Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Charles H McCreary

James William Heilenbach

James Leonard Blase

Stephen M Bednarz

A planet bearing and gear assembly for the carrier of a speed increasing planetary gear train for driving a diesel engine turbocharger or the like includes an enlarged diameter gear bore and associated bearing outer diameter for lightening the gear and increasing the bearing area to at least 50 percent and preferably more than 65 percent greater than those of the bearing inner wall and the outer diameter of an associated support pin. Self-cleaning of unfiltered dirt particles in the engine lubricating oil is provided by dirt expulsion passages formed by flats at the edges of an oil supply groove in the planet bearing while operation with entrained dirt particles capable of passing through the engine lubricating oil filters is improved by increased oil film thickness resulting from reduced bearing loads due to reduction of mass of the planet gears and increased bearing surface. Circumferential oil grooves in the inner surface help cool the bearing prior to delivery to an oil supply groove which is configured with a flat floor toward one end adjacent oil supply holes and an arcuate floor on the other end to improve manufacturing accuracy and convenience.

Turbocharger drive and planet bearing therefor

A turbine wheel for a turbocharger or the like is mounted to an impeller shaft and optionally an additional drive shaft by annular rows of coupling teeth preferably of the CURVIC.TM. coupling type having radially and rotationally locking convex sided and concave sided interlocking teeth. Flexible webs connecting coupling rings on the turbine allow thermo and mechanical growth of the turbine wheel without excessive deflection of the coupling rings and the associated shaft flanges. A single central stud threaded into one of the shafts and retained by a bolt against the other maintains the components in assembly with the coupling teeth fully engaged. A radial slot formed in the coupling flange for one of the shafts prevents thermal distortion of the flange from substantially affecting an adjacent thrust bearing portion of the flange. The arrangement simplifies rotor assembly and avoids the need for rebalancing after disassembly and reassembly. The full width of the coupling teeth are available for the transmission of torque and radial alignment forces.

Turbocharger turbine wheel and shaft assembly

A cam slot type cam race for a roller clutch has an improved corner transition between the ends of the cam ramps and the bordering side walls comprised of an astroid type curve that creates a smooth, low stress area, but which removes less material than the equivalent circular arc.

Cam race for a roller clutch

A planet gear drive mounting in the carrier of a speed increasing planetary gear train for driving a diesel engine turbocharger or the like includes a supporting axle carrying an enlarged hub which engages and supports a bearing in the gear, the gear being lightened and the bearing area being enlarged by the large inner diameter of the bearing (preferably at least 50 percent greater than that of the axle) so that centrifugal force caused bearing loads are reduced and bearing loadings are minimized. Lubrication and other features are also disclosed.

Turbocharger planetary drive

An internal combustion engine, especially of the two stroke cycle diesel type, has a turbocharger with a supplemental mechanical drive for maintaining a minimum speed ratio relative to engine speed, when exhaust energy is insufficient to provide a higher speed, so as to maintain adequate charging air for engine operation throughout the engine speed range. In order to provide more efficient operation during engine operation at idle and in a lower portion of the operating range where a reduced amount of charging air is adequate, a secondary lower speed ratio is provided by the mechanical drive system. A speed responsive clutch is included to disconnect the higher speed primary drive during engine operation in the lower speed range and permit operation at the more efficient secondary speed ratio.

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Oak Park, IL, United States of America

Charles H McCreary