Orbiting member fluid displacement apparatus with rotation preventing

Abstract

A rotation preventing/thrust bearing device for use in an orbiting member fluid displacement apparatus is disclosed. The rotation preventing/thrust bearing device includes a discrete fixed portion, a discrete orbital portion and bearing elements. The fixed portion includes a fixed race and fixed ring both of which are formed separately. The fixed race is placed in a groove in an inner surface of the housing and the fixed ring is attached to the housing. The orbital portion includes an orbital race and an orbital ring both of which are formed separately. The orbital race is placed in a groove in an end plate of the orbiting member and the orbital ring is attached to the end plate of the orbiting member. A plurality of pockets are formed axially in the rings toward the respective races. The pockets of the rings face one another in generally aligned pairs. A bearing element is received in each aligned pair of pockets to prevent the rotation of the orbiting member by the bearing elements interacting with the orbital and fixed rings and to carry the axial thrust load from the orbiting member.