Suspension thrust bearing assembly

1 . A suspension thrust bearing assembly comprising:

a lower support cap,

an upper bearing cap having an uppermost annular surface facing axially away from the lower support cap, the uppermost annular surface including an internal edge, and

at least one bearing disposed between the lower support cap and the upper bearing cap,

wherein the uppermost annular surface includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced protuberances projecting axially away from the uppermost annular surface, and

wherein the protuberances extend radially outward from the internal edge.

2 . The suspension thrust bearing assembly according to claim 1 ,

wherein the protuberances and the uppermost annular upper surface are formed as one piece.

3 . The suspension thrust bearing assembly according to claim 1 ,

wherein the upper bearing cap and the protuberances are formed as one piece.

4 . The suspension thrust bearing assembly according to claim 1 ,

wherein the protuberances are uniformly circumferentially spaced.

5 . The suspension thrust bearing assembly according to claim 1 ,

wherein the protuberances are radially spaced from an external edge of the uppermost annular surface.

6 . The suspension thrust bearing assembly according to claim 1 ,

wherein the upper bearing cap comprises a plurality of reinforcing ribs connected to the internal edge of the uppermost annular surface, and

wherein a first subset of the protuberances are located directly radially outward of one of the plurality of reinforcing ribs.

7 . The suspension thrust bearing assembly according to claim 6 ,

wherein a second subset of the protuberances are located circumferentially between adjacent pairs of the plurality of reinforcing ribs.

8 . The suspension thrust bearing assembly according to any claim 1 ,

wherein the uppermost annular surface extends radially.

9 . The suspension thrust bearing assembly according to claim 1 ,

wherein the upper bearing cap is annular and has a central opening,

wherein the lower support cap is annular and has a center opening,

wherein the upper bearing cap and lower support cap are coaxially aligned, and

wherein the uppermost annular surface of the upper bearing cap is perpendicular to a central rotational axis of the device.

10 . The suspension thrust bearing assembly according to claim 1 ,

wherein the upper bearing cap comprises a plurality of reinforcing ribs connected to the internal edge of the uppermost annular surface, and

wherein a first subset of the protuberances are located circumferentially between adjacent pairs of the plurality of reinforcing ribs.

11 . The suspension thrust bearing assembly according to claim 1 ,

wherein a radial dimension of the protuberances is greater than a circumferential dimension of the protuberances.

12 . The suspension thrust bearing assembly according to claim 1 ,

wherein a circumferential dimension of the protuberances is greater than a radial dimension of the protuberances.

13 . A suspension thrust bearing assembly comprising:

a lower support cap,

an upper bearing cap having an annular upper surface facing axially away from the lower support cap, and

at least one bearing disposed between the caps,

wherein the annular upper surface includes a plurality of axially projecting protuberances spaced apart in a circumferential direction,

wherein the upper bearing cap and the protuberances are formed as one piece,

wherein the protuberances are uniformly spaced in the circumferential direction,

wherein the protuberances extend radially outward from an internal edge of the annular upper surface and are radially spaced from an external edge of the annular upper surface,

wherein the upper bearing cap comprises a plurality of reinforcing ribs connected to the internal edge of the annular upper surface, and

wherein a first subset of the protuberances are located directly radially outward of one of the plurality of reinforcing ribs.

14 . The suspension thrust bearing assembly according to claim 13 ,

including a second subset of the protuberances located circumferentially between adjacent pairs of the plurality of reinforcing ribs.