Patent ID: 8021053

Claim:
A swashplate comprising: a rotating member; a stationary member; and a thrust bearing comprising: an inner race; an outer race; a first ball and a second ball, the first ball and the second ball being disposed between the inner race and the outer race and the first ball having a diameter substantially equal to a diameter defined by the second ball; a slug ball separator disposed between the first ball and the second ball, the slug ball separator comprising a first cylindrical portion, a second cylindrical portion disposed within the first cylindrical portion, and a frustoconical surface between the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion, and wherein the inner race is coupled to the stationary member and the outer race is coupled to the rotating member, the slug ball separator provides a separation distance between the first ball and the second ball, the separation distance being equal to about 3.2% to about 64% of the diameter defined by the first ball.