Abstract:
A rotating machine comprising such as an axial power turbine or a turbocharger has a housing with a bearing cavity and a chamber separated by a first wall. A shaft is rotatable about an axis in the bearing cavity, extends through an opening in the first wall and is mounted for rotation on a bearing assembly provided in the bearing cavity. An oil sealing arrangement including an oil diffuser device is arranged on the shaft for displacing oil away from the shaft as it rotates. This restricts the flow of oil to the opening. The oil diffuser device defines a diffuser passage between the bearing assembly and the first wall, the passage extending outwardly of the axis.
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. The arrangement provides an effective seal against blow-by across the turbine end seal and restricts gas flow from the relatively high pressure regions of the compressor and turbine housings into the relatively low pressure area of the bearing housing. It also ensures that there is a continuous flow of oil across the seal so as to prevent it degrading in the high temperature environment.
Abstract:
A turbocharger bearing housing defines a bore in which the turbocharger shaft is mounted for rotation in journal bearings. Lubricating oil is delivered to the journal bearings and a residue is retained in reservoirs in which the journal bearings are located. Two fluid retaining members are disposed around the shaft, each forming a wall of the reservoir and being sealed to the bearing housing. The lubricating fluid reservoir is provided between the fluid retaining members to a depth that at least partially immerses the journal bearings even when the oil supply is interrupted. This ensures that there is sufficient oil to lubricate the bearings at engine start-up, thereby reducing the risk of wear.
Abstract:
A turbocharger has a sealing arrangement between the turbocharger shaft and the bearing housing adjacent to the turbine and/or the compressor housings to restrict leaking of gas into the bearing housing. At least a pair of spaced sealing rings project from an annular surface of the bearing housing into corresponding annular recesses formed on the shaft. The trailing face of the second ring or the opposite surface of the recess has a plurality of radial grooves that define leak passages that serve to maintain a very small flow of gas from the turbine or compressor housing into the bearing housing. Alternatively there is a slot in the second ring to provide the leak passage. This ensures that there is a minimum gas flow so that a large pressure gradient is not applied across the second seal thereby avoiding wear, overheating and collapse of the ring.