Hydrostatic bearing for pumps and the like

Claim 1

A centrifugal pump comprising: a pump case including at least one pumping chamber therein; a shaft rotatably mounted in said case; a centrifugal impeller disposed in said chamber and supported by said shaft, said impeller being constructed and arranged for receiving product fluid from a suction inlet and moving said product fluid to a discharge outlet at an increased energy level in response to rotation of said shaft; a hydrostatic bearing mounted in said pump case surrounding said shaft including a plurality of circumferential pockets; an external auxiliary source of fluid; passage means having a restricted portion communicating with said circumferential pockets, said passage means being in fluid communication with said external auxiliary source of fluid and with said pumping chamber arranged for conducting said product fluid at increased energy level to said pockets of said bearing; and a pressure responsive flow control ball disposed for movement with respect to said restricted portion in said passage means, said ball having opposite sides thereof exposed respectively to said product fluid and said auxiliary source of fluid, said ball being movable in response to a predetermined pressure drop in said product fluid to permit flow of said auxiliary fluid to said pocket of said bearing.