Cummins Inc.

Cummins Turbo Technologies Limited

Robert L Holroyd

Tom J Roberts

James Alexander McEwen

Tim Denholm

Stephen E Garrett

Simon David Moore

Christopher Normington

Arun Vijayakumar

John Frederick Parker

Michael Voong

David Andrew Luck

James Alexander Mcewen

David Gee

Chris Enright

Robert Morphet

Mohammed Hanif Khan

David Camus

Frederick Carter

Owen Wallbank

Simon Moore

Nozzle rings for variable geometry turbines comprise: a generally annular wall; an inner flange; an outer flange; and two protrusions. Inner flange is generally perpendicular to the generally annular wall, from which a radially inner edge extends. Outer flange is generally perpendicular to the generally annular wall and extends from a radially outer edge of the generally annular wall. The two protrusions extend from one of the inner or outer flange towards the other one of the inner or outer flange. At least one of the two protrusions extends only partially towards the other one of the inner or outer flange. The two protrusions define a first gap therebetween. Generally annular wall and the two protrusions define a second gap therebetween to receive a support arcuate head portion during use. First gap receives a support intermediate portion. The nozzle rings may be suitable for use in variable geometry turbochargers.

Variable geometry turbine

A variable geometry turbine comprising a turbine wheel mounted for rotation about a turbine axis within a housing. The housing defines an annular inlet surrounding the turbine wheel and defined between first and second inlet sidewalls. The turbine further comprises a cylindrical sleeve that is axially movable across the annular inlet to vary the size of a gas flow path through the inlet. The annular inlet is divided into at least two axially offset inlet passages. The inner diameter of the sleeve is greater than the inner diameter of the inlet passages.

Turbomachine

A variable geometry turbine assembly comprising an inlet passageway, extending radially inwards towards a turbine wheel, defined between a surface of a movable wall member and a facing wall and an actuation mechanism arranged to move the movable wall member axially and comprising a cam member provided with at least one formation and a carrier member axially coupled to at least one co-operating formation, wherein one of the at least one formation and the at least one co-operating formation is a radially extending formation, the at least one formation or the at least one co-operating formation extending in both the circumferential direction and the axial direction such that as the cam member is rotated relative to the carrier member, the at least one formation and the at least one co-operating formation engage such the movable wall member is moved in the axial direction.

Variable geometry turbine assembly

A method for assembling a variable geometry turbomachine with a bearing housing, an adjacent turbine housing, a turbine wheel rotating in the turbine housing about a turbine axis; an inlet passage upstream of the turbine wheel between inlet surfaces of first and second wall members, one wall member moveable along the turbine axis to vary the inlet passage size; vanes across the inlet passage connected to a first wall member; an array of vane slots defined by the second wall member to receive the vanes for relative movement between the wall members; the second wall member comprising a shroud defining vane slots; the second wall member supported by a support member retained by a mounting feature; the mounting feature being one of the bearing housings, the turbine housing, or the actuation element; and the shroud is fixed to the support member.

Variable geometry turbomachine

A variable geometry turbine comprises: a turbine wheel in a housing for rotation about a turbine axis; an annular inlet passage defined between respective radial inlet surfaces of first and second wall members, at least one of said first and second wall members being moveable along the turbine axis to vary the size of the inlet passage; an array of vanes extending across the inlet passage, said vanes being connected to said first wall member; a complementary array of vane slots defined by the second wall member, said vane slots configured to receive said vanes to accommodate relative movement between the first and second wall members; the second wall member comprising at least two axially adjacent co-axial plates, a first plate defining a first array of openings which overlie a second array of openings defined by a second plate so as to define said array of vane slots, said first plate being fixed to said second plate.

A variable geometry turbine comprises: a turbine wheel () in a housing () for rotation about a turbine axis, an annular inlet passage () defined between respective radial inlet surfaces of first and second wall members (), at least one of said first and second wall members being moveable along the turbine axis to vary the size of the inlet passage; an array of vanes () extending across the inlet passage, said vanes being connected to said first wall member; a complementary array of vane slots () defined by the second wall member, said vane slots configured to receive said vanes to accommodate relative movement between the first and second wall members; the second wall member comprising at least two axially adjacent co-axial plates (), a first plate () defining a first array of openings which overlie a second array of openings defined by a second plate () so as to define said array of vane slots, said first plate being fixed to said second plate.

A variable geometry turbine comprising: a turbine wheel mounted for rotation about a turbine axis within a housing, the housing defining an annular inlet surrounding the turbine wheel and defined between first and second inlet sidewalls; a cylindrical sleeve axially movable across the annular inlet to vary the size of a gas flow path through the inlet; the annular inlet divided into axially adjacent annular portions by at least one annular baffle which is axially spaced from the first and second inlet sidewalls; inlet formations extending axially across at least two of said annular portions defined by the or each baffle so as to divide said annular inlet into at least two axially offset inlet passages; the baffle(s) and inlet formations forming part of a nozzle assembly located within said annular inlet; wherein first and second components of the nozzle assembly define complementary features which co-operate to connect together said first and second components.

