Abstract: An electrical submersible pump assembly for pumping well fluid from a well has a motor and a pump. The motor having a motor shaft that drives a pump shaft of the pump. A thrust bearing unit between the motor and the pump has a thrust bearing shaft that rotates a thrust runner in sliding engagement with a non-rotating thrust bearing base. A pump shaft coupling couples the thrust bearing shaft with the pump shaft. A motor shaft coupling couples the thrust bearing shaft with the motor shaft. At least one of the couplings has a one-way clutch that allows forward direction rotation of the thrust bearing shaft and prevents reverse direction rotation.

Abstract: A combined pump and motor has a stator mounted for non-rotation in a housing. The stator has windings that create an electromagnetic field in the stator cavity when powered. An upper diffuser and a lower diffuser are mounted for non-rotation in the stator cavity. Annular clearances exist between the upper diffuser and the inner diameter of the stator and between the lower diffuser and the inner diameter of the stator. An impeller between the lower diffuser and the upper diffuser has an array of magnets circumferentially mounted around the impeller that impart rotation to the impeller in response to the electromagnetic field in the stator cavity. The array of magnets has at least one end portion extending into one of the upper and lower diffuser annular clearances.

Abstract: A combined well pump and motor includes a housing having an axis, an upstream end and a downstream end. Diffusers are mounted for non-rotation in the housing, each of the diffusers having diffuser passages. An impeller is mounted between each of the diffusers for rotation relative to the impellers. Each of the impellers has impeller vanes defining impeller passages. The impeller has an exterior outer wall extending circumferentially around the impeller vanes, closing outer sides of each of the impeller passages. An array of magnets is mounted to each of the impellers. The magnets are spaced circumferentially apart from each other around the axis at a different radial distance from the axis than the impeller vanes. A stator is mounted in the housing. The stator has windings for interacting with the magnets to impart rotation to the impellers.

Abstract: An electrical submersible pump assembly for pumping well fluid from a well has a motor and a pump. The motor having a motor shaft that drives a pump shaft of the pump. A thrust bearing unit between the motor and the pump has a thrust bearing shaft that rotates a thrust runner in sliding engagement with a non-rotating thrust bearing base. A pump shaft coupling couples the thrust bearing shaft with the pump shaft. A motor shaft coupling couples the thrust bearing shaft with the motor shaft. At least one of the couplings has a one-way clutch that allows forward direction rotation of the thrust bearing shaft and prevents reverse direction rotation.

Abstract: A combined pump and motor has a stator mounted for non-rotation in a housing. The stator has windings that create an electromagnetic field in the stator cavity when powered. An upper diffuser and a lower diffuser are mounted for non-rotation in the stator cavity. Annular clearances exist between the upper diffuser and the inner diameter of the stator and between the lower diffuser and the inner diameter of the stator. An impeller between the lower diffuser and the upper diffuser has an array of magnets circumferentially mounted around the impeller that impart rotation to the impeller in response to the electromagnetic field in the stator cavity. The array of magnets has at least one end portion extending into one of the upper and lower diffuser annular clearances.

Abstract: A combined well pump and motor includes a housing having an axis, an upstream end and a downstream end. Diffusers are mounted for non-rotation in the housing, each of the diffusers having diffuser passages. An impeller is mounted between each of the diffusers for rotation relative to the impellers. Each of the impellers has impeller vanes defining impeller passages. The impeller has an exterior outer wall extending circumferentially around the impeller vanes, closing outer sides of each of the impeller passages. An array of magnets is mounted to each of the impellers. The magnets are spaced circumferentially apart from each other around the axis at a different radial distance from the axis than the impeller vanes. A stator is mounted in the housing. The stator has windings for interacting with the magnets to impart rotation to the impellers.