Abstract: A charging device may include a shaft rotatably mounted on at least one slide bearing in a shaft bearing region. At least one flow opening for introducing and discharging a fluid may be defined on the shaft bearing region, wherein the shaft in the shaft bearing region may have two outer portions each running in a circumferential direction and axially binding an inner portion. At least one of the outer portions on its surface may include at least one microstructure.

Abstract: A motor stator 9b and a flange portion 41 are integrally formed with each other, so that a stator assembly is formed. The flange portion 41 extends outward from a coil arrangement portion of the motor stator 9b in a radial direction, and at least a part of a radial outer face 41a of the flange portion 41 is exposed to the outside of a housing 7. The position of the stator assembly 12 can be adjusted with respect to the housing 7 in a circumferential direction along a circle that has an axial center of a rotating shaft 11 as a center thereof. A wiring hole 41b through which a cable passes is formed in the flange portion 41, and the wiring hole 41b is opened at the radial outer face 41a of the flange portion 41.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-stage turbocharger arrangement (1), having a high-pressure turbocharger (20) which has a turbine housing (26A), a bearing housing (27A), a compressor housing (28A); and having a low-pressure turbocharger (21) which has a turbine housing (26B), a bearing housing (27B), a compressor housing (28B); wherein the turbine housings (26A, 26B) are combined to form at least one turbine housing unit (26), and/or wherein the bearing housings (27A, 27B) are combined to form at least one bearing housing unit (27), and/or wherein the compressor housings (28A, 28B) are combined to form at least one compressor housing unit (28).

Abstract: A turbocharger for an internal combustion engine includes a bearing housing with a bearing bore and a semi-floating bearing disposed within the bore. The turbocharger also includes a shaft having a first end and a second end, wherein the shaft is supported by the bearing 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 gasses 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. Furthermore, the turbocharger includes a plate secured within the bearing housing and configured to prevent rotation of the bearing about the axis. An internal combustion engine employing such a turbocharger is also disclosed.

Abstract: A turbocharger using a high speed rolling element bearing system is improved in desired speed and life by providing an insulating spacer, with a thermal conductivity lower than that of the material in the inner race of the REB, between the turbine-end of the inner race of the bearing system and the compressor-end face of the piston ring boss to impede the flow of heat from the turbine wheel to the inner race of the rolling element bearing.

Abstract: A turbocharger uses a high speed rolling element bearing system. An exemplary rolling element bearing system includes a polymer sleeve to impede the flow of heat from the bearing housing into the outer race of the rolling element bearing system. In a second embodiment of the invention, the sleeve is supported by an oil film. In a third embodiment of the invention, the bearing cartridge is damped by a damping medium which also connects the bearing cartridge to the bearing housing.

Abstract: A hybrid exhaust turbine turbocharger includes which a silencer-connected to an intake system of an internal combustion engine and supported by a casing via a compressor unit is provided upstream of the compressor unit, and in which a shell housing having a recess, accommodating a generator, therein is provided in a midsection of the silencer, an oil reservoir that holds a lubricant having lubricated a bearing disposed within the generator and dripped from the generator is formed at a bottom section of the shell housing, and the lubricant accumulated in the oil reservoir is returned by gravity to an oil tank disposed downstream via a lubricant discharge tube that communicates with the oil reservoir.

Abstract: An exemplary anisotropic member supports a semi-floating bearing in a bore and can reduce non-synchronous vibration of the bearing in the bore. An anisotropic member can include an annular body configured to receive a semi-floating bearing and to space the bearing a distance from a bore surface and can be configured to impart anisotropic stiffness and damping terms to the semi-floating bearing when positioned in the bore. Such a member is suitable for use in a rotating assembly for a turbocharger where the bearing may be a semi-floating bearing. Various exemplary members, bearings, housings, assemblies, etc., are disclosed.

Abstract: A variable-vane assembly for a turbocharger includes an annular nozzle ring supporting an array of rotatable vanes, an insert having a tubular portion sealingly received into the bore of the turbine housing and having a nozzle portion extending radially out from one end of the tubular portion and being axially spaced from the nozzle ring with the vanes therebetween, and an annular retainer ring disposed radially outward of the nozzle ring and extending generally radially inwardly. The nozzle ring's face is stepped, and a radially inner edge of the retainer ring engages the face of the nozzle ring radially outward of the step, the radially inner edge of the retainer ring having an axial thickness that is less than the step height such that a remaining portion of the step is presented to the exhaust gas flowing through the nozzle.

