Self regulating fluid bearing high pressure rotary retarder nozzle

A nozzle assembly for spraying pressurized fluid against an object, the nozzle assembly comprising:

• a cylindrical housing body;
• a tubular shaft member coaxially and rotatably carried within the cylindrical housing body and having an inlet end within and near one end of the cylindrical housing body, the tubular shaft member having an outlet end near a second end of the cylindrical housing body for securing a spray head thereto for rotation with the tubular shaft member, the tubular shaft member having a central passage to conduct fluid from the inlet end of the tubular shaft member to the outlet end of the tubular shaft member;
• a regulating passage formed between the cylindrical housing body and an outer surface of the tubular shaft member;
• one or more bores communicating between the central passage of the tubular shaft member and the regulating passage, wherein pressure of the fluid within the regulating passage acts axially upon the tubular shaft member to counterbalance axial force on the tubular shaft member exerted by fluid pressure acting upon the inlet end of the tubular shaft member;
• a plurality of partial annular segments disposed on the tubular shaft member in the cylindrical housing body and captured on a rail extending laterally across the central passage between the inlet end of the tubular shaft member and the cylindrical housing body, wherein the plurality of annular segments are rotationally fixed to a raised rib extending outwardly from the rail to constrain the plurality of partial annular segments to rotate with the tubular shaft member, and wherein the plurality of partial annular segments are separable in an outward direction from the tubular shaft member and press against the cylindrical housing body thereby reducing rotational speed of the tubular shaft member within the cylindrical housing body during nozzle operation;
• and
• wherein each segment of the plurality of partial annular segments engages the rib to preclude axial movement of the plurality of partial annular segments.