Abstract: A rotor and an apparatus including a rotor are provided. For example, the apparatus can be a turbine or compressor having a housing in which the rotor rotates while gas is circulated therethrough. The rotor has a plurality of radially extending blades, and each blade defines a nonlinear profile along at least one edge so that the strains induced in the blade during operation are reduced. A method for manufacturing such a rotor is also provided.

Abstract: Heat exchangers of this invention include a shell having an inner chamber defined by an inside wall surface, and having at least one opening adjacent an end of the shell. A tube bundle comprising a plurality of assembled together tubes are disposed within the inner chamber. A header plate is attached to the tubes and is positioned adjacent an end of the tube bundle. The header plate includes an outside diameter that fits within the shell inside wall surface to provide a nested attachment junction therebetween. The header plate and shell are fixedly connected to one another by use of a braze joint formed by the placement of brazing material between the interfacing header plate and the shell surface sections. A tank is attached to the shell adjacent the shell end.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for cooling heated fluids, such as exhaust gases, flowing through a heat exchanger comprising one or more exhaust plenums and one or more coolant plenums, and providing increased coolant velocity in that portion of the coolant plenums contacting the inlet portion of the exhaust plenums. Local increased coolant velocity is provided by any means, including decreasing the area-in-flow of the coolant plenums wherein increased velocity is desired, shaping or baffling either or both inlet or outlet coolant tanks in fluidic contact with coolant plenums wherein increased velocity is desired, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: An exemplary shield includes an attachment mechanism disposed on an outer surface to attach the shield to a joint of a boreless compressor wheel and a passage extending from a proximate end of the shield to a distal end of the shield. An exemplary method includes inserting a shield at least partially in a joint of a boreless compressor wheel and treating, at least partially, an end surface of the joint to thereby reduce fatigue of the boreless compressor wheel. Other exemplary joints, compressor wheels, shields, etc., are also disclosed.

Abstract: A diverter, apparatus and method of bypassing an exhaust gas recirculation cooler in order to selectively cool recirculated exhaust gas is disclosed. The diverter relies on the Coanda effect to direct the exhaust gas flow to the cooler or to a bypass around the cooler and thus preferred embodiments do not require a valve to be provided in the exhaust gas flow for this purpose. This simplifies the assembly of the diverter and apparatus and provides for a more reliable diverter compared to certain known systems.

Abstract: A turbocharger includes a foil bearing assembly mounted in a center housing between a compressor and a turbine of the turbocharger. The bearing assembly forms a unit installable into the center housing from one end thereof, and the center housing is a one-piece construction. The bearing assembly includes a foil thrust bearing assembly disposed between two foil journal bearings. The journals foils are mounted in annular bearing carriers fixedly mounted in the center housing. A radially inner portion of a thrust disk of the thrust bearing assembly is captured between a shaft and a shaft sleeve of the turbocharger. The center housing defines cooling air passages for supplying cooling air to the foil bearings, and optionally includes a water jacket for circulating engine coolant through the center housing.

Abstract: An exemplary squeeze film bearing cartridge for a turbocharger includes a center section, two outer sections having a first outer diameter and two intermediate sections having a second outer diameter, the intermediate sections positioned intermediate the center section and a respective one of the outer sections and wherein the first outer diameter exceeds the second outer diameter. Various exemplary bearing cartridges, housings, assemblies, etc., are also disclosed.

Abstract: A turbocharger having a variable geometry turbine inlet incorporating a cylindrical piston movable to vary the area of the inlet nozzle into the turbine. Vanes mounted to the piston for flow control in the nozzle are received through a slotted heat shield which provides smooth aerodynamic flow into the turbine blades. The vanes additionally incorporate a step having larger cord and depth that engages the surface of the heat shield and seals the slots with the piston in a closed position. An axial actuator is attached for operation of the piston.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for cooling heated fluids, such as exhaust gases, flowing through a heat exchanger including at least one exhaust gas plenum with fins or other heat transfer structure and at least one coolant plenum, and providing decreased heat exchange in that portion of the exhaust gas plenum contacting the inlet thereof by decreasing the fin or heat transfer structure density in such portion relative to the remainder of the exhaust gas plenum.

