Patent ID: 7578764

Claim:
Thrust bearing for transmitting axial forces between at least two gear parts rotating relative to each other in a gear arrangement, comprising two coaxial, opposing race disks holding a cage with a plurality of roller bodies with radial play therebetween, a first one of the race disks has a smaller outer diameter than the second one of the race disks, the race disks each have external collars on a radially outer edge thereof that extend axially inwardly, and the external collar of the first race disk with the smaller outer diameter is covered axially by the external collar of the second race disk with the greater diameter, such that an encapsulation of the thrust bearing against lubricant loss is provided, the race disks each have an internal collar on a radially inner edge thereof, which is continuous over an inner periphery and which extends axially outwards, and each of the internal collars extends radially into a respective annular recess or groove of an adjacent gear part of the gear arrangement, such that, first, within limits a relative motion in the axial direction between the thrust bearing and at least one adjacent gear part is possible, and second, a radial lubricant passage between the one or more adjacent gear parts and an outer surface of the corresponding race disk is essentially prevented.