Superturbo Technologies, Inc.

Vandyne Superturbo, Inc.

Ryan Sherrill

Jared William Brown

Marc Montgomery

Sterling Holman

Ed VanDyne

Tom Waldron

Jared Howe

Thomas Waldron

Wayne Penfold

Jared William Brin

Disclosed is a spring for preload in a planetary traction drive designed for a driven turbocharger on an engine. The ring roller of the planetary traction drive has two parts with a spring between the two parts for generating a preload force on the ring roller assembly of the planetary traction drive. The spring provides a spreading force on the ring roller, and allows for setting a desired preload force on the traction surfaces of the traction drive during assembly and operation, even with variations in manufacturing of the different parts of the traction drive.

Spring preload for traction drive

Disclosed is an adjustable ring shim for a planetary traction drive designed for a driven turbocharger on an engine. The adjustable ring shim has two parts that interface through a ramp feature to provide an ability to vary the overall width of the ring roller assembly of the planetary traction drive. This adjustability in the width of the ring roller allows for setting a desired preload force on the traction surfaces of the traction drive during assembly, even with variation in manufacturing of the different parts of the traction drive.

Adjustable ring shim for traction drive

Disclosed is an embodiment of a turbocharger roller support system that utilizes roller-shaft interfaces that are slanted to locate a turbocharger shaft with a turbine and compressor. Slanted contact surfaces on the turbocharger shaft are slanted inwardly so that the turbo shaft remains centered in the roller support system. The rollers entirely locate the turbocharger shaft, so that no bearings are necessary directly on the turbocharger shaft. The rollers spin at a slower speed than the turbocharger shaft, so can utilize lower speed bearings.

Turbocharger roller support system

Disclosed is a turbine bypass for an engine with a driven turbocharger. During engine cold start, or periods of idle or low load engine operation, the bypass can be utilized to direct hot exhaust gasses directly to an exhaust aftertreatment. This provides higher temperatures to the exhaust aftertreatment, increasing the ability to eliminate harmful emissions such as NOx. The driven turbocharger can still provide boost to the engine through supercharging, so that engine torque and power can be maintained while the turbine bypass is in operation.

Turbine bypass for engine with driven turbocharger

Disclosed are embodiments of thrust absorbing planetary traction drives that utilize roller-shaft traction interfaces that are slanted to absorb thrust created on a turbo shaft by a turbine or compressor. Slanted traction surfaces on the sun portion of the turbo shaft are slanted inwardly so that the turbo shaft remains centered in the planetary traction drive. Either double roller planets or single roller planets can be used to absorb thrust in the axial direction of the turbo shaft. Various curved and slanted surfaces can be utilized to create traction interfaces that hold and stabilize the turbo shaft both axially and radially.

Thrust absorbing planetary traction drive superturbo

Disclosed are embodiments of eccentric planetary traction drives for use in a driven turbocharger. The eccentric planetary provides torque-based loading of the traction interfaces in the traction drive. A loading planet has a larger outer diameter and has translative movement when torque is applied to the traction drive so that it is forced into a wedge gap between the turbo shaft and outer ring of the planetary drive. The torque capacity of the traction drive increases with an increase of torque demand.

Eccentric planetary traction drive super-turbocharger

Disclosed is a speed reduced driven turbocharger that utilizes a step-down roller that is coupled to a turbo shaft with a traction interface. Either a flat or a shaped traction interface can be used. The step-down roller mechanically actuates either a mechanical or hydraulic transmission, or can be mechanically coupled to an electric motor/generator.

Speed reduced driven turbocharger

Disclosed is high torque traction drive. The high torque traction drive utilizes planet gears that engage the inner mesh of a ring gear. The planet gears are mounted in rollers that have inner traction surfaces that engage sloped ring traction surfaces on traction rings that are attached to the ring gear. The sloped traction interface causes the rollers to move inwardly when forced toward the traction rings. The inward force on the rollers creates a shaft traction interface between a shaft and outer traction surfaces on the roller, so that rotational mechanical energy is effectively transferred between the rollers, the shaft and the ring gear. High rotational speeds can be achieved with a high degree of torque. Speed reduction ratios of at least 10:1 or greater can be achieved. The high speed drive may include exhaust turbines, steam turbines, including a Tesla turbine or Schumacher turbine, compressors, combinations of turbines and compressors, high speed pumps, dentist drills, or other devices that operate with high rotational speed.

High torque traction drive

Disclosed is a symmetrical traction drive that utilizes multi-diameter rollers having traction surfaces for transferring rotational mechanical energy between the shaft and a transfer gear. Multi-diameter rollers are mounted in carriers disposed between two substantially symmetrical ring gears. Sloped traction surfaces of the ring gears mate with inner traction surfaces on both sides of the multi-diameter rollers. Since force is applied to the inner traction surfaces on both sides of the multi-diameter rollers, forces are substantially equalized on each side of the multi-diameter rollers. An outer traction surface of the multi-diameter roller interfaces with a traction surface on the shaft. Speed reduction ratios of at least 20:1 or greater can be achieved. The high speed drive may include exhaust turbines, steam turbines, including a Tesla turbine or Schumacher turbine, compressors, combinations of turbines and compressors, high speed pumps, dentist drills, or other devices that operate with high rotational speed.

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Loveland, CO, United States of America

Ryan Sherrill