Patent ID: 7712550

Claim:
A thrust bearing assembly comprising: a rotating bearing runner having a wear resistant face, the rotating bearing runner rotatable about a longitudinal axis; a stationary bearing carrier defining a plurality of thrust pad sites disposed annularly around the stationary bearing carrier, the stationary bearing carrier having a first side facing the wear resistant face of the rotating bearing runner and a second side opposite to the first side; a thrust pad disposed on the first side of the stationary bearing carrier at a site of the plurality of thrust pad sites, the thrust pad contacting the wear resistant face of the rotating bearing runner; and a deflection element disposed in between the thrust pad and the stationary bearing carrier, wherein the stationary bearing carrier constrains movement of the thrust pad in a direction generally radial to the longitudinal axis while allowing the thrust pad to move in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein the thrust pad is disposed in a pad holder the pad holder having a pin portion extending in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, wherein the stationary bearing carrier defines an opening at the site, and wherein the pin portion of the pad holder is disposed through the opening such that the opening constrains movement of the pad holder and the thrust pad in a direction generally radial to the longitudinal axis while allowing the pad holder and the thrust pad to move in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis.