Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A turbocharger for use with an internal combustion engine and comprising a compressor having a rotatable air pressurizing impeller and a turbine comprising a turbine housing, a radial inward flow turbine wheel mounted for rotation about a central axis within the housing and connected to the compressor impeller, said housing having an annular inlet passage defined by two generally radially extending opposed side walls adjacent the periphery of the turbine wheel through which passage heated engine exhaust flows for driving the wheel, means for controlling the flow area of said passage, said control means comprising an axially displaceable ring element including a thin sheet metal stamping comprising an axially extending sleeve portion, an integral radially extending flange portion at one end of said sleeve portion extending radially inward between said sleeve portion and the periphery of said turbine wheel and a radially outwardly directed flange portion at the other end of said sleeve portion, and means connected to the radially outwardly directed flange portion for displacing the axially displaceable ring element so as to vary the flow area of the inlet passage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
A turbocharger for use with an internal combustion engine and comprising a compressor having a rotatable air pressurizing impeller and a turbine comprising a turbine housing, a radial inward flow turbine wheel mounted for rotation about a central axis within the housing and connected to the compressor impeller, said housing having an annular inlet passage defined by two generally radially extending opposed side walls adjacent the periphery of the turbine wheel through which passage heated engine exhaust flows for driving the wheel, means for controlling the flow area of said passage, said control means comprising an axially displaceable ring element including a thin sheet metal stamping comprising an axially extending sleeve portion, an integral radially extending flange portion at one end of said sleeve portion extending radially inward between said sleeve portion and the periphery of said turbine wheel and a radially outwardly directed flange portion at the other end of said sleeve portion, and means connected to the radially outwardly directed flange portion for displacing the axially displaceable ring element so as to vary the flow area of the inlet passage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A turbocharger as claimed in claim 1 further comprising fixed vanes generally extending into the flow area of the inlet passage and said radially inwardly directed flange portion being slotted to accept the vanes and permit the flange to move along the longitudinal axis of the vanes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A turbocharger as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which at least one side wall of the inlet passage is formed from a thin material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A turbocharger as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the junction of the radially inwardly directed flange portion with the sleeve portion forms a rounded contour.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
A turbocharger as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the displacing means comprises at least two shafts each having one end attached to the radially outwardly directed flange portion, and each shaft extends through an opening in the turbine housing thereby locating the axially displaceable ring element relative to said turbine housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A turbocharger as claimed in claim 3, in which one of the passage side walls comprises an integral, thin wall sleeve section, and the sleeve portion of the axially displaceable ring element is loosely piloted over the sleeve section of the passage side wall.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
A turbocharger as claimed in claim 6 in which one of the passage side walls further comprises an integral radially outwardly directed thin wall flange connected to the sleeve section of said passage side wall, and the radially outwardly directed flange of said passage side wall is supported by the turbine housing.