Abstract: A turbocharger is provided with a rotor shaft, a bearing housing in which a bearing hole is formed, and a bearing member of the semi-floating type arranged in the bearing hole and supporting the rotor shaft in a rotatable state. The bearing member has a first bearing portion and a second bearing portion spaced at a predetermined interval in the axial direction of the rotor shaft, in its inner periphery. A region between the first bearing portion and the second bearing portion in the inner periphery of the bearing member, and an outer periphery of the rotor shaft constitute an oil passage for supply of lubricant oil to inside surfaces of the first and second bearing portions. Oil grooves to suppress the whirl vibration are formed in each of the inside surfaces of the first and second bearing portions. The oil grooves are closed in part.

Abstract: A first turbocharger comprises a first center housing and a first return passage. A second turbocharger comprises a second center housing and a second return passage. The first return passage joins the second return passage at a junction. The length of the second return passage from the second center housing to the junction is longer than that of the first return passage from the first center housing to the junction. A bellows-shaped vibration absorption portion is provided at the second return passage. The first return passage comprises a first upstream return passage and a first downstream return passage, and the first upstream and downstream return passages are connected to each other via the flexible hose.

Abstract: A turbine assembly can include a turbine wheel, a shroud component, a turbine housing and a seal that includes a wall and a lower lip that that extends radially outwardly from the wall at an obtuse angle where the seal is disposed, at least in part, between an outer surface of the shroud component and an inner surface of the turbine housing. Various other examples of devices, assemblies, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.

Abstract: A hydraulic turbocharger having an outer housing having a first section, a turbine end section and a pump end section. The pump end and turbine end sections are removably secured to the first section. A first cavity being formed between the first section and the turbine end section. A second cavity being formed between the first section and the pump end section. A first insert positioned in the first cavity and a second insert positioned in the second cavity. The first and second inserts being formed have more than one piece and defining a volute passageway in the first and second cavities respectively. The first and second inserts being designed to be capable of being machined to form the volute passageway.

Abstract: An exhaust-gas turbocharger (1) having a compressor (2) which has a compressor wheel (3) in a compressor housing (4); a turbine (5) which has a turbine wheel (6) in a turbine housing (7); and a bearing housing (8) which holds a stationary bearing bush (9) for a rotor shaft (10) and which has, at the compressor side, a bearing housing cover (11). The bearing bush (9) is provided with axial bearing surfaces (12, 13) and is fixed in the bearing housing (8) in a non-positively locking fashion.

Abstract: An exemplary arrangement for securing the shaft of an exhaust-gas turbocharger includes a catch ring with a central opening and a radial projection on the shaft. The catch ring having an inner contour in the region of the central opening. The radial projection on the shaft is provided with an outer contour. The inner contour on the catch ring and the outer contour on the shaft are configured such that, during mounting of the shaft and of the turbine wheel connected thereto and in at least one specified angle position of the shaft with respect to the housing, the radially outwardly protruding projection on the shaft can be passed in an axial direction through the central opening of the housing element. The radially outwardly protruding projection abuts in the axial direction against the housing element in specified angle positions of the shaft with respect to the housing.

Abstract: A turbocharger includes a housing, a first rotor wheel, a second rotor wheel, a driveshaft, a first bearing and a second bearing. The housing defines a first region, a second region, an intake air inlet, an intake air outlet and an exhaust gas inlet. The first rotor wheel is located in the first region and the second rotor wheel is located in the second region. The first bearing is located on a first axial side of the first rotor wheel axially between the first and second rotor wheels and supports the driveshaft for rotation relative to the housing. The second bearing is located on a second axial side of the first rotor wheel and supports the first rotor wheel for rotation relative to the housing.

Abstract: A bearing device includes a turbine-side bearing 21 and a compressor-side bearing 22 each of which is a floating-bush type sliding bearing. A gap (turbine-side inner peripheral clearance TI) between the turbine-side bearing 21 and a rotating shaft 13 is set to be larger than a gap (compressor-side inner peripheral clearance CI) between the compressor-side bearing 22 and the rotating shaft 13. In the bearing structure, unstable vibration including self-excited vibration can be suppressed.

