Abstract: A fluid bearing for operably connecting a shaft to a center housing of a turbocharger is provided. The fluid bearing includes a single-piece bearing sleeve defining a bore between first and second ends that each form a thrust face. The sleeve includes first and second bearing portions proximal to an associated one of the first and second ends, and a shank connecting the first and second bearing portions. Each of the first and second bearing portions includes an outer bearing surface defining a maximum outer diameter, and each of the first and second bearing portions includes an inner bearing surface defining a minimum inner diameter for radially supporting the shaft in the bore. The inner bearing surface is a continuous surface free of grooves. The sleeve has a wall thickness defining oil passages spaced from the inner bearing surface and configured to supply oil to the thrust face.

Abstract: A fluid bearing for operably connecting a shaft to a center housing of a turbocharger is provided. The fluid bearing includes a single-piece bearing sleeve defining a bore between first and second ends that each form a thrust face. The sleeve includes first and second bearing portions proximal to an associated one of the first and second ends, and a shank connecting the first and second bearing portions. Each of the first and second bearing portions includes an outer bearing surface defining a maximum outer diameter, and each of the first and second bearing portions includes an inner bearing surface defining a minimum inner diameter for radially supporting the shaft in the bore. The inner bearing surface is a continuous surface free of grooves. The sleeve has a wall thickness defining oil passages spaced from the inner bearing surface and configured to supply oil to the thrust face.

Abstract: A turbocharger includes a compressor housing, turbine housing, and center housing between the compressor and turbine housings. A turbine wheel is disposed in the turbine housing on a turbine shaft. A compressor wheel having a shank is disposed in the compressor housing on the turbine shaft. The shank has outer and reduced portions. The reduced portion has a smaller diameter than the outer portion. A backplate is mounted to the compressor housing adjacent the compressor wheel and defines a stepped cylindrical bore with a maximum diameter portion and a minimum diameter portion having a smaller diameter than the maximum portion. The outer portion is disposed in the maximum portion. The reduced portion is disposed in the minimum portion. The outer diameter of the shank is greater than or equal to the minimum diameter of the backplate, and the stepped cylindrical bore and the shank define a variable width gap.

Abstract: A turbocharger for an internal combustion engine includes a center housing and a bore defined by the center housing. The bore has a primary annular groove and a secondary annular groove configured to receive a fluid. A journal bearing is disposed within the bore proximate to a proximate end of the shaft such that the journal bearing, together with the rotating shaft, feeds fluid to the primary and secondary annular grooves. The shaft is further coupled to a turbine wheel and a compressor wheel. The shaft has a longitudinal axis and is supported by the journal bearing for rotation within the bore about the axis. The primary and secondary annular grooves are each in fluid communication with a drain gallery.

Abstract: A turbocharger includes a housing and a rotary assembly disposed within the housing and including a turbine wheel and a compressor wheel attached to one another by a shaft. A bearing is disposed in the housing and rotatably supports the shaft. The bearing includes a pair of inner bearing surfaces that engage opposite ends of the shaft and a pair of outer bearing surfaces that engage the housing. The pair of inner bearing surfaces have a first axial dimension and the pair of outer bearing surfaces have a second axial dimension that is smaller than the first axial dimension.

Abstract: A turbocharger including a housing and a rotary assembly disposed within the housing and including a turbine wheel and a compressor wheel attached to one another by a shaft. The rotary assembly being subject to aero-load in a lateral direction. A bearing is disposed in the housing and rotatably supports the shaft, the bearing including an inner bearing surface that engages the shaft and an outer bearing surface that engages the housing, the outer bearing surface having a pair of axially extending recessed grooves extending at least partially along the bearing. The pair of axially extending grooves being located perpendicular to the aero-load direction.

Abstract: A turbocharger including a housing and a rotary assembly disposed within the housing and including a turbine wheel and a compressor wheel attached to one another by a shaft. The rotary assembly being subject to aero-load in a lateral direction. A bearing is disposed in the housing and rotatably supports the shaft, the bearing including an inner bearing surface that engages the shaft and an outer bearing surface that engages the housing, the outer bearing surface having a pair of axially extending recessed grooves extending at least partially along the bearing.

