Patent ID: 7637668

Claim:
A bearing assembly for mechanically coupling to a rotatable shaft comprising: an annular cylinder to mechanically couple to the rotatable shaft including: an interior surface; an exterior surface; a first end having a first diameter; a second end having a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is larger than the first diameter; and a first tapered bore defining the interior surface of the annular cylinder and including a first diameter that decreases from the first end to the second end; a bearing element mechanically coupled to the annular cylinder including: an inner race to accept the first annular cylinder including: a first end; a second end; an interior surface; and a second tapered bore defining the interior surface of the inner race and including a second diameter that decreases from the first end of the inner race to the second end of the inner race; and a locking ring mechanically coupled with said annular cylinder to lock the annular cylinder to the bearing element.