Abstract: A turbine housing defining a pair of volutes with respective outlets divided by a divider wall, includes a diffuser space in the gas flow path between the volutes and the turbine wheel. The diffuser space has an upstream portion having a smaller axial extent than a downstream portion of the diffuser space. The widening of the diffuser space tends to direct exhaust gas entering the diffusion space from at least one side of the divider wall towards the corresponding axial end of the diffuser space. Thus reduces the tendency of this gas to interrupt the flow into the diffuser space of exhaust gas from the other inlet volute.

Abstract: A turbocharger assembly (1) comprises a turbine (4), a compressor (6), a housing (8), one or more electronic components (38, 40, 41, 42, 45, 47, 50, 51, 52, 54, 58) and a pettier device (46). The pettier device (46) is configured to provide electrical power to the one or more electronic components (38, 40, 41, 42, 45, 47, 50, 51, 52, 54, 58).

Abstract: A turbine with multiple gas inlets is designed by a process of, for a given engine, obtaining time series data characterizing the power bias of the engine, obtaining an isentropic power associated with each data point of the time series, and using the isentropic powers to obtain a design point. The turbine is then designed based on the design point, such as by optimising one or more design parameters of the turbine based on the design point.

Abstract: There is provided a diffuser for a turbine, comprising: a support configured to mount to a turbine housing; a diffuser body configured to receive fluid from an outlet of the turbine, the diffuser body defining a longitudinal axis and having a perimeter with a length measured in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis; and a bridge configured to connect the support to the diffuser body, wherein the connection between the bridge and the diffuser body is confined to a continuous portion of the perimeter of the diffuser body that is not more than around 50% of the total length of the perimeter of the diffuser body.

Abstract: A turbine comprises a housing defining a turbine chamber with a turbine wheel supported for rotation about an axis. The housing further defines first and second inlet volutes which each spiral radially inwards and extend from a respective inlet to adjoin the turbine chamber and a volute tongue for each inlet volute. The tongue of the first volute radially separating a downstream portion of the first volute adjacent the chamber from an upstream portion of the first volute adjacent said inlet of the first volute, and the tongue of the second volute radially separating a downstream portion of the second volute adjacent the chamber from an upstream portion of the second volute adjacent said inlet of the second volute. The tongues having a turbine scroll tongue overlap which is substantially zero or positive; and the first volute tongue is angularly spaced about the axis from the second volute tongue.

Abstract: A variable geometry turbine is disclosed comprising: a housing; a turbine wheel supported in the housing for rotation about an axis; a movable wall member; a cavity provided in the housing; and an inlet passageway extending radially inwards towards the turbine wheel. The movable wall member comprises a generally annular wall and radially inner and outer flanges extending axially from the generally annular wall, inner surfaces of the generally annular wall and radially inner and outer flanges defining an interior surface of the movable wall member. The cavity is suitable for receipt of the radially inner and outer flanges of the moveable member, the movable wall member being axially movable relative to the housing to vary the extent to which the radially inner and outer flanges of the moveable member are received in the cavity.

Abstract: A turbine comprises a turbine housing defining a turbine inlet upstream of a turbine wheel and a turbine outlet downstream of the turbine wheel; and a wastegate valve assembly comprising at least one movable valve member mounted on a movable support member within a wastegate chamber which communicates with the turbine inlet upstream of the turbine, and has one or more chamber outlets which communicate with an outlet of the turbine. The valve member is permitted to articulate slightly about the support member, with the amount of articulation being limited by collisions between respective limit areas on a rear surface of a sealing portion of the valve member and a front surface of the support member. Each valve member is connected to the support member using a pin portion of the valve member which passes through a washer with a non-circular outer profile, and rotation of the washer is limited by contact surfaces of the support member.

Abstract: A diffuser is proposed which is formed as the gap between rotationally-symmetric surfaces which face each other. Moving in the radial direction, the axial extent of the gap generally decreases to a minimum value in a throat portion of the diffuser, and then generally increases again. The distance from the rotational axis of the compressor to the throat may be approximately at least 125% of the radius of the compressor wheel. The inventors have found that a throat at this distance from the rotational axis may lead to higher efficiency at high flow rates, especially for relatively low turbo speeds. This is because the spacing between the compressor wheel and the throat permits diffusion of the gas streams leaving the compressor wheel.

Abstract: A bearing assembly support comprises a body, the body defining: a thrust surface; an aperture extending through the body; and at least one passageway along which a lubricant can flow away from the thrust surface during use. The thrust surface is suitable for contacting an end of a bearing assembly. The aperture is suitable for receipt of a shaft when supported by the bearing assembly. Each passageway may be defined by a recess on the thrust surface or a cut away section that extends through the body from the thrust surface to an opposite surface of the body. The body may be a housing for receipt of a bearing assembly or an end cap for a housing.

