Patent ID: 8668389

Claim:
A thrust bearing assembly, comprising: a single-piece thrust plate and thrust shaft flange, comprising, a generally cylindrical body portion defining a rotating base surface and a lateral surface, a frustoconical body portion defining a frustoconical surface and a base surface, a bore extending through said cylindrical body portion and said frustoconical body portion, and 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 a lip extending between said first and second bore sections, wherein said first bore section, said second bore section and said lip are configured to receive a thrust shaft and accommodate axial thrust forces transmitted from said thrust shaft; a bearing assembly in operable communication with said generally cylindrical body portion and supporting rotation of said thrust shaft, said bearing assembly comprising a plurality of first rolling elements and a bearing cage configured to retain said first rolling elements; a stationary plate having a passage extending therethrough complementary to said second bore section and through which said thrust shaft is received, said stationary plate engages said bearing assembly; and a plurality of second rolling elements disposed between said bearing cage and said thrust shaft and configured to support rotation of said bearing cage around said thrust shaft, the plurality of second rolling elements being cage-weight-supporting rolling elements that rollingly engage the bearing cage and the shaft, the bearing cage being spaced apart from the thrust shaft by the plurality of second rolling elements, the plurality of second rolling elements further configured to support rotation of the bearing cage around the thrust shaft and to support the weight of the bearing cage.