Thrust bearing assembly

Abstract

The thrust bearing fits on a rotatable shaft having an annular groove or in a rotatable housing with an annular groove. One of the thrust bearing races has an axially extending flange with deflective tabs projecting from the flange. The deflective tabs deflect radially when the race is pushed over the end of the rotatable shaft or into a rotatable housing. The deflected tabs spring back into the annular groove when the thrust bearing is fully seated.

I claim: 
     
       1. In combination: a rotatable member having an annular groove separating a first axial portion of the rotatable member from a second axial portion of the rotatable member having a greater diameter than the diameter of said first axial portion so that one annular side surface of the groove has a predetermined radial length and the other annular side surface of the groove provides a shaft annular radial surface of greater radial length; a thrust bearing assembly having rolling elements, and a radially extending annular race extending along the shaft annular radial surface of greater length; a flange integral with and extending axially from the race; and at least one deflective tab projecting from the flange, said deflective tab extending into said annular groove. 
     
     
       2. The combination of claim 1 wherein there are three tabs equally spaced. 
     
     
       3. The combination of claim 2 wherein the deflective tabs are located at the free end of the flange. 
     
     
       4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the dimensions of the flange and tabs are such that axial movement of the thrust bearing assembly along the shaft is prevented. 
     
     
       5. The combination of claim 4 wherein the rotatable member is a rotatable shaft, the flange extends axially from the inner diameter of the race, and the deflective tabs project inwardly toward the axis of the rotatable shaft and axially away from the annular race. 
     
     
       6. The combination of claim 2 wherein the free ends of the deflective tabs are axially spaced from the free end of the flange. 
     
     
       7. The combination of claim 4 wherein the rotatable member is a rotatable housing, the flange extends axially from the outer diameter of the race, and the deflective tabs project outwardly from the axis of the rotatable housing and axially away from the annular race. .Iadd. 
     
     
       8.  A structure for fixing a thrust roller bearing interposed between two elements which each have an axis and which are rotatable relative to one another, the structure comprising: an inner race;   an outer race;   a plurality of rollers disposed between said races and a retainer for said rollers;   an inner race cylindrical portion on said inner race which extends axially toward said outer race;   an outer race cylindrical portion on said outer race which extends axially toward said inner race;   said inner race cylindrical portion and said outer race cylindrical portion holding the retainer therebetween;   race rest means provided on one of said two elements for supporting the thrust roller bearing in a generally fixed position relative to the axes of said two elements, said race rest means having a rest face for engaging one of said inner race and said outer race, and said race rest means having a cylindrical face which is generally perpendicular to said rest face;   a recess defined in said one of said two elements by said race rest means; and   projection means extending from one of the inner race cylindrical portion and outer race cylindrical portion into said recess for engaging the cylindrical face of the race rest means when said two elements attempt to separate to prevent the race having the projection means from coming off. .Iaddend. .Iadd.9. The structure as recited in claim 8, wherein the projection means comprises a plurality of projection provided along the circumference of the race. .Iaddend. .Iadd.10. The structure as recited in claim 8, wherein said recess is a generally circular groove. .Iaddend. .Iadd.11. The structure as recited in claim 8, wherein the projection means comprises at least one projection which is bent with tapering from the edge of the one cylindrical portion. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. The structure as recited in claim 8, wherein the inner race cylindrical portion is the one cylindrical portion having the projection means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13. The structure as recited in claim 8, wherein the outer race cylindrical portion is the one cylindrical portion having the projection means. .Iaddend.