Force coupling or torque coupling assemblies, apparatuses, systems, and methods include assemblies that each include superhard contact elements. At least some of the superhard contact elements may be configured to remain in contact with each other when a rotational force and/or a thrust force is applied between the assemblies.

The present disclosure relates to roller cone drill bit journals with asymmetric ball races and extended friction races. The disclosure also relates to methods of forming such journals, and methods of finishing these journals to produce finished journals with symmetric ball races.

A downhole-type device includes an electric machine. The electric machine includes an electrical rotor configured to couple with a device to drive or be driven by the electric machine. An electrical stator surrounds the electric rotor. The electric stator includes a seal configured to isolate stator windings from an outside, downhole environment. An inner surface of the seal and an outer surface of the electric rotor define an annulus exposed to the outside environment. A bearing couples the electric rotor to the electric stator. A lubrication system is fluidically coupled to the downhole-type device. The lubrication system includes a topside pressure pump and a downhole-type distribution manifold configured to be used within a wellbore. The distribution manifold is fluidically connected to the topside pressure pump and the bearing to receive a flow of lubricant from the topside pressure pump.

An extreme load creeper interface comprising a planar roller array wherein a plurality of extreme load rollers with parallel rotational axes are dispersed both laterally and longitudinally within the plane, so as to fractionalize a weight applied perpendicular to the plane, and thereby promote longitudinal motion of the roller array in a direction perpendicular to the plurality of roller rotational axes.

Bearing assemblies, apparatuses, systems, and methods include bearing assemblies where one of the bearing assemblies may include angled bearing surfaces having a planar shape.

Upset oilfield tubing or upset pump rods are protected from abrasive wear by non-metallic circumferential wear bands applied to the upset portions of the tubing or rods and/or at selected locations along non-upset portions of the tubing or rods between the upset ends. The wear bands may be formed from selected polymeric materials including thermal polyurethane, polyphthalamide PTFE blends, and polyether ether ketone (PEEK), injection-molded onto suitably prepared circumferential surfaces of the tubing or rods. The wear bands may incorporate stainless steel mesh or other reinforcing materials embedded in the injection-molded polymeric material.

A thrust bearing is described comprising first and second bearing assemblies (15, 17) rotatable relative to each and a plurality of axially arranged bearing stages (14a, 14b) formed between the first and second bearing assemblies (15, 17). Each bearing stage comprises a first load shoulder (16) provided on the first bearing assembly (15), a second load shoulder (18) provided on the second bearing assembly (17), a bearing structure (30) defined between the first and second load shoulders; and an extrudable component (32) forming part of the bearing structure. Wherein axial load applied between the first and second bearing assemblies (15, 17) in a first relative axial direction is transmitted between respective pairs of first and second load shoulders via the extrudable components (32) of respective bearing structures (30). The extrudable components (30) provide for load balancing between each bearing stage (14a, 14b).

Load-carrying apparatus, assemblies, and subterranean drilling systems may include a support ring with a plurality of contact elements coupled to the support ring. The plurality of contact elements may have a surface exhibiting a partially cylindrical shape.

Bearing assemblies that include a plurality of polycrystalline diamond (“PCD”) bearing elements, bearing apparatuses including such bearing assemblies, and methods of operating and fabricating such bearing assemblies and apparatuses are disclosed. In an embodiment, the plurality of PCD bearing elements of one or more of the bearing assemblies disclosed herein include at least one first PCD bearing element. At least a portion of the first PCD bearing element exhibits a coercivity of about 125 Oersteds or more and a specific magnetic saturation of about 14 Gauss.Math.cm.sup.3/gram or less. The first PCD bearing element includes a bearing surface with at least one groove formed therein. In an embodiment, the plurality of PCD bearing elements also include at least one second PCD bearing element. The second PCD bearing element exhibits a coercivity that is less than and a specific magnetic saturation that is greater than the first PCD bearing element.

Provided are bearing assemblies including one or more substrate assemblies, such as thrust bearing assemblies. The substrate assemblies include a bearing element fixed to a substrate. The bearing elements are formed from a thermally stable material such as a ceramic-bonded diamond composite. Methods for manufacturing the bearing assemblies are also provided.