Polymer Compressor Wheel with Co-Molded Bore Insert
First Claim
1. A compressor wheel assembly comprising:
- a metal tubular insert having a shaft bore extending from an inlet end to an outlet end opposed to the inlet end, and a wall member, the wall member having an outer circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface opposed to the outer circumferential surface defining the tubular insert shaft bore, wherein the at least one of the outer circumferential surface or inner circumferential surface includes at least one engagement member defined thereon;
a compressor wheel member composed of a polymeric material, the compressor wheel having an axially extending center portion molded on to the tubular insert, the center portion having an inlet end and an outlet end opposed to the inlet end, the compressor wheel member further having a blade array projecting outward from the center portion, the blade array having an outer surface and an inner region and a plurality of circumferentially-spaced, radially and axially extending blades disposed thereon; and
a shaft having an outer surface, the shaft extending through the tubular insert wherein the at least one contoured surface region on the opposed inner surface of the tubular insert engages the outer surface of the shaft.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A centrifugal compressor wheel assembly that can be employed in devices such as turbochargers or as a component for mechanisms requiring a compressor wheel assembly that includes a tubular insert with a compressor wheel member connected thereto which engages a shaft and a turbocharger including the compressor wheel assembly. The tubular insert has a wall member defining a shaft bore that extends from an inlet end to an opposed outlet end. The wall member has an outer circumferential surface and an opposed inner circumferential surface. At least one engagement member may be defined on the inner circumferential surface. An engagement member may be defined on the outer circumferential surface. The tubular insert can be composed of a suitable metal.
11 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A compressor wheel assembly comprising:
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a metal tubular insert having a shaft bore extending from an inlet end to an outlet end opposed to the inlet end, and a wall member, the wall member having an outer circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface opposed to the outer circumferential surface defining the tubular insert shaft bore, wherein the at least one of the outer circumferential surface or inner circumferential surface includes at least one engagement member defined thereon; a compressor wheel member composed of a polymeric material, the compressor wheel having an axially extending center portion molded on to the tubular insert, the center portion having an inlet end and an outlet end opposed to the inlet end, the compressor wheel member further having a blade array projecting outward from the center portion, the blade array having an outer surface and an inner region and a plurality of circumferentially-spaced, radially and axially extending blades disposed thereon; and a shaft having an outer surface, the shaft extending through the tubular insert wherein the at least one contoured surface region on the opposed inner surface of the tubular insert engages the outer surface of the shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18)
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13. A compressor wheel assembly comprising:
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a metal tubular insert having a shaft bore extending from an inlet end to an outlet end opposed to the inlet end, and a wall member, the wall member having an outer circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface opposed to the outer circumferential surface defining the tubular insert shaft bore, wherein at least one of the outer circumferential surface or inner circumferential surface defines at least one engagement member defined thereon, wherein the metal of the tubular insert comprises at least one of bronze, leaded bronze, copper iron, iron, leaded iron, aluminum, titanium, steel; a compressor wheel member composed of a polymeric material, the compressor wheel having an axially extending center portion molded on to the tubular insert, the center portion having an inlet end and an outlet end, the compressor wheel member further having a blade array projecting outward from the center portion, the blade array having an outer surface and an inner region and a plurality of circumferentially-spaced, radially and axially extending blades disposed thereon, wherein the polymeric material of the compressor wheel member comprises at least one of epoxy compounds, phenolic polymers, polyimide polymers, polyamide polymers, polypropylene polymers, or polyether ether ketone polymers and the polymeric material optionally contains at least one of metal fibers, glass fibers, carbon fibers, metal particles, glass particles, carbon particles, wherein the center portion of the compressor wheel has a compressor wheel inlet end and an opposed compressor wheel outlet end having a length wherein the length of the center portion of the compressor wheel is less than or equal to a length defined by the tubular insert; and a shaft having an outer surface, the shaft extending through the tubular insert wherein the at least one contoured surface region on the opposed inner surface of the tubular insert engages the outer surface of the shaft. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification