Pump having unidirectional tapered land thrust bearing cluster

A high pressure positive displacement swashplate pump, the pump comprising:

• a pump housing;
• inlet means communicating with an inlet pressure chamber means in said pump housing;
• outlet means communicating with an outlet pressure chamber in said pump housing;
• means for supplying fluid to said inlet means;
• said housing including a plurality of cylinders therein communicating with said inlet means and said outlet means;
• piston means including pistons reciprocally moveable in said cylinders, each piston having an upper pressure surface at one end thereof moveable to a position adjacent a corresponding inlet and outlet pressure chamber, each piston having a piston head at a second end thereof;
• a rotating camming surface engaging each said piston head to drive said pistons reciprocally in each cylinder to force fluid under pressure to said outlet means;
• a tapered land thrust bearing cluster operatively disposed in an interior pressure chamber of said pump in a recess provided in a back plate of said pump housing, said recess adapted to receive said tapered land thrust bearing cluster adjacent to a back surface of the rotating camming surface, said tapered land thrust bearing cluster including a plurality of associated bearing pads integral therewith;
• and
• said bearing pads each including a tapered surface which develops a pressurized hydrodynamic bearing film of variable thickness between said tapered surface and said back plate of the rotating camming surface.