Tapered-land thrust bearing for turbochargers
AssigneeBorgWarner Inc.
InventorsJason P. MOSCETTI, Christian LONGACRE
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An oil-lubricated, tapered-land thrust bearing assembly (60) for automotive turbochargers (10) including a thrust bearing (30). The thrust bearing (30) includes an assembly of a base (62) with at least one insert (64 or 66), which is designed to control the oil film as a purposefully compliant structure based on applied force to optimize performance at low and high power operation. The ramp angle is relatively large at a low load and decreases to a smaller ramp angle at higher loads. On one side of the turbocharger (10), the thrust bearing assembly (60) may operate with a flinger sleeve (34) and a thrust washer (24) within a complementary bearing housing cover (32).
Claims15
An oil-lubricated, tapered-land thrust bearing assembly (60) for a turbocharger (10) having a compressor impeller (14) and a turbine wheel (18) connected by a rotating shaft (20) that passes through a bearing housing (16), the tapered-land thrust bearing assembly (60) comprising:
- a thrust bearing (30) having a base (62), an inner insert (64) and an outer insert (66), the inserts (64, 66) being compliant to control oil film based on applied force, wherein the rotating shaft (20) passes through a bore (50) in the thrust bearing (30).
An oil-lubricated, tapered-land thrust bearing assembly (60) for a turbocharger (10) having a compressor impeller (14) and a turbine wheel (18) connected by a rotating shaft (20) that passes through a bearing housing (16), the tapered-land thrust bearing assembly (60) comprising:
- a bearing housing cover (32) having a cover bore (40) and a circular lip (54) with a circumference larger than the cover bore (40), the bearing housing cover (32) is secured within the bearing housing (16);
- a flinger sleeve (34) having an end that fits in the cover bore (40), the flinger sleeve (34) includes a complementary lip (52) that aligns with the lip (54) of the bearing housing (16);
- and
- a thrust bearing (30) having a base (62), an inner insert (64) with an aperture (68) for flow of oil, and an outer insert (66), the inserts (64, 66) being compliant to control oil film based on applied force, the inner insert (64) and the outer insert (66) are fastened on each side of the base (62);
- wherein geometry of a tapered-land of the thrust bearing (30) is compliant based on applied force to optimize performance at low and high loads, wherein at low load, the ramp angle is largest and then decreases at higher loads.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.