Patent ID: 8015889

Claim:
An actuator assembly, comprising: a motor adapted to receive electrical drive power and configured, upon receipt thereof, to supply a drive force; an actuation member coupled to receive the drive force from the motor and configured, upon receipt thereof, to rotate, the actuation member including at least an outer surface; a translation member disposed adjacent the actuation member and configured, upon rotation of the actuation member, to translate to a position; and a thrust bearing coupled to the actuation member, the thrust bearing including: an inner race integrally formed on the actuation member outer surface, the inner race having an outer surface including a plurality of annular grooves formed therein, an outer race having at least an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer race inner surface spaced apart from, and surrounding at least a portion of, the inner race outer surface, the outer race inner surface having a plurality of annular grooves formed therein that are collocated with two or more of the annular grooves formed in the inner race outer surface, the outer race outer surface including an anti-rotation opening, a plurality of balls disposed between the inner and outer races, each ball disposed within a pair of the collocated annular grooves, a plurality of ball insertion openings that extend between the outer race inner surface and the outer race outer surface, a plurality of covers, each cover disposed within one of the plurality of ball insertion openings, and a pin adapted to be fixedly coupled to a housing and disposed within the anti-rotation opening.