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US 8,615,996 B2Granted
Turbine assembly for a turbocharger, having two asymmetric volutes that are sequentially activated, and associated method
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsNicolas Serres, Michael Ladonnet
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A turbine assembly for an exhaust gas turbocharger has separate first and second volutes that are sequentially activated via a valve that receives exhaust gases from an engine. In a first position of the valve, only the first volute receives exhaust gas; in a second position, both volutes receive exhaust gases. In a third position, a bypass passage is also opened so that some exhaust gas bypasses the turbine wheel. Unlike conventional twin-scroll turbines, each volute receives exhaust gases from all engine cylinders, and the first volute feeds gas into the B-width portion of the wheel, while the second volute feeds gas into the wheel after the contour portion.
Claims17
A turbine assembly of a turbocharger for use with an internal combustion engine, the turbine assembly comprising:
- a turbine housing configured for receiving engine exhaust gas, the turbine housing defining a bore for conducting a flow of exhaust gas out of the turbine housing in an axial direction, and a twin volute surrounding the bore, the twin volute comprising a first volute and a second volute that is divided and separated from the first volute;
- a turbine wheel rotatably mounted in the bore, the turbine wheel having turbine blades and defining a B-width portion having an axial length, wherein the B-width portion is the largest-diameter portion of the wheel formed by leading edges of the turbine blades and is linear over the axial length of the B-width portion as viewed in a radial-axial projection of the wheel, the B-width portion being followed in the axial direction by a contour portion that is concave in a radially outward direction as viewed in radial-axial projection, the contour portion being followed in the axial direction by a final portion, the turbine wheel further defining a throat located in the final portion;
- the first volute having an outlet aligned with the B-width portion of the turbine wheel so as to direct exhaust gas to enter into the B-width portion of the turbine wheel;
- the second volute having an outlet aligned with the final portion of the turbine wheel so as to direct exhaust gas to enter into the final portion of the turbine wheel at a location upstream of the throat;
- wherein, of the first and second volutes, only the first volute feeds exhaust gas into the B-width portion of the turbine wheel.
2 more elements
A turbine assembly of a turbocharger for use with an internal combustion engine, the turbine assembly comprising:
- a turbine housing configured for receiving engine exhaust gases from the engine through an exhaust gas inlet of the turbine housing, the turbine housing defining a bore for conducting a flow of exhaust gas out of the turbine housing in an axial direction, and a twin volute surrounding the bore, the twin volute comprising a first volute and a second volute that is divided and separated from the first volute;
- a turbine wheel rotatably mounted in the bore;
- a valve disposed downstream of the single exhaust gas inlet and arranged to receive engine exhaust gas from the exhaust gas inlet and regulate flow of the exhaust gas into the first and second volutes, the valve comprising:
- a valve cavity defined in the turbine housing, the valve cavity being connected directly to the second volute but not to the first volute;
- a bypass passage connected from the valve cavity to the bore downstream of the turbine wheel;
- the valve cavity having a proximal end adjacent the bypass passage and an opposite distal end, and a valve seat defined by the turbine housing at the distal end of the valve cavity;
- a valve member comprising a swing-type waste gate having a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the proximal portion is tubular and is affixed to one end of an arm, an opposite end of the arm being pivotally connected to the turbine housing such that the valve member is rotatable about a pivot axis, wherein the proximal portion of the valve member is sized so as to fill and close off the bypass passage when inserted through the bypass passage into the valve cavity, the distal portion of the valve member being attached to one end of the proximal portion, the distal portion being configured to seat against the valve seat in a substantially sealed manner when the valve member is inserted fully into the valve cavity so as to prevent exhaust gas from entering the valve cavity,
- wherein when the valve member is rotated about the pivot axis from the position seated against the valve seat, the distal portion unseats from the valve seat and thus exhaust gas can flow into the valve cavity and into the second volute, while the engagement of the proximal portion of the valve member in the bypass passage prevents exhaust gas from flowing through the bypass passage,
- and wherein when the valve member is further rotated about the pivot axis from the position having the proximal portion engaged in the bypass passage, the valve member is withdrawn along the bypass passage to allow flow through the bypass passage into the bore.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.