Patent ID: 8496075
Filing Date: 2013-07-30
Classification: E21B,F16C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A bearing assembly, comprising: a support ring; a retention ring assembled with the support ring, the retention ring including a plurality of through holes; and a plurality of superhard bearing elements, each of the plurality of superhard bearing elements including a lateral periphery extending between a base and a superhard bearing surface, each of the plurality of superhard bearing elements inserted partially through and projecting from a corresponding one of the through holes of the retention ring; and wherein the lateral periphery of each of at least a number of the plurality of superhard bearing elements and the retention ring is cooperatively configured to restrict displacement of a corresponding one of the plurality of superhard bearing elements through the corresponding through hole away from the support ring, and the base of each of the at least a number of the plurality of superhard bearing elements contacts the support ring to restrict displacement of the corresponding one of the at least a number of the plurality of superhard bearing elements through the corresponding through hole and toward the support ring.