Turbodyne Systems, Inc.

Other

Cummins Engine Company, Inc.

Honeywell International Inc.

Holset Engineering Company, Limited

Innovative Turbo Systems Corporation

William E Woollenweber

Edward M Halimi

Ralph P Maloof

Niels J Beck

Joseph S Delgado

Bevan H Johnston

Jon A Meyer

A device and method for imparting a negative pre-whirl to an airstream entering a compressor wheel of a turbocharger. Using a plurality of radially positioned vanes through which the airstream to the compressor wheel communicates, a negative pre-whirl is imparted to the airstream entering the compressor wheel from an intake passage. This pre-whirl is imparted by positioning the vanes radially within an engageable ring and curving the vanes in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the compressor wheel. Performance is further enhanced by a hub centrally positioned with the vanes where the hub includes a cavity sized to encapsulate a compressor nut and eliminate air turbulence therefrom.

Inlet guide vanes for turbocharger compressors

A bearing system for a turbocharger rotor assembly that includes an elongated bearing carrier with anti-friction bearings on each end carried in a stationary housing. The elongated bearing carrier is supported within the housing by axially spaced elastomeric bands in grooves in the outside diameter of the bearing carrier that cooperate with grooves in the bore of the stationary housing within which the elastomeric bands are seated to carry the axial thrust of the rotor assembly in both axial directions.

Bearing systems for turbochargers used on internal combustion engines

A variable boost pressure control system for turbocharged internal engine systems comprising an adjustable charge air vent valve connectable with the charge air input to an internal combustion engine to provide selection and adjustment of the charge air pressure to the internal combustion engine, either at the site of the charge air vent valve or at a location remote from the charge air vent valve and to provide, if desirable, a flow of cool charge air to a turbocharger cooling jacket.

Boost pressure control system for turbocharged internal combustion engines

A bearing system for a turbocharger shaft comprising a rotatable elongated cylinder with axially spaced journal bearing surfaces on the inside diameter and a thrust face on each end. A sleeve on the shaft incorporates a flange on one end that transmits thrust force to one thrust face on the elongated cylinder. A flanged collar on the opposite end of the shaft transmits thrust force to the thrust face on the opposite end of the elongated cylinder. A radially extending flange on one end of the elongated cylinder transmits thrust forces to stationary housings.

Turbocharger bearing system

A cooling system for a turbocharger that has a cooling jacket in the bearing housing wherein air is bled from the area behind the compressor wheel and introduced into the cooling jacket, through which it circulates and then exits into the atmosphere. In addition, a pressure relief valve located behind the compressor wheel is set to open at a predetermined charge air pressure level to introduce additional cooling air into the cooling jacket and also acts to limit the maximum rotational speed of the turbocharger over the high-speed range of the engine on which the turbocharger is mounted. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, cooling air can be taken from the intake manifold system of a turbocharged engine downstream of an air-to-air aftercooler and ducted to the cooling jacket in the turbocharger bearing housing.

Air-cooled turbocharger with optional internal pressure relief valve

Bearing systems for high speed rotating shafts, such as turbocharger shafts, include a first ball bearing in one end of an elongated cylinder capable of carrying axial thrust in both directions and a second ball bearing in the opposite end of the elongated cylinder with its outer race slideably mounted in the cylinder against the biasing force of a preload spring. The second ball bearing is free to move axially with the shaft upon axial expansion of the shaft when exposed to high temperature. The inner races of the ball bearings are clamped to and rotate with the shaft as part of the rotating assembly.

Bearing systems for high-speed rotating machinery

A bearing system for a turbocharger shaft includes an elongated bearing carrier with two anti-friction ball bearings mounted in its ends and with a radially extending flange at one end that cooperates with stationary housing portions and carries thrust loads of the rotor in both directions. The elongated bearing carrier is supported within the housing by axially spaced elastic supports which permit the rotating assembly to rotate about its mass center and provide a shock and vibration cushion. The elongated bearing carrier and housing cooperate to provide a coolant cavity which communicates with the outside periphery of the elongated bearing carrier between the axially spaced elastic supports, which also act as coolant seals between the elongated bearing cavity and the bearing housing.

Bearing system for high-speed rotating machinery

A turbocharger comprising two closely spaced ball bearings that does not require lubricating oil from an engine. The bearing housing forms a cooling jacket with two bearing engagement surfaces engaged with the outer races of the ball bearings through an intermediate radial spring. Closely spacing the ball bearings provides a rotor shaft of minimal length. In addition, an external motor-generator may be by mounted on the turbocharger, with the motor rotor solidly connected to the turbocharger rotor. In such an assembly, an electronic control is energizes the motor from battery power during acceleration up to approximately torque peak speed; thereafter, the control changes to a generator mode when there is excess energy in the engine exhaust gas.

