Abstract: A thrust bearing for an automobile turbocharger and which sustains a thrust load of the rotor shaft of the turbocharger. The thrust bearing has a first groove for holding lubricating oil supplied to the bearing. A first oil passage extends from the groove toward the axis of the rotor shaft. A second oil passage communicates with the first passage and has oil holes formed therein that extend to tapering lands formed on surfaces on which the rotor shaft bears. The second passage is so disposed that oil is spouted on both sides of the bearing. The lower end portion of the bearing is cut out portion to facilitate removal of oil. The cut out portion constitutes a planar portion of a closed loop on a surface of the bearing. A second groove is formed in the thrust bearing to hold oil discharged from the oil holes to some extent.

Abstract: A novel thrust bearing is provided in which a spiral element having a disc shape is loosely interposed between a pair of flat elements one of which is rotatable and the other of which is stationary, the spiral element having a spiral groove pattern on each of the opposite surfaces of the disc with the patterns on the respective surfaces reverse in relation to each other in their spiral direction.