US Patent 10167895 Hydrodynamic bearing

To overcome defects in the supply of pressurized lubricant, a hydrodynamic bearing for guiding a shaft (14) includes a stationary outer annular wall, a rotatable inner annular wall (20), and a space (22) between the walls. The outer annular wall comprises an opening for supplying pressurized lubricant to the space so as to form a film of load-bearing fluid. The bearing includes a cavity (30) externally defined by the inner annular wall (20) and axially defined by two transverse annular walls (31A, 31B) secured to the shaft (14) and arranged on both sides of the cavity. The inner annular wall (20) comprises fluid connection orifices (32) connecting the cavity (30) to the space (22). The cavity (30) is divided into compartments (50, 52) by a partition wall (48) configured such that the cavity forms a lubricant supply for a transient operational phase.