Nozzle adjustment mechanism for variable-capacity turbine

• US 6,699,010 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2001
• Issued: 03/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engine & Turbocharger, Ltd. (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
• Inventors: Jinnai, Yasuaki
• Primary Examiner(s): VERDIER, CHRISTOPHER M
• Application Number:
  US09/853,679
• Publication Number:
  US 20020168262A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 415/150, 415/159-166, 415/148, 606/02, 298/892.2, 403/383, 403/359.1, 403/274, 403/282, 403/261, 411/402, 411/410, 411/407, 411/406, 411/271, 411/325, 411/919, 411/504, 411/506
• US Class Current: 415/164
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 17/16 by means of nozzle vanes
• CPC Class Codes: 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
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49323 Assembling fluid flow directing devices, e.g., stators, diaphragms, nozzles

Abstract

A nozzle adjustment mechanism for a variable-capacity turbine has a connection between a connecting lever, for connecting a nozzle drive component driven by a actuator to a nozzle vane, and an edge of a nozzle shaft on the nozzle vane. The connection has a high degree of strength and does not experience deformation. A connecting hole of the connecting lever has a stopper surface which is flat or curved. The connecting edge of the nozzle shaft also has a stopper surface which corresponds to the stopper surface of the connecting hole. When the connecting edge of the nozzle shaft goes into the connecting hole of the connecting lever, the stopper surface of the connecting edge is brought into contact with the stopper surface of the connecting hole. After contact is made, a fixing process is applied to the connecting edge. The connector lever and the connecting edge of the nozzle shaft are thus effectively locked together in such a way that neither can rotate with respect to the other. The end of the nozzle shaft, in other words, prevents the shaft'"'"'s rotation.

Claims

1. A variable-capacity turbine comprising:

a coil-shaped scroll in a turbine casing;

a plurality of nozzle vanes circumferentially arranged along an inner peripheral side of said scroll, said vanes being rotatably supported by said turbine casing so as to be capable of varying an angle of said vanes, and each of said vanes having a respective nozzle shaft;

a turbine rotor disposed inside of said vanes and being rotatable when operating gases flow from said scroll through said vanes to said turbine rotor; and

a nozzle adjustment mechanism comprising;

a nozzle drive member connected to an actuator, said actuator being capable of rotating said drive member about a turbine axis, and

a plurality of connecting levers connecting said nozzle drive member to said vanes,

wherein each of said connecting levers has a respective connecting hole with a stopper surface that is at least partly non-circular in shape, each said nozzle shaft has a connecting edge having a stopper surface with an at least partly non-circular shape corresponding to said stopper surface of said connecting hole, said stopper surface of each said connecting edge contacting a stopper surface of a respective said connecting hole so as to be connected and locked together without deformation of said stopper surface of said connecting hole or said stopper surface of said connecting edge and such that said stopper surface of said connecting hole and said stopper surface of said connecting edge cannot rotate relative to each other,

wherein said connecting edge is fixed with respect to said connecting hole,

wherein said stopper surface of said connecting hole and said stopper surface of said connecting edge are each shaped to have two flat parallel surfaces, said two flat parallel surfaces of said stopper surface of said connecting hole contacting said two flat parallel surfaces of said stopper surface of said connecting edge, and wherein said connecting edge is fixed with respect to said connecting hole by a rivet or weld of only an end of said connecting edge such that a remaining portion of said connecting edge of said nozzle shaft other than said end remains intact without deformation of said stopper surface of said connecting hole or said stopper surface of said connecting edge.

2. A variable-capacity turbine comprising:

a coil-shaped scroll in a turbine casing;

a plurality of nozzle vanes circumferentially arranged along an inner peripheral side of said scroll, said vanes being rotatably supported by said turbine casing so as to be capable of varying an angle of said vanes, and each of said vanes having a respective nozzle shaft;

a turbine rotor disposed inside of said vanes and being rotatable when operating gases flow from said scroll through said vanes to said turbine rotor; and

a nozzle adjustment mechanism comprising;

a nozzle drive member connected to an actuator, said actuator being capable of rotating said drive member about a turbine axis, and

a plurality of connecting levers connecting said nozzle drive member to said vanes,

