Hydrostatic bearing for the drive flange of a hydraulic pump or motor

Claim 1

A HYDRAULIC PUMP OR MOTOR INCLUDING A ROTATABLY MOUNTED CYLINDER BLOCK HAVING A SERIES OF CYLINDERS EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE ROTATIONAL AXIS OF THE CYLINDER BLOCK, A SERIES OF PISTONS EACH RECIPROCABLY MOUNTED IN A DIFFERENT ONE OF THE SERIES OF THE CYLINDERS IN THE CYLINDER BLOCK, A DRIVE FLANGE MOUNTED FOR ROTATION WITH THE CYLINDER BLOCK ABOUT AN AXIS INCLINED TO THE ROTATIONAL AXIS OF THE CYLINDER BLOCK, A SERIES OF CONNECTING RODS EACH CONNECTED TO A DIFFERENT ONE OF A SERIES OF PISTONS AND TO THE DRIVE FLANGE, LIQUID INLET MEANS AND LIQUID OUTLET MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CYLINDER BLOCK, AT THE BLOCK''S END DISTANT FROM THE DRIVE FLANGE, A BEARING MEMBER IN WHICH THE DRIVE FLANGE IS ROTATABLY MOUNTED, THE DRIVE FLANGE AND THE BEARING MEMBER CO-OPERATING TO DEFINE CHAMBERS, AND CONDUIT MEANS PASSING FROM THE LIQUID INLET AND OUTLET MEANS THROUGH THE CENTRAL REGION OF THE CYLINDRT BLOCK AND THE DRIVE FLANGE, AND ARRANGED TO SUPPLY LIQUID UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE CYLINDERS TO THE CHAMBERS, THE LIQUID UNDER PRESSURE PROVIDING A THRUST WHICH BALANCES AT LIEAST SOME OF THE THRUST EXERTED ON THE DRIVE FLANGE BY THE CONNECTING RODS DURING OPERATION OF THE PUMP OR MOTOR.