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A compressor bearing cooling inlet plate has a mount plate, and a boss extending forwardly from the mount plate. The boss includes a plurality of grooves extending axially into the boss to define flow passages for cooling air from an outer peripheral surface of the cooling inlet plate to an inner bo

A compressor bearing cooling inlet plate has a mount plate, and a boss extending forwardly from the mount plate. The boss includes a plurality of grooves extending axially into the boss to define flow passages for cooling air from an outer peripheral surface of the cooling inlet plate to an inner bore. The grooves extend for a width between side walls, at angles that are not directly radially inwardly toward a center axis of the cooling plate. There is a plurality of widths across the plurality of grooves. A compressor bearing assembly, a motor driven compressor for use in a nitrogen generation system, and a method of installing a compressor bearing cooling inlet plate are all also disclosed and claimed.

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1. A compressor bearing cooling inlet plate comprising: a cooling plate body including a mount plate, and a boss extending axially forwardly from said mount plate, said boss including a plurality of grooves extending axially into said boss to define flow passages for cooling air from an outer periph

1. A compressor bearing cooling inlet plate comprising: a cooling plate body including a mount plate, and a boss extending axially forwardly from said mount plate, said boss including a plurality of grooves extending axially into said boss to define flow passages for cooling air from an outer peripheral surface of the cooling plate body to an inner bore of the cooling plate body, said grooves each extending for a width between side walls, and said grooves extending at angles which are not directly radially inwardly toward a center axis of said cooling plate body, and there being a plurality of widths across said plurality of grooves; andsaid mount plate and said boss together extending for a first axial distance, said boss extending for a second axial distance, and a depth of said plurality of grooves axially into said boss defining a third axial distance, and a ratio of said first axial distance to said second axial distance being between 0.6 and 0.76, and a ratio of said second axial distance to said third axial distance being between 4.60 and 5.82. 2. The compressor bearing cooling inlet plate as set forth in claim 1, wherein there are a first plurality of grooves having a first width, and a second plurality of grooves having widths which are greater than said first width and there being more grooves in said first plurality than in said second plurality. 3. The compressor bearing cooling inlet plate as set forth in claim 2, wherein there are twelve of said grooves, with said first plurality including ten of said twelve grooves, and said second plurality including the other two of said grooves. 4. The compressor bearing cooling inlet plate as set forth in claim 3, wherein in said second plurality, there are two distinct widths, including a second and third width, with a ratio of said first width to the third width being between 0.420 and 0.470. 5. The compressor bearing cooling inlet plate as set forth in claim 4, wherein a ratio of the second width to the third width being between 0.580 and 0.640. 6. A compressor bearing assembly comprising: a compressor rotor attached to be driven by a shaft, said shaft carrying a cylindrical ring, said cylindrical ring to be positioned between two adjacent housing surfaces of a housing to define thrust bearing surfaces;at least one journal bearing for supporting said shaft within the housing;a cooling inlet plate being positioned radially outwardly of said cylindrical ring, said cooling inlet plate having a plurality of grooves for delivering air from an outer peripheral surface of said cooling air plate to an inner peripheral surface and such that the air flows across the thrust bearing surfaces and then the journal bearing; andsaid compressor rotor being received on an opposed side of one of said two adjacent housing surfaces relative to said cylindrical ring. 7. The compressor bearing assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein said grooves extends along angles that are not directly radially inwardly toward a rotational axis of said shaft. 8. The compressor bearing assembly as set forth in claim 7, wherein a cooling plate body includes a mount plate, and having a boss extending axially forwardly from said mount plate, said boss including the plurality of grooves extending axially into of said boss to define flow passages for the cooling air from the outer peripheral surface of the cooling plate body to an inner bore of the cooling plate body, said grooves extending for a width between side walls, and there being a plurality of widths between said plurality of grooves. 9. The compressor bearing assembly as set forth in claim 8, said mount plate and said boss together extending for a first axial distance, said boss extending for a second axial distance, and a depth of said plurality of grooves axially into said boss defining a third axial distance, and a ratio of said first axial distance to said second axial distance being between 0.6 and 0.76, and a ratio of said second axial distance to said third axial distance being between 4.60 and 5.82. 