Hydrostatic button bearings for pumps and motors

Claim 1

A hydrostatic button with improved stability when employed as a bearing between relative sliding surfaces for use in a circular pocket recess in one of the sliding surfaces with the circular pocket recess having a source of pressurized fluid in communication therewith comprising: a circular skirt base portion adapted to fit loosely in such pocket recess and having a central seal disposed circumferentially around said skirt base portion operable to prevent escape of pressurized fluid from said pocket recess when said skirt base portion is inserted therein while allowing said skirt base portion to oscillate therein with axial and tilting movements with reference to said circular pocket recess; A hydrostatic bearing head portion affixed to one end of said skirt base portion, said head portion having a hydrostatic bearing outer surface oriented normal to the cylindrical axis of said skirt base portion; at least three concentric sills on said bearing outer surface including a raised outer non-load bearing minor sill with bleed notches therein, a raised outer circular load bearing sill and an inner circular load bearing sill leaving a central recess within said inner circular load bearing sill, said central recess having a drain passage in said head portion communicating therewith allowing fluid to escape therefrom without passing over the top of said inner load bearing sill; and passage means in said head portion communicating with said outer surface within the confines of said outer and inner load bearing sills and a pocket recess within which said skirt base portion is inserted.