Thrust bearing assembly

Claim 2

A thrust bearing assembly comprising in combination: a bearing member having spaced apart annular thrust rings and a plurality of bearing elements rotatably retained therebetween, annular retaining means for holding said spaced apart thrust rings in a fixed axial spaced relation to one another while permitting relative rotation therebetween about a common axis, a carrier plate having a face portion extending transversely of the axis through said bearing member, said carrier plate having an annular, axially directed flanged portion adapted to receive the inner diameter of said bearing member, said annular, axially directed flange portion having formed as an integral part thereof a retaining ring directed radially inwardly thereof, and an annular elongated sleeve member extending into said bearing member and having an annular groove formed therein to receive said retaining ring, whereby said sleeve is held in position as a result of the engagement between said retaining ring and said annular groove.

Claim 3

The thrust bearing assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said annular, axially directed flange portion is formed as an integral forged part of said carrier plate.

Claim 4

The thrust bearing assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said annular elongated sleeve member has a plurality of longitudinally directed annularly spaced apart slots to permit inward squeezing at one end portion thereof to facilitate insertion of said sleeve member through said annular, axially directed flange and into said bearing member to permit said retaining ring and said annular groove to come into engagement one with the other.

Claim 5

The thrust bearing assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said annular elongated sleeve member is formed of nonmetallic material.

Claim 6

The thrust bearing assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein said annular elongated sleeve member is formed of minerally filled nylon.

Claim 7

The thrust bearing assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said longitudinal slots formed in said sleeve member extend from the end thereof inserted into said annular, axially directed flange and extend longitudinally therethrough an extent which is beyond said annular groove.

Claim 8

The thrust bearing assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said carrier plate further includes a pair of spaced apart clip means arranged to receive clutch release fork elements to operably move said thrust bearing.

Claim 9

The thrust bearing assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said carrier plate has said annular, axially directed flange portion formed by a first turned portion leading into an axially directed portion which, in turn, is directed to a second radially inwardly directed turned portion, which then leads into a second axially directed portion which has a diameter less than said first axially directed portion to form said retaining ring.

Claim 10

A bearing assembly comprising in combination: bearing means including spaced apart relatively movable members and retaining means for holding said spaced apaRt member in assembled relation to one another while permitting said relative movement therebetween, a carrier plate having a face portion extending transversely of the axis through said bearing means, said carrier plate having an annular, axially directed flanged portion adapted to receive the inner diameter of said bearing means, said annular axially directed flange portion having formed as an integral part thereof a retaining ring directed radially inwardly thereof; and an annular elongated sleeve member having an annular groove formed therein to receive said retaining ring, whereby said sleeve is held in position radially inward of said bearing means and said carrier plate as a result of the engagement of said retaining ring in said annular groove.

Claim 11

A bearing assembly comprising in combination: bearing means including spaced apart relatively movable members and retaining means for holding said spaced apaRt member in assembled relation to one another while permitting said relative movement therebetween, a carrier plate having a face portion extending transversely of the axis through said bearing means, said carrier plate having an annular, axially directed flanged portion adapted to receive the inner diameter of said bearing means, said annular axially directed flange portion having formed as an integral part thereof a retaining ring directed radially inwardly thereof; and an annular elongated sleeve member having an annular groove formed therein to receive said retaining ring, whereby said sleeve is held in position radially inward of said bearing means and said carrier plate as a result of the engagement of said retaining ring in said annular groove.

Claim 12

A bearing construction comprising in combination a bearing assembly and a mounting arrangement for said bearing assembly adapting said bearing assembly for mounting relative to a shaft or the like, said mounting arrangement comprising a carrier plate having a first flange portion disposed transversely of the axis of said bearing assembly and a second flange portion extending axially of said bearing assembly, with said bearing assembly being mounted on said second flange portion, and an elongate sleeve adapted to receive a shaft or the like having said carrier plate mounted thereon, and means on said carrier plate and said sleeve for fixing the relative position of said carrier plate with respect to said sleeve, said means for fixing the position of said carrier plate with respect to said sleeve comprising radially inward directed protuberant means formed on said second axially directed flange portion, and detent means formed in said sleeve for receiving said radially inward directed protuberant means.

Claim 13

A bearing construction comprising in combination a bearing assembly and a mounting arrangement for said bearing assembly adapting said bearing assembly for mounting relative to a shaft or the like, said mounting arrangement comprising a carrier plate having a first flange portion disposed transversely of the axis of said bearing assembly and a second flange portion extending axially of said bearing assembly, with said bearing assembly being mounted on said second flange portion, and an elongate sleeve adapted to receive a shaft or the like having said carrier plate mounted thereon, and means on said carrier plate and said sleeve for fixing the relative position of said carrier plate with respect to said sleeve, said means for fixing the position of said carrier plate with respect to said sleeve comprising radially inward directed protuberant means formed on said second axially directed flange portion, and detent means formed in said sleeve for receiving said radially inward directed protuberant means.

Claim 14

A bearing construction as defined in claim 10, wherein said inwardly directed protuberant means comprises an annular ring portion formed integral with said second flange portion, and said detent means in said sleeve comprising an annular groove.

Claim 15

A bearing construction according to claim 11, wherein said sleeve is formed of a resilient plastic material, and includes a plurality of axially disposed slots which extend through said annular groove to facilitate an assembly of said sleeve and of said carrier plate.

Claim 16

A bearing construction according to claim 10, wherein said sleeve is slotted at a plurality of circumferentially spaced locations to facilitate assembly with said carrier plate.