Bearing Section
Usually, thrust bearings are made up of rubber discs (Figure 5-24) which
are non-rotating (being fixed to the outer housing of the tool) and rotating
steel discs attached to the central rotating shaft. Long bearing sections
known as cartridges are used for long life in tangent or straight hole drilling
sections. These are changeable at the rigsite. If the bearings wear past the
maximum point, considerable damage can be inflicted as the steel rotors
will crash into the stators below.
Usually, thrust bearings are made up of rubber discs (Figure 5-24) which
are non-rotating (being fixed to the outer housing of the tool) and rotating
steel discs attached to the central rotating shaft. Long bearing sections
known as cartridges are used for long life in tangent or straight hole drilling
sections. These are changeable at the rigsite. If the bearings wear past the
maximum point, considerable damage can be inflicted as the steel rotors
will crash into the stators below.
