GROOVED HYDRODYNAMIC THRUST BEARING

摘要

Two thrust bearing surfaces are separated by bearing fluid and are rotatable relative to one another. One of the bearing surfaces defines a plurality of continuous lands (122) extending from an inner (124) to an outer radius (126) of the bearing surface. Adjacent lands define between them a continuous groove (128) which has an undivided portion (130) in an inner annulus and a divided portion (132) in an outer annulus of the bearing surface. The continuous groove is divided in the divided portion (132) by an intermediate land (134) located between the adjacent continuous lands (122). The divided portion (132) of the continuous groove (128) communicates in unbroken fashion with the undivided portion (130).