Patent ID: 7670056

Claim:
A bearing assembly for a turbocharger comprising: a center housing that comprises a bearing bore that extends from a compressor end of the center housing to a turbine end of the center housing wherein the compressor end comprises a bearing bore compressor end radius and the turbine end comprises a bearing bore turbine end radius, and an inlet for lubricant; and a bearing disposed in the bearing bore and forming an outer lubricant film between the bearing and the bearing bore wherein the bearing comprises a central axis, an internal bore to receive a shaft extending between a compressor end and a turbine end of the bearing and forming an inner lubricant film between the internal bore and the shaft, a locating mechanism to prevent rotation and translation of the bearing within the bearing bore and an end protrusion that extends radially and axially beyond the bearing bore wherein the protrusion comprises a radius that exceeds a respective bearing bore end radius to thereby deflect lubricant from the outer lubricant film layer radially outward, wherein the end protrusion extends axially beyond the bearing bore to provide a space between a shoulder of the bearing bore and a side of the end protrusion for directing lubricant from the outer lubricant film layer radially outward, wherein the locating mechanism ensures the space between the shoulder of the bearing bore and the end protrusion and wherein an opposing side of the end protrusion comprises a thrust surface at a radius that exceeds the respective bearing bore end radius.