Turbocharger and method
First Claim
1. A turbocharger, comprising:
- a turbine that includes a turbine wheel;
a compressor that includes a compressor wheel;
a bearing housing disposed and connected between the turbine and the compressor, the bearing housing forming a bearing bore having a stop surface defined at one end;
a shaft rotatably disposed within the bearing housing and extending into the turbine and the compressor, wherein the turbine wheel is connected to one end of the shaft and wherein the compressor wheel is connected to an opposite end of the shaft such that the turbine wheel is rotatably disposed in the turbine and the compressor wheel is rotatably disposed in the compressor;
a bearing arrangement disposed between the shaft and the bearing housing, the bearing arrangement including an outer bearing race element disposed in the bearing bore, wherein the outer bearing race element has a hollow cylindrical shape that engages the bearing bore frictionally along a first end, and an inner bearing race element, which engages the shaft and is rotatably disposed within the outer bearing race element, wherein the outer race elements extends to roller elements located on the compressor side to roller elements located on the turbine aide, and wherein the inner bearing race element forms a flared portion having an increased inner diameter with respect to end portions thereof that engage the shaft;
a bearing retainer having a cylindrical portion extending into the bearing bore and abutting the first end of the outer bearing race element wherein the bearing retainer further forms an inner bore adjacent the first end, where the inner bore has an inner diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the bearing bore;
wherein the outer bearing race element, during operation, is free to rotate within the bearing bore at a rotational motion that is dampened by a viscosity of oil present at bearing surfaces disposed between the outer bearing race element and the bearing bore;
wherein, during operation, the outer bearing race element floats along first, second, third and fourth bearing surfaces, each carrying a respective squeeze film diameter (SFD)of oil that operates to dampen radial vabrations of the shaft and the outer bearing race element and also operates to dampen the rotation of the outer race element; and
wherein multiple drain holes are formed in the outer bearing race element, which operate to provide sufficient oil scavenging at all circumferential orientations relative to the outer bearing race element.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A turbocharger includes a turbine, a compressor, and a bearing housing forming a bearing bore. A bearing arrangement is disposed between a shaft interconnecting the turbine and compressor wheels, and the bearing housing. The bearing arrangement includes an outer bearing race element that frictionally engages the bearing bore at both ends. At a first end, a bearing retainer that is connected to the bearing housing includes a cylindrical element that extends into the bearing bore and abuts and frictionally engages a first end of the outer bearing race element. The second end of the outer bearing race element abuts and frictionally engages a stop formed at an end of the bearing bore such that no pins or other structures are required for preventing rotation of the outer bearing race element in the bearing bore.
181 Citations
14 Claims
-
1. A turbocharger, comprising:
-
a turbine that includes a turbine wheel; a compressor that includes a compressor wheel; a bearing housing disposed and connected between the turbine and the compressor, the bearing housing forming a bearing bore having a stop surface defined at one end; a shaft rotatably disposed within the bearing housing and extending into the turbine and the compressor, wherein the turbine wheel is connected to one end of the shaft and wherein the compressor wheel is connected to an opposite end of the shaft such that the turbine wheel is rotatably disposed in the turbine and the compressor wheel is rotatably disposed in the compressor; a bearing arrangement disposed between the shaft and the bearing housing, the bearing arrangement including an outer bearing race element disposed in the bearing bore, wherein the outer bearing race element has a hollow cylindrical shape that engages the bearing bore frictionally along a first end, and an inner bearing race element, which engages the shaft and is rotatably disposed within the outer bearing race element, wherein the outer race elements extends to roller elements located on the compressor side to roller elements located on the turbine aide, and wherein the inner bearing race element forms a flared portion having an increased inner diameter with respect to end portions thereof that engage the shaft; a bearing retainer having a cylindrical portion extending into the bearing bore and abutting the first end of the outer bearing race element wherein the bearing retainer further forms an inner bore adjacent the first end, where the inner bore has an inner diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the bearing bore; wherein the outer bearing race element, during operation, is free to rotate within the bearing bore at a rotational motion that is dampened by a viscosity of oil present at bearing surfaces disposed between the outer bearing race element and the bearing bore; wherein, during operation, the outer bearing race element floats along first, second, third and fourth bearing surfaces, each carrying a respective squeeze film diameter (SFD)of oil that operates to dampen radial vabrations of the shaft and the outer bearing race element and also operates to dampen the rotation of the outer race element; and wherein multiple drain holes are formed in the outer bearing race element, which operate to provide sufficient oil scavenging at all circumferential orientations relative to the outer bearing race element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 12)
-
-
8. A method for rotatably and sealably supporting a shaft within a bearing housing of a turbocharger, comprising:
-
connecting a turbine wheel at one end of the shaft; forming a first roller bearing by engaging a first plurality of rolling elements in a first inner race formed in an inner bearing race element and in a first outer race formed in an outer bearing race element; forming a second roller bearing by engaging a second plurality or rolling elements in a second inner race formed in the inner bearing race element and in a second outer race formed in the outer bearing race element; engaging the outer bearing race element between a bearing bore formed in the bearing housing and the shaft, which extends through the bearing bore, such that the inner bearing race element rotates with the shaft with respect to the outer bearing race element; frictionally engaging the bearing bore with the outer bearing race element along a first end and a second end, and engaging the shaft with an inner bearing race element, which is rotatably disposed within the outer bearing race element; providing a bearing retainer having a cylindrical portion extending into the bearing bore and abutting the first end of the outer bearing race element; allowing the outer bearing race element to rotate within the bearing bore; stiffening an assembly that includes the inner bearing race element and the shaft by providing a flared portion having an increased inner diameter on the inner bearing race element with respect to end portions thereof that engage the shaft; wherein, during operation, the outer bearing race element floats along first, second, third and fourth bearing srfaces, each carrying a respective squeeze film diameter (SFD) of oil that operates to dampen radial vibrations of the shaft and the outer bearing race element; and dampening a rotation of the outer bearing race element within the bearing bore by providing a squeeze film of oil along bearing surfaces between the outer bearing race element and the bearing bore. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 13, 14)
-
Specification