Turbocharger bearing housing with integrated heat shield

A turbocharger system comprising:

• a bearing housing (52) having a main body (53) with a shaft bore (55) for receiving a rotatable shaft therein, the shaft bore (55) having an associated longitudinal axis (54), the bearing housing (52) further including a radially outwardly extending heat shield wall (50), the wall (50) and the main body (53) being formed together as a unitary structure and connected by a plurality of ribs (70), the wall (50) being spaced from the main body (53) such that a plurality of chambers (72) is formed, each chamber (72) being at least partly defined by the wall (50), the main body (53) and neighboring pairs of ribs (70);
• and
• a shaft (56), at least a portion of the shaft (56) being rotatably received within the shaft bore (55);
• a turbine wheel (84) being provided one end of the shaft (56), the turbine wheel (84) including a backface (82), the wall (50) being disposed between the main body (53) and the backface (82) of the turbine wheel (84) such that a volume (80) is at least partially defined between the wall (50) and the backface (82);
• and
• at least one passage (86) extending through the bearing housing (52) to permit fluid communication between the chambers (72) and the volume (80), whereby an exit from the chambers (72) is provided.