Patent ID: 7958802

Claim:
A transmission assembly having a plurality of fluid communication passages for carrying fluid, the transmission assembly comprising: a transmission housing having at least one of the plurality of fluid communication passages, an annular channel in fluid communication with the fluid communication passage, and an inner wall that defines a housing cavity; a sleeve shaft having at least one radially extending fluid communication passage and a central bore that defines a sleeve shaft cavity, wherein the sleeve shaft is disposed within the housing cavity; a rotatable shaft having at least one radially extending fluid communication passage and a central bore that defines a central fluid passage, wherein the rotatable shaft is disposed within the sleeve shaft cavity; a bearing assembly disposed between the sleeve shaft and the inner wall of the transmission housing, the bearing assembly including: an outer member having a first end and at least one fluid communication aperture disposed proximate the first end, wherein the outer member is attached to the inner wall of the transmission housing; an inner member having a first end proximate the at least one fluid communication aperture of the outer member and opposing the first end of the outer member, a second end, and at least one bearing element window disposed between the first end and the second end of the inner member; at least one bearing element disposed within the at least one bearing element window; and at least one spacer member disposed between the first end of the inner member and the first end of the outer member, wherein the spacer member allows the fluid to flow from the central fluid passage of the rotatable shaft through the at least one fluid communication aperture in the outer member.