Patent ID: 7354199

Claim:
A thrust bearing assembly, comprising: an upper thrust bearing including an arcuate shell with a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface extending arcuately between first and second ends and extending axially between opposite edges; a lower thrust bearing including an arcuate bearing shell with a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface extending arcuately between first and second ends and extending axially between opposite edges; said upper thrust bearing including a first flange extending radially from said outer surface of said upper thrust bearing adjacent one of said edges and presenting an axially outer thrust face spaced axially outwardly from an axially outer most surface of said lower thrust bearing; and said lower thrust bearing including a first flange extending radially from said outer surface of said lower thrust bearing adjacent one of said edges of said lower thrust bearing on a side axially opposite to that of said flange of said upper thrust bearing, and presenting an axially outer thrust face spaced axially outward from an axially outer most surface of said upper thrust bearing.