Thrust roller bearing assembly

1. A thrust bearing assembly comprising

a plurality of rollers having a given diameter d;

a cage assembly configured to support the rollers, the cage assembly having a first radial edge that extends a given radial distance X beyond the rollers; and

a first thrust race member including a radial race surface, a axial flange extending from the race surface, and a radial lip extending from the flange such that the lip is substantially parallel to and at a distance less than the given diameter d from the race surface, the lip having a free end at a distance from the flange greater than the given distance X.

2. The thrust bearing assembly of claim 1 further comprising a second thrust race member including a radial race surface, the second thrust race member race surface being substantially opposite the first thrust race member race surface.

3. The thrust bearing assembly of claim 2 wherein the cage assembly has a second radial edge opposed to the first radial edge, the second radial edge extending a given radial distance Y beyond the rollers; and the second thrust race member including a axial flange extending from the second thrust race member race surface and a radial lip extending from the second thrust race member flange such that the second thrust race member lip is substantially parallel to and at a distance less than the given diameter d from the second thrust race member race surface, the second thrust race member lip having a free end at a distance from the second thrust race member flange greater than the given distance Y.

4. The thrust bearing assembly of claim 3 wherein the first and second thrust race member lip free ends each have a contoured configuration.

5. The thrust bearing assembly of claim 2 wherein the cage assembly has a second radial edge opposed to the first radial edge, the second radial edge extending a given radial distance Y beyond the rollers; and the second thrust race member including a axial flange extending from the second thrust race member race surface and a radial lip extending from the second thrust race member, the second thrust race member lip having a free end at a distance from the second thrust race member flange less than the given distance Y.

6. The thrust bearing assembly of claim 1 wherein the cage has a radial centerline and wherein each roller has a roller centerline and is positioned in the cage with the roller centerline offset outwardly relative to the cage radial centerline.

7. The thrust bearing assembly of claim 1 wherein the cage has a radial centerline and wherein each roller has a roller centerline and is positioned in the cage with the roller centerline offset inwardly relative to the cage radial centerline.

8. The thrust bearing assembly of claim 1 wherein the first thrust race member is positioned against a shaft.

9. The thrust bearing assembly of claim 1 wherein the first thrust race member is positioned against a housing.

10. The thrust bearing assembly of claim 1 wherein the first thrust race member lip free end has a contoured configuration.

11. A thrust bearing assembly comprising

a plurality of rollers;

a cage assembly configured to support the rollers, the cage assembly having a first radial edge that extends beyond the rollers; and

a first thrust race member including a radial race surface, a axial flange extending from the race surface, and a radial lip extending from the flange, the cage assembly and the radial lip configured such that the lip contacts the rollers and prevents the cage first radial edge from contacting the axial flange.

12. The thrust bearing assembly of claim 11 further comprising a second thrust race member including a radial race surface, the second thrust race member race surface being substantially opposite the first thrust race member race surface.

13. The thrust bearing assembly of claim 12 wherein the cage assembly has a second radial edge opposed to the first radial edge and the second thrust race member includes a axial flange extending from the second thrust race member race surface and a radial lip extending from the second thrust race member flange, the cage assembly and the second radial lip configured such that the second radial lip contacts the rollers and prevents the cage second radial edge from contacting the second axial flange.

14. The thrust bearing assembly of claim 13 wherein the first and second thrust race member lip free ends each have a contoured configuration.

15. The thrust bearing assembly of claim 12 wherein the cage assembly has a second radial edge opposed to the first radial edge and the second thrust race member includes a axial flange extending from the second thrust race member race surface and a second radial lip extending from the second thrust race member flange, the cage assembly and the second radial lip configured such that the cage second radial edge is free to pilot on the second axial flange.

16. The thrust bearing assembly of claim 11 wherein the cage has a radial centerline and wherein each roller has a roller centerline and is positioned in the cage with the roller centerline offset outwardly relative to the cage radial centerline.

17. The thrust bearing assembly of claim 11 wherein the cage has a radial centerline and wherein each roller has a roller centerline and is positioned in the cage with the roller centerline offset inwardly relative to the cage radial centerline.

18. The thrust bearing assembly of claim 11 wherein the first thrust race member is positioned against a shaft.

19. The thrust bearing assembly of claim 11 wherein the first thrust race member is positioned against a housing.

20. The thrust bearing assembly of claim 11 wherein the first thrust race member lip free end has a contoured configuration.