This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to European application 12193018.4 filed in Europe on Nov. 16, 2012, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The disclosure relates to the field of turbomachines, such as exhaust gas turbochargers for charged internal combustion engines, and a nozzle ring for such a turbomachine.
Known turbochargers are used for power augmentation of reciprocating piston engines. So that the turbine can be operated as efficiently as possible, the exhaust gas is deflected in front of the turbine in a row of guide vanes of a guide vane device, also called a nozzle ring. In exhaust gas turbochargers with radial turbines, the nozzle ring includes (e.g., comprises) two fastening rings, which delimit the flow passage on both sides, and a plurality of guide vanes, which, depending upon application, are at a specified angle in relation to the flow and also have a different length.
If the nozzle ring 1 is produced in one piece by means of sand or investment casting processes, the flow guiding is as a rule certainly very good, for which a separate casting pattern has to be manufactured for each blade angular position. Moreover, the flexibility for additional angular positions or guide vane spacing's is limited since with each change a new casting pattern has to be produced, which both becomes expensive and results in a very long lead time.
In addition, there is a known method in which guide vanes are welded or soldered in individual rings. In this method, the flow guiding is optimum, but new rings should be provided for each angular position, for which the costs are a little less than in the case of the investment casting process.
In the most cost effective production variants of those which are widely applied, plates are welded or soldered between the fastening rings instead of prismatic profiles. The formed guide vanes are arranged in recesses in the fastening rings and welded or soldered therein. In the case of such nozzle rings, the flow guiding is considerably poorer than in the case of the two first-named variants on account of the plate profiles. Moreover, the walls are extremely thin in such nozzle rings and therefore susceptible to erosion as a result of exhaust gas particles.
Therefore, when nozzle rings are being produced a compromise between costs and efficiency of the nozzle ring should be adopted. To date, there has been no production method which is noticeably more cost effective than the investment casting process and still achieves a comparable, excellent flow guiding.
One known solution involves the assembly of nozzle rings from two fastening rings and from a multiplicity (e.g., plurality) of vanes of identical construction, as a result of which flexibility in production is significantly improved. So that assembled nozzle rings can cover the main functions of vane position and vane length (spacing's of the two fastening rings), but also include additional functions such as fastening of the entire nozzle ring in the turbocharger or sealing against leakage flow, different, or at least differently finished, base components are often used.
An exemplary nozzle ring is disclosed, comprising: a first, annular plate-like fastening ring; a second, annular plate-like fastening ring; and a plurality of guide vanes which are arranged between the first and second fastening rings and are fixed in a respective angular position, wherein the first and second fastening rings are arranged coaxially to each other, wherein the guide vanes have in each case a pin on a first end face, such that the guide vanes are configured to be guided in a first fastening ring through an arrangement of a respective pin in a respective hole, wherein the respective pin and the respective hole are configured such that, during assembly of the nozzle ring, the guide vanes are oriented in respective angular positions, wherein on a second end face, the guide vanes, have in each case at least one positioning aid which corresponds at least partially to an outer contour of said second end face, and wherein the guide vanes are fixed with regard to their angular position through an arrangement of the at least one positioning aid in an opening, which in each case corresponds to a shape of the positioning aid in the second fastening ring.
A guide vane for arranging and fixing in a respective angular position between two fastening rings of a nozzle ring is disclosed, wherein the two fastening rings are arranged coaxially to each other; wherein the guide vane has a pin on a first end face; and wherein, on a second end face, the guide vane has at least one positioning aid which in each case corresponds at least partially to an outer contour of the second end face.
A method for producing a nozzle ring with a plurality of guide vanes which are arranged between a first fastening ring and a second fastening ring is disclosed, the method comprising: providing, on one end face of the guide vanes, pins for arranging each guide vane in holes of the first fastening ring; providing openings in the second fastening ring, which openings correspond to a shape of positioning aids of the guide vanes, and into which the positioning aids of the guide vanes are inserted; and providing the guide vanes to the two fastening rings in a materially bonding, frictionally locking, or form-fitting manner.
Exemplary embodiments of the nozzle ring according to the disclosure are described in the following with reference to the drawings. In this case, in the drawings
Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure create an assembled nozzle ring with the flow guiding of a nozzle ring which is produced in the investment casting process, and which can be assembled from few individual elements in a modular manner for different vane positions and vane lengths.
