The present disclosure relates to a gas bearing device and a turbocharger.
This application claims the priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-030501 filed on Feb. 26, 2021, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Patent Document 1 discloses a gas bearing device that includes a ring-shaped top foil into which a rotatable cylindrical rotational shaft is inserted and an inner peripheral surface of which is spaced from an outer peripheral surface of the rotational shaft, a damping member which is disposed on an outer periphery of the top foil and is configured to damp vibration in a direction intersecting an axis of the rotating rotational shaft, and a ring-shaped housing disposed on an outer periphery of the damping member.
However, since the viscosity of gas is lower than that of oil, a load capability of the gas bearing device is low, which may increase a mechanical loss under low-speed rotation/high surface pressure. In addition, since cooling performance of gas is lower than that of oil, there is concern that a temperature of a bearing section (top foil) may rise due to the mechanical loss during high-speed rotation of the rotational shaft.
The present disclosure has been made in view of the above-described problems, and the object of the present disclosure is to provide a turbocharger and a gas bearing device capable of suppressing the temperature rise of the top foil due to the mechanical loss during rotation of the rotational shaft.
In order to achieve the above object, a gas bearing device according to the present disclosure is a gas bearing device using a gas as a working fluid, including: a rotational shaft; a housing where the rotational shaft penetrates; an annular top foil disposed inside the housing and surrounding an outer periphery of the rotational shaft; a back spring disposed between the top foil and the housing, and having a plurality of crests contacting the top foil and a plurality of valleys contacting the housing; and a pair of snap rings fitted in shaft holes where the rotational shaft of the housing penetrates, and configured to restrict movement of the back spring in an axial direction of the rotational shaft. The gas bearing device has a turning groove inclined with respect to an axis of the rotational shaft, in at least one of the pair of snap rings or in a region of the rotational shaft facing at least one of the pair of snap rings.
According to the gas bearing device of the present disclosure, since air is introduced between the rotational shaft and the top foil by rotation of the rotational shaft and the rotational shaft and the top foil are cooled, it is possible to suppress a temperature rise of the top foil due to a mechanical loss during rotation of the rotational shaft.
A gas bearing device and a turbocharger according to embodiments will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is intended, however, that unless particularly specified, dimensions, materials, shapes, relative positions and the like of components described in the embodiment or shown in the drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
The turbocharger 1 with the built-in gas bearing device 10 according to the embodiment is mounted on, for example, an automobile engine. The turbocharger 1 includes a turbine 3 which rotates with a flow of an exhaust gas, and a compressor 5 which takes in and compresses air with the rotation of the turbine 3. The turbine 3 includes a turbine housing 31 and a turbine rotor blade 33 (turbine impeller) accommodated rotatably in the turbine housing 31, and the compressor 5 includes a compressor housing 51 and an impeller 53 (compressor impeller) accommodated rotatably in the compressor housing 51.
Each of the turbine housing 31 and the compressor housing 51 is fixed by a fastening member (such as a bolt) to a bearing housing 71 in which the gas bearing device 10 is built, and the turbine rotor blade 33 and the impeller 53 are coupled to each other by a rotational shaft 91 penetrating the inside of the bearing housing 71 (gas bearing device 10). Thus, the turbine rotor blade 33, the impeller 53, and the rotational shaft 91 are disposed on the same axis AXL. The turbine rotor blade 33 is rotated by an exhaust gas discharged from the automobile engine, for example, whereby the impeller 53 of is rotated via the rotational shaft 91 and supply air to be supplied to the automobile engine is compressed.
For example, the turbine housing 31 includes a cylindrical section 31a (shroud section) for accommodating the turbine rotor blade 33, and a scroll section 31b for surrounding a part of the cylindrical section 31a on a side of the bearing housing 71. The scroll section 31b has a non-depicted inlet of the exhaust gas, and is in communication with the cylindrical section 31a via a throat section 31c. An opening of the cylindrical section 31a on an opposite side from the bearing housing 71 forms an outlet 31d of the exhaust gas.
To an opening of the turbine housing 31 on the side of the bearing housing 71, an end wall 75 (turbine-side end wall) of the bearing housing 71 is fitted. The end wall 75 of the bearing housing 71 is fastened by a fastening member (for example, a bolt) to one end portion of a peripheral wall 73 (bearing housing body) formed into a cylindrical shape, and forms a part (end wall 75) of the bearing housing 71. The end wall 75 is provided with a seal section 751, the seal section 751 is formed with a seal hole penetrating the center of the end wall 75, and the rotational shaft 91 is disposed in the seal section 751.
