Patent ID: 8042272
Filing Date: 2011-10-25
Classification: F16C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of aligning a thrust bearing assembly in an engine assembly of a vehicle, the engine assembly including at least an upper support surface, a shaft received within the upper support surface, and a lower support surface, said method comprising: providing the thrust bearing assembly to rotatably support the shaft in the upper support surface, the thrust bearing assembly having an upper thrust bearing and a lower thrust bearing; providing the upper thrust bearing and the lower thrust bearing with a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface extending arcuately between opposite ends and extending axially between opposite edges, each of the upper and the lower thrust bearings having a thick flange extending radially from the outer surface thereof from one of the edges and a thin flange extending radially from the outer surface thereof from the other of said edges, the thick flange having a thickness greater than that of the thin flange; positioning the upper thrust bearing having the upper support surface extending between the thick and the thin flanges; positioning the shaft adjacent the upper thrust bearing; positioning the lower thrust bearing having the lower support surface extending between the thick and the thin flanges; and securing the lower support surface to the upper support surface to position the lower thrust bearing in mating contact with the upper thrust bearing.