Abstract: An improved thrust bearing for a turbocharger includes a first bearing surface, a second bearing surface, an internal passageway, a primary pad, and a plurality of secondary pads. The internal passageway fluidly connects the first and second bearing surfaces. The primary pad may be defined on the first bearing surface. The primary pad further defines a first aperture in fluid communication with the internal passageway and an oil feed defined in a turbocharger housing. The plurality of secondary pads may also be defined on the first bearing surface. Each secondary pad in the plurality of secondary pads may include a secondary surface area which is smaller than the primary surface area of the primary pad.

Abstract: A turbocharger for an internal combustion engine includes a center housing which defines a bore, a recess, and an annular groove. The annular groove and the recess may be configured to receive a fluid. A bearing is disposed within the bore proximate to the a turbine wheel such that the bearing, together with the rotating shaft, feeds fluid to the annular groove and recess. The shaft may be further coupled to the turbine wheel at a proximate end and a compressor wheel at a distal end. The shaft has a longitudinal axis and is supported by the bearing for rotation within the bore about the axis. The annular groove is in fluid communication with a drain gallery via a conduit.

Abstract: A turbocharger for an internal combustion engine includes a center housing and a bore defined by the center housing. The bore has a primary annular groove and a secondary annular groove configured to receive a fluid. A journal bearing is disposed within the bore proximate to a proximate end of the shaft such that the journal bearing, together with the rotating shaft, feeds fluid to the primary and secondary annular grooves. The shaft is further coupled to a turbine wheel and a compressor wheel. The shaft has a longitudinal axis and is supported by the journal bearing for rotation within the bore about the axis. The primary and secondary annular grooves are each in fluid communication with a drain gallery.

Abstract: A turbocharger for an internal combustion engine includes a bearing housing defining a bearing bore and a hybrid journal bearing system disposed within the bore. The hybrid journal bearing system includes first and second journal bearings. The first journal bearing is a semi-floating bearing and the second journal bearing is a full-floating bearing. The turbocharger also includes a shaft having a first end and a second end, wherein the shaft is supported by the journal bearing system for rotation about an axis within the bore. The turbocharger also includes a turbine wheel fixed to the shaft proximate to the first end and configured to be rotated about the axis by post-combustion gases emitted by the engine. Additionally, the turbocharger includes a compressor wheel fixed to the shaft proximate to the second end and configured to pressurize an airflow being received from the ambient for delivery to the engine.

Abstract: A turbocharger includes a housing and a rotary assembly disposed within the housing and including a turbine wheel and a compressor wheel attached to one another by a shaft. A bearing is disposed in the housing and rotatably supports the shaft. The bearing includes a pair of inner bearing surfaces that engage opposite ends of the shaft and a pair of outer bearing surfaces that engage the housing. The pair of inner bearing surfaces have a first axial dimension and the pair of outer bearing surfaces have a second axial dimension that is smaller than the first axial dimension.

Abstract: A turbocharger is provided including a housing with a turbine and a compressor disposed in the housing. A central shaft is connected between the turbine and the compressor and is rotatably supported by a first journal bearing disposed within the housing at a location adjacent to the turbine and a second journal bearing disposed within the housing at a location adjacent to the compressor. A spacer is disposed directly between and adjacent to the first journal bearing and the second journal bearing and is neither coupled to or integrally formed with the first journal bearing.

Abstract: A turbocharger for an internal combustion engine includes a bearing housing and a bearing bore defined by the bearing housing. The bearing bore has an annular bearing groove configured to receive a fluid. A journal bearing is disposed within the bore such that the annular bearing groove encircles the journal bearing and feeds the fluid thereto. The turbocharger also includes a rotating assembly having a shaft with a turbine wheel and a compressor wheel. The shaft has a longitudinal axis and is supported by the journal bearing for rotation within the bore about the axis. The annular bearing groove is characterized by a trapezoidal shape in a cross-sectional view of the bearing bore taken along and through the longitudinal axis. The trapezoidal shape is configured to generate Taylor vortices in the fluid for capturing debris carried by the fluid and keeping the debris from being fed to the journal bearing.

