Controlled-gap seal with hydrodynamic-thrust bearing

Claim 1

IN COMBINATION, A HOUSING PROVIDING A SEAL CHAMBER, A SHAFT EXTENDED THROUGH A WALL OF SAID HOUSING INTO SAID CHAMBER, A BEARING BETWEEN SAID SHAFT AND SAID HOUSING WALL, A ROTATABLE SEAL MEMBER IN SAID CHAMBER CARRIED BY SAID SHAFT HAVING AN ANNULAR SEAL FACE, A COOPERATING SEAL MEMBER NONROTATABLY CARRIED BY SAID HOUSING INCLUDING A SEAL FACE CONFRONTING SAID ROTATABLE SEAL FACE, SAID NONROTATABLE SEAL FACE HAVING THREE SPACED CONCENTRIC ANNULAR LANDS THEREON FORMING THREE ANNULAR GROOVES THEREBETWEEN AND BETWEEN THE INNERMOST LAND SAID SHAFT, MEANS FOR SUPPLYING OIL UNDER PRESSURE TO SAID CHAMBER FOR LUBRICATING SAID BEARING, A PASSAGEWAY CONNECTING SAID CHAMBER TO THE OUTERMOST OF SAID GROOVES, MEANS FOR ADMITTING LEAKAGE BLANKET GAS ALONG SAID SHAFT TO THE INNERMOST GROOVE, MEANS FOR CONNECTING THE INTERMEDIATE GROOVE TO ATMOSPHERE, AND A HYDRODYNAMIC-THRUST BEARING ON THE CONFRONTING FACES OF SAID ROTATABLE SEAL FACE AND THE OUTERMOST OF SAID LANDS FOR CONTROLLING THE GAP BETWEEN SAID LANDS AND THE COOPERATING FACE OF SAID ROTATABLE SEAL MEMBER.