Turbocharger purge seal including axisymmetric supply cavity

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016160872-A1
Application number	US-201414905452-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 18, 2014
Priority date	Jul 26, 2013
Publication date	Jun 9, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A turbocharger rotating assembly ( 125 ) includes a shaft ( 20 ) rotatably supported in a bearing housing ( 123 ) via bearings ( 26, 128 ), a compressor impeller ( 18 ) mounted on the shaft ( 20 ), and an oil flinger ( 122 ) disposed on the shaft ( 20 ) between the bearings ( 26, 128 ) and the compressor impeller ( 18 ). The turbocharger ( 100 ) further includes an insert ( 134 ) disposed in the shaft-receiving axial bore ( 120 ) so as to surround the oil flinger ( 122 ), and a purge seal ( 160 ) operatively positioned in an interface ( 131 ) between the insert ( 134 ) and the oil flinger ( 122 ), whereby the purge seal ( 160 ) is configured to minimize oil passage from the bearing housing ( 123 ) into the interface ( 131 ). An annular cavity ( 150 ) encircles the radially outward-facing surface ( 138 ) of the insert ( 134 ), the cavity ( 150 ) forming a portion of a fluid path configured to deliver pressurized fluid to the interface ( 131 ).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A sealing system ( 110 ) for a turbocharger ( 100 ) that comprises
a bearing housing ( 123 ) including an axial bore ( 120 ); a rotating assembly ( 125 ) including
a shaft ( 20 ) having axis of rotation ( 21 ), the shaft ( 20 ) rotatably supported in the axial bore ( 120 ) via bearings ( 26 , 128 ),
a compressor impeller ( 18 ) mounted on the shaft ( 20 ),
an oil flinger ( 122 ) disposed on the shaft ( 20 ) between the bearings ( 26 , 128 ) and the compressor impeller ( 18 ); and
an insert ( 134 ) disposed in the axial bore ( 120 ) so as to surround the oil flinger ( 122 ), the insert ( 134 ) defining a radially outward-facing surface ( 138 );
the sealing system ( 110 ) including
a purge seal ( 160 ) operatively positioned in an interface ( 131 ) between the insert ( 134 ) and the oil flinger ( 122 ), the purge seal ( 160 ) configured to introduce pressurized fluid into the interface ( 131 ), and including an annular cavity ( 150 ) encircling the radially outward-facing surface ( 138 ) of the insert ( 134 ), the cavity ( 150 ) forming a portion of a fluid path configured to deliver the pressurized fluid to the interface ( 131 ).

2 . The sealing system ( 110 ) of claim 1 , wherein the insert ( 134 ) includes at least one radial bore ( 139 ) that opens to both the cavity ( 150 ) and the interface ( 131 ), and forms another portion of the fluid path.

3 . The sealing system ( 110 ) of claim 2 comprising a first piston ring ( 32 ) and a second piston ring ( 32 ), the first and second piston rings ( 32 ) disposed between a radially-outward facing surface of the oil flinger ( 122 ) and the insert ( 134 ),
wherein the radial bore ( 139 ) communicates with the interface ( 131 ) at a location between the first piston ring ( 32 ) and the second piston ring ( 32 ).

4 . The sealing system ( 110 ) of claim 2 , wherein the insert ( 134 ) includes a radially-extending sealing flange ( 140 ), and the cavity ( 150 ) is defined between the bearing housing ( 123 ), the radially outward-facing surface ( 138 ) of the insert ( 134 ), and the sealing flange ( 140 ).

5 . The sealing system ( 110 ) of claim 4 , wherein the sealing flange ( 140 ) abuts an axial surface (S 2 ) of the bearing housing ( 123 ).

6 . The sealing system ( 110 ) of claim 5 , wherein the sealing flange ( 140 ) is retained in position relative to the bearing housing ( 123 ) by a snap ring ( 118 ).

7 . The sealing system ( 110 ) of claim 1 , wherein the position of the insert ( 134 ) relative to the bearing housing ( 123 ) is maintained by a snap ring ( 118 ) disposed between the insert ( 134 ) and a portion of the bearing housing ( 123 ).

