Thrust absorbing planetary traction drive superturbo
AssigneeSuperTurbo Technologies, Inc.
InventorsRyan Sherrill, Sterling Holman, Jared William Brown
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed are embodiments of thrust absorbing planetary traction drives that utilize roller-shaft traction interfaces that are slanted to absorb thrust created on a turbo shaft by a turbine or compressor. Slanted traction surfaces on the sun portion of the turbo shaft are slanted inwardly so that the turbo shaft remains centered in the planetary traction drive. Either double roller planets or single roller planets can be used to absorb thrust in the axial direction of the turbo shaft. Various curved and slanted surfaces can be utilized to create traction interfaces that hold and stabilize the turbo shaft both axially and radially.
Claims15
A planetary traction drive for a super-turbocharger that is both mechanically driven by an engine and by exhaust gases from said engine comprising:
- a turbo shaft;
- a turbine connected to a first end of said turbo shaft;
- a compressor connected to a second end of said turbo shaft;
- a first slanted traction surface formed on said turbo shaft, said first slanted surface slanted at a first angle;
- a second slanted traction surface formed on said turbo shaft, said second slanted traction surface slanted at a second angle, said second angle being substantially equal to, and opposite of, said first angle;
- a single roller planet having an outer roller traction surface that has a first portion that is slanted at said first angle in a first direction and a second portion that is slanted at said second angle in a second direction, said single roller planet disposed so that said first portion of said outer roller traction surface that is slanted in said first direction engages said first slanted traction surface of said turbo shaft to create a first roller-shaft traction interface that generates an axial force on said turbo shaft in said first direction, and said second portion of said outer roller traction surface that is slanted in said second direction engages said second slanted traction surface of said turbo shaft to create an axial force on said turbo shaft in said second direction that counteract axial forces on said turbo shaft and locates said turbo shaft axially.
A method of transferring rotational mechanical energy in a super-turbocharger having a traction drive comprising:
- driving said super-turbocharger mechanically with an engine and with exhaust gases from said engine;
- forming two slanted traction surfaces on said turbo shaft that have substantially equal but opposite slant angles;
- forming roller-shaft traction interfaces by mating said slanted traction surfaces on said turbo shaft with two slanted outer traction surfaces on a single roller planet, which creates axial forces on said turbo shaft that counteract thrust forces generated in an axial direction on said turbo shaft.
A planetary traction drive for a super-turbocharger that is driven by both exhaust gases from an engine and rotational mechanical energy generated by said engine comprising:
- a turbo shaft;
- a turbine connected to a first end of said turbo shaft;
- a compressor connected to a second end of said turbo shaft;
- a curved traction surface on said turbo shaft;
- a planet roller with an outer curved traction surface that mates with said curved traction surface on said turbo shaft to form a roller-shaft curved traction interface that transmits torque between said planet and said turbo shaft, and locates said turbo shaft axially by producing axial forces that counteract thrust forces on said turbo shaft.
A planetary traction drive for a super-turbocharger that is driven by both exhaust gases from an engine and rotational mechanical energy generated by said engine comprising:
- a turbine;
- a compressor;
- a turbo shaft for connecting said turbine and said compressor;
- a curved traction surface on said turbo shaft;
- planet roller means with an outer curved traction surface that mates with said curved traction surface on said turbo shaft for forming a roller-shaft curved traction interface that transmits torque between said planet roller means for producing axial forces on said turbo shaft that counteract thrust forces on said turbo shaft for preventing said turbo shaft from moving axially.
A driven turbocharger comprising:
- a compressor;
- a turbine;
- turbo shaft means for connecting said compressor and said turbo shaft;
- mechanical speed step-down means connected to said turbo shaft for decreasing rotational speed of the turbo shaft at an output, which locates said turbo shaft axially and provides reaction forces to counteract thrust forces on said turbo shaft to prevent axial movement of said turbo shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.