Abstract: A turbocharger is provided with a system for varying the effective area of the turbine, as a predetermined function of engine rpm. The function comprises a maximum area first portion (I) at high rpms, a second minimum area portion (II) at lower rpms and an intermediate third portion (III). The third portion has a characteristic that the effective turbine area increases as a direct function of engine rpm preestablished to optimize selected operating parameters. A feedback device generates a signal representing the actual effective area and supplies it to a controller. The controller is responsive to the feedback signal to generate pressure pulses applied to a pressure responsive turbine area actuator for varying the effective area of the turbine.

Abstract: A pneumatic control system for the variable area turbine inlet of a turbocharger of an internal combustion engine. The variable turbine inlet is actuated by a pneumatic actuator having a first connection to compressor boost pressure and a second connection to turbine inlet pressure. The actuator increases turbine inlet area in response to an increase in pressure and a one way valve in the compressor boost connection causes the actuator pressure to be the higher of compressor boost or turbine inlet pressure. As a result, turbine pumping losses during high engine rpm low power conditions are minimized.

Abstract: The disclosure illustrates a self calibrating control system for a variable area turbocharger incorporating a pneumatic actuator having a limiting position achieved at low actuating pressure levels. The calibration takes place by monitoring the demanded actuator signal. If it stays at a level reflecting a physically limiting position of the actuator for a predetermined time air pressure to the actuator is terminated to positively maintain the actuator in the no air position. A signal reflecting the actual position of the actuator is then substituted in the control system as a new zero pressure condition. This procedure is performed periodically and is aborted if normal control inputs are demanded thus resulting in a minimum disruption to normal control inputs. In addition the system provides for fault indications if the calibration procedure fails to result in a zero pressure calibration within predetermined limits.

Abstract: The disclosure illustrates a range improvement feature for a compressor wheel in which a chamber adjacent the inlet is separated from the outer periphery of the impeller wheel vanes by a wall through which communication is established between the chamber and the impeller wheel. Communication is provided by either an annular slot or a series of radial holes. The feature may be used on single stage or multistage compressors. The area of the communication is such that at high rpm, and/or high flow, flow is from the chamber inward and at lower flows the flow is from the impeller wheel outward. This bidirectional flow improves the range over which the compressor may operate without encountering surge.

Abstract: A wastegate valve for an internal combustion engine turbocharger comprising a housing, a valve head carried by a valve stem and arranged to cooperate with a valve seat. The valve stem is mounted in a valve guide for movement between a position in which the valve head and seat cooperate to close the valve and block exhaust gas flow and a position in which the valve head is spaced from the valve seat to permit flow. A spring biases the valve into a closed position and a pressure plate is mounted to said valve stem, the spring acting on the valve stem via said pressure plate. A connection is provided in the housing on the side of the pressure plate remote from the spring to a supply of fluid under pressure whereby, in operation, to assist the exhaust gas in opening the valve. A wall extends across the housing to divide the interior of the housing into a portion containing the pressure plate and another portion connectible to the supply of fluid under pressure.

Abstract: The disclosure illustrates a wastegate valve for an internal combustion engine turbocharger comprising a valve head carried by a valve stem and arranged to cooperate with a valve seat in a bypass passage, the valve stem being mounted in a valve guide for movement between a position in which the valve head and valve seat cooperate to close the valve and a position in which the valve head is spaced from the valve seat. A shield formed from a cup shaped thin wall pressing is provided at least partly surrounding the valve stem in a region thereof exposed to heat from the exhaust gases, the shield being disposed so as to deflect hot exhaust gases away from that part of the stem surrounded by the shield. Passageways are provided for conducting a flow of cooling fluid to said valve stem in between a pair of spaced valve guide inserts in at least part of the region surrounded by the shield.

Abstract: There is disclosed a mechanism for retaining an automotive radiator rigid, including sleeve members mounted on oppositely disposed portions of the radiator and an interconnecting rod member. Arcuate-shaped edge portions are formed on oppositely disposed portions of the radiator, each of the sleeve members having longitudinal bores formed therethrough and including arcuate-shaped groove bottoms opening in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve members matching the arcuate-shaped edge portions and being slidably mounted thereon so as to have the bores thereof aligned. A rod is mounted across the radiator and extended through the aligned bores and secured therein by nuts mounted on the threaded ends against the respective sleeves, to thereby rigidify the radiator for use on trucks and off-highway vehicles.

