Abstract: A turbocharger includes a turbine and compressor housing attached by a circumferential clamp with circumferentially staggered contact points between the clamp and the housings to reduce heat transfer from the turbine housing to the compressor housing. The mass of the turbine housing is reduced and the mass of the compressor housing is increased to reduce the transfer of heat from the turbine housing to the compressor housing from the thermal flux of the turbine side heat energy. The compressor housing mass is increased by incorporating a heat-transfer interface between the compressor housing and the oil reservoir cover, which oil reservoir extends circumferentially around the axis of the turbocharger rotor shaft. Concentricity between the components of the turbocharger is achieved by creating the radial junction between the turbine and compressor backwalls on the smallest feasible diameter to minimize the effects of thermally induced distortion on component concentricity.

Abstract: A retainer for securing the compressor rotor (172) to the compressor-turbine shaft (160) of a turbocharger includes a retaining sleeve (180) having an aperture therethrough for mounting the sleeve onto the shaft adjacent the compressor rotor to prevent movement of the rotor on the shaft in the direction of the sleeve. The sleeve has an inner bore (180a) having a diameter forming an interference fit on the shaft such that the sleeve prevents movement of the compressor rotor on the shaft. In one embodiment, a lug (300) extends from the sleeve (180) and engages the compressor rotor to transmit a rotational force from the shaft to the rotor through the sleeve and lug.

Abstract: The invention provides a turbocharger for use with an internal combustion engine and includes a compressor for supplying air to the engine and a turbine for receiving driving exhaust gas from the engine. The turbine has a shaft integrally attached thereto with which the turbine rotates. The compressor is fitted on the turbine shaft for rotation with the turbine. The shaft is rotatively supported by ball bearing assemblies such that the compressor and turbine are overhung to one side of the bearing assemblies with the turbine separated from the bearing assemblies by the compressor. As a result of this arrangement, the bearing assemblies are removed from the turbine and the intense heat to which the turbine is subjected. This makes possible the use of limited lubrication for the bearing assemblies. The use of ball bearings also provides better control over the radial and axial movement of the turbine and compressor and permits reduced blade tip clearances.

Abstract: The specification discloses a bearing lubricating system including a shaft having two inner raceways formed therearound and a concentric bore formed in the shaft. Passageways communicate between the bore and the inboard portion of the inner raceways. Balls are provided having radii slightly less than the arc radii of the raceways. The bearing structure is completed by an outer ring having two outer raceways formed therein. The outer raceways in the outer ring are separated more than the separation between the inner raceways in the shaft such that the balls contact the inner and outer raceways at an angle to a plane perpendicular to the axis of the bearings. As a result, the balls contact the inner raceways on the outboard portion of the raceways to prevent the balls from contacting the opening of the passageways into the inner raceways. The bore formed in the shaft is threaded along its entire length and is loaded with a suitable lubricant.