For example, the compressor housing 51 includes a cylindrical section 51a (shroud section) for accommodating the impeller 53, and a scroll section 51b for surrounding a part of the cylindrical section 51a on the side of the bearing housing 71. The scroll section 51b has a non-depicted outlet of supply air, and is in communication with the cylindrical section 51a via a diffuser section 51c. An opening of the cylindrical section 51a on an opposite side from the bearing housing 71 forms an inlet 51d of the supply air.
To an opening of the compressor housing 51 on the side of the bearing housing 71, an end wall 77 (compressor-side end wall) of the bearing housing 71 is fitted. The end wall 77 of the bearing housing 71 is fastened by a fastening member (for example, a bolt) to another end portion of the peripheral wall 73 (bearing housing body), and forms a part (end wall 77) of the bearing housing 71. An annular seal section 771 is fitted in the end wall 77. The seal section 771 is formed with a seal hole penetrating the center, and the rotational shaft 91 is disposed in the seal section 771.
Inside the bearing housing 71, bearing sections 76, 78 are respectively disposed in the turbine-side end wall 75 and the compressor-side end wall 77, and the bearing sections 76, 78 are respectively formed with bearing holes 761, 781. The gas bearing devices 10 according to the present embodiment are respectively disposed as radial bearings in the bearing holes 761, 781, and the rotational shaft 91 is disposed in the bearing holes 761,781 of the bearing sections 76, 78 while penetrating the gas bearing devices 10, respectively.
The rotational shaft 91 includes a pair of shaft sections 91a, 91b, an middle section 91c, a turbine rotor blade attachment section 91d, and a compressor impeller attachment section 91e. The pair of shaft sections 91a, 91b are sections disposed in shaft holes of the bearing sections 76, 78 while penetrating the gas bearing devices 10 respectively, and extend into the seal sections 751, 773 respectively. The middle section 91c is a section disposed between the pair of shaft sections 91a, 91b, has a larger diameter than the pair of shaft sections 91a, 91b, and is provided with a step at a boundary between the pair of shaft sections 91a, 91b. The turbine rotor blade attachment section 91d is a section disposed in an end portion on a side of the turbine 3, has a smaller diameter than the shaft section 91a, and is provided with a step between itself and the shaft section 91a. The compressor impeller attachment section 91e is a section disposed in an end portion on a side of the compressor 5, and as with the turbine rotor blade attachment section 91d, has a smaller diameter than the shaft section 91b and is provided with a step between itself and the shaft section 91b.
The turbine rotor blade 33 includes a hub 33a and a plurality of blades 33b. The hub 33a has a shape which is rotationally symmetric with respect to the axis AXL. One end side of the hub 33a is located on an outlet side of the exhaust gas, and another end side of the hub 33a is located on the side of the bearing housing 71, in a direction along the axis AXL. An outer peripheral surface of the hub 33a has a trumpet shape that widens from the one end side toward the another end side, and the hub 33a has on the another end side a back surface that faces the bearing housing 71.
The hub 33a has an attachment hole 33a1 penetrating the hub 33a along the axis AXL, and the attachment hole 33a1 has openings at the both ends of the hub 33a. The plurality of blades 33b are integrally attached to the outer peripheral surface of the hub 33a, and is arranged at a predetermined interval in the circumferential direction of the hub 33a.
The impeller 53 includes a hub 53a and a plurality of blades 53b. The hub 53a has a shape which is rotationally symmetric with respect to the axis AXL. One end side of the hub 53a is located on a side of the inlet of the supply air, and another end side of the hub 53a is located on the side of the bearing housing 71, in the direction along the axis AXL. An outer peripheral surface of the hub 53a has a trumpet shape that widens from the one end side toward the another end side, and the hub 53a has on the another end side a back surface that faces the bearing housing 71 (end wall 75).
The impeller 53 includes a hub 53a and a plurality of blades 53b. The hub 53a has a shape which is rotationally symmetric with respect to the axis AXL. One end side of the hub 53a is located on a side of the inlet 51d of the supply air, and another end side of the hub 53a is located on the side of the bearing housing 71, in the direction along the axis AXL. An outer peripheral surface of the hub 53a has a trumpet shape that widens from the one end side toward the another end side, and the hub 53a has on the another end side a back surface that faces the bearing housing 71 (end wall 75).