According to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, a nozzle ring can include guide vanes having a pin on one end face which is accommodated in a hole, which is provided for the pin, in a first fastening ring. At the other end, the angular position of the vanes is set in the second fastening ring by means of a corresponding profiled recess in the fastening ring, which corresponds either to the complete surface of the end face or only to the profile of the projections on the end face, and is permanently fixed as a result of the installation of the vanes.
The pins on the first end face have the advantage that the first fastening ring specifies only simple holes for accommodating the vanes. Consequently, this fastening ring can also have more complex shapes without the production of this ring becoming more difficult as a result of profiled cutouts. For all vane angular positions, only one ring with always the same holes at the pivot point of the vanes can be used.
The passage width, and therefore the effective blade length which has an effect in the flow passage, is set by means of the second fastening ring with the profiled cutouts. Adjustment can be carried out via a shoulder, or via a plurality of shoulders, on the guide vanes or by means of a spacing tool during the joining of the contact points.
The pivot point of the individual guide vanes, depending upon embodiment, can vary, therefore the pin, depending upon embodiment, can be arranged at different places along the end face of the guide vane.
The guide vanes of the nozzle ring can be produced with a variable profile (e.g., shape, cross section and angular position) in the investment casting process, powder-metallurgical process or precision forging process.
For fastening the guide vanes on the fastening rings, these can be interconnected in a materially bonding manner, for example by means of welding or soldering. In each case, these are interconnected in such a way that the guide vanes and fastening rings are immovable in relation to each other after assembly. Optionally, the guide vanes can also be fastened on the fastening rings in a form-fitting or frictionally locking manner, for example by means of a snap-in device or by means of a pressed joint.
If the individual guide vanes are produced in the investment casting process, they can have any desired geometry, as a result of which optimum flow guiding is created in the finished assembled nozzle ring, corresponding to the flow guiding of the nozzle ring which is produced in one piece in the investment casting process.
The guide vanes can advantageously be cast as hollow profiles, as a result of which the overall weight of the nozzle ring can be reduced. This becomes lighter as a result and is therefore simpler to install and remove. Also, as a result of the hollow profiles of the guide vanes the transient stresses during operation with hot air flows are positively influenced.
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure the nozzle ring, which is assembled from individual parts, can be significantly more cost effective to produce than a comparable one-piece nozzle ring which is produced in the investment casting process. Cost advantages result from the casting or forging operation which is simplified many times over. The additional cost as a result of providing and prefabricating the fastening rings is further reduced by the first fastening ring with holes for accommodating the pins being able to be used for a plurality of exemplary embodiments of nozzle rings with different angular positions.
Since the exemplary nozzle ring of the present disclosure is assembled from different individual parts, different materials can also be used. This contributes further to the lowering of the production costs in relation to a nozzle ring which is produced in one piece in the investment casting process. Thus, for example only the guide vanes can be cast or forged from a higher value material (for example a nickel-based alloy), whereas the fastening rings can be produced from an inexpensive material (for example CrNi steel). Naturally, the two fastening rings can also be produced from another material in each case since they have to withstand different thermal or mechanical loads, for example.
A further advantage of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure in which the nozzle ring can be produced from individual guide vanes and separate fastening rings is the realization of nozzle rings with different vane positions and a single vane profile. For producing the fastening rings, only a marginally more appreciable additional cost is incurred in this case since only the pattern or the program for cutting out the openings in the fastening ring has to be changed. In contrast, in the case of the nozzle ring which is produced in one piece in the investment casting process a separate casting pattern, which can be specially manufactured, is specified for each vane position. In the case of an exhaust gas turbocharger of a specific overall size, for example, up to 10 different staggers (angular position of the profiles) become necessary.
Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure provide a further advantage of the nozzle ring in which individual segments, instead of a complete nozzle ring, can be produced without noticeable additional cost. A nozzle ring which is divided into two or more segments in the circumferential direction has a better transient behavior during heating up and cooling down. Moreover, the individual parts of the segmented nozzle ring, even without hollow profiles, can be markedly lighter than a complete, one-piece nozzle ring, which is advantageous for installation and removal.
So that the nozzle ring according to the disclosure can be positioned correctly and permanently with regard to the circumferential direction when being installed in the turbomachine, positioning elements can be provided on the fastening rings. These can be formed as projections or as grooves which are let into the fastening rings.
