Patent ID: 7993062

Claim:
A rotating combination thrust plate and thrust shaft flange assembly, comprising: a single-piece thrust plate and thrust shaft flange, comprising, a generally cylindrical body portion with a rotating base surface and a lateral surface, a frustoconical body portion with a frustoconical surface and a base surface, and a bore extending through said cylindrical body portion and said frustoconical body portion, said bore extending substantially perpendicular to said rotating base surface, said bore having a first bore section and a second bore section, said second bore section being adjacent said rotating base surface and having a smaller diameter than said first bore section, and said first and second bore sections meeting at a junction defining a lip, wherein said first bore section, said second bore section and said lip receive a thrust shaft and axial thrust forces transmitted therefrom and said lip engages said thrust shaft; a bearing assembly directly engaged with said generally cylindrical body portion of said single-piece thrust plate and thrust shaft flange, said bearing assembly supporting rotation of said thrust shaft and comprising a plurality of rolling elements configured to accommodate axial forces; and a stationary plate having a plate bore extending therethrough complementary to said second bore section of said bore and through which said thrust shaft is received, said stationary plate being located to engage said bearing assembly and defining a stationary base surface thereon; a bearing cage for retaining said rolling elements in position to assure free radial movement of the single-piece thrust plate and thrust shaft flange; and wherein said rotating base surface directly engages the rolling elements; and said stationary base surface directly engages the rolling elements opposite said rotating base surface.