Speed Sensor Insert With Bearing Spacer Indexing For A Turbocharger

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016245303-A1
Application number	US-201615143994-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 2, 2016
Priority date	Aug 17, 2012
Publication date	Aug 25, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Modern turbochargers use speed sensors to determine the shaft speed during operation. In order to replace a speed sensor in a turbocharger with journal bearings separated by a spacer, the tip of the speed sensor must be withdrawn from a window in the spacer and replaced through the same window. If the spacer turns while the sensor is removed, then the window will be out of alignment with the axis of the sensor and the sensor cannot be re-inserted through the window. An insert is provided for preventing rotation of the window in the spacer while the sensor is withdrawn. The insert also prevents wear to the speed sensor from the fluctuating contact forces transmitted from the shaft to the bearing spacer and subsequently to the speed sensor. Accordingly, the durability of the speed sensor is improved, the rate of failure and need for sensor replacement, is reduced.

First claim

Now that the invention has been described, I claim:

1 . A turbocharger bearing housing, including
a bearing bore, a rolling element bearing assembly including an inner race and an outer race having a plurality of ball bearing disposed therebetween, wherein the rolling element bearing assembly is disposed within the bearing bore, a shaft for rotating the rolling element bearing assembly, located and supported within the inner race, a tubular bearing spacer having first and second axial ends, and at least one radial opening, a mounting bore, a generally tubular insert mounted in the mounting bore and extending into the opening in the opening of the bearing spacer, and a rotational speed sensor mounted to the tubular insert via threaded fitting or friction fit.

2 . The turbocharger as in claim 1 , wherein the generally tubular insert is mounted in the mounting bore by a screw fit, a friction fit, a pressed fit or by bonding, staking, or welding.

3 . The turbocharger as in claim 1 , wherein the tubular insert and speed sensor are provided with indexing features for setting the depth of penetration of the speed sensor.

4 . The turbocharger as in claim 1 , wherein the insert has internal threading and external threading.

5 . The turbocharger as in claim 1 , wherein the bearing housing has an outer surface, the tubular insert includes a segment projecting outwards beyond the outer surface of the bearing housing, and wherein said projecting segment includes features for engagement of said insert for rotation.

6 . The turbocharger as in claim 5 , wherein said features for engagement of said insert for rotation comprise one or more flat surfaces.

7 . The turbocharger as in claim 6 , wherein said flat surfaces form a hexagon.

8 . The turbocharger of claim 1 , wherein said outer race includes an outer race window wherein the first axial end of the tubular insert is disposed within said outer race window thereby maintaining the outer race in alignment with an axis of the rotational speed sensor sensor.

Assignees

• Borgwarner Inc

Inventors

• Chekansky Jason W

Classifications

• G01P3/00

  Measuring linear or angular speed; Measuring differences of linear or angular speeds (G01P5/00 - G01P11/00 take precedence; {direction and speed indication G01P13/045}; counting mechanisms G06M) · CPC title

• F02B37/22

  by varying cross-section of exhaust passages or air passages {, e.g. by throttling turbine inlets or outlets or by varying effective number of guide conduits} (F02B37/24 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F05D2220/40

  in turbochargers · CPC title

• G01D5/00

  Mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member; Means for converting the output of a sensing member to another variable where the form or nature of the sensing member does not constrain the means for converting; Transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable (G01D3/00 takes precedence; specially adapted for apparatus giving results other than momentary value of variable G01D1/00) · CPC title

• F04D17/08

  Centrifugal pumps · CPC title