Variable flow turbine

Claim 2

An improved variable flow turbine for enabling a turbocharger to operate more efficiently, said improvement comprising: (a) a housing including a curved section with an inlet at one end and joined at a second end to a volute section which is formed about an axis, said volute section having an outlet coaxially aligned with the axis, said curved section further having a direction of curvature in the same direction as said volute section; (b) a rotor positioned within said housing for rotation about the axis of said volute section, said rotor having a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades; (c) a valve positioned at said inlet to said curved section for controlling flow therethrough such that as said valve is moved towards a closed position, both the mass average radius of curvature and the velocity of the incoming exhaust gas are increased; and (d) a divider wall formed in said housing and extending from said valve inwardly through said curved section and into said volute section for dividing said housing into inner and outer radial passages, each passage having a cross-sectional area within said volute section which is constantly decreasing as said passage approaches said rotor.

Claim 3

The improved variable flow turbine of claim 1 wherein said curved section has an arcuate span of between 30 and 180 degrees.

Claim 4

The improved variable flow turbine of claim 2 wherein said curved section has an arcuate span of about 45 to 90 degrees.

Claim 5

An improved variable flow turbine for enabling a turbocharger to operate more efficiently over an engine's operating range, said improvement comprising: (a) a housing including a curved section with an arcuate span of at least 30 degrees and an inlet at one end thereof, said curved section joined at a second end to a volute section having an arcuate span of at least 270 degrees, said volute section formed about an axis and having an outlet coaxially aligned with the axis, an inner surface of said curved section converging with an inner surface of said volute section to form a tongue terminating at the entrance to said volute section, and said curved section further having a direction of curvature in the same direction as said volute section; (b) a rotor positioned within said housing for rotation about the axis of said volute section and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades, the outer periphery of said rotor being aligned approximately tangential to said tongue; (c) a valve positioned at said inlet of said curved section for controlling flow therethrough such that as said valve is moved towards a closed position, both the mass average radius of curvature and the velocity of the incoming exhaust gas are increased; (d) a divider wall formed in said housing and extending from said valve to a point located approximately tangential to the circumference of said rotor, said point positioned approximately 90 degrees in arcuate span from the termination of said tongue, said divider wall dividing said housing into inner and outer radial passages, each passage having a cross-sectional area within said volute section which is constantly decreasing as said passage approaches said rotor.

Claim 6

An improved variable flow turbine for enabling a turbocharger to operate more efficiently over an engine's operating range, said improvement comprising: (a) a housing including a curved section with an arcuate span of at least 30 degrees and an inlet at one end thereof, said curved section joined at a second end to a volute section having an arcuate span of at least 270 degrees, said volute section formed about an axis and having an outlet coaxially aligned with the axis, an inner surface of said curved section converging with an inner surface of said volute section to form a tongue terminating at the entrance to said volute section, and said curved section further having a direction of curvature in the same direction as said volute section; (b) a rotor positioned within said housing for rotation about the axis of said volute section and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades, the outer periphery of said rotor being aligned approximately tangential to said tongue; (c) a valve positioned at said inlet of said curved section for controlling flow therethrough such that as said valve is moved towards a closed position, both the mass average radius of curvature and the velocity of the incoming exhaust gas are increased; (d) a divider wall formed in said housing and extending from said valve to a point located approximately tangential to the circumference of said rotor, said point positioned approximately 90 degrees in arcuate span from the termination of said tongue, said divider wall dividing said housing into inner and outer radial passages, each passage having a cross-sectional area within said volute section which is constantly decreasing as said passage approaches said rotor.

Claim 7

The improved variable flow turbine of claim 4 wherein the flow area of said outer passage is larger than the flow area of said inner passage.

Claim 8

The improved variable flow turbine of claim 5 wherein the flow area of said outer passage is approximately three times the flow area of said inner passage.

Claim 9

The improved variable flow turbine of claim 6 wherein said outer passage intersects approximately three times as much of the periphery of said rotor as said inner passage.

Claim 10

The improved variable flow turbine of claim 4 wherein said valve is operative anywhere between a first position wherein said inner passage is fully open to fluid flow and a second position wherein said inner passage is closed to fluid flow.

Claim 11

The improved variable flow turbine of claim 8 wherein said valve is rotatable to direct exhaust gases flowing through said inner passage toward said divider wall.

Claim 12

The improved variable flow turbine of claim 4 wherein an axial divider is aligned approximately perpendicular to said divider wall and extends axially into said housing from said inlet for dividing said housing into a pair of axially separated flow paths, each having inner and outer fluid passages.

