# US 9,518,589 B2 · Vane pack assembly for VTG turbochargers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,518,589 B2 - Document ID: US9518589B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/395,558 - Filed: 2013-04-11 - Published: 2015-04-30 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2012-04-24 - Assignees: BorgWarner Inc. - Applicants: BorgWarner Inc. - Inventors: Daniel N. Ward - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9518589B2 ## CPC - F04D 29/30: Vanes - F01D 17/165: {for radial flow, i.e. the vanes turning around axes which are essentially parallel to the rotor centre line (F01D17/167 takes precedence)} - F04D 27/002: {by varying geometry within the pumps, e.g. by adjusting vanes} - F02M 26/05: High pressure loops, i.e. wherein recirculated exhaust gas is taken out from the exhaust system upstream of the turbine and reintroduced into the intake system downstream of the compressor - F02M 26/10: having means to increase the pressure difference between the exhaust and intake system, e.g. venturis, variable geometry turbines, check valves using pressure pulsations or throttles in the air intake or exhaust system - F05D 2220/40: in turbochargers - Y10T 29/49321: Assembling individual fluid flow interacting members, e.g., blades, vanes, buckets, on rotary support member - F04D: NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS (engine fuel-injection pumps F02M; ion pumps H01J41/12; electrodynamic pumps H02K44/02) - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - F02M: SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A vane pack assembly is provided that can remove the spacers between the upper and lower vane rings to a location outside of the exhaust flow through the vane ring. In particular, the spacers are located within the vanes. Further, the assembly can effectively retain the small blocks used in varying the angle of the vanes on their associated vane pivot posts. A vane pack with such a configuration can use inexpensive parts, eliminate the need for welding of the vane pack and/or simplify the vane pack assembly process. Further, the vane pack can be decoupled from the turbine housing, thereby avoiding problems with differential thermal expansion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vane pack (100) for a variable geometry turbocharger comprising: an upper vane ring (26) and a lower vane ring (28); a plurality of vanes (60) operatively positioned between the upper and lower vane rings (26, 28), each vane (60) having opposing cheek surfaces (65) with a vane post (68) protruding from one of the cheek surfaces (65), a bore (70) extending through each vane (60); a plurality of fasteners (72) having a head (90) at one end, each fastener (72) extending through the upper and lower vane rings (26, 28) and the bore (70) of a respective one of the vanes (60); and a plurality of spacers (74) for maintaining a minimum distance between the upper and lower vane rings (26, 28), each spacer (74) being received in the bore (70) of a respective one of the vanes (60), the vanes (60) being pivotable about the vane post (68) or the fastener (72), whereby the spacers (74) are not located within the flow path between the upper and lower vane rings (26, 28). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vane pack of claim 1, wherein the head (90) of the fasteners (72) is received in a counterbore (92) of the lower vane ring (28) so as to be substantially flush with or recessed from an outer surface (94) of the lower vane ring (92). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vane pack of claim 1, further including a plurality of small sliding blocks (82), wherein each small sliding block (82) includes an aperture (83), wherein each small sliding block (82) receives a vane post (68) of a respective one of the vanes (60), and wherein at least a portion of each small sliding block (82) is operatively positioned between the vane cheek surface (65) and the upper vane ring (26). ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The vane pack of claim 3, further including a generally annular unison ring (80) having a plurality of slots (84) provided therein, the unison ring (80) being positioned such that each small sliding block (82) is received in a respective one of the slots (84) in the unison ring (80). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vane pack of claim 1, wherein an end of each fastener (72) is engaged by a nut (102) such that the upper vane ring (26), the lower vane ring (28) and the plurality of vanes (60) are clamped between the nut (102) and the head (90) of the fastener (72). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vane pack of claim 1, further including: a turbine housing closure (108); and a spring member (104) operatively positioned between the turbine housing closure (108) and the upper vane ring (26). ### Claim 7 A vane pack (100) for a variable geometry turbocharger comprising: an upper vane ring (26) and a lower vane ring (26); a plurality of vanes (60) operatively positioned between the upper and lower vane rings (26, 28), each vane (60) having opposing cheek surfaces (65) with a vane post (68) protruding from one of the cheek surfaces (65), the vane (60) being pivotable about the vane post (68); and a plurality of small sliding blocks (82), wherein each small sliding block (82) includes an aperture (83), wherein the aperture (83) of each small sliding block (82) receives a vane post (68) of a respective one of the vanes (60), and wherein at least a portion of each small sliding block (82) is operatively positioned between a respective vane cheek surface (65) and the upper vane ring (26). ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The vane pack of claim 7, further including a generally annular unison ring (80) having a plurality of slots (84) provided therein, the unison ring (80) being positioned such that each small sliding block (82) is received in a respective one of the slots (84) in the unison ring (80). ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The vane pack of claim 8, wherein a portion of the unison ring (80) is operatively positioned between the vane cheek surface (65) and an outer flange (98) of the upper vane ring (26). ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The vane pack of claim 8, wherein an inner peripheral surface (81) of the unison ring (80) is substantially adjacent to the upper vane ring (26), whereby sliding movement of the small blocks (82) in a respective slot (84) is constrained in a radially inner direction by the upper vane ring (26). ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The vane pack of claim 7, further including: a turbine housing closure (108); and a spring member (104) operatively positioned between the turbine housing closure (108) and the upper vane ring (26). ### Claim 12 A method of assembling a vane pack (100) for a variable turbine geometry turbocharger comprising: providing a lower vane ring (28) having a plurality of bores (91) formed therein; providing a plurality of elongated fasteners (72) having a head (90) at one end; inserting a fastener (72) into a respective one of the bores (91) in the lower vane ring (28) such that the head (90) engages the lower vane ring (28) and the fastener (72) extends from an inner surface (40) of the lower vane ring (28); placing a hollow spacer (74) over the extending portion of the fastener (72) such that an end portion of the spacer (74) engages the inner surface (40) of the lower vane ring (28) and such that a portion of the fastener (72) extends beyond the opposite end of the spacer (74); and providing a plurality of vanes (60) having opposing cheek surfaces (65) with a vane post (68) protruding from one of the cheek surfaces (65) and a bore (70) extending through the vane (60), the spacer (74) and a portion of the fastener (72) being received in the bore (70). ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further including: providing a plurality of small sliding blocks (82), each of the small sliding blocks (82) including an aperture (83); and inserting each small sliding block (82) onto a respective one of the vane posts (68), such that each vane post (68) is received in a respective the aperture (83). ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further including: providing a generally annular unison ring (80) having a plurality of slots (84) provided therein; positioning the unison ring (80) such that each small sliding block (82) is received in a respective one of the slots (84) in the unison ring (80). ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further including: providing an upper vane ring (26) having a plurality of bores (91) formed therein, the upper vane ring (26) having an outer flange (98); positioning the upper vane ring (26) such that a portion of each fastener (72) is received in a respective bore (93) in the upper vane ring (26) and such that the small sliding blocks (82) are positioned between one of the vane cheek surfaces (65) and the flange (98) of the upper vane ring (26). ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein an end portion of the fastener (72) extends beyond an outer surface of the upper vane ring (26), and further including: engaging the end portion with a nut (102) such that the upper vane ring (26), the lower vane ring (28) and the plurality of vanes (60) are clamped between the nut (102) and the head (90) of the fastener (72).