wherein each of said connecting levers has a respective connecting hole with a stopper surface that is at least partly non-circular in shape, each said nozzle shaft has a connecting edge having a stopper surface with an at least partly non-circular shape corresponding to said stopper surface of said connecting hole, said stopper surface of each said connecting edge contacting a stopper surface of a respective said connecting hole so as to be connected and locked together without deformation of said stopper surface of said connecting hole or said stopper surface of said connecting edge and such that said stopper surface of said connecting hole and said stopper surface of said connecting edge cannot rotate relative to each other,

wherein said connecting edge is fixed with respect to said connecting hole,

wherein said stopper surface of said connecting hole and said stopper surface of said connecting edge are each shaped as a single flat surface provided along a circle, said single flat surface of said connecting edge being formed by cutting away a portion of said circle of said connecting edge, said flat surface of said stopper surface of said connecting hole contacting said flat surface of said stopper surface of said connecting edge, and wherein said connecting edge is fixed with respect to said connecting hole by a rivet or weld of only an end of said connecting edge such that a remaining portion of said connecting edge of said nozzle shaft other than said end remains intact without deformation of said stopper surface of said connecting hole or said stopper surface of said connecting edge.

3. A variable-capacity turbine comprising:

a coil-shaped scroll in a turbine casing;

a plurality of nozzle vanes circumferentially arranged along an inner peripheral side of said scroll, said vanes being rotatable supported by said turbine casing so as to be capable of varying an angle of said vanes, and each of said vanes having a respective nozzle shaft;

a turbine rotor disposed inside of said vanes and being rotatable when operating gases flow from said scroll through said vanes to said turbine rotor; and

a nozzle adjustment mechanism comprising;

a nozzle drive member connected to an actuator, said actuator being capable of rotating said drive member about a turbine axis, and

a plurality of connecting levers connecting said nozzle drive member to said vanes,

wherein each of said connecting levers has a respective connecting hole with a stopper surface that is at least partly non-circular in shape, each said nozzle shaft has a connecting edge having a stopper surface with an at least partly non-circular shape corresponding to said stopper surface of said connecting hole, said stopper surface of each said connecting edge contacting a stopper surface of a respective said connecting hole so as to be connected and locked together without deformation of said stopper surface of said connecting hole or said stopper surface of said connecting edge and such that said stopper surface of said connecting hole and said stopper surface of said connecting edge cannot rotate relative to each other,

wherein said connecting edge is fixed with respect to said connecting hole,

wherein said stopper surface of said connecting hole and said stopper surface of said connecting edge are each shaped as serrated surfaces, said serrated surface of said stopper surface of said connecting hole contacting said serrated surface of said stopper surface of said connecting edge, and wherein said connecting edge is fixed with respect to said connecting hole by a rivet or weld of only an end of said connecting edge such that a remaining portion of said connecting edge of said nozzle shaft other than said end remains intact without deformation of said stopper surface of said connecting hole or said stopper surface of said connecting edge.

4. A method of assembling a nozzle adjustment mechanism of a variable-capacity turbine, the variable capacity turbine comprising a coil-shaped scroll in a turbine casing, a plurality of nozzle vanes circumferentially arranged along an inner peripheral side of the scroll, the vanes being rotatable supported by the turbine casing so as to be capable of varying an angle of the vanes, and each of the vanes having a respective nozzle shaft, and a turbine rotor disposed inside of the vanes and being rotatable when operating gases flow from the scroll through the vanes to the turbine rotor and the nozzle adjustment mechanism, said method comprising:

connecting a nozzle drive member to an actuator, the actuator being capable of rotating the drive member about a turbine axis, and

connecting a plurality of connecting levers to the nozzle drive member and to the vanes, wherein each of the connecting levers has a respective connecting hole with a stopper surface that is at least partly non-circular in shape, each nozzle shaft has a connecting edge having a stopper surface with an at least partly non-circular shape corresponding to said stopper surface of said connecting hole, said connecting comprising contacting the stopper surface of each connecting edge with a stopper surface of a respective connecting hole so as to be connected and locked together without deformation of the stopper surface of the connecting hole or the stopper surface of the connecting edge and such that said stopper surface of the connecting hole and the stopper surface of the connecting edge cannot rotate relative to each other and fixing the connecting edge with respect to said connecting hole, wherein;

the stopper surface of the connecting hole and the stopper surface of the connecting edge are each shaped to have two flat parallel surfaces;

the two flat parallel surfaces of the stopper surface of the connecting hole are contacted with the two flat parallel surfaces of the stopper surface of the connecting edge; and

said fixing comprises riveting or welding only an end of the connecting edge such that a remaining portion of the connecting edge of the nozzle shaft other than the end remains intact without deformation of the stopper surface of the connecting hole or the stopper surface of the connecting edge.

