Patent Application
20150345376
The present invention relates to a variable geometry exhaust gas turbocharger.
In exhaust turbochargers, a variable geometry mechanism to control flow of exhaust gas acting on the turbine wheel, which is disposed in a nozzle part between an turbine scroll part of an annular shape formed in a turbine housing and the turbine wheel rotatably provided in the center part of the turbine housing, is widely used.
Examples of such a variable geometry mechanism include a mechanism of a swing vane type where exhaust gas flow is controlled by rotating a movable vane disposed in the nozzle part, and a mechanism of a slide vane type where exhaust gas flow is controlled by moving forward and backward a nozzle wall on which a nozzle vane is fixed.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a slide vane type variable geometry exhaust gas turbocharger.
Patent Document 1: JP 2008-133924A
The variable geometry mechanism such as a swing vane type or a slide vane type has a sliding part, and therefore has a particular problem such as wearing or fixation due to thermal deformation of the sliding part. There is also a problem such that if a gap for the sliding part is widened to solve such problem, performance of the turbine is likely to decline.
In this regard, the present inventors have considered it effective to simplify the structure of the sliding part as much as possible so as to be less susceptible to the thermal deformation of the sliding part.
At least one embodiment of the present invention has been made in view of the above problems and is to provide a variable geometry exhaust gas turbocharger comprising a variable geometry mechanism having a simplified structure of a sliding part.
A variable geometry exhaust gas turbocharger according to at least one embodiment of the present invention comprises:
a turbine rotor including a rotating shaft and a turbine wheel fixed on an end part of the rotating shaft;
a bearing housing accommodating a bearing unit for rotatably supporting the rotating shaft;
a turbine housing accommodating the turbine wheel rotatably and having formed, around the turbine wheel, an turbine scroll part of an annular shape in which exhaust gas flows; and
a variable geometry mechanism provided in a nozzle part of an annular shape to guide the exhaust gas flowing in the turbine scroll part into the turbine wheel;
wherein the variable geometry mechanism comprises:
a nozzle vane protruding, in a state of being unable to rotate, from at least one of a shroud side or a hub side of the nozzle part toward the nozzle part;
a nozzle wall of an annular shape configured to be movable forward and backward from the hub side toward the shroud side or from the shroud side toward the hub side of the nozzle part, and configured to permit a nozzle width of the nozzle part to be variable over all circumference; and
a driving part for moving the nozzle wall forward and backward.
According to the above variable geometry exhaust gas turbocharger, the nozzle vane is fixed in the nozzle part in a state where the nozzle vane is not rotatable, and only the nozzle wall is movable forward and backward. Accordingly, it is possible to simplify the structure of the sliding part as compared with a conventional variable geometry mechanism of a swing vane type or of a slide vane type.
In particular, in a conventional case where a nozzle vane itself is swung or slid, the driving mechanism is required to have a high actuation accuracy because the nozzle vane is a member of controlling directly the flow of exhaust gas. In contrast, according to the embodiment, the nozzle vane is fixed in the nozzle part, and only the nozzle wall is moved forward and backward, whereby it is possible to manage the actuation accuracy of the driving mechanism less strictly than the conventional type and thereby to reduce cost.
In some embodiments, the nozzle wall comprises: a flow guide wall part constituting at least a part of a hub-side flow guide wall defining the nozzle part together with a shroud-side flow guide wall of the turbine housing therebetween; an outer circumferential side wall part of an annular shape connected to an outer circumferential side of the flow guide wall part; and an inner circumferential side wall part of an annular shape connected to an inner circumferential side of the flow guide wall part, and wherein in the flow guide wall part, an opening through which the nozzle vane is insertable, is formed.
According to such embodiments, it is possible to obtain a simple structure of the nozzle wall comprising three annual wall parts: the flow guide wall part, the outer circumferential side wall part, and the inner circumferential side wall part.
In some embodiments, the nozzle vane protrudes from the shroud-side flow guide wall toward the nozzle part.
According to such embodiments, it is possible to shorten the length of the nozzle vane as compared to the case where the nozzle vane protrudes from the hub side where a recess portion is formed.
In some embodiments, in a shroud part of the turbine housing, a cooling passage for a cooling medium to flow is formed.
According to such embodiments, by allowing the cooling medium such as water, oil or air, to flow in the cooling passage, it is possible to cool the shroud-side flow guide wall or the nozzle vane protruding from the shroud-side flow guide wall.
In some embodiments, inside the nozzle vane, a cavity portion communicated with the cooling passage is formed.
According to such embodiments, it is possible to cool the nozzle vane more effectively.
In some embodiments, inside the nozzle vane, a through-hole is formed through the nozzle vane in an axial direction.
According to such embodiments, it is possible to cool the nozzle vane effectively by the flow of the cooling medium in the through-hole.
In some embodiments, in the shroud part of the turbine housing, a cooling medium discharging passage for permitting the through-hole of the nozzle vane and an exhaust gas outlet on a downstream side of the turbine wheel to be communicated with each other, is formed.
