Double row tapered roller thrust bearing for improved loading capacity

A double row thrust bearing assembly comprising:

• a bottom plate having inner and outer conical raceways;
• a top plate having a flat raceway;
• respective sets of inner and outer rollers in which the largest diameter of the inner rollers is not less than the largest diameter of the outer rollers, and in which said inner and outer rollers are tapered rollers with an outer end of each roller being larger in diameter than an inner end thereof;
• and,
• when the bearing is fully assembled, the apices of the inner and outer rollers are directed at the same point on an axis of the bearing assembly;
• wherein the load carrying capacity of the bearing assembly is maximized in accordance with the equation
• D
• i
• D
• o
• ≥
• cos
• ⁢
• ⁢
• α
• cos
• ⁢
• ⁢
• β
• which defines the relationship of the diameters between the inner and outer rollers and in which Di=EE′ is the roller diameter at a large end of said inner rollers, Do=DD′ is the roller diameter at a large end of said outer rollers, α is a half included angle for the outer rollers, and β is a half included angle for the inner rollers.