Abstract: The turbine arrangement includes a turbine including a turbine housing which defines a turbine cavity within which a turbine wheel is supported, an inlet upstream of the wheel and an outlet downstream. The arrangement also includes a flow passage configured to permit gas flow without interacting with the wheel, and a valve member moveable between an open configuration wherein gas may flow through the flow passage, and a closed configuration wherein gas is substantially prevented from flowing, a first actuator portion for moving the valve member between the configurations, and a second actuator portion in gas flow communication with a portion of the arrangement upstream of the wheel via an actuator gas passage. The arrangement is configured such that gas may flow through the actuator gas passage to the second actuator portion, where it acts on the second actuator portion to urge the valve member towards the closed configuration.

Abstract: A mixed-flow turbine wheel is proposed which, compared to existing mixed-flow turbine wheels, has reduced mass and moment of inertia because radially-outer portions of existing mixed-flow turbine wheels are omitted. In a first possibility, the omitted material may be scalloping of the back face of the turbine wheel at a radial position outward of a base line which is a circle on the back surface of the wheel which indicates the minimum radius of the back surface. In a second possibility, part of the webbing of each blade is omitted to one side of the blade. Thus, viewing the turbine wheel in the axial direction, the area of the webbing outside the baseline and to one side of a radial line through the inducer tip, may be at least 20% less than that on the other side.

Abstract: A turbine comprises a turbine housing defining a turbine inlet upstream of a turbine wheel and a turbine outlet down-stream of the turbine wheel; and a wastegate valve assembly comprising at least one movable valve member mounted on a movable support member within a wastegate chamber which communicates with the turbine inlet upstream of the turbine, and has one or more chamber outlets which communicate with an outlet of the turbine. The valve member is permitted to articulate slightly about the support member, with the amount of articulation in respective directions being limited by collisions between a respective limit point on a limit area on a rear surface of a sealing portion of the valve member and a respective limit point on limit area on a front surface of the support member.

Abstract: A compressor comprises a housing having an axial intake and an annular outlet volute. An impeller is mounted on a shaft for rotation about a shaft axis between the axial intake and the annular outlet volute. The impeller has a plurality of blades, each blade having a front edge facing the axial intake and a tip. The annular outlet volute includes an annular diffuser passage surrounding the impeller. The annular diffuser passage has a diffuser inlet downstream of the plurality of blades and a diffuser outlet communicating with the annular outlet volute, the tips of the blades sweeping across said diffuser inlet during use. A wall of the housing which defines the annular diffuser passage and which extends over the front edges of the blades defines an annular recess extending from the diffuser inlet towards the diffuser outlet.

Abstract: A turbine comprises a turbine housing defining a turbine inlet upstream of a turbine wheel and a turbine outlet downstream of the turbine wheel; and a wastegate valve assembly comprising at least one movable valve member mounted on a movable support member within a wastegate chamber which communicates with the turbine inlet upstream of the turbine, and has one or more chamber outlets which communicate with an outlet of the turbine. The valve member is permitted to articulate slightly about the support member, with the amount of articulation being limited by collisions between respective limit areas on a rear surface of a sealing portion of the valve member and a front surface of the support member. Each valve member is connected to the support member using a pin portion of the valve member which passes through a washer with a non-circular outer profile, and rotation of the washer is limited by contact surfaces of the support member.

Abstract: The turbine arrangement includes a turbine including a turbine housing which defines a turbine cavity within which a turbine wheel is supported, an inlet upstream of the wheel and an outlet downstream. The arrangement also includes a flow passage configured to permit gas flow without interacting with the wheel, and a valve member moveable between an open configuration wherein gas may flow through the flow passage, and a closed configuration wherein gas is substantially prevented from flowing, a first actuator portion for moving the valve member between the configurations, and a second actuator portion in gas flow communication with a portion of the arrangement upstream of the wheel via an actuator gas passage. The arrangement is configured such that gas may flow through the actuator gas passage to the second actuator portion, where it acts on the second actuator portion to urge the valve member towards the closed configuration.

Abstract: A turbomachine with a shaft supporting a turbine wheel is supported for rotation in a housing. The shaft extends through a bore in the housing and a bearing assembly is disposed in the bore. The turbomachine has a first lubricating fluid slinger comprising a screw thread that is engageable with a threaded section of the shaft such that the first lubricating fluid slinger is screwable along the threaded section of the shaft so as to apply a compressive preload to the bearing assembly.

Abstract: A variable geometry turbine comprising a turbine wheel mounted for rotation about a turbine axis within a housing. The housing defines an annular inlet surrounding the turbine wheel and defined between first and second inlet sidewalls. The turbine further comprises a cylindrical sleeve that is axially movable across the annular inlet to vary the size of a gas flow path through the inlet. The annular inlet is divided into at least two axially offset inlet passages. The inner diameter of the sleeve is greater than the inner diameter of the inlet passages.

Abstract: A turbine generator comprises an elongate member, a support structure, a turbine wheel and an electrical generator. The support structure comprises a shaft and support the elongate member for rotation about a rotation axis. The turbine wheel is attached to the elongate member. The electrical generator comprises a rotor and a stator, the rotor being attached to the elongate member and the stator being arranged around the elongate member. The elongate member is provided with a bore and the shaft extends through an end of the elongate member into the bore so as to support it for rotation about the rotation axis.