Patent ID: 7966904

Claim:
A drive system for rotating an assembly about an axis, comprising: a drive housing; an electric motor associated with the drive housing; a first journal bearing mounted within the drive housing; a second journal bearing mounted within the drive housing and aligned with the first journal bearing; a shaft retainer mounted within the drive housing intermediate the first journal bearing and the second journal bearing, wherein the shaft retainer is substantially stationary with respect to the drive housing, and wherein the shaft retainer includes an aperture aligned with the first journal bearing and the second journal bearing; a shaft extending from the first journal bearing to the second journal bearing and through the aperture, wherein the shaft is operatively coupled to the electric motor and mounted for rotation within the drive housing; at least one thrust bearing axially fixed to the shaft at a location where it is engaged with the shaft retainer such that thrust loads on the shaft are transmitted to the shaft retainer; a drive gear mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith, the drive gear, said at least one thrust bearing and shaft being axially fixed with respect to the shaft retainer such that there is no separation between the drive gear, said at least one thrust bearing and shaft retainer; and an axis gear engaging the drive gear and mounted coaxially with the axis.