Abstract: The disclosure illustrates a turbocharger comprising a radially inward flow turbine and a vaned inlet turbine nozzle. A variable inlet area is provided by an annular control ring continuous at its inner diametrical face and having slots extending inward from its radially inner portion of the vanes. The control ring may be attached to a steel stamping which, in turn, is attached to shafts of a pair of actuators for axially displacing the control ring and thus varying flow area through said turbine nozzle. By only partially embracing the inlet canes, the possibility of sticking due to carbon build-up is minimized if not eliminated.

Abstract: A turbocharger for an internal combustion engine wherein a turbine wheel 18 in chamber 47 is driven by the engine's exhaust gases supplied to inlet volute 44 introducing the gases to the chamber through radially extending annular inlet passage 45 containing stationary vanes 60. The inlet passage 45 containing stationary vanes 60. The inlet area of passage 45 is selectively variable by moving axially a regulating ring part 61 (slotted at 70 to receive the vanes) relative to wall 46 of the passage. The ring part 61 is part of a thin walled regulating element 62 additionally comprising concentric tubular flanges 64,67. Flange 67 is in sliding contact with a stationary sealing ring 71 which prevents exhaust gases which may have entered region 122 behind the ring part 61 from passing under that ring part to the chamber 47.

Abstract: An impeller for a centrifugal impeller comprising a disc portion, a coaxial hub portion having a longitudinal through-bore by which the impeller is mounted on a rotatable shaft, and a plurality of blades in any one of several forms. The tip of each blade is curved in a direction opposite to the rotation of the impeller more than the rest of the blade. The radius of the tip curve decreases uniformly toward the radially outer end of the blade. This tip treatment produces improved isentropic efficiency.

Abstract: The disclosure illustrates an electronically controlled fuel pump in which the microprocessor is cooled by the fuel extending to the inlet of a positive displacement pump. The cooling passage has a labyrinth flow path and the heat sinks of the microprocessor transfer heat to the passage through conduction. An auxiliary pump causes fuel to flow through the heat exchange passage during certain conditions, such as shutdown, to maintain the temperature of the microprocessor below a predetermined maximum. Transducers and other control elements associated with the microprocessor are maintained in a cavity in the fuel pump to protect them from the environment and a pivotal connection with appropriate placement of the leads is provided in the housing for ready access to these transducers and control elements.

Abstract: The disclosure illustrates an exhaust brake valve positioned between a divided section exhaust manifold of an internal combustion engine and the divided flow entry to a turbine wheel of a turbocharger used in conjunction with the engine. The valve comprises a closure member displaceable between two positions, the second of which provides separate but free flow from the exhaust manifold sections and the corresponding divided flow entry of the turbine. The closure member, when displaced to the first position, blocks flow to the turbine, but at the same time interconnects the sections of the exhaust manifold. In this condition the engine acts like a compressor working against a blockage to provide a retarding effect, but the manifold interconnection minimizes peak pressure pulses to prevent engine valve bounce.

Abstract: A turbocharger for a diesel engine 34, wherein combustion air is supplied under pressure to the engine's intake manifold 32 from a centrifugal compressor 20 rotated by a turbine wheel 18 driven by exhaust gas from the engine supplied to inlet volute 44. Exhaust gas from the volute impinges on the turbine wheel after passing between stationary vanes 60 in an annular inlet passage between thin wall 52 and wall 46 of turbine housing 40. In this passage is a thin wall annular flange 64 slotted to fit over the vanes. The flange is part of a thin wall ring 62 stamped from stainless steel movable across the passage to control the inlet area thereof. The ring 62 is movable by actuators 80 (only one shown) having rods 74 connected to the ring. Springs 116 act on the rods 74 to urge the flange 64 towards the wall 46 thus reducing the area of the inlet passage so exhaust gas rushes through the reduced inlet and speeds the turbine and compressor providing at manifold 32 an increased air pressure.

