Turbocharger operating system and method for an internal combustion engine
First Claim
1. A turbocharger system comprising:
- an electronic control unit;
a turbocharger apparatus;
a first oil circuit operable to provide oil to an internal cavity of the turbocharger apparatus at a first pressure level;
a second oil circuit which is operable to provide oil to the turbocharger apparatus at a second pressure level which is different from the first pressure level, wherein the first and second oil circuits are sufficiently separated from one another so as to maintain separate and independent hydraulic pressures therein, such that they may be operated at different pressures from one another;
wherein operation of at least one of the first and second oil circuits is controlled by the electronic control unit; and
wherein said turbocharger apparatus, comprises;
a center housing having a hollow central bore formed therethrough and having first, second and third oil routing channels formed therein, wherein the first and second oil routing channels are in fluid communication with the second oil circuit;
a first cylindrical sleeve which fits inside of the center housing, the first cylindrical sleeve having a first end with a first seat formed therein and a second end with a second seat formed therein, and a central portion disposed between the first and second ends;
a first disc member which fits into the first seat, the first disc member having a first fluid supply passage formed therethrough which communicates with the first oil routing channel of the center housing, the first fluid passage configured and arranged to receive oil from the second oil circuit;
a first bearing assembly which fits into the first seat adjacent the first disc member, the first bearing assembly receiving oil from the first fluid supply passage;
a second disc member which fits into the second seat, the second disc member having a second fluid supply passage formed therethrough which communicates with the second oil routing channel of the center housing, the second fluid supply passage also configured and arranged to receive oil from the second oil circuit;
a second bearing assembly which fits into the second seat adjacent the second disc member, the second bearing assembly receiving oil from the second fluid supply passage;
a second cylindrical sleeve which fits coaxially inside of the first cylindrical sleeve, wherein the first and second disc members receive respective ends of the second cylindrical sleeve therein; and
a turbine member comprising a shaft portion which extends through the central bore of the center housing and through the second cylindrical sleeve, an intake turbine attached to a first end of the shaft portion, and an exhaust turbine attached to a second end of the shaft portion;
wherein at least one of the first and second oil circuits is operable by the electronic control unit to apply a selectively variable hydraulic preload to the first and second bearing assemblies.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of operating a turbocharger apparatus on an internal combustion engine, having a first oil circuit and a second oil circuit, includes steps of sensing a plurality of engine operating parameters via a plurality of sensors associated with the internal combustion engine; providing oil to the engine from the first oil circuit at a first pressure level; controlling operation of the second oil circuit for said engine via an electronic control unit, based on the sensed engine operating parameters; and applying a variable hydraulic preload to said first and second bearing assemblies via the operation of the second oil circuit, wherein oil from the second oil circuit is provided at a second pressure level which is different from the first pressure level. A system usable for carrying out such method is also described.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A turbocharger system comprising:
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an electronic control unit; a turbocharger apparatus; a first oil circuit operable to provide oil to an internal cavity of the turbocharger apparatus at a first pressure level; a second oil circuit which is operable to provide oil to the turbocharger apparatus at a second pressure level which is different from the first pressure level, wherein the first and second oil circuits are sufficiently separated from one another so as to maintain separate and independent hydraulic pressures therein, such that they may be operated at different pressures from one another; wherein operation of at least one of the first and second oil circuits is controlled by the electronic control unit; and wherein said turbocharger apparatus, comprises; a center housing having a hollow central bore formed therethrough and having first, second and third oil routing channels formed therein, wherein the first and second oil routing channels are in fluid communication with the second oil circuit; a first cylindrical sleeve which fits inside of the center housing, the first cylindrical sleeve having a first end with a first seat formed therein and a second end with a second seat formed therein, and a central portion disposed between the first and second ends; a first disc member which fits into the first seat, the first disc member having a first fluid supply passage formed therethrough which communicates with the first oil routing channel of the center housing, the first fluid passage configured and arranged to receive oil from the second oil circuit; a first bearing assembly which fits into the first seat adjacent the first disc member, the first bearing assembly receiving oil from the first fluid supply passage; a second disc member which fits into the second seat, the second disc member having a second fluid supply passage formed therethrough which communicates with the second oil routing channel of the center housing, the second fluid supply passage also configured and arranged to receive oil from the second oil circuit; a second bearing assembly which fits into the second seat adjacent the second disc member, the second bearing assembly receiving oil from the second fluid supply passage; a second cylindrical sleeve which fits coaxially inside of the first cylindrical sleeve, wherein the first and second disc members receive respective ends of the second cylindrical sleeve therein; and a turbine member comprising a shaft portion which extends through the central bore of the center housing and through the second cylindrical sleeve, an intake turbine attached to a first end of the shaft portion, and an exhaust turbine attached to a second end of the shaft portion; wherein at least one of the first and second oil circuits is operable by the electronic control unit to apply a selectively variable hydraulic preload to the first and second bearing assemblies. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A turbocharger system for an internal combustion engine, said turbocharger system comprising:
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a turbocharger apparatus operatively connected with the engine, said turbocharger apparatus comprising; an elongated center housing having a hollow central bore formed therethrough, and having first, second and third oil routing channels formed therein, a turbine member comprising a shaft portion extending through the central bore of the elongated center housing, said turbine member having an intake turbine attached to a first end of the shaft portion, and an exhaust turbine attached to a second end of the shaft portion; a first bearing assembly and second bearing assembly, each operatively supporting said turbine member;
wherein said first and second bearing assemblies are axially separated from each other;
said first bearing assembly connected to said first oil routing channel, and said second bearing assembly connected to said second oil routing channel;an electronic control unit; a first oil circuit connected to said third oil routing channel, and operable to provide oil to an internal cavity of the turbocharger apparatus at a first pressure level controlled by the electronic control unit; a second oil circuit connected to each of said first and third oil routing channels, and operable to provide oil at a second pressure level which is different from the first pressure level, wherein the first and second oil circuits are sufficiently separated from one another so as to maintain separate and independent hydraulic pressures therein, such that they may be operated at different pressures from one another; and a plurality of operational sensors mounted on the engine; wherein during operation, said electronic control unit is operable to control operation of at least one of the first and second oil circuits based in part on the input received from the plurality of operational sensors for achieving desired pre-loading of the first and second bearing assemblies. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of operating a turbocharger apparatus on an internal combustion engine having a first oil circuit and a second oil circuit, said turbocharger apparatus having a pair of axially separated bearing assemblies, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) sensing a plurality of engine operating parameters via a plurality of sensors associated with the internal combustion engine; b) providing oil to an internal cavity of the turbocharger apparatus from the first oil circuit at a first pressure level; c) controlling operation of at least one of the first and second oil circuits for said engine via an electronic control unit, based on the sensed engine operating parameters; and d) applying a variable hydraulic preload to said pair of bearing assemblies via the operation of at least one of said first and second oil circuits, wherein oil from the second oil circuit is provided at a second pressure level which is different from the first pressure level. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification