Hydraulic assist turbocharger system

A turbocharger system for supplying charge air to a combustion engine, comprising a turbocharger including a turbine rotatably driven by engine exhaust gases, and a compressor rotatably driven by said turbine for supplying charge air to said engine;

• an engine hydraulic system including means for supplying hydraulic fluid to said turbocharger for lubrication thereof;
• an hydraulic turbine coupled directly to said turbocharger;
• and means for selectively supplying a portion of the fluid from said hydraulic system to said hydraulic turbine at a relatively high pressure for rotatably driving said hydraulic turbine for supplementally driving said compressor;
• said hydraulic system comprising an oil reservoir;
• a relatively low pressure pump for pumping oil from said reservoir;
• first means for circulating low pressure oil from said low pressure pump to the engine for lubrication thereof, and to return the oil to said reservoir;
• and second means for circulating low pressure oil from said low pressure pump to the turbocharger for lubrication thereof, and to return the oil to said reservoir;
• and said high pressure lubricant supply means comprising a relatively high pressure pump for pumping oil from said hydraulic system at a relatively high pressure, a supply conduit coupled between said high pressure pump and said hydraulic turbine for supplying high pressure oil into driving communication with said hydraulic turbine, valve means for selectively opening and closing said supply conduit to oil flow, and a return conduit coupled between said hydraulic turbine and said second means.

A turbocharger system for supplying charge air to a combustion engine, comprising a turbocharger including a turbine having a turbine wheel carried within a turbine housing and rotatably driven by engine exhaust gases, and a compressor having a compressor wheel carried within a compressor housing and rotatably driven by said turbine for supplying charge air to said engine, a common shaft connected between said turbine and compressor wheels, and a center housing connected between said turbine and compressor housings and including a turbine flow chamber and bearing means for rotatably supporting said shaft;

• an engine hydraulic system including means for supplying hydraulic fluid to said turbocharger for lubrication thereof, a bearing supply conduit for supplying relatively low pressure fluid for lubrication of said bearing means, and a bearing return conduit for returning the low pressure fluid from said bearing means to said hydraulic system;
• an hydraulic turbine being mounted on said shaft within said flow chamber and coupled directly to said turbocharger;
• and means for selectively supplying a portion of the fluid from said hydraulic system to said hydraulic turbine at a relatively high pressure for rotatably driving said hydraulic turbine for supplementally driving said compressor, including nozzle means for directing high pressure fluid into driving communication with said hydraulic turbine, said nozzle means comprising a generally cylindrical member carried about said shaft, said cylindrical member including a nozzle chamber for receiving high pressure fluid, and a plurality of relatively small nozzle openings communicating between said nozzle chamber and said hydraulic turbine whereby the high pressure fluid is directed as high pressure jets through said nozzle openings into driving communication with said hydraulic turbine.

A turbocharger system for supplying charge air to a combustion engine, comprising a turbocharger including a turbine having a turbine wheel carried within a turbine housing and rotatably driven by engine exhaust gases, a compressor having a compressor wheel carried within a compressor housing and rotatably driven by said turbine for supplying charge air to said engine, a common shaft connected between said turbine and compressor wheels, a center housing connected between said turbine and compressor housings and including a turbine flow chamber having an inlet port and an outlet port for passage of high presure lubricant therethrough, and bearing means for rotatably supporting said shaft;

• an engine hydraulic system including means for supplying hydraulic fluid to said turbocharger for lubrication thereof, a bearing supply conduit for supplying relatively low pressure fluid for lubrication of said bearing means, and a bearing return conduit for returning the low pressure fluid from said bearing means to said hydraulic system;
• an hydraulic turbine being mounted on said shaft within said flow chamber and coupled directly to said turbocharger;
• and means for selectively supplying a portion of the fluid from said hydraulic system to said hydraulic turbine at a relatively high pressure for rotatably driving said hydraulic turbine for supplementally driving said compressor, including nozzle means for directing high pressure fluid into driving communication with said hydraulic turbine, said means for supplying fluid to said hydraulic turbine comprising a relatively high pressure pump for pumping fluid from said hydraulic system, and supply conduit means for supplying the high pressure pumped fluid to said hydraulic turbine, said supply conduit means coupled to the inlet port of said turbine flow chamber and said bearing supply conduit coupled to the outlet port of said turbine flow chamber so as to apply a back pressure to said flow chamber to cause substantially immediate flooding of said flow chamber with fluid when high pressure fluid is supplied to drive said hydraulic turbine, whereby said hydraulic turbine operates in a nonventilated environment.

