Thurst bearings

Claim 1

A THRUST BEARING FOR A ROTATABLE MEMBER CAPABLE OF LIMITED AXIAL MOVEMENTS UNDER AXIAL THRUST FORCES, WHICH COMPRISES: (A) A ROTATABLE MEMBER HAVING A PERIPHERAL FLANGE WITH ITS OPPOSITE FACES IN PLANES APPROXIMATELY NORMAL TO THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF THE MEMBER, (B) A RELATIVELY STATIONARY ELEMENT HAVING SURFACES EXTENDING ALONG SAID OPPOSITE FACES OF SAID FLANGE, IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO SAID FLANGE FACES, AND HAVING A RECESS WITH A CONTINUOUS PERIPHERAL SIDE WALL IN EACH OF ITS SAID SURFACES THAT OPENS TOWARD THE FLANGE, (C) A SEALING RING MEANS IN EACH SUCH RECESS, EXPANDABLE OUTWARDLY INTO SEALING CONTACT WITH SAID PERIPHERAL SIDE WALL OF THE RECESS AND MOVABLE OUTWARD FROM THE RECESS INTO CONTACT WITH THE FLANGE OF SAID MEMBER, (D) AND MEANS ACTIVATED BY AXIAL DISPLACEMENT OF SAID MEMBER FOR SUPPLYING TO THE RECESS OF SAID ELEMENT TOWARD WHICH SAID FLANGE MOVES DURING ANY AXIAL DISPLACEMENT, DUE TO THRUST FORCES ACTING ON SAID MEMBER, A LUBRICATING FLUID UNDER PRESSURE TO FORCE SAID ROTATABLE MEMBER AXIALLY IN A DIRECTION TO RETURN SAID ROTATABLE MEMBER TO ITS INITIAL AXIAL POSITION OCCUPIED PRIOR TO THE RECEIPT OF SAID THRUST FORCES AND CAUSE LEAKAGE OF SAID FLUID PAST THE CONTACT SURFACE OF THE RING MEANS WITH SAID FLANGE TO LUBRICATE THE SAME AND CARRY OFF HEAT GENERATED BY THE CONTACT OF THE SEALING MEANS WITH THE FLANGE.