Compact turbocharger

The motor-assisted variable geometry turbocharging system has a motor to add power to the turbocharger rotating assembly, especially at low exhaust gas volume. Additionally, the system includes a control over compressor air inlet direction, and/or control of exhaust gas to a two-volute expander. These are individually controlled, or controlled in combination, to enhance turbocharged engine performance. In a preferred embodiment, the system comprises an electric motor, mounted directly within the turbocharger main housing, variable pre-whirl vanes mounted upstream of the turbocharger compressor, and a diverter valve in the exhaust piping upstream of a divided turbine volute.

Motor-assisted variable geometry turbocharging system

Charge air systems may include a small electric motor-driven compressor for supplying charge air to four-cycle internal combustion engines, including systems with turbocharger charge air compressors in series and parallel connection. The disclosed charge air systems can provide an effective charge air flow path to the internal combustion engine and avoids air flow restrictions at high engine operating speeds.

Charge air systems for turbocharged four-cycle internal combustion engines

A two-cycle internal combustion engine (,) has a motor-assisted turbocharger (,) where the motor (,) is activated by an external power source (,) to operate the turbocharger (,) to apply scavenging and charging air for starting the engine (,). When sufficient exhaust gas energy is available to allow the turbocharger (,) to provide adequate scavenging and charging air, the motor (,) is de-energized to eliminate the need for external power. Thus, the charging system acts as a supercharger during start-up and as a turbocharger during normal running. A control system (,) is connected to the driving motor (,) that receives signals (,) so that power is supplied to the motor (,) during start-up and may also be supplied during low exhaust gas energy levels to maintain a sufficient supply of scavenging and charging air. These signals (,) may come from engine speed, turbocharger speed, intake manifold pressure, throttle position and the like. In the case of a small crankcase-scavenged, two-cycle engine, a motor-driven compressor (,) may be used to augment the supply of scavenging air provided by the downstroke of the piston. A motor-driven compressor (,) can be arranged in series with a turbocharger compressor (,) to provide high pressure charge air to a two-cycle engine by virtue of being connected in series.

Charge air systems for two-cycle internal combustion engines

An improved supercharging apparatus combines the elements of a rotary electric machine and an air compressor, such as in a turbocharger. A plurality of permanent magnets are encapsulated by a multi-layer carbon filament winding wound around the plurality of permanent magnets for retention of the plurality of magnets as the rotor of an electric motor for driving a charge air compressor for an internal combustion engine. The plurality of permanent magnets are preferably located on an inner core and on a magnet mounting surface formed on the rear face of the compressor wheel of the charge air compressor and spaced intermediately of the shaft portion and periphery of the compressor wheel before encapsulation by winding a carbon filament in a multi-layer coil over the plurality of magnets and the magnet mounting surface of the compressor wheel. Such construction provides, particularly in turbocharger applications, retention of the plurality of magnets against the very high centrifugal forces imposed on the magnets by very high rotational speeds, elimination of the efficiency-robbing eddy currents generated in metallic retainers, an economic production of compressor wheels and magnet motor rotor assemblies for superchargers, and protection of the permanent magnets from high temperatures and high temperature gradients.

Compressor wheels and magnet assemblies for internal combustion engine

Charge air systems for four-cycle internal combustion engines

A compact air blower assembly operates efficiently at high speeds, such as 10,000 to 12,000 rpm, and can be inexpensively manufactured from a common set of blower parts to provide varied airflow capacities, and satisfy a variety of applications. The compact multi-use air blower assembly is provided by a high speed brushless electric motor comprising a stator and a rotor and rotatable shaft carried by a pair of shaft bearings, with the rotatable shaft including a shaft extension extending outwardly from one of the shaft bearings. A housing includes a first portion electric motor and shaft bearings and a second portion surrounding the first portion, forming a blower enclosure about the shaft extension with a centrally located air inlet and a peripherally located air outlet. The blower enclosure encompasses a centrifugal blower wheel including a solid wall extending radially outwardly from a shaft-engaging hub and forming a plurality of air-moving blades projecting axially outward from the wall to edge portions that extend radially within the blower enclosure between the air inlet and the air outlet.

Compact and self-cooling blower assembly

A motor-driven compressor-electronic motor power package assembly places temperature-sensitive components of the electric motor or the electronic power package for the electric motor, or both, in heat transfer relationship with the flow of compressed air from the compressor.

Growing community of inventors

Carlsbad, CA, United States of America

William E Woollenweber