8 . The sealing system ( 110 ) of claim 1 , including a supply passageway ( 154 ) in fluid communication with the cavity ( 150 ), the supply passageway ( 154 ) forming another portion of the fluid path.

9 . The sealing system ( 110 ) of claim 1 , comprising an O-ring ( 116 ) disposed in a groove ( 142 ) on the radially outward-facing surface ( 138 ) of the insert ( 134 ), the O-ring ( 116 ) providing a seal between the radially outward-facing surface ( 138 ) of the insert ( 134 ) and a radially-inward facing surface ( 123 a ) of the bearing housing ( 123 ).

10 . A turbocharger ( 100 ), comprising
a bearing housing ( 123 ), the bearing housing ( 123 ) including an axial bore ( 120 ); a turbine stage ( 12 ) connected to one end of the bearing housing ( 123 ); a compressor stage ( 14 ) connected to an opposed end of the bearing housing ( 123 ); a rotating assembly ( 125 ) including
a shaft ( 20 ) having axis of rotation ( 21 ), the shaft ( 20 ) rotatably supported in the axial bore ( 120 ) via bearings ( 26 , 128 ),
a compressor impeller ( 18 ) mounted on the shaft ( 20 ), and
an oil flinger ( 122 ) disposed on the shaft ( 20 ) between the bearings ( 26 , 128 ) and the compressor impeller ( 18 );
an insert ( 134 ) disposed in the axial bore ( 120 ) so as to surround the oil flinger ( 122 ), the insert ( 134 ) defining a radially outward-facing surface ( 138 ); a purge seal ( 160 ) operatively positioned in an interface ( 131 ) between the insert ( 134 ) and the oil flinger ( 122 ), the purge seal ( 160 ) configured to introduce pressurized fluid into the interface ( 131 ), and including an annular cavity ( 150 ) encircling the radially outward-facing surface ( 138 ) of the insert ( 134 ), the cavity ( 150 ) forming a portion of a fluid path configured to deliver the pressurized fluid to the purge seal ( 160 ).

11 . The turbocharger ( 100 ) of claim 10 , wherein the insert ( 134 ) includes at least one radial bore ( 139 ) that opens to both the cavity ( 150 ) and the interface ( 131 ), and forms another portion of the fluid path.

12 . The turbocharger ( 100 ) of claim 11 , wherein the insert ( 134 ) includes a radially-extending sealing flange ( 140 ), and the cavity ( 150 ) is defined between the bearing housing ( 123 ), the radially outward-facing surface ( 138 ) of the insert ( 134 ), and the sealing flange ( 140 ).

13 . The turbocharger ( 100 ) of claim 11 comprising a first piston ring ( 32 ) and a second piston ring ( 32 ), the first and second piston rings ( 32 ) disposed between a radially outward-facing surface of the oil flinger ( 122 ) and the insert ( 134 ),
wherein the radial bore ( 139 ) communicates with the interface ( 131 ) at a location between the first piston ring ( 32 ) and the second piston ring ( 32 ).

14 . The turbocharger ( 100 ) of claim 10 , including a supply passageway ( 154 ) in fluid communication with the cavity ( 150 ), the supply passageway ( 154 ) forming another portion of the fluid path.

15 . The turbocharger ( 100 ) of claim 10 , wherein the position of the insert ( 134 ) relative to the bearing housing ( 123 ) is maintained by a snap ring ( 118 ) disposed between the insert ( 134 ) and a portion of the bearing housing ( 123 ).

Assignees

• Borgwarner Inc

Inventors

• Kelly Allan D
• Ellwood E Perry
• Ashton Zachary
• Race Robert T

Classifications

• F04D29/10 Primary

  Shaft sealings · CPC title

• F01D11/04

  using sealing fluid, e.g. steam · CPC title

• F02B39/14

  Lubrication of pumps; Safety measures therefor · CPC title

• F02B33/32

  Engines with pumps other than of reciprocating-piston type (with crankcase pumps F02B33/02) · CPC title

• F05D2220/40

  in turbochargers · CPC title