LOW FRICTION MULTI STAGE THRUST BEARING

摘要

A thrust bearing having a circular cage with rolling elements disposed in at least some of pockets formed in the cage, upper and lower raceways having inward-facing surfaces disposed adjacent to the cage so that a first plurality of rolling elements is in rolling contact with the upper and lower raceways when the thrust bearing is in a first load condition and a second plurality of rolling elements is in rolling contact with the upper and lower raceways when the thrust bearing is in a second load condition.

主权项

1. A thrust bearing comprising:
a circular cage having an upper cage surface and a lower cage surface with a thickness therebetween, and pockets formed through the thickness; rolling elements disposed in at least some of the pockets, the rolling elements having a diameter greater than the thickness; upper and lower raceways each having inner and outer diameters and an intermediate portion between the inner and outer diameters formed with an inward-facing surface and an outward-facing surface, wherein the inward-facing surface of the upper raceway is disposed adjacent to the upper cage surface and the inner-facing surface of the lower raceway is disposed adjacent to the lower cage surface so that a first plurality of rolling elements is in rolling contact with the upper and lower raceways when the thrust bearing is in a first load condition and a second plurality of rolling elements is in rolling contact with the upper and lower raceways when the thrust bearing is in a second load condition.