Suspension for the pivoting vane actuation mechanism of a variable nozzle turbocharger
AssigneeAllied-Signal Inc.
InventorJean-Luc Fleury
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved suspension for a pivoting vane actuation mechanism is incorporated into a variable nozzle turbicharger in order to prevent vane binding. The mechanism includes a plurality of rotatable vanes mounted to a nozzle ring and a means for rotating the plurality of vanes. The nozzle ring and the means for rotating are coupled together so that thermal growth does not cause misalignment of the two.
Claims19
A turbocharger comprising:
- an exhaust gas driven turbine rotatably mounted to a shaft having a compressor impeller thereon;
- a compressor housing enclosing said compressor impeller;
- a center housing including bearing means for rotatably supporting the shaft;
- a turbine housing forming a volute therein for directing exhaust gas from an engine through an annular passage to said turbine and including a turbine side wall which defines one boundary of said annular passage;
- a flange member mounted between said center housing and said turbine housing;
- a nozzle ring defining one boundary of said annular passage;
- a plurality of vanes pivotably mounted to said nozzle ring;
- means for maintaining said nozzle ring a desired distance from said turbine side wall during turbocharger operation;
- a vane pin associated with each pivotable vane rotatably mounted through said nozzle ring;
- a vane ram rigidly attached to the vane pin such that the nozzle ring is located between the vane and the vane arm;
- an annular unison ring having a plurality of slots for receiving the vane arms therein;
- at least three dowels extending from within a bore in said flange member to within a bore in said nozzle ring;
- a roller rotatably mounted to each dowel, said rollers engaging the inner periphery of said unison ring;
- and
- a linkage means responsive to an actuator means, for rotating the unison ring.
A turbocharger for supplying compressed air to an engine including an exhaust gas driven turbine rotatably mounted to a shaft having a compressor rotatably mounted thereon, a turbine housing having an inner wall forming a volute therein for directing exhaust gas from said engine through an annular passage to said turbine and including a turbine side wall which defines one boundary of said annular passage, and means for varying the effective flow area of said annular passage comprising:
- an annular nozzle ring defining one boundary of said annular passage;
- a plurality of vanes pivotably mounted to said nozzle ring, each vane having a vane arm associated therewith;
- an annular unison ring having a plurality of slots for receiving said vane arms;
- means for pivoting said vanes;
- and
- at least three dowels extending from a bore in the turbocharger to a bore in said nozzle ring and including a roller mounted theron for engaging the inner periphery of said annular unison ring;
- and
- a spring means for biasing said nozzle ring toward said turbine side wall.
In a turbocharger having an exhaust gas driven turbine rotatably mounted to a shaft having a compressor impeller thereon, a compressor housing enclosing said compressor impeller, a center housing including bearing means for rotatably supporting the shaft, a method of assembling the turbocharger comprising:
- mounting a flange member to the center housing;
- pivotably mounting a plurality of vanes to an annular nozzle ring;
- slidably mounting at least three dowels into at least three bores in said nozzle ring;
- slidably and rotatably mounting a roller to each dowel;
- mounting, in rolling contact, an annular unison ring on said rollers;
- aligning said dowels with bores formed in the flange member and sliding the dowel ends therein;
- securing a turbine housing defining a volute therein and including a side wall to the flange member;
- and
- simultaneously spring loading said nozzle ring a spaced distance from said turbine side wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.