Patent ID: 8747014

Claim:
An assembly comprising a shaft defining a longitudinal axis and a tapered groove that includes a first surface generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft and a second surface opposing the first surface, the second surface formed oblique to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, a first component supported on the shaft, a second component supported on the shaft, the second component configured such that during operation of the assembly a force normal to the longitudinal axis of the shaft is converted by the second component such that the second component induces a force having a component parallel to the axis of the shaft, and an isolator having first and second sides and an inner diameter, the isolator positioned in the tapered groove between the first component and the second component with a portion of the first side at a perimeter of the inner diameter in contact with the first surface of the groove and a portion of the second side at the perimeter of the inner diameter in contact with the second surface of the groove such that the force component parallel to the axis of the shaft induced by the second component is transferred directly to the shaft by the isolator and is isolated from the first component; wherein the isolator is removably engaged with the groove; and wherein the isolator is biased to urge the second side of the isolator against the second surface of the groove to fully seat the isolator in the groove.