MULTIPLE GROOVE THRUST BEARING

摘要

A thrust bearing having a radial taper in its top (land) surface provides improved load distribution when used in high-pressure positive displacement swashplate piston pumps. The thrust bearing includes a plurality of grooves in its land surface which carry and distribute fluid on the top surface during operation of the pump. The fluid is distributed so as to form a hydrodynamic fluid buffer between the thrust bearing and an adjacent pump cam surface, so that the thickness of the fluid buffer is larger in radial regions corresponding to regions of increased load and stress.