et al. | Jan 1989 | A |
| 4906528 | Cerceau et al. | Mar 1990 | A |
| 5011514 | Cho et al. | Apr 1991 | A |
| 5011515 | Frushour | Apr 1991 | A |
| 5030276 | Sung et al. | Jul 1991 | A |
| 5037212 | Justman et al. | Aug 1991 | A |
| 5066145 | Sibley et al. | Nov 1991 | A |
| 5067826 | Lemelson | Nov 1991 | A |
| 5092687 | Hall | Mar 1992 | A |
| 5112146 | Stangeland | May 1992 | A |
| 5151107 | Cho et al. | Sep 1992 | A |
| 5205188 | Repenning et al. | Apr 1993 | A |
| 5253939 | Hall | Oct 1993 | A |
| 5271749 | Rai et al. | Dec 1993 | A |
| 5351770 | Cawthorne et al. | Oct 1994 | A |
| 5385715 | Fish | Jan 1995 | A |
| 5447208 | Lund et al. | Sep 1995 | A |
| 5462362 | Yuhta et al. | Oct 1995 | A |
| 5514183 | Epstein et al. | May 1996 | A |
| 5540314 | Coelln | Jul 1996 | A |
| 5560716 | Tank et al. | Oct 1996 | A |
| 5645617 | Frushour | Jul 1997 | A |
| 5653300 | Lund et al. | Aug 1997 | A |
| 5855996 | Corrigan et al. | Jan 1999 | A |
| 5948541 | Inspektor | Sep 1999 | A |
| 6045029 | Scott | Apr 2000 | A |
| 6164109 | Bartosch | Dec 2000 | A |
| 6190050 | Campbell | Feb 2001 | B1 |
| 6209185 | Scott | Apr 2001 | B1 |
| 6409388 | Lin | Jun 2002 | B1 |
| 6488103 | Dennis et al. | Dec 2002 | B1 |
| 6488715 | Pope et al. | Dec 2002 | B1 |
| 6517583 | Pope et al. | Feb 2003 | B1 |
| 6652201 | Kunimori et al. | Nov 2003 | B2 |
| 6655845 | Pope et al. | Dec 2003 | B1 |
| 6737377 | Sumiya et al. | May 2004 | B1 |
| 6764219 | Doll et al. | Jul 2004 | B2 |
| 6814775 | Scurlock et al. | Nov 2004 | B2 |
| 6951578 | Belnap et al. | Oct 2005 | B1 |
| 7128173 | Lin | Oct 2006 | B2 |
| 7198043 | Zhang | Apr 2007 | B1 |
| 7234541 | Scott et al. | Jun 2007 | B2 |
| 7311159 | Lin et al. | Dec 2007 | B2 |
| 7441610 | Belnap et al. | Oct 2008 | B2 |
| 7475744 | Pope | Jan 2009 | B2 |
| 7552782 | Sexton et al. | Jun 2009 | B1 |
| 7703982 | Cooley | Apr 2010 | B2 |
| 7737377 | Dodal et al. | Jun 2010 | B1 |
| 7845436 | Cooley et al. | Dec 2010 | B2 |
| 7861805 | Dick et al. | Jan 2011 | B2 |
| 7870913 | Sexton et al. | Jan 2011 | B1 |
| 8069933 | Sexton et al. | Dec 2011 | B2 |
| 8080071 | Vail | Dec 2011 | B1 |
| 8109247 | Wakade et al. | Feb 2012 | B2 |
| 8119240 | Cooper | Feb 2012 | B2 |
| 8163232 | Fang et al. | Apr 2012 | B2 |
| 8277124 | Sexton et al. | Oct 2012 | B2 |
| 8277722 | DiGiovanni | Oct 2012 | B2 |
| 8365846 | Dourfaye et al. | Feb 2013 | B2 |
| 8435317 | Burgess et al. | May 2013 | B2 |
| 8480304 | Cooley et al. | Jul 2013 | B1 |
| 8485284 | Sithebe | Jul 2013 | B2 |
| 8613554 | Tessier et al. | Dec 2013 | B2 |
| 8627904 | Voronin | Jan 2014 | B2 |
| 8678657 | Knuteson et al. | Mar 2014 | B1 |
| 8701797 | Baudoin | Apr 2014 | B2 |
| 8702824 | Sani et al. | Apr 2014 | B1 |
| 8734550 | Sani | May 2014 | B1 |
| 8757299 | DiGiovanni et al. | Jun 2014 | B2 |
| 8763727 | Cooley et al. | Jul 2014 | B1 |
| 8764295 | Dadson et al. | Jul 2014 | B2 |
| 8881849 | Shen et al. | Nov 2014 | B2 |
| 8911521 | Miess et al. | Dec 2014 | B1 |
| 8939652 | Peterson et al. | Jan 2015 | B2 |
| 8974559 | Frushour | Mar 2015 | B2 |