Abstract: The disclosure illustrates a turbocharger bearing assembly for the shaft which supports a compressor and turbine for rotation. The bearing assembly accomodates axial thrust and comprises a plate with a central aperture through which the shaft extends, the central shaft having a pair of flanges adjacent or opposite faces of the plate. Each face of the plate has a plurality of tapered lands having a low end and high end which define bearing sectors disposed in succession in an arcuate way about the aperture. Each sector, in the radially outer portion thereof adjacent the high end is retrenched along the sector towards the low end of the sector so that along the direction of rotation of the counter thrust surface relative to the sector, the outer portion of the high end terminates before a more radially inner portion of the high end. An oil supply passage feeds oil to the faces of the plate to provide an oil film over the bearing sectors.

Abstract: The disclosure illustrates an electronically controlled fuel pump in which a bypass valve regulates its output pressure to a predetermined level above a control pressure. A downstream throttling valve re-regulates the pressure to a predetermined level below a control pressure. The control pressure is established by an electro-hydraulic valve which is, in turn, fed with signals with a microprocessor to provide appropriate control. The use of the control pressure in effect causes a servo action and utilizes the pressure of the fuel to manipulate the valve and minimize the power requirement of the electro-hydraulic valve.

Abstract: The disclosure illustrates a means for automatically controlling the operation of a cylinder deactivating system in a multicylinder compression ignition engine which system is intended to increase the load on the cylinders that have not been deactivated. The control means is responsive to coolant pump output pressure which varies directly as engine rpm varies. The cylinder deactivating system functions either by cutting off the flow of fuel to the injector for each deactivated cylinder or cylinders or by actuating an engine brake system. The control means automatically stops the operation of the cylinder deactivating system when engine rpm increases to the point that the coolant pump output pressure exceeds a threshold level. This prevents any possibility of injector scuffing or loss of power at higher rpm.

Abstract: An overload protection coupling for limiting the torque transmitted between two elements of a rotating power transmission system comprises coaxial driving and driven members journalled for relative rotation. The members are drivingly connected to each other by one or more rod-like tensile breaking piece devices effective between first pairs of radial projections on the driving and driven members. One or more reaction devices are effective between second pairs of radial projections on the driving and driven members to ensure that the rod-like breaking piece devices are in pre-tension to a predetermined level approximately equivalent to the maximum torque transmitted by the coupling to increase fatigue life of the breaking piece devices. In some embodiments, the tensile breaking piece devices and reaction devices may be effective between just one pair of radial projections.

Abstract: The disclosure illustrates an air temperature sensing viscous fluid fan drive having an inexpensively manufactured housing which defines, in part, an annular working fluid chamber for a disk connected to an input shaft. The housing comprises a spider of sintered steel having a hub which receives a bearing for journaling the shaft. A series of integral radial arms have bosses at their tips for accurately mounting a fan. A ferrous metal disk is welded to the spider to form one wall of the working fluid chamber, the other of which is defined by an aluminum cover assembly. The ferrous housing maintains concentricity of the fan and housing relative to the input shaft irrespective of changes in temperature.

Abstract: The disclosure illustrates having a turbocharger housing and a turbine wheel shaft rotatable relative to one another and in which one of the members has a cylindrical surface and the other member contains an annular groove, a sealing ring being located in the annular groove and engaging the cylindrical surface. One of the radially extending walls of the sealing ring includes a chamfered portion such that the axial dimension of the radially inner surface of the sealing ring is less than the axial dimension of the radially outer surface of the sealing ring, the annular groove including a complementary shaped wedging surface for cooperation with the chamfered surface of the sealing ring.

Abstract: The disclosure illustrates a tuned viscous torsional vibration damper having a hub member for attachment to an internal combustion engine crankshaft. An annular inertia mass is journaled within the hub member to form a working chamber which contains a viscous liquid to damp out torsional oscillations of the inertia member relative to the hub. The hub has a series of inwardly directed vanes that are received in a corresponding number of slots in the internal member to define pairs of variable chambers filled with viscous liquid. Inwardly directed blind bores in each variable chamber form gas springs which interconnect the hub and inertia member to provide tuning.