5. A method of assembling a nozzle adjustment mechanism of a variable-capacity turbine, the variable capacity turbine comprising a coil-shaped scroll in a turbine casing, a plurality of nozzle vanes circumferentially arranged along an inner peripheral side of the scroll, the vanes being rotatably supported by the turbine casing so as to be capable of varying an angle of the vanes, and each of the vanes having a respective nozzle shaft, and a turbine rotor disposed inside of the vanes and being rotatable when operating gases flow from the scroll through the vanes to the turbine rotor and the nozzle adjustment mechanism, said method comprising:

connecting a nozzle drive member to an actuator, the actuator being capable of rotating the drive member about a turbine axis, and

connecting a plurality of connecting levers to the nozzle drive member and to the vanes, wherein each of the connecting levers has a respective connecting hole with a stopper surface that is at least partly non-circular in shape, each nozzle shaft has a connecting edge having a stopper surface with an at least partly non-circular shape corresponding to said stopper surface of said connecting hole, said connecting comprising contacting the stopper surface of each connecting edge with a stopper surface of a respective connecting hole so as to be connected and locked together without deformation of the stopper surface of the connecting hole or the stopper surface of the connecting edge and such that said stopper surface of the connecting hole and the stopper surface of the connecting edge cannot rotate relative to each other and fixing the connecting edge with respect to said connecting hole, wherein;

the stopper surface of the connecting hole and the stopper surface of the connecting edge are each shaped as a single flat surface provided along a circle;

said single flat surface of said connecting edge is formed by cutting away a portion of said circle of said connecting edge;

the flat surface of the stopper surface of the connecting hole is contacted with the flat surface of the stopper surface of said connecting edge; and

said fixing comprises riveting or welding only an end of the connecting edge such that a remaining portion of the connecting edge of the nozzle shaft other than the end remains intact without deformation of the stopper surface of the connecting hole or the stopper surface of the connecting edge.

6. A method of assembling a nozzle adjustment mechanism of a variable-capacity turbine, the variable capacity turbine comprising a coil-shaped scroll in a turbine casing, a plurality of nozzle vanes circumferentially arranged along an inner peripheral side of the scroll, the vanes being rotatably supported by the turbine casing so as to be capable of varying an angle of the vanes, and each of the vanes having a respective nozzle shaft, and a turbine rotor disposed inside of the vanes and being rotatable when operating gases flow from the scroll through the vanes to the turbine rotor and the nozzle adjustment mechanism, said method comprising:

connecting a nozzle drive member to an actuator, the actuator being capable of rotating the drive member about a turbine axis, and

connecting a plurality of connecting levers to the nozzle drive member and to the vanes, wherein each of the connecting levers has a respective connecting hole with a stopper surface that is at least partly non-circular in shape, each nozzle shaft has a connecting edge having a stopper surface with an at least partly non-circular shape corresponding to said stopper surface of said connecting hole, said connecting comprising contacting the stopper surface of each connecting edge with a stopper surface of a respective connecting hole so as to be connected and locked together without deformation of the stopper surface of the connecting hole or the stopper surface of the connecting edge and such that said stopper surface of the connecting hole and the stopper surface of the connecting edge cannot rotate relative to each other and fixing the connecting edge with respect to said connecting hole, wherein;

the stopper surface of the connecting hole and the stopper surface of the connecting edge are each shaped as serrated surfaces;

the serrated surface of the stopper surface of the connecting hole is contacted with the serrated surface of the stopper surface of the connecting edge; and

said fixing comprises riveting or welding only an end of the connecting edge such that a remaining portion of the connecting edge of the nozzle shaft other than the end remains intact without deformation of the stopper surface of the connecting hole or the stopper surface of the connecting edge.