Abstract: An exemplary bore for a shaft of a turbomachine includes a longitudinal axis extending generally from an inner end to an outer end of the bore, an outer seat disposed proximate to the outer end of the bore at an outer seat radius for an outer seal ring wherein the outer seat comprises an inner end, an outer end, a step at the inner end extending radially inward to a step radius, and a chamfer at the outer end extending radially inward over an outward axial distance to a chamfer plateau radius and an inner seat disposed inward the outer seat at an inner seat radius for an inner seal ring wherein the outer seat radius exceeds the inner seat radius. Various other exemplary devices, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.

Abstract: A turbomachinery apparatus. A turbine is provided with a retainer having a bore step element for turbine wheel retention, and with an aperture manifesting a tailored diameter less than the trim diameter of the turbine, thereby to permit customization of the turbine efficiency characteristic. Various configurations of turbine retainers, with tailored diameter apertures, are disclosed.

Abstract: A variable geometry turbocharger includes vanes disposed therein having an inner airfoil surface oriented adjacent a turbine wheel, and an outer airfoil surface oriented opposite and parallel to the inner airfoil surface. The vane includes first and second axial surfaces that are each positioned perpendicular to and interposed between the inner and outer airfoil surfaces. A vane leading edge is positioned along a first inner and outer airfoil surface junction, and a trailing edge is positioned along a second inner and outer airfoil surface junction. One or more of the first and second axial surfaces have a composite construction comprising a solid section that extends a distance from the leading edge towards the trailing edge, and a cored-out section that extends a distance from the trailing edge towards the leading edge.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and/or systems for controlling vibration and/or acoustic noise. An exemplary method senses noise and/or, for example, rotational speed of a rotating shaft, determines control parameters and actuates one or more actuators. An exemplary device includes a controller configured to receive information, determine control parameters and actuate one or more actuators. An exemplary system includes one or more sensors, a processor and one or more actuators. Various exemplary methods, devices, and/or systems are optionally suitable for use with turbochargers and/or other boost systems.

Abstract: The present application relates to a method of producing a metal article having an internal passage coated with a ceramic coating. The method comprises: preparing a core for defining the internal passage; applying the ceramic coating on the core; assembling the core with the ceramic coating applied thereon into a mold; casting metal into the mold at a pour temperature lower than the melting temperature of the ceramic coating; and removing the core. The ceramic coating may be applied by plasma spraying or slurry deposition.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cooling components associated with turbomachinery by means of one or more venturis placed in the intake flow of air into the compressor with an air inlet upstream of the venturis and an air outlet integral to at least one venturi. The partial vacuum created from the one or more venturis draws air past components that are desired to be cooled.

Abstract: An exemplary center housing for a turbocharger includes a filter well for receiving a lubricant filter unit. An exemplary filter unit, for attachment to a center housing of a turbocharger, includes an attachment mechanism to attach the filter unit to the center housing, a filter for filtering lubricant and a lubricant flow path where the lubricant flow path commences at a peripheral surface of the filter unit, passes through the filter and ends at a bore surface of the filter unit. Various other exemplary devices, assemblies, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary compressor wheel includes a proximate end, a distal end, an axis of rotation, a z-plane positioned between the proximate end and the distal end, and a joint having an axis coincident with the axis of rotation and an end surface positioned between the z-plane and the distal end. Other exemplary joints, compressor wheels, chambers, systems and/or methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A heat exchanger with a core, a support structure and a mount. The core is variable in size and has a lower temperature fluid port and a higher temperature fluid port. The mount is positioned between the core and the support structure, adjacent to the higher temperature fluid port. The mount restrains the core relative to the support structure, such that when the core varies in size it does so either away from or towards the mount. The heat exchanger can also include a deformable connector, including a bellows, a flexible hose and a braided metal hose. The deformable connector is positioned in a manner which allows it and lower temperature fluid port to remain in fluid communication as the core varies in size.

Abstract: A turbocharger having a variable geometry turbine inlet incorporates a piston movable to vary the area of the inlet nozzle into the turbine. Vanes extending from the heat shield for flow control in the nozzle are engaged by the piston in a first closed position. In a second open position, the piston is spaced from the vanes increasing the inlet nozzle area.

Abstract: Exemplary methods, devices and/or system for reducing noise produced by a turbine, such as, a turbocharger turbine. An exemplary exhaust conduit employs material to absorb exhaust-borne noise and/or structure-borne noise. Another exemplary exhaust conduit employs features that dampen wall vibration.