Abstract: A wastegate valve for a turbocharger that is separate from the turbocharger has an actuator mounted to a valve housing. The valve housing has a passage therethrough and a swing valve that opens and closes the passage. The swing valve has a pivot point that lies outside the path of the exhaust gases. The passage has a recess therein that receives a portion of the swing valve in its open position to improve the flow of exhaust gases through the passage. In an internal combustion engine system, the wastegate valve forms part of a bypass conduit that redirects a portion of the exhaust gases from an engine away from and past the turbocharger.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 17, 2004
Date of Patent:
December 20, 2005
Assignee:
Turbonetics, Inc.
Inventors:
Michal Aaron Hastings, Bradley Dean Lewis
Abstract: A turbocharger includes a main shaft carrying a turbine wheel and an impeller. The shaft is supported in a housing by means of a floating bearing and a ball bearing which is particularly effective in resisting axial loads tending to move the shaft toward the impeller. A preload spring positioned between the stationary race of the ball bearing and a thrust plate fixed to the housing provides a force urging said ball bearing against a shoulder on the main shaft against thrust forces tending to move the shaft toward the turbine wheel.