10. The compressor bearing assembly as set forth in claim 8, wherein there are a first plurality of grooves having a first width, and a second plurality of grooves having widths which are greater than said first width and there being more grooves in said first plurality than in said second plurality. 11. The compressor bearing assembly as set forth in claim 10, wherein there are twelve of said grooves, with said first plurality including ten of said twelve grooves, and said second plurality including the other two of said grooves. 12. The compressor bearing assembly as set forth in claim 11, wherein in said second plurality, there are two distinct widths, including a second and third width, with a ratio of said first width to the third width being between 0.420 and 0.470. 13. The compressor bearing assembly as set forth in claim 12, wherein a ratio of the second width to the third width being between 0.580 and 0.640. 14. A nitrogen generation system motor driven compressor comprising: a compressor rotor attached to be driven by a shaft, said shaft being driven by a motor, and a housing enclosing said rotor, said shaft and said motor, said shaft carrying a cylindrical ring positioned between two adjacent surfaces of said housing to define thrust bearing surfaces;at least one journal bearing for supporting said shaft within the housing;a cooling inlet plate being positioned radially outwardly of said cylindrical ring, said cooling inlet plate having a plurality of grooves for delivering air from an outer peripheral surface of said cooling air plate to an inner peripheral surface and such that the air flows across the thrust bearing surfaces and then the journal bearing; andsaid compressor rotor being received on an opposed side of one of said two adjacent surfaces relative to said cylindrical ring. 15. The compressor as set forth in claim 14, wherein said grooves extends along angles that are not directly radially inwardly toward a rotational axis of said shaft. 16. The compressor as set forth in claim 15, wherein a cooling plate body includes a mount plate, and having a boss extending axially forwardly from said mount plate, said boss including the plurality of grooves extending axially into of said boss to define flow passages for the cooling air from the outer peripheral surface of the cooling plate body to an inner bore of the cooling plate body, said grooves extending for a width between side walls, and there being a plurality of widths between said plurality of grooves. 17. The compressor as set forth in claim 16, said mount plate and said boss together extending for a first axial distance, said boss extending for a second axial distance, and a depth of said plurality of grooves axially into said boss defining a third axial distance, and a ratio of said first axial distance to said second axial distance being between 0.6 and 0.76, and a ratio of said second axial distance to said third axial distance being between 4.60 and 5.82. 18. The compressor as set forth in claim 16, wherein there are a first plurality of grooves having a first width, and a second plurality of grooves having widths which are greater than said first width and there being more grooves in said first plurality than in said second plurality. 19. The compressor as set forth in claim 18, wherein there are twelve of said grooves, with said first plurality including ten of said twelve grooves, and said second plurality including the other two of said grooves. 20. The compressor as set forth in claim 19, wherein in said second plurality, there are two distinct widths, with a ratio of said first width to a third larger width being between 0.420 and 0.470, and a ratio of the two widths in said second plurality being between 0.580 and 0.640. 21. A method of installing an air bearing into a compressor comprising the steps of: (a) mounting a cylindrical ring on a motor driven shaft for a compressor rotor, and positioning said cylindrical ring between two housing surfaces, which define thrust bearing surfaces said compressor rotor being received on an opposed side of one of said two adjacent housing surfaces relative to said cylindrical ring and connecting an air supply for delivering air to a location radially outwardly of said cylindrical ring to pass the air along the thrust bearing surfaces; and(b) positioning a cooling inlet plate radially outwardly of the cylindrical ring, said cooling inlet plate being formed to have a plurality of grooves for directing the air from a radially outer surface on said cooling inlet plate to an inner bore on said cooling inlet plate, said plurality of grooves directing the air along a plurality of angles which are not radially inward toward a rotational axis of the shaft. 22. The method as set forth in claim 21, wherein a cooling plate body includes a mount plate, and having a boss extending axially forwardly from said mount plate, said boss including the plurality of grooves extending axially into of said boss to define flow passages for the cooling air from the outer peripheral surface of the cooling plate body to said inner bore of the cooling plate body, said plurality of grooves extending for a width between side walls, and there being a plurality of widths between said plurality of grooves; and said mount plate and said boss together extending for a first axial distance, said boss extending for a second axial distance, and a depth of said plurality of grooves axially into said boss defining a third axial distance, and a ratio of said first axial distance to said second axial distance being between 0.6 and 0.76, and a ratio of said second axial distance to said third axial distance being between 4.60 and 5.82.