A turbocharger system for supplying charge air to a combustion engine, comprising a turbocharger including a turbine wheel rotatably driven by engine exhaust gases, a compressor wheel mounted on a shaft common with said turbine wheel and rotatably driven thereby for supplying charge air to the engine, and bearing means mounted within a turbocharger center housing for rotatably supporting said shaft;

• an hydraulic system including a relatively low pressure pump and first conduit means for circulating a lubricant fluid at relatively low pressure to said bearing means for lubrication thereof;
• an hydraulic turbine mounted on said shaft and disposed within a turbine flow chamber formed in said center housing;
• means including a relatively high pressure pump and second conduit means for circulating a portion of the fluid at relatively high pressure from said hydraulic system to said hydraulic turbine for rotatably driving said hydraulic turbine in fully submerged operation for supplementally driving said compressor wheel;
• and valve means coupled along said second conduit means for selectively opening and closing said second conduit means to fluid flow.

A turbocharger system for supplying charge air to a combustion engine, comprising a turbocharger including a turbine wheel rotatably driven by engine exhaust gases, a compressor wheel mounted on a shaft common with said turbine wheel and rotatably driven thereby for supplying charge air to the engine, and bearing means mounted within a turbocharger center housing for rotatably supporting said shaft;

• an hydraulic system including a relatively low pressure pump and first conduit means for circulating a lubricant fluid at relatively low pressure to said bearing means for lubrication thereof, said first conduit means comprising a bearing supply conduit for supplying fluid to said bearing means and a bearing return conduit for returning fluid from said bearing means to said supply system;
• an hydraulic turbine mounted on said shaft and disposed within a turbine flow chamber formed in said center housing;
• means including a relatively high pressure pump and second conduit means for circulating a portion of the fluid at relatively high pressure from said hydraulic system to said hydraulic turbine for rotatably driving said hydraulic turbine for supplementally driving said compressor wheel, said second conduit means comprising a high pressure supply conduit for supplying high pressure fluid to said hydraulic turbine;
• valve means coupled along said second conduit means for selectively opening and closing said second conduit means to fluid flow, said valve means being disposed along said high pressure supply conduit and responsive to predetermined turbocharger system parameters for selectively opening said second conduit means when additional charge air flow is required by the engine, and for closing said second conduit means when additional charge air flow is not required by the engine;
• and return conduit means coupled to said bearing supply conduit for returning fluid passing through said flow chamber to said hydraulic system, said return conduit means including a check valve for preventing fluid flow from said bearing supply conduit into communication with said hydraulic turbine.

A turbocharger system for supplying charge air to a combustion engine, comprising a turbocharger including a turbine wheel rotatably driven by engine exhaust gases, a compressor wheel mounted on a shaft common with said turbine wheel and rotatably driven thereby for supplying charge air to the engine, and bearing means mounted within a turbocharger center housing for rotatably supporting said shaft;

• an hydraulic system for supplying lubricant fluid to the engine and said bearing means for lubrication thereof, said hydraulic system including a relatively low pressure pump, a bearing supply conduit for supplying fluid from said low pressure pump to said bearing means, and a bearing return conduit for returning fluid from said bearing means to said hydraulic system;
• an hydraulic turbine mounted on said shaft and disposed within a turbine flow chamber formed in said center housing;
• nozzle means mounted within said center housing;
• a relatively high pressure pump for pumping a portion of the fluid at relatively high pressure from said hydraulic system;
• a high pressure supply conduit for coupling high pressure fluid to said nozzle means, said nozzle means including a plurality of nozzle openings oriented for passage of a plurality of relatively high pressure jets of fluid for drivingly rotating said hydraulic turbine;
• return conduit means for coupling fluid passing through said flow chamber to said bearing supply conduit, said return conduit means including a check valve for preventing flow from said bearing supply conduit into driving communication with said hydraulic turbine;
• a control valve coupled along said high pressure supply conduit for selectively opening said high pressure supply conduit to fluid flow when additional charge air is required by the engine, and for selectively closing said high pressure supply conduit to fluid flow when additional charge air is not required by the engine;
• and a bypass return conduit coupled between said control valve and said bearing supply conduit, said control valve being operable to return the output of said high pressure pump to said hydraulic system via said bearing supply conduit when said high pressure supply conduit is closed.