| 9004198 | Kulkarni | Apr 2015 | B2 |
| 9022149 | Lyons | May 2015 | B2 |
| 9045941 | Chustz | Jun 2015 | B2 |
| 9103172 | Bertagnolli et al. | Aug 2015 | B1 |
| 9127713 | Lu | Sep 2015 | B1 |
| 9145743 | Shen et al. | Sep 2015 | B2 |
| 9273381 | Qian et al. | Mar 2016 | B2 |
| 9284980 | Miess | Mar 2016 | B1 |
| 9309923 | Lingwall et al. | Apr 2016 | B1 |
| 9353788 | Tulett et al. | May 2016 | B1 |
| 9366085 | Panahi | Jun 2016 | B2 |
| 9404310 | Sani et al. | Aug 2016 | B1 |
| 9410573 | Lu | Aug 2016 | B1 |
| 9429188 | Peterson et al. | Aug 2016 | B2 |
| 9488221 | Gonzalez | Nov 2016 | B2 |
| 9562562 | Peterson | Feb 2017 | B2 |
| 9611885 | Cooley et al. | Apr 2017 | B1 |
| 9643293 | Miess et al. | May 2017 | B1 |
| 9702198 | Topham | Jul 2017 | B1 |
| 9702401 | Gonzalez | Jul 2017 | B2 |
| 9732791 | Gonzalez | Aug 2017 | B1 |
| 9776917 | Tessitore et al. | Oct 2017 | B2 |
| 9790749 | Chen | Oct 2017 | B2 |
| 9822523 | Miess | Nov 2017 | B1 |
| 10018146 | Azevedo et al. | Jul 2018 | B2 |
| 10060192 | Miess et al. | Aug 2018 | B1 |
| 10113362 | Ritchie et al. | Oct 2018 | B2 |
| 10279454 | DiGiovanni et al. | May 2019 | B2 |
| 10294986 | Gonzalez | May 2019 | B2 |
| 10307891 | Daniels et al. | Jun 2019 | B2 |
| 10408086 | Meier | Sep 2019 | B1 |
| 10465775 | Miess et al. | Nov 2019 | B1 |
| 10683895 | Hall et al. | Jun 2020 | B2 |
| 10711792 | Vidalenc et al. | Jul 2020 | B2 |
| 10711833 | Manwill et al. | Jul 2020 | B2 |
| 10738821 | Miess et al. | Aug 2020 | B2 |
| 10807913 | Hawks et al. | Oct 2020 | B1 |
| 10968700 | Raymond | Apr 2021 | B1 |
| 10968703 | Haugvaldstad et al. | Apr 2021 | B2 |
| 11054000 | Prevost et al. | Jul 2021 | B2 |
| 11085488 | Gonzalez | Aug 2021 | B2 |
| 11118408 | Marshall et al. | Sep 2021 | B2 |
| 11802443 | Peters | Oct 2023 | B2 |
| 20030019106 | Pope et al. | Jan 2003 | A1 |
| 20030075363 | Lin et al. | Apr 2003 | A1 |
| 20030220691 | Songer et al. | Nov 2003 | A1 |
| 20040031625 | Lin et al. | Feb 2004 | A1 |
| 20040134687 | Radford et al. | Jul 2004 | A1 |
| 20040219362 | Wort et al. | Nov 2004 | A1 |
| 20040223676 | Pope et al. | Nov 2004 | A1 |
| 20060060392 | Eyre | Mar 2006 | A1 |
| 20060165973 | Dumm et al. | Jul 2006 | A1 |
| 20070046119 | Cooley | Mar 2007 | A1 |
| 20080085407 | Cooley et al. | Apr 2008 | A1 |
| 20080253706 | Bischof et al. | Oct 2008 | A1 |
| 20090060408 | Nagasaka et al. | Mar 2009 | A1 |
| 20090087563 | Voegele et al. | Apr 2009 | A1 |
| 20090268995 | Ide et al. | Oct 2009 | A1 |
| 20100061676 | Sugiyama et al. | Mar 2010 | A1 |
| 20100276200 | Schwefe et al. | Nov 2010 | A1 |
| 20100307069 | Bertagnolli et al. | Dec 2010 | A1 |
| 20110174547 | Sexton et al. | Jul 2011 | A1 |
| 20110203791 | Jin et al. | Aug 2011 | A1 |
| 20110220415 | Jin et al. | Sep 2011 | A1 |
| 20110297454 | Shen et al. | Dec 2011 | A1 |
| 20120037425 | Sexton et al. | Feb 2012 | A1 |
| 20120057814 | Dadson et al. | Mar 2012 | A1 |
| 20120225253 | DiGiovanni et al. | Sep 2012 | A1 |
| 20120281938 | Peterson et al. | Nov 2012 | A1 |
| 20130004106 | Wenzel | Jan 2013 | A1 |
