SIMPLIFIED VARIABLE GEOMETRY TURBOCHARGER WITH SLIDING GATE AND MULTIPLE VOLUTES

• US 20100266390A1
• Filed: 04/13/2010
• Published: 10/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BorgWarner Incorporated
• Original Assignee: BorgWarner Incorporated
• Inventors: Chandramohanan, Rajmohan, Henderson, Kurtis E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,585,355 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 415/151
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 17/141 by means of shiftable members or valves obturating part of the flow path
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 9/026 Scrolls for radial machines or engines

Abstract

A simplified, low cost, turbine flow controlling device, using a sliding gate, with an actuator to control exhaust flow to multiple volutes, which volutes have perforated transverse divider walls. By moving the sliding gate (80) from a closed position (88) through a displacement of “a” to the next position b₁; and then from position b₁ through a displacement of “b” to the next position c₁, each a discreet movement, by a simple actuator, an increasing number of volutes are opened for flow from the exhaust manifold, via the volutes with perforated transverse divider walls, to the turbine wheel, without the attenuation of pulse energy usually seen in VTGs, at a cost lower than that of a VTG.

Claims

1. A variable geometry turbocharger turbine housing comprising:

an exhaust gas inlet (51);

a volute for channeling exhaust gas from said exhaust gas inlet to a vortex zone;

a turbine wheel chamber adapted for enveloping a turbine wheel (70);

a vortex zone in which exhaust gas transitions from the volute to the turbine wheel;

an exhaust gas outlet (52);

at least first and second divider walls (58, 59;

58′

, 59′

), generally parallel to the turbocharger axis, dividing the volute into at least first, second and third volute portions, said divider walls, having a plurality of communicating openings (82, 83), said divider walls having an upstream end and a downstream end; and

a sliding gate valve (80), adapted to being moved between positions, wherein in at least one of the positions the sliding gate valve blocks exhaust gas flow to at least one of the volute portions.

2. A turbocharger turbine housing as in claim 1, wherein the divider walls divide said volute into at least one radially outer volute portion, one radially inner volute portion, and one volute portion intermediate said outer and inner portions.

3. A turbocharger turbine housing as in claim 1, wherein each volute portion channels exhaust gas to a different circumferential area of the vortex zone.

4. A turbocharger turbine housing as in claim 3, wherein the first divider wall, measured from the termination point (93) of the outer wall (53) to the trailing end of the divider wall (91), spans an arc of from 90°

to 150°

, and wherein said second divider wall, measured from the trailing end of the first divider wall (91) to the trailing end of the second divider wall, spans an arc of 90°

to 150°

.

5. A turbocharger turbine housing as in claim 3, wherein each volute portion channels exhaust gas to approximately one-third of the vortex zone.

6. A turbocharger turbine housing as in claim 1, wherein each divider wall measured from termination point (93) of the outer wall (53) to trailing end of the divider wall spans an arc of greater than 180°

.

7. A turbocharger turbine housing as in claim 6, wherein each volute portion measured from termination point (93) of the outer wall (53) to trailing end of the volute portion spans an arc of 270°

or more.

8. A turbocharger turbine housing as in claim 1, wherein said sliding gate valve is a plate-type gate mounted for reciprocation in a guideway between positions wherein said gate opens all volute portions, and wherein said gate closes one or more of said volute portions, and wherein said sliding gate has a leading edge cooperating with said first divider wall (58, 59;

58′

, 59′

) leading edge for completely blocking one volute portion while leaving free another volute portion.

9. A turbocharger turbine housing as in claim 1, wherein said sliding gate valve is a plate-type gate mounted for reciprocation in a guideway between positions in increments smaller than the distance from one divider wall (59, 59′

) to the next divider wall, whereby movement of said sliding gate produces gradual blockage of said volute portions.

10. A turbocharger turbine housing as in claim 1, wherein said sliding gate valve is a variably positionable gate valve controlled by an intelligent actuator.