A turbomachine comprising a housing defining a bearing cavity and a turbine chamber separated by a first wall, a heat shield disposed between the first wall and the turbine wheel, a heat shield cavity defined between the first wall and the heat shield. The shaft extends through a passage defined in part by a first aperture in the wall and a second aperture in the heat shield. A first seal is provided between the shaft and the first aperture. The housing defines a first gas channel communicating with the heat shield cavity for connection to a pressure source for raising pressure within the heat shield cavity. A second channel is provided between the heat shield cavity and the passage, the second channel opening to the passage on the opposite side of the first seal to the bearing assembly. A second seal is provided between the shaft and the second aperture.

A variable geometry turbine comprises a turbine wheel mounted for rotation about a turbine axis within a housing, the housing defining an annular inlet surrounding the turbine wheel and defined between first and second inlet sidewalls; and a cylindrical sleeve axially movable across the annular inlet to vary the size of a gas flow path through the inlet; wherein the annular inlet is divided into at least three axially offset annular inlet portions by two or more axially spaced annular baffles disposed between the first and second inlet sidewalls; inlet vanes extending axially into at least one of the inlet portions and defining circumferentially adjacent inlet passages; and wherein each of at least two of said baffles extends radially inboard of inlet vanes which extend into at least one of the inlet portions axially adjacent the respective baffle, and wherein a distance between an inner diameter of a first baffle of said at least two of said baffles and a trailing edge of a radially innermost vane in one of said annular inlet portions adjacent the first baffle is greater than a distance between an inner diameter of a second baffle of said at least two of said baffles and a trailing edge of a radially innermost vane in one of said annular inlet portions adjacent the second baffle.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a variable geometry turbine comprising: a turbine wheel mounted for rotation about a turbine axis within a housing, the housing defining an annular inlet surrounding the turbine wheel and defined between first and second inlet sidewalls, the annular inlet being divided into at least two axially offset inlet portions; a cylindrical sleeve axially movable across the annular inlet to vary the size of a gas flow path through the inlet; and a guide for guiding the movement of the cylindrical sleeve, the guide being at least partially located within the inlet at a radially extent of the inlet portions, and extending in an axial direction parallel to the turbine axis.

Variable geometry turbomachine with a bearing housing, an adjacent turbine housing, a turbine wheel rotating in the turbine housing about a turbine axis; an inlet passage upstream of the turbine wheel between inlet surfaces of first and second wall members, one wall member moveable along the turbine axis to vary the inlet passage size; vanes across the inlet passage connected to a first wall member; an array of vane slots defined by the second wall member to receive the vanes for relative movement between the wall members; the second wall member comprising a shroud defining vane slots; the second wall member supported by a support member retained by a mounting feature; the mounting feature being one of the bearing housings, the turbine housing, or the actuation element; and the shroud is fixed to the support member so axial movement of the shroud relative to the support member is substantially prevented.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a variable geometry turbine comprising: a turbine wheel mounted on a turbine shaft within a housing assembly for rotation about a turbine axis, the housing assembly defining a gas flow inlet passage upstream of the turbine wheel; an annular wall member defining a wall of the inlet passage and which is displaceable in a direction substantially parallel to the turbine axis to control gas flow through the inlet passage; at least one moveable rod operably connected via a first end of the rod to the annular wall member, the rod being moveable to control displacement of the annular wall member, the rod extending in a direction substantially parallel to the turbine axis, the rod being connected to the annular wall member via a first arm and a second arm, a first end of the first arm and a first end of the second arm being attached to the rod, and a second end of the first arm being attached to the annular wall member at a first circumferential position, and a second end of the second arm being attached to the annular wall member at a second, different circumferential position, the first arm and the second arm being resilient in order to allow relative movement between the first end of the rod and the annular wall member during expansion of the annular wall member.

Turbocharger

A turbomachine comprises a housing () defining a bearing cavity () and a turbine chamber () separated by a first wall. A heat shield () is disposed between the first wall and the turbine wheel (), a heat shield cavity () being defined between the first wall and the heat shield (). The shaft () extends through a passage () defined at least in part by a first aperture () in said wall and a second aperture () in the heat shield (). A first seal () is provided between the shaft () and said first aperture (). The housing defines a first gas channel () communicating with the heat shield cavity () for connection to a pressure source for raising pressure within the heat shield cavity (). A second channel () is provided between the heat shield cavity () and said passage (), the second channel opening to said passage () on the opposite side of said first seal () to said bearing assembly (). A second seal () is provided between the shaft () and said second aperture ().

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Halifax, United Kingdom

Robert L Holroyd