| 20130092454 | Scott et al. | Apr 2013 | A1 |
| 20130140093 | Zhou et al. | Jun 2013 | A1 |
| 20130146367 | Zhang et al. | Jun 2013 | A1 |
| 20130170778 | Higginbotham et al. | Jul 2013 | A1 |
| 20140037232 | Marchand et al. | Feb 2014 | A1 |
| 20140254967 | Gonzalez | Sep 2014 | A1 |
| 20140341487 | Cooley et al. | Nov 2014 | A1 |
| 20140355914 | Cooley et al. | Dec 2014 | A1 |
| 20150027713 | Penisson | Jan 2015 | A1 |
| 20150079349 | Russell et al. | Mar 2015 | A1 |
| 20150132539 | Bailey et al. | May 2015 | A1 |
| 20150337949 | Ziegler et al. | Nov 2015 | A1 |
| 20160153243 | Hinz et al. | Jun 2016 | A1 |
| 20160186363 | Merzaghi et al. | Jun 2016 | A1 |
| 20160312535 | Ritchie et al. | Oct 2016 | A1 |
| 20170108039 | Hall et al. | Apr 2017 | A1 |
| 20170138224 | Henry et al. | May 2017 | A1 |
| 20170234071 | Spatz et al. | Aug 2017 | A1 |
| 20170261031 | Gonzalez et al. | Sep 2017 | A1 |
| 20180087134 | Chang et al. | Mar 2018 | A1 |
| 20180209476 | Gonzalez | Jul 2018 | A1 |
| 20180216661 | Gonzalez | Aug 2018 | A1 |
| 20180264614 | Winkelmann et al. | Sep 2018 | A1 |
| 20180320740 | Hall et al. | Nov 2018 | A1 |
| 20190063495 | Peterson et al. | Feb 2019 | A1 |
| 20190136628 | Savage et al. | May 2019 | A1 |
| 20190170186 | Gonzalez et al. | Jun 2019 | A1 |
| 20200031586 | Miess et al. | Jan 2020 | A1 |
| 20200032846 | Miess et al. | Jan 2020 | A1 |
| 20200056659 | Prevost et al. | Feb 2020 | A1 |
| 20200063498 | Prevost et al. | Feb 2020 | A1 |
| 20200063503 | Reese et al. | Feb 2020 | A1 |
| 20200182290 | Doehring et al. | Jun 2020 | A1 |
| 20200325933 | Prevost et al. | Oct 2020 | A1 |
| 20200362956 | Prevost et al. | Nov 2020 | A1 |
| 20200378440 | Prevost et al. | Dec 2020 | A1 |
| 20210140277 | Hall et al. | May 2021 | A1 |
| 20210148406 | Hoyle et al. | May 2021 | A1 |
| 20210198949 | Haugvaldstad et al. | Jul 2021 | A1 |
| 20210207437 | Raymond | Jul 2021 | A1 |
| 20210222734 | Gonzalez et al. | Jul 2021 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1286655 | Jul 1991 | CA |
| 101273151 | Dec 2011 | CN |
| 102128214 | Dec 2012 | CN |
| 103069099 | Aug 2016 | CN |
| 109072811 | Dec 2018 | CN |
| 106678189 | Nov 2023 | CN |
| 4226986 | Feb 1994 | DE |
| 29705983 | Jun 1997 | DE |
| 102010052804 | May 2012 | DE |
| 0595630 | May 1994 | EP |
| 1931852 | Jan 2018 | EP |
| 2514445 | Nov 2014 | GB |
| S401624 | Jan 1965 | JP |
| S6061404 | Apr 1985 | JP |
| 2000002315 | Jan 2000 | JP |
| 2000211717 | Aug 2000 | JP |
| 2004002912 | Jan 2004 | JP |
| 2006275286 | Oct 2006 | JP |
| 2007153141 | Jun 2007 | JP |
| 2008056735 | Mar 2008 | JP |
| 8700080 | Jan 1987 | WO |
| 2004001238 | Dec 2003 | WO |
| WO-2004001238 | Dec 2003 | WO |
| 2006011028 | Feb 2006 | WO |
| 2008133197 | Nov 2008 | WO |
| 2011052231 | May 2011 | WO |
| 2013043917 | Mar 2013 | WO |
| 2014189763 | Nov 2014 | WO |
| 2016089680 | Jun 2016 | WO |
| 2017105883 | Jun 2017 | WO |
| 2018041578 | Mar 2018 | WO |
| 2018226380 | Dec 2018 | WO |
| 2019096851 | May 2019 | WO |
| Entry |
|---|