Abstract: Turbocharger comprising a shaft, a housing, a turbine wheel and a compressor wheel mounted onto the shaft, at least one rolling bearing located between the shaft and the housing and comprising an inner ring, an outer ring and at least one row of rolling elements between raceways provided on the rings. The turbocharger comprises at least one insulation means radially located between the inner ring and the shaft, so as to thermally isolate the inner ring from the shaft.

Abstract: An assembly for a turbocharger includes a ball bearing cartridge, a center housing with a bore, a turbine end counterbore and a compressor end surface that includes a recess, and a compressor backplate with an axial extension configured to fit into the recess where the counterbore and the backplate define, at least in part, an axial length of a bearing cartridge chamber. Various other devices, assemblies, etc., are also disclosed.

Abstract: An assembly for a turbocharger and a method of assembling a turbocharger are disclosed. Such an assembly can include an elongate pin having a tapered part and a protrusion at one end of the pin. The elongate pin is configured to be inserted within a housing opening and a cartridge opening such that the taper of the body portion of the pin mates with the taper of the housing opening. The cartridge opening is configured as to mate with the pin such that the pin substantially restricts the bearing cartridge from surging and rolling but substantially permits all other movements of the bearing cartridge.

Abstract: An air cycle machine includes two turbines and a compressor mounted on an integral shaft. The integral shaft includes a plurality of shaft sections that are welded together and machined in a single set-up process into a desired shaft shape to provide highly aligned bearing surfaces. The shaft includes three stops that cooperate with three fasteners to secure the two turbines and the compressor on the shaft.

Abstract: A turbocharger system, in certain embodiments, includes a compressor, a turbine, a shaft of common diameter coupling the compressor to the turbine, and a first fluid film bearing disposed about the shaft at a compressor end portion of the shaft. The system also includes a second fluid film fixed pad bearing disposed about the shaft at a turbine end portion of the shaft, wherein the first and second fluid film fixed pad bearings have different clearance ratios, effective lengths, or both, relative to one another. The system, in some embodiments, includes a compressor fluid film fixed pad bearing and a turbine fluid film fixed pad bearing, wherein the compressor and turbine fluid film fixed pad bearings have different clearance ratios and effective lengths, relative to one another.

Abstract: A turbomachine has a housing, a rotor shaft extending along and rotatable about an axis in the housing, and a pair of axially spaced axial-thrust bearings in the housing carrying the shaft and normally only permitting a predetermined small axial displacement of the shaft in the housing. An impeller is rotationally fixed on the shaft. An axially fixed transmission gear is rotationally coupled to the shaft and has an axially directed gear face. A collar fixed axially on the shaft has an axially directed collar face confronting the gear face and normally spaced from the gear face by a clearance equal to more than the predetermined axial displacement. Thus on failure of one of the bearings and axial overtravel of the shaft the gear face and collar face engage each other and limit axial movement of the shaft.

Abstract: A turbocharger shaft interconnects the compressor impeller and the turbine wheel and a bearing housing between the compressor and turbine houses a bearing assembly supporting the turbocharger shaft rotation. A shaft bore defined in at least one of the compressor, turbine or bearing housings receiving the shaft. A sealing arrangement for restricting leakage of lubricant along the shaft bore from the bearing housing to the compressor or turbine housing. The sealing arrangement comprises at least one sealing ring around the shaft in the shaft bore and a gas passage communicating with the shaft bore. A gas distribution circuit includes a valve movable between a first position in which gas passage is in communication with a gas supply path for supplying gas to the shaft bore and a second position in which the gas passage is in communication with a vent path for venting gas from the shaft bore.

Abstract: An air cycle refrigerating/cooling system includes a first heat exchanger for cooling air, a turbine unit that has a compressor for compressing the air and an expansion turbine for adiabatically expanding the air, and a second heat exchanger for cooling the air. A compressor rotor of the compressor and a turbine rotor of the expansion turbine are attached to a common main shaft in the turbine unit in such a manner that the turbine unit drives the compressor rotor with a power generated by the turbine rotor, and the main shaft is rotatably supported by a rolling contact bearing. A part or the entirety of a thrust force applied to the main shaft is supported by an electromagnet, and a pressure equalizing device for equalizing a gas pressure at opposite ends of the rolling contact bearing is provided.

