# US 11,078,807 B2 · Turbocharger and mating ring included therein > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,078,807 B2 - Document ID: US11078807B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/135,491 - Filed: 2018-09-19 - Published: 2020-03-19 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2018-09-19 - Assignees: BorgWarner Inc. - Applicants: BorgWarner Inc. - Inventors: Erwin Perry Ellwood, III - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11078807B2 ## CPC - F01D 25/246: {Fastening of diaphragms or stator-rings} - F01D 11/003: {by packing rings; Mechanical seals} - F01D 11/025: {Seal clearance control; Floating assembly; Adaptation means to differential thermal dilatations} - F02C 6/12: Turbochargers, i.e. plants for augmenting mechanical power output of internal-combustion piston engines by increase of charge pressure - F05D 2220/40: in turbochargers - F05D 2230/642: using maintaining alignment while permitting differential dilatation - F05D 2240/55: Seals - F05D 2240/60: Shafts - F05D 2300/224: Carbon, e.g. graphite - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - F02C: GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS (construction of turbines F01D; jet-propulsion plants F02K; construction of compressors or fans F04; generating combustion products of high pressure or high velocity F23R; using gas turbines in compression refrigeration plants F25B11/00) - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS ## Abstract A turbocharger includes a shaft, a compressor wheel, and a seal assembly. The seal assembly includes a carbon ring having a carbon surface having a carbon ring inner diameter and a carbon ring outer diameter. The seal assembly also includes a mating ring having a mating surface facing the carbon surface of the carbon ring. The mating surface has a land portion configured to contact the carbon surface between a first mating diameter radially aligned with the carbon ring inner diameter and a second mating diameter radially aligned with the carbon ring outer diameter. The land portion has a land area between the first and second mating diameters. The mating surface defines a plurality of grooved portions. The plurality of grooved portions have a grooved area between the first and second mating diameters. A ratio of the land area to the grooved area is between 1.3 and 2.9. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A turbocharger for delivering compressed air to an internal combustion engine and for receiving exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine, said turbocharger comprising: a shaft extending along an axis between a first end and a second end spaced from said first end along said axis; a compressor wheel coupled to said first end of said shaft; and a seal assembly comprising, a carbon ring disposed about said shaft and spaced from said compressor wheel along said axis, with said carbon ring having a carbon surface having a carbon ring inner diameter and a carbon ring outer diameter spaced from said carbon ring inner diameter radially away from said axis, and a mating ring disposed about said shaft and spaced from said compressor wheel along said axis such that said carbon ring is disposed between said compressor wheel and said mating ring, with said mating ring having a mating surface facing said carbon surface of said carbon ring, with said mating surface having a land portion configured to contact said carbon surface between a first mating diameter radially aligned with said carbon ring inner diameter with respect to said axis and a second mating diameter radially aligned with said carbon ring outer diameter with respect to said axis, and with said land portion having a land area between said first and second mating diameters, and with said mating surface defining a plurality of grooved portions disposed about said axis, and with said plurality of grooved portions having a grooved area between said first and second mating diameters; wherein a ratio of said land area to said grooved area is between 1.3 and 2.9; wherein said plurality of grooved portions has a groove outer diameter; wherein a ratio of said carbon ring outer diameter to said groove outer diameter is between 1.10 and 1.5; wherein said plurality of grooved portions has a groove inner diameter, and wherein a ratio of said carbon ring inner diameter to said groove inner diameter is between 1.02 and 1.10; and wherein said plurality of grooved portions have a depth defined into said mating surface between 0.005 mm to 0.040 mm. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The turbocharger as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plurality of grooved portions are spiraled about said axis. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The turbocharger as set forth in claim 1, wherein said mating ring comprises a cylindrical sleeve coupled to and rotatable with said shaft, and a flange extending radially from said cylindrical sleeve such that said mating ring is configured as a flinger. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The turbocharger as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a turbine housing defining a turbine housing interior, a turbine wheel coupled to said shaft and disposed in said turbine housing interior, and a compressor housing defining a compressor housing interior, wherein said compressor wheel is disposed in said compressor housing interior. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The turbocharger as set forth in claim 1, wherein said ratio of said carbon ring outer diameter to said groove outer diameter is between 1.10 and 1.25. ### Claim 6 A mating ring for use in a rotating machine, the rotating machine including a shaft, and a carbon ring having a carbon surface having a carbon ring inner diameter and a carbon ring outer diameter spaced from the carbon ring inner diameter, said mating ring comprising: an interior surface extending along an axis between a first mating end and a second mating end spaced from said first mating end, with said interior surface defining a bore adapted to be disposed about the shaft; and a mating surface having a land portion adapted to contact the carbon surface between a first mating diameter adapted to be radially aligned with the carbon ring inner diameter with respect to said axis and a second mating diameter adapted to be radially aligned with the carbon ring outer diameter with respect to said axis, with said land portion having a land area between said first and second mating diameters; with said mating surface defining a plurality of grooved portions disposed about said axis, and with said plurality of grooved portions having a grooved area between said first and second mating diameters; wherein a ratio of said land area to said grooved area is between 1.3 and 2.9; wherein said plurality of grooved portions has a groove outer diameter; wherein a ratio of the carbon ring outer diameter to said groove outer diameter is adapted to be between 1.10 and 1.5; wherein said plurality of grooved portions has a groove inner diameter, and wherein a ratio of the carbon ring inner diameter to said groove inner diameter is adapted to be between 1.02 and 1.10; and wherein said plurality of grooved portions have a depth defined into said mating surface between 0.005 mm to 0.040 mm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The mating ring as set forth in claim 6, wherein said plurality of grooved portions comprise 3 to 10 grooves. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The mating ring as set forth in claim 6, wherein the ratio of the carbon ring inner diameter to said groove inner diameter is adapted to be between 1.07 and 1.10. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A rotating machine comprising said mating ring as set forth in claim 8, and further comprising: said shaft extending along said axis between a first end and a second end spaced from said first end along said axis; a compressor wheel coupled to said first end of said shaft; and a seal assembly comprising said mating ring and said carbon ring. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The mating ring as set forth in claim 6, wherein said ratio of said carbon ring outer diameter to said groove outer diameter is adapted to be between 1.10 and 1.25. ### Claim 11 A turbocharger for delivering compressed air to an internal combustion engine and for receiving exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine, said turbocharger comprising: a shaft extending along an axis between a first end and a second end spaced from said first end along said axis; a compressor wheel coupled to said first end of said shaft; and a seal assembly comprising, a carbon ring disposed about said shaft and spaced from said compressor wheel along said axis, with said carbon ring having a carbon surface having a carbon ring inner diameter and a carbon ring outer diameter spaced from said carbon ring inner diameter radially away from said axis, and a mating ring disposed about said shaft and spaced from said compressor wheel along said axis such that said carbon ring is disposed between said compressor wheel and said mating ring, with said mating ring having a mating surface facing said carbon surface of said carbon ring, with said mating surface having a land portion configured to contact said carbon surface between a first mating diameter radially aligned with said carbon ring inner diameter with respect to said axis and a second mating diameter radially aligned with said carbon ring outer diameter with respect to said axis, and with said land portion having a land area between said first and second mating diameters, and with said mating surface defining a plurality of grooved portions disposed about said axis, and with said plurality of grooved portions having a grooved area between said first and second mating diameters; wherein a ratio of said land area to said grooved area is between 1.3 and 2.9; wherein said seal assembly further comprises a seal housing defining a seal housing interior; wherein said carbon ring is disposed in the seal housing interior; wherein said seal housing has an inner seal housing diameter with respect to said axis; wherein said carbon ring inner diameter is less than said inner seal housing diameter; and wherein said seal assembly further comprises a secondary seal coupled to said seal housing and said carbon ring, wherein said seal housing has a U-shaped portion with respect to and facing away from said axis, and wherein said secondary seal is disposed in said U-shaped portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The turbocharger as set forth in claim 11, wherein said mating ring comprises a cylindrical sleeve coupled to and rotatable with said shaft, and a flange extending radially from said cylindrical sleeve such that said mating ring is configured as a flinger, wherein said cylindrical sleeve has a first cylindrical portion spaced axially from said flange with respect to said axis, and a second cylindrical portion adjacent said flange and disposed between said flange and said first cylindrical portion with respect to said axis, and wherein said second cylindrical portion has an outer diameter that is less than an outer diameter of said first cylindrical portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The turbocharger as set forth in claim 12, wherein said carbon ring has a first carbon ring portion protruding toward said axis, wherein said protruding portion has said carbon ring inner diameter, and wherein said first carbon ring portion protrudes toward a recess defined between said first cylindrical portion and said second cylindrical portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The turbocharger as set forth in claim 11, wherein said carbon ring has a first carbon ring portion having said carbon surface and having said carbon ring inner diameter, and a second carbon ring portion disposed in said seal housing, and wherein said first carbon ring portion and said second carbon ring portion secure said secondary seal in said U-shaped portion of said seal housing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The turbocharger as set forth in claim 11, further comprising a turbine housing defining a turbine housing interior, a turbine wheel coupled to said shaft and disposed in said turbine housing interior, and a compressor housing defining a compressor housing interior, wherein said compressor wheel is disposed in said compressor housing interior. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The turbocharger as set forth in claim 11, wherein said plurality of grooved portions are spiraled about said axis. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The turbocharger as set forth in claim 11, wherein said plurality of grooved portions has a groove outer diameter; wherein a ratio of the carbon ring outer diameter to said groove outer diameter is adapted to be between 1.10 and 1.5; wherein said plurality of grooved portions has a groove inner diameter, and wherein a ratio of the carbon ring inner diameter to said groove inner diameter is adapted to be between 1.02 and 1.10; and wherein said plurality of grooved portions have a depth defined into said mating surface between 0.005 mm to 0.040 mm. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The turbocharger as set forth in claim 11, further comprising a turbine housing defining a turbine housing interior, a turbine wheel coupled to said shaft and disposed in said turbine housing interior, and a compressor housing defining a compressor housing interior, wherein said compressor wheel is disposed in said compressor housing interior; wherein said plurality of grooved portions are spiraled about said axis; wherein said plurality of grooved portions has a groove outer diameter; wherein a ratio of the carbon ring outer diameter to said groove outer diameter is adapted to be between 1.10 and 1.5; and wherein said plurality of grooved portions has a groove inner diameter, and wherein a ratio of the carbon ring inner diameter to said groove inner diameter is adapted to be between 1.02 and 1.10. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The turbocharger as set forth in claim 18, wherein said plurality of grooved portions have a depth defined into said mating surface between 0.005 mm to 0.040 mm.