The hub 53a has an attachment hole 53a1 penetrating the hub 53a along the axis AXL, and the attachment hole 53a1 has openings at the both ends of the hub 53a. The plurality of blades 53b are integrally attached to the outer peripheral surface of the hub 53a, and is arranged at a predetermined interval in the circumferential direction of the hub 53a.
As shown in
The rotational shaft 9 penetrates the housing 11. For example, the housing 11 is formed by the above-described bearing section 76 (78), and the rotational shaft 9 is formed by the above-described rotational shaft 91.
The top foil 13 is disposed inside the housing 11 and has an annular shape surrounding an outer periphery of the rotational shaft 9.
The back spring 15 is disposed between the top foil 13 and the housing 11 (shaft hole), and has a plurality of crests 15a contacting the top foil 13 and a plurality of valleys 15b contacting the housing 11.
The pair of snap rings 17, 19 are fitted in shaft holes where the rotational shaft 9 of the housing 11 penetrates, and is configured to restrict movement of the back spring 15 in the axial direction of the rotational shaft 9. The pair of snap rings 17, 19 is a snap ring for hole, is fitted in a ring groove (circumferential groove) disposed in the shaft hole where the rotational shaft 9 of the housing 11 penetrates, and is fixed by an elastic restoring force of the snap ring 17, 19. As shown in
As shown in
For instance, in the example shown in
For instance, in the example shown in
With such configuration, since air is introduced between the rotational shaft 9 and the top foil 13 by rotation of the rotational shaft 9 and the rotational shaft 9 and the top foil 13 are cooled, it is possible to suppress a temperature rise of the top foil 13 due to a mechanical loss of the rotational shaft 9 of the rotational shaft 9.
As shown in
With such configuration, by rotation of the rotational shaft 9, air is introduced between the rotational shaft 9 and the top foil 13 by the turning groove 17c, 19c of at least one of the pair of snap rings 17, 19.
As shown in
With such configuration, by rotation of the rotational shaft 9, air is introduced between the rotational shaft 9 and the top foil 13 by the turning groove 9a, 9a2 of the rotational shaft 9.
Each of the pair of snap rings 17, 19 has an inner peripheral surface 17b, 19b with self-lubricating properties.
With such configuration, since inner peripheral surface 17b, 19b of each of the pair of snap rings 17, 19 has self-lubricating properties, the load of the rotational shaft 9 need not be supported only by the back spring 15 during low-speed rotation of the rotational shaft 9 and the support stiffness of the back spring 15 can be reduced. Whereby, the gas film can reliably be formed between the rotational shaft 9 and the top foil 13 during high-speed rotation of the rotational shaft 9. Further, by reducing the support stiffness of the back spring 15, the pair of snap rings 17, 19 support the rotational shaft 9 during low-speed rotation of the rotational shaft 9, and since the inner peripheral surface 17b, 19b of each of the pair of snap rings 17, 19 has self-lubricating properties, the pair of snap rings 17, 19 can reliably rotatably support the rotational shaft 9.
Each of the pair of snap rings 17, 19 is composed of a self-lubricating material.
With such configuration, since each of the pair of snap rings 17, 19 is composed of the self-lubricating material, the inner peripheral surface 17b, 19b of each of the pair of snap rings 17, 19 has self-lubricating properties. Whereby, it is possible to reduce the support stiffness of the back spring.
The self-lubricating material is a synthetic resin. For example, the synthetic resin is a high functional resin called engineering plastic, and for example, MC nylon, polyacetal (POM), etc. can be adopted.
With such configuration, each of the pair of snap rings 17, 19 is composed of the synthetic resin.
As described above, if the inner peripheral surface 17b, 19b of each of the pair of snap rings 17, 19 has self-lubricating properties, as shown in
In the gas bearing device 10 where the support stiffness of the back spring 15 is reduced, as shown in
With such configuration, the gas film can reliably be formed between the rotational shaft 9 and the top foil 13 during high-speed rotation of the rotational shaft 9. Further, by reducing the support stiffness of the back spring 15, the pair of snap rings 17, 19 support the rotational shaft 9 during low-speed rotation of the rotational shaft 9, and since the inner peripheral surface 17b, 19b of each of the pair of snap rings 17, 19 has self-lubricating properties, the pair of snap rings 17, 19 can reliably rotatably support the rotational shaft 9.
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and also includes an embodiment obtained by modifying the above-described embodiments and an embodiment obtained by combining these embodiments as appropriate.
The contents described in the above embodiments would be understood as follows, for instance.
