Compressor wheels and magnet assemblies for internal combustion engine

Abstract

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.