Devices and method for adjusting turbocharger rotating assembly balance
AssigneeBorgWarner Inc.
InventorsDaniel PRUITT, Evan LUCAS, David LEDGER, Matt TONDRA
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An annular balance adjusting device (50) is included in the clamping region of a turbocharger (1) rotating assembly. The annular balance adjusting device (50) includes an annular member (51, 61) having a non-uniform weight distribution. By setting the rotational orientation of the annular member (51, 61) relative to the rotating assembly ((not labeled)), imbalance of the rotating assembly can be addressed. The annular balance adjusting device (50) can be used to correct the imbalance of the rotating assembly, thereby reducing turbocharger (1) vibration and increasing turbocharger (1) durability.
Claims15
A rotating assembly, comprising
- a shaft (2) comprising a first end (4), a second end (6) and a rotational axis (R) that extends through the first end (4) and the second end (6)
- a turbine wheel rigidly connected to the second end (6) of the shaft (2),
- a compressor wheel (14) disposed on the shaft (2) such that a nose (13) of the compressor wheel (14) is adjacent to the first end of the shaft (2),
- a nut (34, 35) that engages the first end of the shaft (2) so as to secure the compressor wheel (14) to the first end of the shaft (2), and
- an annular balance adjusting device (50, 450, 550, 650) disposed on the shaft (2) between the nose (13) and the first end of the shaft (2), wherein the annular balance adjusting device (50, 450, 550, 650) has a predetermined non-uniform mass distribution along its circumference, and is configured to be selectively rotated about the rotational axis (R) relative to the nose (13) so as to adjust the balance of the rotating assembly.
A turbocharger comprising
- a bearing housing (8) that rotatably supports a shaft (2) including a first end (6), a second end (4) and a rotational axis (R) that extends through the first end (6) and the second end (4),
- a turbine wheel (30) that is rigidly connected to the second end (4) of the shaft (2),
- a compressor wheel (14) disposed on the shaft (2) such that a nose (13) of the compressor wheel (14) is adjacent to the first end (6) of the shaft (2), the compressor wheel (14), the turbine wheel (30) and the shaft (2) together providing a rotating assembly ((not labeled)) of the turbocharger,
- a nut (34) that engages the first end (6) of the shaft (2) so as to secure the compressor wheel (14) to the first end of the shaft (2), and
- an annular balance adjusting device (50, 450, 550, 650) disposed on the shaft (2) between the nose (13) and the first end (6) of the shaft (2), wherein the annular balance adjusting device (50, 450, 550, 650) has a predetermined non-uniform mass distribution along its circumference, and is configured to be selectively rotated about the rotational axis (R) relative to the nose (13) so as to adjust the balance of the rotating assembly ((not labeled)).
A method for adjusting the balance of a rotating assembly that includes a shaft (2), a turbine wheel (30) fixed to one end (4) of the shaft (2), and a compressor wheel (14) secured to an opposed end (6) of the shaft (2) via a nut (34), the method comprising
- providing an annular balance adjusting device (50, 450, 550, 650) on the opposed end (6) of the shaft (2), the annular balance adjusting device (50, 450, 550, 650) having a predetermined non-uniform mass distribution along its circumference, the annular balance adjusting device (50, 450, 550, 650) configured to be selectively rotated about a rotational axis (R) of the shaft (2) relative to the compressor wheel (14);
- and
- rotating the annular balance adjusting device (50, 450, 550, 650) about the rotational axis (R) relative to the compressor wheel (14) so as to adjust the balance of the rotating assembly ((not labeled)).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.