Abstract: A restraint system (300, 300?, 500) for a vaned diffuser (225) of a turbocharger (100) or other fluid boosting device is provided that can reduce or eliminate losses. The system (300, 300?, 500) uses a structure to provide both a pressure load on the vaned diffuser (225) and a seal for the vaned diffuser (225). The structure can be a fluoroelastomer O-ring (350, 350?, 550). The O-ring (350, 350?, 550) can be positioned at least partially in a channel (325, 325?, 525) formed in at least one of the diffuser ring (206, 206?), the compressor housing (103) and the center housing (102).

Abstract: The invention relates to a turbocharger (1) provided with a turbine housing (2) for turbine wheels, a cartridge (K) for the variable turbine geometry positioned in the turbine housing (2), a bearing housing (3) which is arranged between said turbine housing (2) and a compressor housing of the compressor wheel and in which a bearing arrangement for a shaft (W) carrying the turbine and compressor wheels is mounted and a pane system (4) placed between the cartridge (K) and the bearing housing (3). The inventive turbocharger is characterized in that said pane system (4) consists of at least two material layers (5, 6), an air gap (7) is formed between the material layers (5, 6), the materiel layer (5) is embodied in the form of a conical plate and the other material layer (6) is provided with a bend (8).

Abstract: A centrifugal supercharger is provided. One embodiment of the supercharger comprises a two-piece housing wherein a parting area is substantially aligned with a rotational axis of a drive or impeller shaft. Another embodiment comprises a sleeve, or intermediate member disposed substantially between the housing and a bearing assembly(s) located within the supercharger housing. Another embodiment comprises a disengagement device located between the supercharger impeller and the engine. The disengagement device allows selective disengagement of the impeller from the engine. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained therein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

Abstract: The invention relates to a motor centrifugal pump, particularly as an immersion pump, having a coolant pump that is driven by the electric motor, the pump circulating the coolant of the electric motor and the impeller thereof being driven by the electric motor, wherein the impeller shaft of the coolant pump is connected to the motor shaft via a transmission.

Abstract: A supercharger includes a housing, and a turbine shaft supported in a center hole in the housing through rolling bearings. Lubricating oil for the rolling bearings exists only within the housing. A cooling water jacket is provided within a body portion of the housing over a region from one axial end portion of the body portion to the other axial end portion thereof.

Abstract: An exemplary anisotropic member supports a semi-floating bearing in a bore and can reduce non-synchronous vibration of the bearing in the bore. An anisotropic member can include an annular body configured to receive a semi-floating bearing and to space the bearing a distance from a bore surface and can be configured to impart anisotropic stiffness and damping terms to the semi-floating bearing when positioned in the bore. Such a member is suitable for use in a rotating assembly for a turbocharger where the bearing may be a semi-floating bearing. Various exemplary members, bearings, housings, assemblies, etc., are disclosed.

Abstract: A turbomachine has a shaft mounted in a shaft housing, and a rotor in a rotor housing at one end of the shaft, for compression, expansion, or transport of a working gas. The shaft is mounted by hydrostatic, gas-lubricated bearings that have a connector to a compressed gas line that is connected with a pressure region of the turbomachine. A portion of the gas that is passed from the pressure region is applied to the bearing. The shaft is mounted so that the bearing effect is at least extensively independent of the rotational speed of the shaft, thereby guaranteeing support of the shaft during startup of the turbomachine, and good rigidity and low sensitivity to pressure surge stresses. The pressure in the connector to the compressed gas line is at least 5 bar greater than the pressure in the region of the ventilation connector.

Abstract: In a high-speed rotating shaft (10) of a supercharger which is rotatably supported by two radial bearings (12a, 12b) spaced at a fixed distance (L), directly couples a turbine impeller fixed to one end and a compressor impeller fixed to the other end, and transmits a rotational driving force of the turbine impeller to the compressor impeller, a small shaft portion (14) having a smaller diameter than a bearing portion is provided between bearings. The small shaft portion (14) is offset to a compressor side.

Abstract: A motor stator (24) has a stator iron core (24a), a stator winding (24b), and a mold member (30) embedding them in an inner portion and having a high coefficient of thermal conductivity. The mold member (30) has a heat insulating layer (32) closely attached to an inner surface thereof surrounding a motor rotor (22) and to an outer surface thereof in an axial direction. Further, an outer sleeve (26) is provided so as to be closely attached to an outer peripheral surface of the mold member (30) and to an inner surface of a bearing housing (16). The outer sleeve (26) forms a liquid tight water cooling jacket (26b) between the outer sleeve and the bearing housing.

Abstract: A turbocharger housing includes a main body for bearing a shaft for carrying a turbine wheel and a compressor wheel, and a seal portion to seal a clearance between the shaft and the turbocharger housing, where the seal portion is formed by an insert being fitted to the main body, where the insert includes a passage for supplying a fluid to the seal portion.

Abstract: An exemplary anisotropic member (625, 1200, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1950) supports a bearing in a bore and can reduce non-synchronous vibration (NSV) of the bearing in the bore. An exemplary anisotropic member includes an annular body configured to receive a bearing and to space the bearing a distance from a bore surface and is configured to impart anisotropic stiffness and damping terms to the bearing when positioned in the bore. Such a member is suitable for use in a rotating assembly for a turbocharger where the bearing may be a floating bearing, a semi-floating bearing or a ball bearing. Various exemplary members, bearings, housings, assemblies, etc., are disclosed.

Abstract: A turbomachine has a housing and a rotor mounted radially and axially in the housing. The rotor has a shaft and at least one impeller attached to the shaft. Two tilt-segment bearings having tilt segments, which bearings act in opposite directions, are provided for axial mounting of the rotor. The bearings interact with an assigned contact surface of the shaft. At least one of the tilt segments has a force measurement device for direct detection of the axial force acting on the assigned tilt segment. The force measurement devices are connected with an electronic control device.

Abstract: A hydraulic seal is defined between a rotating member such as a turbocharger shaft and a stationary member such as part of a bearing housing of a turbocharger. The members define a projecting annular disc that is received in an annular channel that is filled with hydraulic sealing fluid such as oil. Rotation of the rotary member applies a centrifugal force to the fluid thereby ensuring that it is retained in the channel between walls thereof and the disc. This annulus of fluid provides a hydraulic seal around the shaft between the bearing housing and the compressor or turbine housing. The oil is delivered into the channel from a supply in the rotary member. One of the walls of the channel serves as a weir whereby when the channel has an excess supply of oil is overflows the wall and passes the drain.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a charging device (1), in particular an exhaust-gas turbo charger for a motor vehicle, comprising a shaft (3) which is supported in a housing (2), and which carries a turbine wheel (6) on the turbine side, and a compressor wheel (8) on the compressor side, wherein the shaft (3) is supported by means of at least one bearing device (9) in the housing (2), wherein a lubricant supply channel (10) is provided through which the bearing device (9) is supplied with lubricant, wherein in the lubricant supply channel (10), a filter device (11) with at least one filter element (12) is arranged.

Abstract: A turbocharger includes a compressor housing (2) for accommodating a compressor wheel (5) drivable by an electric motor (21) and an electric motor (21) for driving a compressor wheel (5) accommodated in a compressor housing, the electric motor being supplied with electric power through at least one motor plug connector (12). The turbocharger further comprises a turbine housing (4), a center housing (3) for accommodating a shaft (6). The compressor wheel is driven by the turbine wheel (8) via the shaft (16) and can additionally be driven by the electric motor, where the compressor housing further includes at least one main power plug connector (16) disposed on an axial side of the compressor housing, facing the electric motor.

Abstract: A motor-driven supercharger is provided with a thrust bearing (30) rotatably supporting a thrust force applied to a turbine shaft (12). The thrust bearing (30) is constituted by a small-diameter disc-shaped thrust collar (32) rotating together with a turbine shaft, and a turbine side thrust bearing (34) and a compressor side thrust bearing (36) which block a movement in an axial direction of the thrust collar. The compressor side thrust bearing (36) has a small-diameter ring portion (37) including a thrust surface which is in contact with the thrust collar and has approximately an equal diameter, and a flange portion (38a) fixed to a housing (16) in the turbine side, and the small-diameter ring portion and the flange portion are arranged at different positions in an axial direction.

Abstract: A compressor ported shroud takes compressed air from the shroud of the compressor before it is completely compressed and delivers it to foil bearings. The compressed air has a lower pressure and temperature than compressed outlet air. The lower temperature of the air means that less air needs to be bled off from the compressor to cool the foil bearings. This increases the overall system efficiency due to the reduced mass flow requirements of the lower temperature air. By taking the air at a lower pressure, less work is lost compressing the bearing cooling air.

