US 10,851,705 B1Granted

Variable inlet guide vane system for a turbocharger used in a motor vehicle

AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC

InventorCalogero Avola

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Abstract

A variable inlet guide vane system for a turbocharger includes a casing that forms an intake passage along a longitudinal axis. A plurality of vanes extend along corresponding transverse axes that are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and each vane is movably disposed within the intake passage between a high-trim position where the intake passage defines a maximum cross-sectional area for supplying airflow at a high-trim velocity and a low-trim position where the vanes define a minimum cross-sectional area for supplying airflow at a low-trim velocity. The minimum cross-sectional area is smaller than the maximum cross-sectional area such that the low-trim velocity is higher than the high-trim velocity at a common flow rate. Each vane includes an outer section rotatably coupled to the casing and an inner section, which extends from the outer section along the transverse axis and is angularly spaced from the outer section about the transverse axis.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A variable inlet guide vane system for a turbocharger used in a motor vehicle, the turbocharger including a compressor, the variable inlet guide vane system comprising:

a casing forming an intake passage along a longitudinal axis;
a plurality of vanes disposed within the intake passage, with each of the vanes extending along a transverse axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and wherein each of the vanes is rotatable about the transverse axis between a high-trim position where the casing defines a maximum inlet cross-sectional area for supplying an airflow to the compressor at a high-trim velocity and a low-trim position where the vanes and the casing cooperate with one another to define a minimum inlet cross-sectional area for supplying the airflow to the compressor at a low-trim velocity, wherein the minimum inlet cross-sectional area is smaller than the maximum inlet cross-sectional area such that the low-trim velocity is higher than the high-trim velocity at a common mass flow rate, and each of the vanes comprises:
an outer section rotatably coupled to the casing and extending along the transverse axis;
an inner section extending from the outer section and extending along the transverse axis, wherein the outer section and the inner section are angularly spaced from each other about the transverse axis by a fixed angle such that the inner sections of the vanes provide a circumferential vector of the low-trim velocity;
and
an actuator configured to move the plurality of vanes between the high-trim position and the low-trim position.

3 more elements

A turbocharger for a motor vehicle, the turbocharger comprising:

a turbine housing defining a turbine chamber;
a compressor housing defining a compressor inlet having an inlet diameter adapted to receive an airflow, and the compressor housing further defining a compressor chamber fluidly connected to the compressor inlet;
a center housing disposed axially between the turbine housing and the compressor housing;
a turbine wheel disposed in the turbine chamber and driven by exhaust gases;
a compressor wheel disposed in the compressor chamber for pressurizing the airflow to an internal combustion engine;
a shaft having a first end connected to the turbine wheel and a second end connected to the compressor wheel, such that the turbine wheel is capable of driving the compressor wheel to increase a pressure of intake air for the internal combustion engine;
and
a variable inlet guide vane system comprising:
a casing coupled to the compressor housing and forming an intake passage along a longitudinal axis, where the intake passage is fluidly connected to the compressor inlet and disposed upstream of the compressor inlet;
a plurality of vanes disposed within the intake passage, with each of the vanes extending along a transverse axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and wherein each of the vanes is rotatable about the transverse axis between a high-trim position where the casing defines a maximum inlet cross-sectional area for supplying the airflow to the compressor wheel at a high-trim velocity and a low-trim position where the vanes and the casing cooperate with one another to define a minimum inlet cross-sectional area for supplying the airflow to the compressor wheel at a low-trim velocity, wherein the minimum inlet cross-sectional area is smaller than the maximum inlet cross-sectional area such that the low-trim velocity is higher than the high-trim velocity at a common mass flow rate, and each of the vanes comprises:
an outer section rotatably coupled to the casing and extending along the transverse axis;
an inner section extending from the outer section and extending along the transverse axis, wherein the entire outer section and the entire inner section are angularly spaced from each other about the transverse axis by a fixed angle such that the inner sections provide a circumferential vector of the low-trim velocity;
and
an actuator configured to move the plurality of vanes between the high-trim position and the low-trim position.

11 more elements

A turbocharger for a motor vehicle, the turbocharger comprising:

a turbine housing defining a turbine chamber;
a compressor housing defining a compressor inlet that forms an intake passage along a longitudinal axis and defines an inlet diameter adapted to receive an airflow, and the compressor housing further defines a compressor chamber fluidly connected to the compressor inlet;
a center housing disposed axially between the turbine housing and the compressor housing;
a turbine wheel disposed in the turbine chamber and driven by exhaust gases;
a compressor wheel disposed in the compressor chamber for pressurizing the airflow to an internal combustion engine;
a shaft having a first end connected to the turbine wheel and a second end connected to the compressor wheel, such that the turbine wheel is capable of driving the compressor wheel to increase a pressure of intake air for the internal combustion engine;
and
a variable inlet guide vane system coupled to the compressor housing, and the variable inlet guide vane system comprises:
a plurality of vanes disposed within the intake passage, with each of the vanes extending along a transverse axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and wherein each of the vanes is rotatable about the transverse axis between a high-trim position where the compressor housing defines a maximum inlet cross-sectional area for supplying the airflow to the compressor wheel at a high-trim velocity and a low-trim position where the vanes and the compressor housing cooperate with one another to define a minimum inlet cross-sectional area for supplying the airflow to the compressor wheel at a low-trim velocity, wherein the minimum inlet cross-sectional area is smaller than the maximum inlet cross-sectional area such that the low-trim velocity is higher than the high-trim velocity at a common mass flow rate, and each of the vanes comprises:
an outer section rotatably coupled to the casing and extending along the transverse axis;
an inner section extending from the outer section and extending along the transverse axis, wherein the entire outer section and the entire inner section are angularly spaced from each other about the transverse axis by a fixed angle such that the inner sections provide a circumferential vector of the low-trim velocity and the outer sections and the casing cooperate with one another to define the minimum inlet cross-sectional area for providing an axial vector of the low-trim velocity;
and
an actuator configured to move the plurality of vanes between the high-trim position and the low-trim position.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.