| Bovenkerk, Dr. H. P.; Bundy, Dr. F. P.; Hall, Dr. H. T.; Strong, Dr. H. M.; Wentorf, Jun., Dr. R. H.; Preparation of Diamond, Nature, Oct. 10, 1959, pp. 1094-1098, vol. 184. |
| Chen, Y.; Nguyen, T; Zhang, L.C.; Polishing of polycrystalline diamond by the technique of dynamic friction-Part 5: Quantitative analysis of material removal, International Journal of Machine Tools & Manufacture, 2009, pp. 515-520, vol. 49, Elsevier. |
| Chen, Y.; Zhang, L.C.; Arsecularatne, J.A.; Montross, C.; Polishing of polycrystalline diamond by the technique of dynamic friction, part 1: Prediction of the interface temperature rise, International Journal of Machine Tools & Manufacture, 2006, pp. 580-587, vol. 46, Elsevier. |
| Chen, Y.; Zhang, L.C.; Arsecularatne, J.A.; Polishing of polycrystalline diamond by the technique of dynamic friction. Part 2: Material removal mechanism, International Journal of Machine Tools & Manufacture, 2007, pp. 1615-1624, vol. 47, Elsevier. |
| Chen, Y.; Zhang, L.C.; Arsecularatne, J.A.; Zarudi, I., Polishing of polycrystalline diamond by the technique of dynamic friction, part 3: Mechanism exploration through debris analysis, International Journal of Machine Tools & Manufacture, 2007, pp. 2282-2289, vol. 47, Elsevier. |
| Chen, Y.; Zhang, L.C.; Polishing of polycrystalline diamond by the technique of dynamic friction, part 4: Establishing the polishing map, International Journal of Machine Tools & Manufacture, 2009, pp. 309-314, vol. 49, Elsevier. |
| Dobrzhinetskaya, Larissa F.; Green, II, Harry W.; Diamond Synthesis from Graphite in the Presence of Water and SiO2: Implications for Diamond Formation in Quartzites from Kazakhstan, International Geology Review, 2007, pp. 389-400, vol. 49. |
| Element six, The Element Six CVD Diamond Handbook, Accessed on Nov. 1, 2019, 28 pages. |
| Grossman, David, What the World Needs Now is Superhard Carbon, Popular Mechanics, https://www. popularmechanics.com/science/environment/a28970718/superhard-materials/,Sep. 10, 2019, 7 pages, Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. |
| International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Feb. 3, 2022 (issued in PCT Application No. PCT/ US21/58584) [14 pages]. |
| Liao, Y.; Marks, L.; In situ single asperity wear at the nanometre scale, International Materials Reviews, 2016, pp. 1-17, Taylor & Francis. |
| Linear Rolling Bearings ME EN 7960—Precision Machine Design Topic 8, Presentation, Accessed on Jan. 26, 2020, 23 Pages, University of Utah. |
| Machinery's Handbook 30th Edition, Copyright Page and Coefficients of Friction Page, 2016, p. 158 (2 Pages total), Industrial Press, Inc., South Norwalk, U.S.A. |
| Machinery's Handbook, 2016, Industrial Press, INC., 30th edition, pp. 843 and 1055 (6 pages total). |
| McCarthy, J. Michael; Cam and Follower Systems, PowerPoint Presentation, Jul. 25, 2009, pp. 1-14, UCIrvine The Henry Samueli School of Engineering. |
| McGill Cam Follower Bearings brochure, 2005, p. 1-19, Back Page, Brochure MCCF-05, Form #8991 (20 Pages total). |
