Patent ID: 8827639

Claim:
An air machine comprising: a compressor rotor for compressing air and delivering compressed air to a downstream inlet, air from said downstream inlet passing across a turbine rotor to drive said turbine rotor to rotate; a shaft connected to rotate with said turbine rotor and said compressor rotor and to define a center line; a thrust bearing provided by a member extending perpendicular and radially outwardly of said shaft, said member rotating with said shaft, and facing a first housing wall, a hollow chamber being formed on an opposed side of said first housing wall, and a cooling air path for supplying air across a surface of the thrust bearing, and between said member and said first housing wall, said first housing wall having a plurality communication hole for communicating cooling air from the cooling air path into said hollow chamber to drive air within said hollow chamber; and said communication holes are circumferentially spaced by unequal angles about said center line; and said communication holes are circumferentially spaced by unequal angles about said center line.