Turbocharger thrust bearing

• US 6,669,372 B1
• Filed: 07/30/2002
• Issued: 12/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Garrett Transportation I Inc. (Garrett Motion, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Martin, Steven P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Footland, Lenard A
• Application Number:
  US10/208,973
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 384/303, 384/305, 384/306, 384/307, 384/308, 384/122, 298/980.41
• US Class Current: 384/303
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/168 for axial load mainly
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/40 in turbochargers
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2240/52 Axial thrust bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 17/04 for axial load only
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2360/24 Turbochargers in general F02C6/12
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/10 Construction relative to lubrication lubrication in general F16N
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49645 Thrust bearing

Abstract

A double sided 360° thrust bearing having oppositely oriented interlocking elements each with an open segment and an elevated segment is assembled over a thrust collar on the shaft interconnecting the turbine wheel and compressor wheel of a turbocharger. Bearing pads on the front surface and rear surface of the mated interlocking elements and on the oppositely oriented elevated segments engage reaction surfaces in a channel on the thrust collar. Lubrication channels in the mating faces of the interlocking elements provide oil to the bearing pads on the front and rear surfaces of the bearing while interconnecting lubrication conduits provide oil to the bearing pads on the elevated segments.

Claims

1. A 360 degree double sided thrust bearing comprising two oppositely oriented interlocking elements each having an open segment extending from a central aperture, a first side with a plurality of bearing pads and a second side with an elevated segment having at least one bearing pad, the elevated segment opposite the open segment to be received within the open segment of the other interlocking element, the central apertures of the mated elements defining a shaft bore.

2. A thrust bearing as defined in claim 1 wherein the open segment is arcuate subtending a mating angle and the elevated segment subtends the mating angle to be received within the open segment of the other interlocking element.

3. A thrust bearing as defined in claim 1 wherein each interlocking element has a mating face intermediate the open segment and the elevated segment, the mating face including at least one lubricating oil channel connected to at least one bearing pad.

4. A thrust bearing as defined in claim 3 wherein the elevated segment includes at least one lubrication conduit connected to the at least one lubricating oil channel and the at least one bearing pad in the elevated segment.

5. A thrust bearing assembly for a turbocharger having a turbine wheel and compressor wheel interconnected by a shaft supported by a bearing in a center housing, the thrust bearing comprising:

a first interlocking element having a first open segment extending from a first central aperture, a front surface with a plurality of bearing pads and a first mating surface with a first elevated segment having at least one bearing pad, the first elevated segment opposite the first open segment;

a second interlocking element having a second open segment extending from a second central aperture, a rear surface with a plurality of bearing pads and a second mating surface, the second elevated segment having at least one bearing pad, the second elevated segment opposite the second open segment, the second interlocking element oppositely oriented to the first interlocking element with the first open segment receiving the second elevated segment and the first elevated segment being received within the second open segment, the first and second central apertures of the mated interlocking elements forming a central bore;

a thrust collar received over the shaft and within the central bore, the collar having a channel engaging the bearing pads on the front and rear surfaces and first and second elevated segments of the mated first and second interlocking elements; and

,

means for attaching the mated interlocking elements to the center housing.

6. A thrust bearing assembly for a turbocharger as defined in claim 5 wherein

the first interlocking element has a first mating face intermediate the first open segment and the first elevated segment, the first mating face including at least one first lubricating oil channel connected to at least one bearing pad on the front surface;

the second interlocking element has a second mating face intermediate the second open segment and the second elevated segment, the second mating face including at least one second lubricating oil channel symmetrically oriented with the at least one first lubricating oil channel to form an oil gallery with the first interlocking element and second interlocking element operably engaged; and

further comprising;

means for supplying lubricating oil to the first lubricating oil channel.

7. A thrust bearing as defined in claim 6 wherein said at least one second lubricating oil channel is connected to at least one bearing pad on the rear surface.

8. A thrust bearing as defined in claim 7 wherein the first elevated segment includes at least one first lubrication conduit connected to the at least one first lubricating oil channel and the at least one bearing pad in the first elevated segment and the second elevated segment includes at least one second lubrication conduit connected to the at least one second lubricating oil channel and the at least one bearing pad in the second elevated segment.

9. A thrust bearing assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein the first and second open segments are arcuate subtending a mating angle and the first and second elevated segments subtend the mating angle to be received within the second and first open segments, respectively.

10. A method for assembly of a thrust bearing for a turbocharger having a turbine wheel and compressor wheel interconnected by a shaft supported by a bearing in a center housing, comprising the steps of:

supplying a thrust collar having a channel;

assembling over the collar a first interlocking element having a first open segment extending from a first central aperture, a front surface with a plurality of bearing pads operably engaging a first side of the collar channel and a first mating surface with a first elevated segment having at least one bearing pad, the first elevated segment opposite the first open segment;

assembling over the collar opposite the first interlocking element, a second interlocking element having a second open segment extending from a second central aperture, a rear surface with a plurality of bearing pads operably engaging a second side of the collar channel and a second mating surface, the first elevated segment having at least one bearing pad, the second elevated segment opposite the second open segment, with the first open segment receiving the second elevated segment and the first elevated segment being received within the second open segment, the first and second mating surfaces being in contact and the first and second central apertures of the mated interlocking elements forming a central bore concentric with the collar, the first and second sides of the collar channel also operably engaging the bearing pads on first and second elevated segments of the mated first and second interlocking elements; and

,

attaching the mated interlocking elements to the center housing.

11. A method for assembling a thrust bearing as defined in claim 10 additionally comprising the preliminary steps of:

attaching the turbine wheel to the shaft; and

inserting the shaft through the bearing in the center housing; and

wherein the step of supplying the thrust collar comprises inserting the shaft through a thrust collar.

12. A method for assembling a thrust bearing as defined in claim 11 additionally comprising the subsequent steps of:

inserting the shaft through a compressor backplate;

securing the backplate to the center housing;

inserting the shaft through the compressor wheel; and

,

securing the compressor wheel to the shaft.