Turbocharger integrated bearing system

• US 6,017,184 A
• Filed: 07/09/1998
• Issued: 01/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alliedsignal Inc.
• Original Assignee: Alliedsignal Inc.
• Inventors: Wick, Werner, Milliken, Douglas Alan, Sahay, Sunhil Nandan, Jensen, Lloyd Bill, Coleman, Steven Walter, Elpern, David George, Hebben, Peter John, Lopez, Raymond Leo, Aguilar, Scott Grover
• Primary Examiner(s): Look, Edward K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, NINH H
• Application Number:
  US09/112,517
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 415/111, 415/112, 415/104, 415/105, 415/106, 415/107, 415/229, 384/112, 384/113, 384/369, 384/398, 384/901, 417/407, 417/365
• US Class Current: 415/112
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/16 Arrangement of bearings; Supporting or mounting bearings in casings bearings per se F16C
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/168 for axial load mainly
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/18 Lubricating arrangements of machines or engines in general F01M
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 5/025 Fixing blade carrying members on shafts attachment of a member on a shaft in general F16D1/06; for non-positive displacement pumps F04D29/00
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 6/12 Turbochargers, i.e. plants for augmenting mechanical power output of internal-combustion piston engines by increase of charge pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/023 especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/0413 hydrostatic; hydrodynamic thrust bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/047 hydrostatic; hydrodynamic
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/26 Rotors specially for elastic fluids
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/266 mounting compressor rotors on shafts
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/28 for centrifugal or helico-centrifugal pumps for radial-flow or helico-centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/284 for compressors
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/40 in turbochargers
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2230/90 Coating; Surface treatment manufacture with deposition of material F05D2230/30
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2300/509 Self lubricating materials; Solid lubricants
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2300/611 Coating
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 17/10 for both radial and axial load
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2360/24 Turbochargers in general F02C6/12
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 27/02 Sliding-contact bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/1075 Wedges, e.g. ramps or lobes, for generating pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 1/06 : for attachment of a member on a shaft or on a shaft-end attachment of marine propellers on shafts B63H23/34

Abstract

An integrated bearing system with journal and thrust bearings is incorporated in a single unit centrally pinned to the bearing housing and having integral thrust surface and journal surface lubrication grooves in combination with turbine and compressor wheel thrust surfaces. The bearing employs a first aperture substantially equidistant from the ends to engage the locating pin to prevent rotation of the bearing within the bearing case bore, while allowing the bearing to be free to symmetrically wobble within the bearing case bore.

Claims

1. An integrated bearing system for a turbocharger comprising:

a center housing including a bearing case bore and a boss with an aperture receiving a locating pin extending into the bearing case bore substantially centrally in the bore;

a single piece bearing received in the the bearing case bore and having integral thrust surfaces on opposing ends and integral journal bearing surfaces on portions of the bearing proximate the ends, said bearing further having an internal bore to receive a shaft extending between a compressor wheel and a turbine wheel, the internal bore having a plurality of axial grooves extending between the thrust surfaces and wherein each thrust surface incorporates a plurality of radial grooves extending from the inner bore and wherein the thrust surface is circumferentially profiled with a lower flat substantially adjacent each radial groove transitioning to a ramp terminating in an upper land oppositely adjacent the next radial groove, said bearing having a first aperture substantially equidistant from the ends and engaging the locating pin to prevent rotation of the bearing within the bearing case bore, said bearing being free to symmetrically wobble within the bearing case bore, said bearing further having a second aperture substantially centrally located and in communication with a lubrication oil channel entering the bearing case bore in the center housing; and

thrust runners on an end surface of a hub on each of the compressor wheel and turbine wheel, said thrust runners engaging the thrust surfaces of the bearing.

2. An integrated bearing system for a turbocharger as defined in claim 1 wherein the shaft includes a central portion having a reduced diameter to promote lubricant flow in the bearing.

3. An integrated bearing system for a turbocharger as defined in claim 1 wherein the bearing outer diameter is relieved between journal surface portions and a central boss portion which includes the first and second apertures.

7. An integrated bearing system for a turbocharger as defined in claim 1 wherein the compressor wheel incorporates an integral hub having a thrust surface to engage the one of the thrust surfaces on the bearing and further comprising an annodized coating on the hub thrust surface.

8. An integrated bearing system for a turbocharger as defined in claim 7 wherein the anodized coating is Nituff.

4. An integrated bearing system for a turbocharger comprising:

a center housing including a bearing case bore and a boss with an aperture receiving a locating pin extending into the bearing case bore substantially centrally in the bore;

a single piece bearing received in the the bearing case bore and having integral thrust surfaces on opposing ends and integral journal bearing surfaces on portions of the bearing proximate the ends, said bearing further having an internal bore to receive a shaft extending between a compressor wheel and a turbine wheel, the internal bore having a plurality of axial grooves extending between the thrust surfaces and wherein each thrust surface incorporates a plurality of radial grooves extending from the inner bore and wherein the thrust surface is circumferentially profiled with a lower flat substantially adjacent each radial groove transitioning to a ramp terminating in an upper land oppositely adjacent the next radial groove, said bearing having a first aperture substantially equidistant from the ends and engaging the locating pin to prevent rotation of the bearing within the bearing case bore, said bearing being free to symmetrically wobble within the bearing case bore, said bearing further having a second aperture substantially centrally located and in communication with a lubrication oil channel entering the bearing case bore in the center housing;

a thrust washer engaging one of the thrust surfaces on the bearing said thrust washer intermediate the bearing and the compressor wheel; and

thrust runners on an end surface of a hub on each of the compressor wheel and turbine wheel, said thrust runners engaging the thrust surfaces of the bearing.

5. An integrated bearing system for a turbocharger as defined in claim 4 wherein the shaft includes a central portion having a reduced diameter to promote lubricant flow in the bearing.

6. An integrated bearing system for a turbocharger as defined in claim 4 wherein the bearing outer diameter is relieved between journal surface portions and a central boss portion which includes the first and second apertures.