Abstract: An apparatus for turbocharging an internal combustion engine, and which is characterized by the ability to avoid excessive heat transfer to the bearings and any other heat sensitive components. In the preferred embodiment, the lubricating oil for the bearings in the turbocharger housing is directed through a passageway in the bearing shaft and is discharged onto the end wall of the bearing housing in a circular pattern, to thereby cool the end wall and minimize heat transfer from the turbine to the bearings in the housing. Also, the end wall of the bearing housing is spaced from the adjacent rear wall of the turbine housing to define a cooling air gap therebetween, and apertures are provided in the housing for permitting air to flow through the cooling gap to cool the opposing surfaces of the two adjacent walls and thereby minimize heat transfer therebetween.

Abstract: A thrust bearing assembly for use in an exhaust gas turbocharger or the like, and which includes a holding plate fixed to the turbocharger housing, a shaft rotatably mounted in the housing and extending through an opening in the plate, and a pair of flat, annular rings mounted on the shaft and receiving the plate therebetween to define a pair of opposing bearing surfaces on each side of the plate. A lubrication system supplies pressurized lubricant to the opposing bearing surfaces, and at least one of each pair of opposing bearing surfaces includes a plurality of generally radially directed channels, whereby a hydrodynamic load bearing pressure is developed in the lubricant between the bearing surfaces during relative rotation thereof, to thereby minimize frictional resistance and wear.