Turbocharger with adjustable throat

• US 20070227142A1
• Filed: 03/08/2007
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Switchblade Turbo, LLC
• Original Assignee: Jimmy L. Blaylock
• Inventors: Brown, Richard T., Blaylock, Jimmy L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,481,056 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/600
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 37/24 by using pumps or turbines with adjustable guide vanes
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 23/00 Controlling engines characterised by their being supercharged
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

An exhaust gas turbocharger for an internal combustion engine has a volute or spiral turbine housing and a compressor housing where a turbine rotor and a compressor impeller are connected with one another by a common shaft. The exhaust gas inlet to the turbine housing has a fixed flow splitter. A pivotal flow control gate is attached to the downstream end of the fixed flow splitter. Control means is provided to timely pivot the pivotal flow control gate toward the turbine rotor and thus provide an initial high velocity spin to the rotor when turbo charged boost pressure is demanded. An adjustable directional flow control valve uses boost pressure from the compressor to timely actuate a piston and lever connected to the pivotal flow control gate or a signal from an engine control module (ECM) can be directed to an hydraulic, pneumatic or electrical actuator having a reciprocatable control rod connected to the flow control gate.

Claims

1. A turbocharger for an internal combustion engine comprising;

a turbine housing;

said turbine housing having a turbine rotor;

said turbine housing having an inlet for directing exhaust gases from said internal combustion engine into said turbine housing;

a fixed exhaust gas flow splitter in said inlet for dividing flow of exhaust gases entering said inlet;

a flow control gate attached downstream to said fixed flow splitter, said flow control gate being pivotal from a neutral first position allowing substantial flow of exhaust gas into said exhaust turbine to a second position contiguous to said turbine rotor for creating and directing a higher velocity flow of said exhaust gases to said turbine rotor; and

means to pivot said flow control gate.

2. The turbocharger of claim 1, wherein said fixed exhaust flow splitter divides said inlet flow of exhaust gases substantially equally.

3. The turbocharger of claim 1 wherein said fixed exhaust flow splitter divides said inlet flow of exhaust gases substantially unequally.

4. The turbocharger of claim 1 wherein said means to pivot said flow control gate is an actuator with a moveable member connected to said flow control gate.

5. The turbocharger of claim 4 wherein said actuator is controlled by an ECM.

6. The turbocharger of claim 5 wherein said actuator is hydraulic.

7. The turbocharger of claim 5 wherein said actuator is pneumatic.

8. The turbocharger of claim 5 wherein said actuator is electrical.

9. The turbocharger of claim 1 including:

a compressor having an impeller driven by said turbine rotor for directing compressed air into an intake manifold of said internal combustion engine; and

means to timely pivot said flow control gate as a function of a given boost pressure of said compressed air.

10. The turbocharger of claim 9 wherein said means to pivot said flow control gate is initiated from an engine control module signal.

11. The turbocharger of claim 9 wherein said means to timely pivot said flow control gate comprises:

an adjustable directional flow control valve;

an actuator cylinder and reciprocating piston;

said flow control valve having means for receiving, directing and exhausting a portion of said compressed air to and from said actuator cylinder to reciprocate said piston; and

means connecting said piston to said flow control gate.

12. The turbocharger of claim 11 wherein said adjustable directional flow control valve comprises a valve body with a right and left end;

flow ports in said valve body for receiving and directing boost pressure air;

a two position slidable spool valve within said housing for timely controlling said flow through said openings;

spring means and a given first amount of said boost pressure normally biasing said spool to said right end position; and

means whereby a second amount of boost pressure will force said spool to a left position against said spring.

13. The turbocharger of claim 12 wherein said spring is adjustable.

14. A turbocharger of claim 1 wherein said flow splitter in said inlet divides said flow of exhaust gases into an outer flow passage and an inner flow passage;

and wherein said higher velocity flow of said exhaust gas occurs in said inner flow passage adjacent said turbine rotor.

15. A turbocharger for an internal combustion engine comprising;

a turbine housing;

said turbine housing having a turbine rotor;

said turbine housing having an inlet for directing exhaust gases from said internal combustion engine into said turbine housing;

a flow control gate positioned in said inlet, said flow control gate being timely pivotal from a neutral first position allowing substantial flow of exhaust gas into said exhaust turbine to a second position contiguous to said turbine rotor for creating and directing a higher velocity flow of said exhaust gases to said turbine rotor; and

means to pivot said flow control gate to and from said first and second positions.

16. The turbocharger of claim 15 wherein said means to pivot said flow control gate is by an actuator having a moveable member connected to said flow control gate.

17. The turbocharger of claim 16 wherein said member is hydraulically actuated.

18. The turbocharger of claim 16 wherein said member is pneumatically actuated.

19. The turbocharger of claim 16 wherein said member is electrically actuated.

20. The turbocharger of claim 16 wherein said actuator is controlled by an ECM.