| Motion & Control NSK Cam Followers (Stud Type Track Rollers) Roller Followers (Yoke Type Track Rollers) catalog, 1991, Cover Page, pp. 1-18, Back Page, CAT. No.E1421 2004 C-11, Japan. |
| Non-Final Office Action dated Jul. 21, 2022 (issued in U.S. Appl. No. 17/518,315) [7 pages]. |
| Product Catalogue, Asahi Diamond Industrial Australia Pty. Ltd., accessed on Jun. 23, 2018, Cover Page, Blank p. 2 Notes p. Table of Contents, pp. 1-49 (54 Pages total). |
| RBC Aerospace Bearings Rolling Element Bearings catalog, 2008, Cover Page, First Page, pp. 1-149, Back Page (152 Pages total). |
| Response to Non-Final Office Action dated Jul. 21, 2022 (issued in U.S. Appl. No. 17/518,315) [7 pages]. |
| RGPBalls Ball Transfer Units catalog, accessed on Jun. 23, 2018, pp. 1-26, 2 Back Pages (28 Pages total). |
| Sandvik Coromant Hard part turning with CBN catalog, 2012, pp. 1-42, 2 Back Pages (44 Pages total). |
| Sexton, Timothy N.; Cooley, Craig H.; Diamond Bearing Technology for Deep and Geothermal Drilling, PowerPoint Presentation, 2010, 16 Pages. |
| SKF Ball transfer units catalog, Dec. 2006, Cover Page, Table of Contents, pp. 1-36, 2 Back Pages (40 Pages total), Publication 940-711. |
| Sowers, Jason Michael, Examination of the Material Removal Rate in Lapping Polycrystalline Diamond Compacts, A Thesis, Aug. 2011, 2 Cover Pages, pp. iii-xiv, pp. 1-87 (101 Pages total). |
| Sun, Liling; WU, Qi; DAI, Daoyang; ZHANG, Jun; QIN, Zhicheng; WANG, Wenkui; Non-metallic catalysts for diamond synthesis under high pressure and high temperature, Science in China (Series A), Aug. 1999, pp. 834-841, vol. 42 No. 8, China. |
| Superhard Material, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superhard_material, Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia. org/w/index.php?title=Superhard_material&oldid=928571597, Nov. 30, 2019, 14 pages. |
| Surface Finish, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface_finish, Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index. php?title=Surface_finish&oldid=919232937, Oct. 2, 2019, 3 pages. |
| United States Defensive Publication No. T102,901, published Apr. 5, 1983, in U.S. Appl. No. 298,271 [2 Pages]. |
| USSynthetic Bearings and Waukesha Bearings brochure for Diamond Tilting Pad Thrust Bearings, 2015, 2 Pages. |
| USSynthetic Bearings brochure, accessed on Jun. 23, 2018, 12 Pages, Orem, Utah. |
| Zeidan, Fouad Y.; Paquette, Donald J., Application of High Speed and High Performance Fluid Film Bearings in Rotating Machinery, 1994, pp. 209-234. |
| Zhigadlo, N. D., Spontaneous growth of diamond from MnNi solvent-catalyst using opposed anvil-type high- pressure apparatus, accessed on Jun. 28, 2018, pp. 1-12, Laboratory for Solid State Physics, Switzerland. |
| Zou, Lai; HUANG, Yun; Zhou, Ming; XIAO, Guijian; Thermochemical Wear of Single Crystal Diamond Catalyzed by Ferrous Materials at Elevated Temperature, Crystals, 2017, pp. 1-10, vol. 7. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63111145 | Nov 2020 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 17522335 | Nov 2021 | US |
| Child | 18300666 | US |
