Compressor assembly having a diffuser ring with tabs

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016265373-A1
Application number	US-201514642323-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 9, 2015
Priority date	Mar 9, 2015
Publication date	Sep 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A compressor assembly is disclosed. The compressor assembly may have a compressor housing. The compressor assembly may also have a compressor impeller disposed within the compressor housing. Further, the compressor assembly may have a bearing housing attached to the compressor housing. The compressor assembly may also have a diffuser ring disposed between the compressor housing and the bearing housing. In addition, the compressor assembly may have at least one tab. The tab may extend radially outward from the diffuser ring. The tab may be configured to engage with a recess in the compressor housing. The compressor assembly may also have at least one fastener. The fastener may be configured to attach the diffuser ring and the compressor housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A compressor assembly, comprising:
a compressor housing; a compressor impeller disposed within the compressor housing; a bearing housing attached to the compressor housing; a diffuser ring disposed between the compressor housing and the bearing housing; at least one tab extending radially outward from the diffuser ring, the at least one tab being configured to engage with a recess in the compressor housing; and at least one fastener configured to attach the diffuser ring and the compressor housing.

2 . The compressor assembly of claim 1 , wherein
the bearing housing includes a bearing housing flange, the compressor housing includes a volute having a volute rear wall, and the at least one tab is disposed between the bearing housing flange and the volute rear wall.

3 . The compressor assembly of claim 2 , wherein the recess is disposed in the volute rear wall, the recess including:
a recess rear face disposed generally orthogonal to a rotational axis of the compressor assembly; and a recess side surface extending axially from the recess rear face to a rear surface of the volute rear wall, wherein the at least one tab is radially separated from the recess side surface by a gap.

4 . The compressor assembly of claim 3 , wherein the at least one tab includes a tab front face;
a tab rear face disposed opposite the tab front face; and a tab side surface extending between the tab front face and the tab rear face, wherein the tab front face is axially separated from the recess rear face, and the tab side surface is radially separated from the recess side surface.

5 . The compressor assembly of claim 1 , including a plurality of tabs disposed circumferentially the diffuser ring.

6 . The compressor assembly of claim 5 , wherein
a first tab is disposed about a first diametrical axis, and a second tab is disposed about a second diametrical axis disposed at an angle relative to the first diametrical axis.

7 . The compressor assembly of claim 6 , wherein the first diametrical axis is disposed orthogonal to the second diametrical axis.

8 . The compressor assembly of claim 7 , wherein a circumferential spacing between the tabs is non-uniform.

9 . The compressor assembly of claim 7 , wherein a number of the tabs is 4.

10 . A diffuser ring comprising:
a back plate having a generally annular shape disposed around a rotational axis, the back plate extending from a back plate leading edge to a back plate trailing edge; a vane extending outward from the back plate; and at least one tab extending radially outward from the back plate.

11 . The diffuser ring of claim 10 , wherein the back plate includes:
a front face extending from the back plate leading edge to the back plate trailing edge; an inclined rear face axially separated from the front face, the inclined rear face being inclined relative to the rotational axis; a top face extending axially from the front face towards the inclined rear face; an axial rear face axially separated from the front face, the axial rear face extending from the top face to the inclined rear face; and a bottom face extending from the front face towards the inclined rear face, wherein the at least one tab extends from the top face.

12 . The diffuser ring of claim 11 , wherein the at least one tab includes:
a tab front face; a tab rear face disposed opposite the tab front face; and a tab side surface extending between the tab front face and the tab rear face.

13 . The diffuser ring of claim 12 , including a plurality of tabs disposed circumferentially spaced apart on the top face.

14 . The diffuser ring of claim 13 , wherein
a first tab is disposed about a first diametrical axis, and a second tab is disposed about a second diametrical axis disposed at an angle relative to the first diametrical axis.

15 . The diffuser ring of claim 14 , wherein the first diametrical axis is disposed orthogonal to the second diametrical axis.

16 . The diffuser ring of claim 13 , wherein a circumferential spacing between the tabs is non-uniform.

17 . The diffuser ring of claim 13 , wherein a number of the tabs is 4.

18 . A turbocharger, comprising:
a turbine housing; a turbine wheel disposed within the turbine housing and configured to be driven by exhaust received from an engine; a compressor housing; a compressor impeller disposed within the compressor housing; a shaft connecting the turbine wheel and the compressor impeller; a bearing housing attached to the compressor housing and the turbine housing; a diffuser ring disposed between the compressor housing and the bearing housing; at least one tab extending radially outward from the diffuser ring, the at least one tab being configured to engage with a recess in the compressor housing; at least one washer abutting on the bearing housing and the diffuser ring; and at least one fastener configured to pass through the at least one washer and attach the diffuser ring and the compressor housing.

19 . The turbocharger of claim 18 , including a plurality of tabs disposed circumferentially spaced apart on the diffuser ring.

20 . The turbocharger of claim 19 , wherein
a first tab is disposed along a first diametrical axis, and a second tab is disposed along a second diametrical axis disposed at an angle relative to the first diametrical axis.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Annati Richard E
• Lancaster Robert C
• Adair David R

Classifications

• F04D29/284

  for compressors · CPC title

• F01D25/246 Primary

  Fastening of diaphragms or stator-rings · CPC title

• F01D25/16

  Arrangement of bearings; Supporting or mounting bearings in casings (bearings per se F16C) · CPC title

• F01D5/02

  Blade-carrying members, e.g. rotors (rotors of non-bladed type F01D1/34; stators F01D9/00 {; selecting particular materials F01D5/28}) · CPC title

• F02B37/00

  Engines characterised by provision of pumps driven at least for part of the time by exhaust · CPC title