Patent ID: 8075191

Claim:
A bearing assembly for a turbocharger comprising: a turbine side journal bearing, semi- or fully floating, that comprises helical grooves along an inner journal surface wherein each helical groove comprises a lubricant opening, a well that spans the opening and opposing arms offset from the opening and extending from the well wherein each arm terminates at a respective axial surface of the journal bearing and wherein well depth exceeds arm depth of each arm where each arm terminates; a compressor side journal bearing, semi- or fully floating, that comprises helical grooves along an inner journal surface wherein each helical groove comprises a lubricant opening, a well that spans the opening and opposing arms offset from the opening and extending from the well wherein each arm terminates at a respective axial surface of the journal bearing and wherein well depth exceeds arm depth of each arm where each arm terminates; and a spacer to space the turbine side journal bearing and the compressor side journal bearing along an axis.