Patents by Inventor Eric J. Duve

Eric J. Duve has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6896479
    Abstract: A turbocharger rotor has a turbine wheel and shaft, a compressor wheel and adapter and a separate thrust runner clamped together by a fastener rod. The adapter is piloted on the shaft and the thrust runner is piloted on the adapter, which has annular ends engaging the shaft and adapter for torque transmission between the turbine and compressor wheels. An anti-rotation coupling relates the phase angles of the shaft with the adapter and the thrust runner during assembly. Opposed radial thrust faces on the thrust runner and adapter are disposed at opposite ends of a compressor bearing journal on the adapter to allow placement of mating bearings on a single element of a turbocharger housing. Advantages include simplification of manufacture and assembly of the rotor in a turbocharger housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Gary R. Svihla, Eric J. Duve, John M. Carr
  • Publication number: 20040202556
    Abstract: A turbocharger rotor has a turbine wheel and shaft, a compressor wheel and adapter and a separate thrust runner clamped together by a fastener rod. The adapter is piloted on the shaft and the thrust runner is piloted on the adapter, which has annular ends engaging the shaft and adapter for torque transmission between the turbine and compressor wheels. An anti-rotation coupling relates the phase angles of the shaft with the adapter and the thrust runner during assembly. Opposed radial thrust faces on the thrust runner and adapter are disposed at opposite ends of a compressor bearing journal on the adapter to allow placement of mating bearings on a single element of a turbocharger housing. Advantages include simplification of manufacture and assembly of the rotor in a turbocharger housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventors: Gary R. Svihla, Eric J. Duve, John M. Carr
  • Patent number: 6499884
    Abstract: A gas dynamic machine, such as a turbocharger, compressor or turbine, includes a housing and a rotor mounted in the housing and rotatable on an axis. A bearing and seal member or assembly includes a bearing mounted in an axial bore of the housing and having an inner bearing surface radially supporting a bearing journal of the rotor An axial oil seal is aligned with and fixed to the bearing for radially positioning the seal in axial alignment with the journal bearing surface of the bearing/seal assembly. The seal may further include a generally radial flange fixed to the housing for axially positioning the bearing/seal assembly relative to the rotor. The bearing and seal may have separate bodies attached together or be combined in an integral body. Mounting with a single radial pilot for radial location and a single radial flange for axial location, which may be combined, is featured. An optional thrust flange may be integral with the bearing portion or attached as a separate body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Gary R. Svihla, Eric J. Duve
  • Patent number: 6478553
    Abstract: An improved turbocharger for railway locomotive sized engines includes, in a preferred embodiment, first and second axially spaced ball bearings supporting a rotor with the first bearing being a hybrid ceramic ball bearing mounted to accept both radial and axial loads acting on the shaft at the compressor end. The first bearing is mounted on a reduced diameter portion of the shaft, providing reduced bearing diameter to acceptably limit centrifugal loading of ceramic balls in the bearing against a surrounding bearing race. The first bearing has dual rows of ceramic ball bearings mounted to share all axial thrust loads on the shaft. The second bearing is also a ball bearing. Lubrication of the bearings is preferably by direct impingement on the inner race to minimize oil churning causing heating and power loss. Additional features and advantages are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Jean B Panos, James William Heilenbach, Eric J Duve
  • Publication number: 20020155009
    Abstract: An improved turbocharger for railway locomotive sized engines includes, in a preferred embodiment, first and second axially spaced ball bearings supporting a rotor with the first bearing being a hybrid ceramic ball bearing mounted to accept both radial and axial loads acting on the shaft at the compressor end. The first bearing is mounted on a reduced diameter portion of the shaft, providing reduced bearing diameter to acceptably limit centrifugal loading of ceramic balls in the bearing against a surrounding bearing race. The first bearing has dual rows of ceramic ball bearings mounted to share all axial thrust loads on the shaft. The second bearing is also a ball bearing. Lubrication of the bearings is preferably by direct impingement on the inner race to minimize oil churning causing heating and power loss. Additional features and advantages are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventors: Jean B. Panos, James William Heilenbach, Eric J. Duve