Hydraulic pump reservoir having deaeration diffuser

A hydraulic fluid reservoir for a hydraulic power system, comprising:

• a reservoir having an internal chamber for containing a supply of hydraulic fluid, a reservoir outlet for communicating fluid from said reservoir to an inlet of a hydraulic pump, and a return flow reservoir inlet for receiving a return flow of fluid into said chamber;
• and
• a flow diffuser having a diffuser inlet communicating with said return flow reservoir inlet for receiving at least a fraction of the return flow into said diffuser and having an inner fluid guide wall that diverges in a downstream direction and which is operative to slow the velocity of the at least a fraction of the return flow received into said diffuser through controlled expansion of a cross-sectional area of the at least a fraction of the return flow as the at least a fraction of the return flow advances along said diverging inner fluid guide wall, and a diffuser outlet communicating with said chamber for introducing the slowed at least a fraction of the return flow into said chamber where the slowed at least a fraction of the return flow can deaerate;
• and
• a booster nozzle extending into said chamber from said reservoir inlet and having a constricted primary discharge opening aligned with said reservoir with said outlet for directing an accelerated jet stream of the hydraulic fluid out of said chamber through said reservoir outlet, and also having a secondary bleed hole opening which is operative to discharge the at least a fraction of the return flow from said booster nozzle into said chamber, and wherein said flow diffuser is disposed at said bleed hole.