Patent ID: 7021831

Claim:
A bearing assembly comprising a housing defining a generally cylindrical bearing chamber which is open axially at least at one end, spaced axially aligned first and second bearing means at least one of which is a ball bearing unit disposed in said bearing chamber, said ball bearing unit comprising an annular series of ball bearings and associated inner and outer bearing rings, an axial thrust reaction surface adjacent and adapted to be engaged by one of said bearing means, a shaft journaled in said first and second bearing means with a portion thereof projecting through said open end of said cylindrical chamber and carrying a load having an axial component in a direction opposing the thrust reaction surface, said shaft and at least the bearing means engaging the axial thrust reaction surface being secured against relative axial movement tending to move the bearing means in a direction away from the thrust reaction surface whereby the axial load urges the bearing means into firm engagement with said axial thrust reaction surface, an axial preload means also urging said one bearing means into engagement with said axial thrust reaction surface, resilient means disposed radially adjacent and in engagement with at least one of said bearing means and applying a radial preload thereto, and a pair of circumaxially spaced radial reaction means engaging said bearing means and opposing said radial preload means.