A turbocharger system for supplying charge air to a combustion engine, comprising a turbocharger including a turbine wheel rotatably driven by engine exhaust gases, a compressor wheel mounted on a shaft common with said turbine wheel and rotatably driven thereby for supplying charge air to the engine, and bearing means mounted within a turbocharger center housing for rotatably supporting said shaft;

• an hydraulic system for supplying lubricant fluid to the engine and said bearing means for lubrication thereof, said hydraulic system including a relatively low pressure pump, a bearing supply conduit for supplying fluid from said low pressure pump to said bearing means, and a bearing return conduit for returning fluid from said bearing means to said hydraulic system;
• an hydraulic turbine mounted on said shaft and disposed within a turbine flow chamber formed in said center housing;
• nozzle means mounted within said center housing;
• a relatively high pressure pump having its intake coupled to the output of said low pressure pump for pumping fluid at relatively high pressure from said hydraulic system, said center housing including an inlet port and an outlet port communicating with said turbine flow chamber;
• a high pressure supply conduit for coupling high pressure lubricant flow to said nozzle means via said inlet port, said nozzle means including a plurality of nozzle openings oriented for passage of a plurality of relatively high pressure jets of fluid for drivingly rotating said hydraulic turbine;
• return conduit means for coupling fluid passing through said flow chamber via said outlet port to said bearing supply conduit, said return conduit means including a check valve for preventing flow from said bearing supply conduit into driving communication with said hydraulic turbine;
• a control valve coupled along said high pressure supply conduit for selectively opening said high pressure supply conduit to fluid flow when additional charge air is required by the engine, and for selectively closing said high pressure supply conduit to flow when additional charge air is not required by the engine;
• a bypass return conduit coupled between said control valve and said bearing supply conduit, said control valve being operable to return the output of said high pressure pump to said hydraulic system via said bearing supply conduit when said high pressure supply conduit is closed to substantially unload said high pressure pump;
• and means on said shaft for relieving air from said flow chamber when high pressure fluid is supplied thereto and for pumping fluid from said flow chamber when fluid flow thereto ceases.

A turbocharger engine system comprising a combustion engine;

• a turbocharger including a turbine wheel rotatably driven by engine exhaust gases, a compressor wheel mounted on a shaft common with said turbine wheel and rotatably driven thereby for supplying charge air to the engine, and bearing means mounted within a turbocharger center housing for rotatably supporting said shaft;
• a charge air heat exchanger for cooling passage of charge air prior to supply thereof to said engine;
• a fan for forcing ambient air through said heat exchanger in heat transfer relation with the charge air;
• an hydraulic motor for rotatably driving said fan;
• an hydraulic system including a relatively low pressure pump and first conduit means for circulating lubricant fluid at relatively low pressure to the engine and said bearing means for lubrication thereof;
• an hydraulic turbine mounted on said shaft and disposed within a turbine flow chamber formed in said center housing;
• means including a relatively high pressure pump and second conduit means for circulating a portion of the fluid at relatively high pressure from said hydraulic system to said hydraulic turbine for rotatably driving said hydraulic turbine for supplementally driving said compressor wheel;
• valve means coupled along said second conduit means for selectively opening said second conduit means to fluid flow when additional charge air is required by the engine, and for selectively closing said second conduit means to fluid flow when additional charge air is not required by the engine;
• and means coupled between said valve means and said hydraulic motor for circulation of a portion of the high pressure fluid to said motor for driving thereof, said valve means being selectively operable to couple high pressure fluid to said motor when said second conduit means is closed.

A turbocharger for supplying charge air to a combustion engine, comprising an engine exhaust gas driven turbine including a turbine wheel carried within a turbine housing;

• a compressor for supplying engine charge air including a compressor wheel carried within a compressor housing;
• a center housing coupled between said turbine and compressor housing;
• a common shaft connected between said turbine and compressor wheels whereby said compressor wheel is rotatably driven by said turbine wheel;
• bearing means carried within said center housing for rotatably supporting said shaft;
• an hydraulic turbine mounted on said shaft within a turbine flow chamber formed in said center housing;
• and means for selectively supplying a fluid at a relatively high pressure to said center housing for rotatably driving said hydraulic turbine for supplementally driving said compressor wheel, said means for supplying fluid to said hydraulic turbine including means to fully submerge said hydraulic turbine during operation thereof.

A turbocharger for supplying charge air to a combustion engine, comprising an engine exhaust gas driven turbine including a turbine wheel carried within a turbine housing;

• a compressor for supplying engine charge air including a compressor wheel carried within a compressor housing;
• a center housing coupled between said turbine and compressor housings;
• a common shaft connected between said turbine and compressor wheels whereby said compressor wheel is rotatably driven by said turbine wheel;
• bearing means carried within said center housing for rotatably supporting said shaft;
• an hydraulic system including means for supplying lubricant fluid at relatively low pressure to said bearing means for lubrication thereof;
• an hydraulic turbine mounted on said shaft within a turbine flow chamber formed in said center housing;
• and means for selectively supplying a fluid at a relatively high pressure to said center housing for rotatably driving said hydraulic turbine for supplementally driving said compressor wheel, said center housing including an inlet port and an outlet port communicating with said flow chamber for passage of high pressure fluid therethrough, said outlet port being coupled to said means for supplying low pressure fluid to said bearing means so as to apply a back pressure to said flow chamber to cause substantially immediate flooding of said flow chamber when fluid is supplied thereto whereby said hydraulic turbine operates in a substantially nonventilated environment.

