Thrust bearing cage with piloting flange
AssigneeSchaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
InventorsJoseph T. GRIFFIN, James BROWN, Alicia VIDAL ORTIZ
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Abstract
A thrust bearing cage includes a piloting feature to radially locate a thrust bearing with respect to one of the shafts. Specifically, the bearing cage includes an axial extension at an outer diameter that extends beyond the rollers and around an outer diameter of end of the shaft. This feature permits elimination of a washer.
Claims18
A bearing comprising:
- a cage;
- and
- a plurality of rollers retained by the cage;
- wherein
- the cage includes a piloting lip extending axially beyond the rollers.
The bearing of claim wherein the piloting lip defines at least one hole to permit flow of lubricant.
The bearing of claim wherein the piloting lip extends around a full circumference of the cage.
The bearing of claim wherein the piloting lip is located at an outer diameter of the cage.
The bearing of claim wherein the piloting lip is located at an inner diameter of the cage.
The bearing of claim wherein the rollers are cylindrical.
An assembly, comprising:
- a first shaft having a first axial end;
- a second shaft having a second axial end;
- a cage including a piloting lip extending axially beyond the first axial end;
- and
- a plurality of rollers retained by the cage and bearing against the first axial end and the second axial end.
A raceless axial bearing configured to be positioned between axial ends of first and second shafts, comprising:
- a cage including a plurality of pockets and an axially extending lip;
- a plurality of rollers retained in the pockets;
- and
- wherein the piloting lip extends axially beyond the rollers such that the bearing is self-piloting on a shaft end of one of the shafts and the rollers are adapted to directly contact the axial ends of the first and second shafts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.