According to such embodiments, the cooling medium having flown in the through-hole is discharged via the cooling medium discharging passage to the exhaust gas outlet on a downstream side of the turbine wheel, whereby it is possible to continuously supply the cooling medium to the through-hole.
In some embodiments, the variable geometry exhaust gas turbocharger comprises a cooling medium introducing mechanism for introducing the cooling medium into an internal space of the nozzle wall surrounded by the flow guide part, the outer circumferential side wall part and the inner circumferential side wall part.
According to such embodiments, it is possible to introduce the cooling medium into the internal space of the nozzle wall from the cooling medium introducing mechanism, whereby it is possible to cool the nozzle wall effectively.
In some embodiments, the nozzle wall has a collar portion provided so as to project from a circumferential edge of the opening toward the internal space.
According to such embodiments, since the nozzle wall has a collar portion provided so as to project from a circumferential edge of the opening toward the internal space, fluid including e.g. the cooling medium introduced into the internal space is less likely to leak to the nozzle part, and it is thereby possible to suppress reduction in the turbine efficiency due to leakage of the cooling medium.
Further, in such embodiments where the above through-hole formed inside the nozzle vane is employed in combination, the cooling medium introduced into the internal space flows in the through-hole, whereby it is possible to cool the nozzle vane at the same time as the nozzle wall.
In some embodiments, the cooling medium introducing mechanism is configured to introduce, as the cooling medium, air flowing in a compressor housing of the variable geometry exhaust gas turbocharger.
According to such embodiments, it is possible to use, as the cooling medium, the air flowing in the compressor housing with a simple structure.
In some embodiments, the cooling medium introducing mechanism has a pressure control device for controlling a pressure of the air to be introduced into the internal space of the nozzle wall.
According to such embodiments, it is possible to control the pressure of the air to be introduced to the internal space of the nozzle wall. Accordingly, by controlling the pressure of the air to be introduced in accordance with the timing of moving the nozzle wall forward and downward, it is possible to reduce the driving power for the driving part for moving the nozzle wall forward and backward.
According to at least one embodiment of the present invention, the nozzle vane is fixed in the nozzle part in a state where the nozzle vane is not rotatable, and only the nozzle wall is movable forward and backward, whereby a variable geometry exhaust gas turbocharger comprising a variable geometry mechanism having a simplified structure of a sliding part, is provided.
Each of
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail 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 embodiments shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limitative of the scope of the present invention.
As shown in
On the opposite side of the turbine housing 10 across the bearing housing 20, a compressor housing 30 for rotatably accommodating a compressor impeller 32 fixed on the other end part of the rotating shaft 24 is connected to the bearing housing 20.
High-temperature exhaust gas exhausted from an engine (not shown) flows in the turbine scroll part 16 of the turbine housing 10 and is guided to the turbine wheel 12 via the nozzle part 18, as indicated by the arrow in the figure. Then the exhaust gas does work on the turbine wheel 12 to rotate the turbine rotor 26 and then is discharged from the exhaust gas outlet 14 to the outside of the turbocharger 1.
On the other hand, in the compressor housing 30, the compressor impeller 32 rotates along with the rotation of the turbine rotor 26. And, as indicated by the arrow in the figure, air introduced from an intake air inlet 34 is compressed by the compressor impeller 32 and sent to an compressor scroll part 36. This compressed air is supplied to the engine.
Further, the variable geometry exhaust gas turbocharger 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises, as shown in the part ‘a’ in the figure, a variable geometry mechanism 40 provided in the annular nozzle part 18 to guide the exhaust gas flowing in the turbine scroll part 16 to the turbine wheel 12.
Now, specific configuration of the variable geometry mechanism 40 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to
As shown in
The nozzle vane 42 has a base end part 43 fixed to the turbine housing 10 or the bearing housing 20 by welding or by a fastening means such as a bolt, and protrudes toward the nozzle part 18 in a state of being unable to rotate. Plurality of the nozzle vanes 42 are arranged with intervals in the circumferential direction.
In the variable geometry mechanism 40A shown in
The nozzle wall 44 comprises: an annular flow guide wall part 44a constituting at least a part of a hub-side flow guide wall 54 defining the nozzle part 18 together with a shroud-side flow guide wall 52 of the turbine housing 10 between the hub-side flow guide wall 54 and the shroud-side flow guide wall 52; an annular outer circumferential side wall part 44b connected to an outer circumferential side of the flow guide wall part 44a; and an annular inner circumferential side wall part 44c connected to an inner circumferential side of the flow guide wall part 44a. In the flow guide wall part 44a, an opening 44d through which the nozzle vane 42 is insertable, is formed. In
In the embodiments as shown in
As shown in
When the cam shaft 46e is rotated by an actuator (not shown), the nozzle wall 44 moves forward and backward in the axial direction along the profile of the cam 46d. When the nozzle wall 44 moves forward and backward in the axial direction, the nozzle with B defined as the width between the shroud-side flow guide wall 52 and the hub-side flow guide wall 54 in the nozzle part 18 is varied over all circumference of the annular nozzle part 18. The flow of the exhaust gas flowing in the nozzle part 18 can be controlled by the change of the nozzle width B.
