Turbo monobloc pump with hydrostatic-hydrodynamic thrust bearing

Claim 1

A THRUST BEARING COMPRISING (A) A THRUST COLLAR, (B) THE THRUST COLLAR HAVING GENERALLY RADIAL PASSAGE COMMUNICATING AT THE OUTER END WITH A PERIPHERAL CHAMBER, AND AT THE INNER END WITH AN INTAKE PORT, (C) OUTER AND INNER SIDE-FACES ON THE THRUST COLLAR HAVING DISCHARGE PORTS COMMUNICATING WITH THE PERIPHERAL CHAMBER, (D) OUTER AND INNER BEARING PLATES DISPOSED IN OPPOSITION TO THE OUTER AND INNER SIDE-FACES OF THE THRUST COLLAR, (E) THE BEARING PLATES HAVING A PLURALITY OF POCKETS, EACH CONFINED TO A SECTOR OF THE SURFACE OF THE BEARING PLATES, (F) A PORTION OF EACH POCKET POSITIONED TO COMMUNICATE SUCCESSIVELY WITH THE DISCHARGE PORTS AS THE THRUST COLLAR ROTATES, (G) A SPACER CONNECTING THE BEARING PLATES TOGETHER, AND WITH THEM DEFINING A BEARING-CAGE ASSEMBLY, (H) A PERIPHERAL SURFACE ON THE SPACER DIMENSIONED TO ALLOW THE BEARING CAGE TO SWIVEL WITHIN A HOUSING (I) A HOUSING SLIDABLY ENGAGED WITH THE PERIPHERAL SURFACE, (J) A ROTATABLE SHAFT CARRYING THE THRUST COLLAR, (K) A PAIR OF LEVELING RINGS IN THE HOUSING DISPOSED IN ENGAGEMENT WITH OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE BEARING CAGE ASSEMBLY, (L) A FIRST PAIR OF ARCUATE, DIAMETRICAL ENLARGEMENTS ON ONE FACE OF EACH LEVELING RING,