Grooved hydrodynamic thrust bearings and grooved hydrodynamic thrust bearing mechanisms

摘要

The two thrust bearing surfaces are separated by a bearing fluid and are rotatable relative to one another. One of the bearing surfaces forms a plurality of continuous lands 122 extending from an inner radius 124 of the bearing surface to an outer radius 126. Adjacent lands form a continuous groove 128 therebetween, the continuous groove 128 having a non-divided portion 130 at the inner annular portion of the bearing surface and a non-(132). The successive grooves are divided into portions 132 divided by intermediate lands 134 located between adjacent successive lands 122. The segmented portion 132 of the continuous groove 128 communicates in an uninterrupted fashion with the unpartitioned portion 130.