Abstract: A turbocharger is provided including a turbine wheel and a compressor wheel attached to one another by a shaft. A thrust plate includes a plate body having an aperture there through and defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced pad regions that define a land region that is perpendicular to a rotational axis of the shaft. The plate body further defines a plurality of two stage slope regions adjacent to each of the land regions. The two stage slope regions include a steep slope portion and a gradual slope portion disposed between the steep slope portion and the land regions. The rotary assembly of the turbocharger including a thrust surface that engages the pad regions. The two-stage slope regions provide improved loading capacity by the combination of better lubricant oil availability due to the steep slope region and optimized tribological performance due to the gradual slope region.

Abstract: A turbocharger is provided including a housing with a turbine and a compressor disposed in the housing. A central shaft is connected between the turbine and the compressor and is rotatably supported by a first journal bearing disposed within the housing at a location adjacent to the turbine and a second journal bearing disposed within the housing at a location adjacent to the compressor. A spacer is disposed directly between and adjacent to the first journal bearing and the second journal bearing and is neither coupled to or integrally formed with the first journal bearing.

Abstract: A turbocharger for an internal combustion engine includes a bearing housing defining a bearing bore and a hybrid journal bearing system disposed within the bore. The hybrid journal bearing system includes first and second journal bearings. The first journal bearing is a semi-floating bearing and the second journal bearing is a full-floating bearing. The turbocharger also includes a shaft having a first end and a second end, wherein the shaft is supported by the journal bearing system for rotation about an axis within the bore. The turbocharger also includes a turbine wheel fixed to the shaft proximate to the first end and configured to be rotated about the axis by post-combustion gases emitted by the engine. Additionally, the turbocharger includes a compressor wheel fixed to the shaft proximate to the second end and configured to pressurize an airflow being received from the ambient for delivery to the engine.

Abstract: A turbocharger for an internal combustion engine includes a bearing housing and a rotating assembly arranged therein. The rotating assembly includes a shaft with a turbine wheel and a compressor wheel. The turbocharger also includes a thrust bearing assembly operatively connected to the shaft, lubricated by pressurized oil from the engine, and configured to transmit thrust forces developed by the turbine wheel to the bearing housing. The thrust bearing assembly includes a thrust plate having a first thrust face and a thrust washer having a second thrust face. An oil film is generated between the first and second thrust faces, and the first and second thrust faces rotate relative to each other and transmit the thrust forces to the bearing housing. The thrust plate and/or the thrust washer include a circumferential groove configured to trap oil-borne debris and minimize an amount of the debris in the oil film.

Abstract: A turbocharger for an internal combustion engine includes a bearing housing and a rotating assembly arranged therein. The rotating assembly includes a shaft with a turbine wheel and a compressor wheel. The turbocharger also includes a thrust bearing assembly operatively connected to the shaft, lubricated by pressurized oil from the engine, and configured to transmit thrust forces developed by the turbine wheel to the bearing housing. The thrust bearing assembly includes a thrust plate having a first thrust face and a thrust washer having a second thrust face. An oil film is generated between the first and second thrust faces, and the first and second thrust faces rotate relative to each other and transmit the thrust forces to the bearing housing. The thrust plate and/or the thrust washer include a circumferential groove configured to trap oil-borne debris and minimize an amount of the debris in the oil film.

Abstract: A turbocharger for an internal combustion engine includes a bearing housing and a bearing bore defined by the bearing housing. The bearing bore has an annular bearing groove configured to receive a fluid. A journal bearing is disposed within the bore such that the annular bearing groove encircles the journal bearing and feeds the fluid thereto. The turbocharger also includes a rotating assembly having a shaft with a turbine wheel and a compressor wheel. The shaft has a longitudinal axis and is supported by the journal bearing for rotation within the bore about the axis. The annular bearing groove is characterized by a trapezoidal shape in a cross-sectional view of the bearing bore taken along and through the longitudinal axis. The trapezoidal shape is configured to generate Taylor vortices in the fluid for capturing debris carried by the fluid and keeping the debris from being fed to the journal bearing.