Constant fluid film thickness hydrostatic thrust bearing

摘要

A method and apparatus are provided for automatically and continuously balancing the unbalanced thrust resulting from the operation of a fluid pump which is driven by a fluid pressure motor. A hydrostatic- type thrust bearing is employed on the common shaft of the fluid pump and motor by applying pressures to opposite sides of the circular flange of such hydrostatic thrust bearing to compensate for any unbalance in thrust occuring during operation of the pump without requiring any axial movement of the hydrostatic thrust bearing flange. Because of the lack of flange movement, the thrust bearing operates with a constant fluid film thickness.