A turbocharger for supplying charge air to a combustion engine, comprising an engine exhaust gas driven turbine including a turbine wheel carried within a turbine housing;

• a compressor for supplying engine charge air including a compressor wheel carried within a compressor housing;
• a center housing coupled between said turbine and compressor housings;
• a common shaft connected between said turbine and compressor wheels whereby said compressor wheel is rotatably driven by said turbine wheel;
• bearing means carried within said center housing for rotatably supporting said shaft;
• an hydraulic turbine mounted on said shaft within a turbine flow chamber formed in said center housing;
• means for selectively supplying a fluid at a relatively high pressure to said center housing for rotatably driving said hydraulic turbine for supplementary driving said compressor wheel;
• and nozzle means mounted within said center housing for receiving high pressure fluid and for directing said fluid into driving communication with said hydraulic turbine, said nozzle means comprising a generally cylindrical member carried about said shaft, said cylindrical member including a nozzle chamber for receiving high pressure fluid, and a plurality of relatively small nozzle openings communicating between said nozzle chamber and said hydraulic turbine whereby the high pressure fluid is converted to a plurality of high pressure jets passing through said nozzle openings into driving communication with said hydraulic turbine.

A turbocharger for supplying charge air to a combustion engine, comprising an engine exhaust gas driven turbine including a turbine wheel carried within a turbine housing;

• a compressor for supplying engine charge air including a compressor wheel carried within a compressor housing;
• a center housing coupled between said turbine and compressor housings;
• a common shaft connected between said turbine and compressor wheels whereby said compressor wheel is rotatably driven by said turbine wheel;
• bearing means carried within said center housing for rotatably supporting said shaft;
• an hydraulic turbine mounted on said shaft within a turbine flow chamber formed in said center housing;
• an inlet port on said center housing for receiving a relatively high pressure fluid;
• nozzle means communicating with said inlet port for directing high pressure fluid into rotatable driving communication with said hydraulic turbine for supplementally driving said compressor wheel;
• an outlet port on said center housing forming a discharge path for high pressure fluid from said flow chamber;
• means coupled to said outlet port for applying a fluid back pressure to said flow chamber to cause substantially immediate flooding of said flow chamber when high pressure fluid is supplied thereto whereby said hydraulic turbine operates in a substantially nonventilated environment;
• valve means for selectively supplying high pressure fluid to said inlet port;
• and means for relieving air from said flow chamber when high pressure fluid is supplied thereto and for pumping fluid from said flow chamber when supply of fluid thereto ceases.

A turbocharger for supplying charge air to a combustion engine including an hydraulic lubricant fluid system for supplying lubricant fluid at relatively low pressure to the engine and the turbocharger, comprising an engine exhaust gas driven turbine including a turbine wheel carried within a turbine housing;

• a compressor for supplying engine charge air including a compressor wheel carried within a compressor housing;
• a center housing coupled between said turbine and compressor housings;
• a common shaft connected between said turbine and compressor wheels whereby said compressor wheel is rotatably driven by said turbine wheel;
• bearing means carried within said center housing for rotatably supporting said shaft, said center housing including lubricant supply passages for coupling said bearing means with the hydraulic system for lubrication of said bearing means;
• an hydraulic turbine mounted on said shaft within a turbine flow chamber formed in said center housing;
• and means for selectively supplying a portion of the fluid from the supply system at a relatively high pressure to said center housing for rotatably driving said hydraulic turbine in fully submerged condition for supplementally driving said compressor wheel.

In a turbocharger system including a turbocharger having an exhaust gas driven turbine for rotatably driving a compressor for supplying charge air to a combustion engine, and an hydraulic system including means for supplying relatively low pressure fluid to the turbocharger for lubrication thereof, a method of supplementally driving the turbocharger compressor comprising the steps of mounting an hydraulic turbine directly on the turbocharger;

• passing the charge air through a charge air heat exchanger prior to supply thereof to the engine;
• providing a fan for forcing ambient air into heat exchange relation with the charge air passing through the heat exchanger;
• providing an hydraulic motor for driving said fan;
• selectively supplying a portion of the fluid at a relatively high pressure from the hydraulic system to drive the hydraulic motor in response to engine air requirements;
• and selectively supplying a portion of the fluid at a relatively high pressure from the hydraulic system to drive the hydraulic turbine in a fully submerged condition and thereby supplementally drive the compressor in response to engine air requirements.