Patent ID: 8544768

Claim:
A fluid bearing nozzle assembly for spraying high pressure fluid comprising: a hollow cylindrical body; an inlet nut fastened to the cylindrical body; and a hollow tubular shaft member coaxially carried within the housing body and captured between the inlet nut and the body, the inlet nut having a stem portion extending into a central bore through the shaft member, the stem portion forming an inlet bearing area rotatably carrying the shaft member thereon, the shaft member having an outlet end near an outlet end of the housing body, the outlet end of the shaft member receiving a spray head fastened thereto for rotation of the head with the shaft member, said inlet nut having a central passage to conduct fluid through the inlet nut to said outlet end of the shaft member; an inner wall of the housing body and an outer portion of the shaft having complementary surface shapes together forming a regulating passage therebetween, said shaft member having one or more bores communicating between the inlet bearing area and the regulating passage, wherein pressure of fluid within the regulating passage acts axially upon the shaft to counter axial force on the shaft resulting from fluid pressure acting upon an inlet end of the shaft, and wherein the outer portion of the shaft has a helical groove there-around extending from the one or more bores along a substantial portion of the outer portion of the shaft and wherein fluid flow through the regulating passage and the helical groove imparts a rotational torque on the shaft to cause rotation of the shaft on the stem portion of the inlet nut.