A gas bearing device (10) according to an aspect [1] is a gas bearing device using a gas as a working fluid, including: a rotational shaft (9); a housing (11) where the rotational shaft (9) penetrates; an annular top foil (13) disposed inside the housing (11) and surrounding an outer periphery of the rotational shaft (9); a back spring (15) disposed between the top foil (13) and the housing (11), and having a plurality of crests (15a) contacting the top foil (13) and a plurality of valleys (15b) contacting the housing (11); and a pair of snap rings (17, 19) fitted in shaft holes where the rotational shaft (9) of the housing (11) penetrates, and configured to restrict movement of the back spring (15) in an axial direction of the rotational shaft (9). The gas bearing device (10) has a turning groove (17c, 19c, 9a, 9a2) inclined with respect to an axis of the rotational shaft (9), in at least one of the pair of snap rings (17, 19) or in a region of the rotational shaft (9) facing at least one of the pair of snap rings (17, 19).
With such configuration, since air is introduced between the rotational shaft (9) and the top foil (13) by rotation of the rotational shaft (9) and the rotational shaft (9) and the top foil (13) are cooled, it is possible to suppress a temperature rise of the top foil (13) due to a mechanical loss during rotation of the rotational shaft (9).
[2] A gas bearing device (10) according to another aspect is the gas bearing device (10) as defined in [1], wherein the turning groove (9a, 9a2) of the rotational shaft (9) is inclined in the same direction as a rotation direction of the rotational shaft (9) toward a region surrounded by the pair of snap rings (17, 19).
With such configuration, by rotation of the rotational shaft (9), air is introduced between the rotational shaft (9) and the top foil (13) by the turning groove (9a, 9a2) of the rotational shaft (9).
[3] A gas bearing device (10) according to another aspect is the gas bearing device (10) as defined in [1] or [2], wherein the turning groove (17c, 19c) of at least one of the pair of snap rings (17, 19) is inclined in a direction opposite to a rotation direction of the rotational shaft (9) toward a region surrounded by the pair of snap rings (17, 19).
With such configuration, by rotation of the rotational shaft (9), air is introduced between the rotational shaft (9) and the top foil (13) by the turning groove (17c, 19c) of at least one of the pair of snap rings (17, 19).
[4] A gas bearing device (10) according to another aspect is the gas bearing device (10) as defined in any one of [1] to [3], wherein each of the pair of snap rings (17, 19) has an inner peripheral surface (17b, 19b) with self-lubricating properties on the rotational shaft (9).
With such configuration, since the inner peripheral surface (17b, 19b) of each of the pair of snap rings (17, 19) has self-lubricating properties, the load of the rotational shaft (9) need not be supported only by the back spring (15) during low-speed rotation of the rotational shaft (9) and the support stiffness of the back spring (15) can be reduced. Whereby, the gas film can reliably be formed between the rotational shaft (9) and the top foil (13) during high-speed rotation of the rotational shaft (9). Further, by reducing the support stiffness of the back spring (15), the pair of snap rings (17, 19) support the rotational shaft (9) during low-speed rotation of the rotational shaft (9), and since the inner peripheral surface (17b, 19b) of each of the pair of snap rings (17, 19) has self-lubricating properties, the pair of snap rings (17, 19) can reliably rotatably support the rotational shaft (9).
[5] A gas bearing device (10) according to another aspect is the gas bearing device (10) as defined in [4], wherein each of the pair of snap rings (17, 19) is composed of a self-lubricating material.
With such configuration, since each of the pair of snap rings (17, 19) is composed of the self-lubricating material, the inner peripheral surface (17b, 19b) of each of the pair of snap rings (17, 19) has self-lubricating properties. Whereby, it is possible to reduce the support stiffness of the back spring (15).
[6] A gas bearing device (10) according to another aspect is the gas bearing device (10) as defined in [5], wherein the self-lubricating material is a synthetic resin.
With such configuration, each of the pair of snap rings (17, 19) is composed of the synthetic resin.
A turbocharger according to an aspect [7], includes: the gas bearing device (10) as defined in any one of the above [1] to [6].
With such configuration, since air is introduced between the rotational shaft (9) and the top foil (13) by rotation of the rotational shaft (9) and the rotational shaft (9) and the top foil (13) are cooled, it is possible to suppress a temperature rise of the top foil (13) due to a mechanical loss during rotation.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2021-030501 | Feb 2021 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/JP2022/006818 | 2/21/2022 | WO |