The exemplary embodiments of the nozzle ring according to the present disclosure are described with regard to use in a radial turbine of an exhaust gas turbocharger. The exemplary nozzle rings according to the disclosure can be suitable, however, for other turbomachines, such as for pumps, compressors, gas turbines, or other machines as desired.
An annular plate, this being the first fastening ring 10, serves as a base of the nozzle ring 1. Depending upon the installation geometry in the exhaust gas turbine, the first fastening ring 10 can assume shapes which go beyond the plate-like basic shape, for example an additional fastening flange, in order to enable the fastening in the connection between bearing housing 40 and turbine housing 30. Regarding functionality, only the annular plate shape is of importance, however, for the first fastening ring. Holes, in which pins of the guide vanes of the nozzle ring can subsequently be accommodated and, if necessary, be fixed, are let into the annular plate of the first fastening ring 10, which during operation also delimits the flow passage.
The third element of an exemplary nozzle ring is constructed modularly according to the present disclosure is the second fastening ring 11 which in the simplest form is only a thin plate with openings 14 for accommodating the positioning aids of the guide vanes 12. In this case, the openings 14 are matched in size and shape to the shape of the positioning aids and correspond to the contour of the positioning aids which are to be accommodated in the openings 14. The positioning aids correspond in this case at least partially to the profile of the end face B so that the openings 14 correspond either partially or completely to the contour of the end face B of the guide vanes 12. As a result of the orientation of the openings 14, the position of the individual guide vanes is fixed. Each guide vane can be rotated in the hole 16 in the first fastening ring 10 around the axis of the pin until the intended position is fixed by pushing in the free end of the guide vane into the opening 14 in the second fastening ring 11. In order to be able to produce nozzle rings with differently oriented guide vanes 12, according to the disclosure only the second fastening ring 11 should be adapted, whereas the first fastening ring 10 and the guide vanes 12 can remain unaltered for all possible angles of the guide vanes 12.
The recesses in the second fastening ring are advantageously cut out or stamped out during the production. In the case of cutting, laser cutting can be suitable. Alternatively, both fastening rings can be cast as individual parts.
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the second fastening ring of the nozzle ring can have openings 14 which correspond to the complete guide vane cross-section profile since the end faces B altogether serve as positioning aids. As a result, the second fastening ring 11 can be displaced along the height of the guide vanes, as is indicated in the right-hand half of
The positioning aids can be constructed such that they correspond only partially to the profile of the end face B. The guide vane tips, according to the exemplary embodiment of
During the assembly of the nozzle ring, which according to the disclosure is assembled in a modular manner, the guide vanes are inserted by their pins into the holes of the first fastening ring, as described above. On the opposite side, the free ends of the guide vanes are introduced into the matching openings in the second fastening ring, wherein the guide vanes are oriented around the axes of the pins in the holes so that the positioning aids are accommodated in the openings in the second fastening ring. Alternatively, the guide vanes can first be inserted into the second fastening ring and then the pins can be guided into the holes of the first fastening ring. If the flow passage height of the nozzle ring is not fixed via a stop, as in the exemplary embodiments according to
Although in the represented exemplary embodiments the two fastening rings are arranged parallel to each other in each case, exemplary embodiments are also conceivable and protected by the subsequent claims in which the fastening rings are arranged at an angle to each other. In this case, as shown in
Thus, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restricted. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and all changes that come within the meaning and range and equivalence thereof are intended to be embraced therein.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
12193018 | Nov 2012 | EP | regional |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
3495921 | Swearingen | Feb 1970 | A |
4502836 | Swearingen | Mar 1985 | A |
5182855 | Martin | Feb 1993 | A |
5586864 | Knorowski | Dec 1996 | A |
5964574 | Meier | Oct 1999 | A |
6729134 | Arnold | May 2004 | B2 |
8047771 | Tucker | Nov 2011 | B2 |
20020094284 | Arnold | Jul 2002 | A1 |
20020187061 | Arnold | Dec 2002 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
102012001236 | Jul 2013 | DE |
731822 | Jun 1955 | GB |
2002332857 | Nov 2002 | JP |
2002332862 | Nov 2002 | JP |
2003184563 | Jul 2003 | JP |
2011231740 | Nov 2011 | JP |
WO 0169045 | Sep 2001 | WO |
2005031120 | Apr 2005 | WO |
2008133320 | Jul 2010 | WO |
Entry |
---|
Search Report dated Jun. 18, 2013, by the European Patent Office for Application No. 12193018.4. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20140140834 A1 | May 2014 | US |