Patent ID: 8113765
Filing Date: 2012-02-14
Classification: E21B,F04D,F05D

Abstract:
1. A water lubricated line shaft bearing assembly for a geothermal production pump, comprising: an outer annular steel shell and an inner layer made of low friction material attached to said outer shell, said inner layer having a non-uniform thickness which is formed with wall portions of increased thickness defining a plurality of shaft engaging portions and with wall portions of reduced thickness defining a plurality of lubricant passages, wherein said shaft engaging portions are capable of being journalled on a line shaft adapted to drive a downhole geothermal production pump and said steel shell is engageable with a wall of a lubrication tube vertically extending through a water column through which pumped geothermal fluid is delivered, lubrication water bled from said pumped geothermal fluid flowing through said lubricant passages, and wherein each lubricant passage is a slot formed within the inner layer being defined by a first wall extending from one end of a first shaft engaging portion to an adjacent wall portion of reduced thickness, a second wall extending from one end of a second shaft engaging portion to said adjacent wall portion of reduced thickness, and a third wall having an arc shape extending from said first wall to said second wall, said third wall coinciding with said adjacent wall portion of reduced thickness.