Thermal isolation system for turbochargers and like machines
AssigneeThe Garrett Corporation
InventorsJerry Glaser, Frank A. Bescoby
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus for cooling and thermally isolating turbocompressor foil bearings. The bearing journal includes a hollow shaft through which gas is positively circulated to cool the shaft. A slinger at one end of the shaft develops a centrifugal pumping action during operation of the turbocompressor by virtue of a plurality of radially directed gas passages. Pressurized gas may be introduced from the compressor into the interior of the hollow shaft and, after traversing the shaft, returned to the compressor. The invention includes arrangements for protecting the bearing against combustion products which may leak past turbine wheel seals by removing such combustion products before they can reach the bearing.
Claims32
Apparatus for protecting turbomachinery bearings comprising:
- a pliant foil bearing having a plurality of foils extending about a rotatable shaft;
- a hollow shaft mounted to rotate within the pliant foil bearing and being coupled to a turbine wheel, said turbine wheel having a hub, at least a portion of the hollow shaft comprising a bearing journal;
- means for coupling the shaft and wheel together in driving relationship, said coupling means comprising an end closure at the end of the shaft remote from the wheel for mounting the shaft on an axial tensioning rod extending from the turbine wheel, the hollow shaft extending generally along said rod and spaced therefrom to define an annular space between the shaft and the rod, and thermal isolating support means mounted between the hollow shaft and the turbine wheel for supporting the wheel from the shaft at the end adjacent the wheel while limiting heat transfer through said support means, said thermal isolating support means comprising a generally cylindrical intermediate shaft mounted between said hollow shaft and the turbine wheel hub in supporting relationship, the intermediate shaft being affixed to the hub at one end of the intermediate shaft, the other end of the intermediate shaft being affixed to the end of the hollow shaft;
- and
- means for circulating a gas through said annular space within the hollow shaft to cool the shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.