Patent ID: 6908410
Filing Date: 2005-06-21
Classification: F16C,F16H

Abstract:
1. A thrust bearing comprising: an inner race pressed by a rotating disk; an outer race having an end face opposed to an end face of the inner race and a back surface supported by a trunnion; balls arranged for rolling motion between the inner and outer races; a first raceway groove with an arcuate cross section, formed in the shape of a circular ring on the end face of the inner race and in contact with the balls; and a second raceway groove with an arcuate cross section, formed in the shape of a circular ring on the end face of the outer race and in contact with the balls, wherein: the second raceway groove is shallower than the first raceway groove and the center of each said ball is situated nearer to the inner race than a center position between the respective end faces of the outer and inner races is; a distance between the midpoint of the second raceway groove and the back surface of the outer race is less than a radius of curvature of the arcuate cross section of the first raceway groove; the distance between the midpoint of the second raceway groove and the back surface of the outer race is also less than a radius of curvature of the arcuate cross section of the second raceway groove, and a thickness of the outer race is less than the radius of curvature of each of the arcuate cross sections of the first and second raceway grooves, respectively.