According to the above variable geometry exhaust gas turbocharger 1, the nozzle vane 42 is fixed in the nozzle part 18 in a state of being unable to rotate, and only the nozzle wall 44 is movable forward and backward. Thus, the structure of the sliding portion is simplified as compared with a conventional variable geometry mechanism of swing vane type or of slide vane type.
In particular, in a conventional case where a nozzle vane itself is swung or slid, the driving mechanism is required to have a high actuation accuracy because the nozzle vane is a member of controlling directly the flow of exhaust gas. In contrast, according to the embodiment, the nozzle vane 42 is fixed in the nozzle part 18, and only the nozzle wall 44 is moved forward and backward, whereby it is possible to manage the actuation accuracy of the driving mechanism less strictly than the conventional type and thereby to reduce cost.
Further, in the above embodiment, the nozzle vane 42 protrudes from the shroud-side flow guide wall 52 toward the nozzle part 18, whereby it is possible to shorten the length of the nozzle vane 42 as compared to the case where the nozzle vane 42 protrudes from the hub side where the recess portion 56 is formed.
Each of
In some embodiments, as shown in
According to such embodiments, by allowing the cooling medium such as water, oil or air, to flow in the cooling passage 60, it is possible to cool the shroud-side flow guide wall 52 or the nozzle vane 42 protruding from the shroud-side flow guide wall 52. Therefore it is possible, for example, to form the nozzle vane 42 from a typical inexpensive stainless steel without using expensive materials such as heat resistant Ni-based alloy.
In particular, when the cooling passage 60 is formed on the back side of the base end part 43 of the nozzle vane 42, it is possible to obtain a large effect of cooling the nozzle vane 42.
In some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, as shown in
According to such embodiments, it is possible to cool the nozzle vane 42 effectively by the flow of the cooling medium such as air in the through-hole 64.
In some embodiments, in the shroud part 15 of the turbine housing 10, formed is a cooling medium discharging passage 66 for permitting the through-hole 64 of the nozzle vane 42 and an exhaust gas outlet 14 on a downstream side of the turbine wheel 12 to be communicated with each other. At least one cooling medium discharging passage 66 as described above may be formed, or, a plurality of such cooling medium discharging passages 66 may be formed with intervals in the circumferential direction.
According to such embodiments, the cooling medium having flown in the through-hole 64 is discharged via the cooling medium discharging passage 66 to the exhaust gas outlet 14 on the downstream side of the turbine wheel 12, whereby it is possible to continuously supply the cooling medium to the through-hole 64.
In some embodiments, the variable geometry exhaust gas turbocharger 1 comprises, as shown in
According to such embodiments, it is possible to introduce the cooling medium into the internal space 44f of the nozzle wall 44 from the cooling medium introducing mechanism 70, whereby it is possible to cool the nozzle wall 44 effectively. In addition, since the nozzle wall 44 has a collar portion 44e provided so as to project from the circumferential edge of the opening 44d toward the hub side, the cooling medium introduced into the internal space 44f is less likely to leak to the nozzle part 18, and it is thereby possible to suppress reduction in the turbine efficiency due to leakage of the cooling medium.
Further, in such embodiments where the through-hole 64 formed inside the nozzle vane 42 as shown in
In some embodiments, as shown in
That is, the cooling medium introducing mechanism 70 has a cooling medium introducing tube 72 for permitting the compressor scroll part 36 of the compressor housing 30 and the recess portion 56 in which the nozzle wall 44 is accommodated to be communicated with each other, and the air compressed by the compressor impeller 32 can be introduced as the cooling medium into the internal space 44f of the nozzle wall 44.
According to such embodiments, it is possible to use, as the cooling medium, the air flowing in the compressor housing 30 with a simple structure.
In some embodiments, as shown in
According to such embodiments, it is possible to control the pressure of the air to be introduced to the internal space 44f of the nozzle wall 44. Accordingly, by controlling the control valve 74 in accordance with the timing of moving the nozzle wall 44 forward and downward to control the pressure of the air to be introduced, it is possible to reduce the driving power for the driving part 46 for moving the nozzle wall 44 forward and backward. As in such embodiment, the variable geometry exhaust gas turbocharger 1 may comprise a controller to control the driving part 46 and the control valve 74 integrally.
Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and various amendments and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Obviously, some of embodiments described above may be combined with each other.
The variable geometry exhaust gas turbocharger according to at least one embodiment of the present invention is preferably used as a turbocharger for an automobile engine, for example.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2013/054402 | 2/21/2013 | WO | 00 |