Abstract: An electrically controlled turbocharger has a motor mounted on a shaft in a motor housing between a turbine and compressor. Oil is sprayed onto the motor stator to cool the stator. An oil gallery is disposed above the stator to receive lubricating oil and contains apertures that perform as jets to allow oil to be sprayed directly on the motor stator. A coolant jacket is formed in the turbocharger housing between the turbine and the motor to allow liquid coolant to circulate therein and dissipate heat from the turbine end prior to reaching the motor components. Other embodiments provide for a stator component to be submerged in flowing cooling oil.

Abstract: Portions of the drive system for a piece of rotating equipment are pre-assembled into a subassembly. The subassembly can be held together by a carrier that is fabricated to accept the components in a proper alignment so that the carrier can be installed as a unit. In one embodiment, the carrier becomes a gearbox housing component that is installed, saving the need for individual component alignment. This modular approach allows an assembly having a single part number to apply to a given compressor unit and further allows standardization of air ends of compressors with specific impellers and inlets added to meet requirements of a specific application.

Abstract: An exemplary center housing rotating assembly includes a turbine wheel (260); a compressor wheel (240); a center housing (210) that includes a through bore (215), extending from a compressor end to a turbine end along a bore axis, and a recess (217), adjacent the bore, in a plane orthogonal to the bore axis; a bearing assembly (230) positioned in the bore that includes a keyway (233); and an anti-rotation component (280) seated in the recess and at least partially in the keyway to restrict rotation of the bearing assembly in the bore. Various other exemplary devices, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention concerns a fuel tank for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one venting device which is connected to a fuel vapor filter, wherein the venting device includes at least one collecting container for receiving liquid fuel. The fuel tank is distinguished in that disposed within the collecting container is a delivery pump for emptying it into the delivery volume of the fuel tank.

Abstract: A compressor has a diffuser section with one or more detachable wall portions that define a diffuser surface. The wall portions may be detachably connected to an intermediate portion of the compressor housing between the inlet and outlet and/or to the bearing housing of a turbocharger to which the compressor housing is connected. The diffuser wall portions can be easily detached once the compressor housing is removed so as to allow cleaning of deposits or simple replacement. This provides for easy servicing to avoid the compressor performance being compromised by a built up of deposits and particulates on the diffuser surfaces that is a particular problem in turbochargers that receive recirculated crank case ventilation gases from the engine.

Abstract: An oil seal structure of a supercharger (10) has an oil shield member (21), a seal housing (25), and an annular seal member (23) arranged between the oil shield member (21) and the seal housing (25). The oil shield member (21) has a portion in which an approximately circular outer edge is formed in a vertical cross section to an axial direction, in a leading end portion in a compressor side, and the oil shield member (21) has an outer edge reduced-diameter portion (21a) which is formed in the leading end in the compressor side and in which a radius of the outer edge is smaller than the other portions of the outer edge. The seal member (23) is fitted to the outer edge reduced-diameter portion (21a). An opening through which the oil shield member (21) passes is formed in the seal housing (25), and the seal housing (25) is brought into contact with the seal member (23) in an inner edge in a radial direction forming the opening.

Abstract: A cooling air flow regulating device for controlling the flow of cooling air to an air bearing may comprise a housing with a piston and a spring disposed within. When the pressure of the cooling air is high, the piston is forced out of the path of the cooling air and into an open position. As the pressure of the cooling air decreases, the spring forces the piston back into the path of the cooling air, effectively blocking the flow of cooling air to the air bearing. The cooling air flow regulating device of the present invention may be useful for controlling the cooling of air bearings in turbochargers of turbocharged engine, where at low engine speed, cooling air is not required for air bearings. Methods for using the cooling air flow regulating device of the present invention are also provided.

Abstract: An improved bearing system for use in high speed rotating machinery, such as a turbocharger, wherein a shaft is rotatably supported by a floating bearing cartridge having axially spaced angular contact bearings each with a set of bearing balls supported between inner and outer races. The bearing cartridge includes an inner spacer sleeve for axially spacing the inner bearing races, and a rotationally floating outer sleeve having a pair of radially inwardly open grooves for removably receiving snap-type retaining rings which engage and axially space the outer bearing races. The axial dimension of the inner spacer sleeve is elongated slightly relative to an axial dimension defined between outboard faces of the installed retaining rings, thereby slightly unloading the sets of bearing balls from their respective outer bearing races. Such slight axial unloading enhances smooth-running operation with minimal bearing wear, while accommodating transient loads during operation.