US Patent 11781398 Rotating control device system

A rotating control device (RCD) system includes a housing having a bore, a seal element positioned within the housing, a piston assembly supported within the housing and configured to drive the seal element to seal the bore, and a bearing assembly supported within the housing and configured to enable the seal element to rotate relative to the housing. The bearing assembly includes a first bearing section positioned between the housing and the seal element and a second bearing section positioned between a piston of the piston assembly and the seal element. The piston assembly is configured to selectively actuate the seal element into a first configuration, where the seal element extends into the bore and seals with a tubular therein, and a second configuration, where the seal element extends entirely through the bore and seals the bore without a tubular extending therein.