Patent ID: 6651633
Filing Date: 2003-11-25
Classification: F02B,F16C

Abstract:
A compressor comprising:a case; a rotatable impeller operable to compress a fluid within the case when rotated; a shaft fixed relative to the impeller; and a compound bearing assembly rotatably supporting the shaft on the case, said compound bearing assembly including a shaft bearing and a case bearing, said shaft and case bearings each including relatively moveable inner and outer races, a cage, and a plurality of balls rotatably positioned within the cage between the races, said inner race of the shaft bearing being fixed relative to the shaft, said outer race of the case bearing being fixed relative to the case, and said outer race of the shaft bearing and inner race of the case bearing being fixed relative to one another, at least one of the cages of the bearings being selected from the group consisting of a nylon cage that is formed of nylon and presents a plurality ball-receiving openings, and a steel cage that includes a pair of interconnected sections which are formed of steel and cooperatively present a plurality of ball-receiving holes, said at least one of the cages being associated with a respective one of the bearings that has a ball pitch line velocity of at least about 3000 fpm during operation of the impeller.