Steerable rotary drilling device
First Claim
1. In a drilling apparatus of the type comprising a housing and a rotatable shaft, a fulcrum bearing assembly for rotatably supporting a length of the shaft within the housing while permitting the shaft to pivot within the housing at the bearing assembly, the fulcrum bearing assembly comprising:
- (a) at least one row of spherical thrust bearings positioned at a first axial position within the housing;
(b) at least one row of spherical thrust bearings positioned at a second axial position within the housing; and
(c) at least one row of spherical radial bearings positioned at a third axial position within the housing, wherein the third axial position is located between the first axial position and the second axial position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fulcrum bearing assembly for rotatably supporting a shaft within a housing, including at least one row of spherical thrust bearings positioned at a first axial position within the housing, at least one row of spherical thrust bearings positioned at a second axial position within the housing and at least one row of spherical radial bearings positioned at a third axial position within the housing. The third axial position is located between the first and second axial positions. Further, a bearing preload assembly for maintaining a bearing assembly in a preloaded condition, including a thrust bearing shoulder associated with a housing and a thrust bearing collar. The bearing assembly is axially maintained within the housing between the thrust bearing shoulder and the thrust bearing collar, wherein the thrust bearing collar is axially adjustable relative to the thrust bearing shoulder in order to preload the bearing assembly therebetween.
25 Citations
43 Claims
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1. In a drilling apparatus of the type comprising a housing and a rotatable shaft, a fulcrum bearing assembly for rotatably supporting a length of the shaft within the housing while permitting the shaft to pivot within the housing at the bearing assembly, the fulcrum bearing assembly comprising:
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(a) at least one row of spherical thrust bearings positioned at a first axial position within the housing;
(b) at least one row of spherical thrust bearings positioned at a second axial position within the housing; and
(c) at least one row of spherical radial bearings positioned at a third axial position within the housing, wherein the third axial position is located between the first axial position and the second axial position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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- 21. In a drilling apparatus of the type comprising a housing, a shaft and a bearing assembly comprising a thrust bearing for supporting a length of the shaft within the housing, a bearing preload assembly for maintaining the bearing assembly in a preloaded condition, the bearing preload assembly comprising a thrust bearing shoulder associated with the housing and a thrust bearing collar, wherein the bearing assembly is axially maintained within the housing between the thrust bearing shoulder and the thrust bearing collar, and wherein the thrust bearing collar is axially adjustable relative to the thrust bearing shoulder in order to preload the bearing assembly between the thrust bearing shoulder and the thrust bearing collar.
Specification