Claim 13

An improved variable flow turbine comprising: (a) a housing including a curved section with an arcuate span of at least 30 degrees and with an inlet at one end thereof, said curved section joined at a second end to a volute section having an arcuate span of at least 270 degrees, said volute section formed about an axis and having an outlet coaxially aligned with the axis, an inner surface of said curved section converging with an inner surface of said volute section to form a tongue terminating at the entrance of said volute section and said curved section further having a direction of curvature in the same direction as said volute section; (b) a rotor positioned within said housing for rotation about the axis of said volute section and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades, the outer periphery of said rotor being aligned approximately tangential to said tongue; (c) an axial divider extending into said housing from said inlet for dividing said housing into a pair of axially separated flow paths; (d) a divider wall formed in said housing and extending from said inlet of said curved section to a point located approximately tangential to the circumference of said rotor, said point positioned approximately 90 degrees in arcuate span from the termination point of said tongue, said divider wall dividing each of said flow paths into inner and outer radial passages, each passage having a cross-sectional area within said volute section which is constantly decreasing as said passage approaches said rotor; (e) a rotary valve positioned at said inlet to said curved section and upstream from said termination point of said tongue for controlling the flow of a gas through said inlet, said rotary valve being operative anywhere between a first position wherein said inner passages are open to gas flow and a second position wherein said inner passages are closed to gas flow, and wherein the closing of said rotary valve increases both the mass average radius of curvature and the velocity of the incoming gas; and (f) means for regulating said rotary valve to move between said first and second positions.

Claim 14

An improved variable flow turbine comprising: (a) a housing including a curved section with an arcuate span of at least 30 degrees and with an inlet at one end thereof, said curved section joined at a second end to a volute section having an arcuate span of at least 270 degrees, said volute section formed about an axis and having an outlet coaxially aligned with the axis, an inner surface of said curved section converging with an inner surface of said volute section to form a tongue terminating at the entrance of said volute section and said curved section further having a direction of curvature in the same direction as said volute section; (b) a rotor positioned within said housing for rotation about the axis of said volute section and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades, the outer periphery of said rotor being aligned approximately tangential to said tongue; (c) an axial divider extending into said housing from said inlet for dividing said housing into a pair of axially separated flow paths; (d) a divider wall formed in said housing and extending from said inlet of said curved section to a point located approximately tangential to the circumference of said rotor, said point positioned approximately 90 degrees in arcuate span from the termination point of said tongue, said divider wall dividing each of said flow paths into inner and outer radial passages, each passage having a cross-sectional area within said volute section which is constantly decreasing as said passage approaches said rotor; (e) a rotary valve positioned at said inlet to said curved section and upstream from said termination point of said tongue for controlling the flow of a gas through said inlet, said rotary valve being operative anywhere between a first position wherein said inner passages are open to gas flow and a second position wherein said inner passages are closed to gas flow, and wherein the closing of said rotary valve increases both the mass average radius of curvature and the velocity of the incoming gas; and (f) means for regulating said rotary valve to move between said first and second positions.

Claim 15

The improved variable flow turbine of claim 11 wherein said rotary valve is rotatable to direct exhaust gases flowing through said inner passage toward said divider wall.

Claim 16

The improved variable flow turbine of claim 11 wherein said passages in said curved section have a constantly decreasing cross-sectional area from said inlet to said volute section.

Claim 17

The improved variable flow turbine of claim 11 wherein said inner and outer radial passages in said curved section have a decreasing radius of curvature as they extend inward from said inlet to said volute section.

Claim 18

An improved variable flow turbine comprising: (a) a housing including a curved section with an inlet at one end and joined at a second end to a volute section which is formed about an axis, said volute section having an outlet coaxially aligned with the axis, and said curved section being curved in the direction of said volute; (b) a rotor positioned within said housing for rotation about the axis of said volute section, said rotor having a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades; (c) a valve positioned at said inlet and within said curved section for controlling flow therethrough such that as said valve is moved towards a closed position, both the mass average radius of curvature and the velocity of the incoming exhaust gas are increased; and (d) a divider wall formed in said housing and extending from said valve inwardly through said curved section and into said volute section for dividing said housing into inner and outer radial passages, each passage having a cross-sectional area within said volute section which is constantly decreasing as said passage approaches said rotor.

Claim 19

An improved variable flow turbine comprising: (a) a housing including a curved section with an inlet at one end and joined at a second end to a volute section which is formed about an axis, said volute section having an outlet coaxially aligned with the axis, and said curved section being curved in the direction of said volute; (b) a rotor positioned within said housing for rotation about the axis of said volute section, said rotor having a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades; (c) a valve positioned at said inlet and within said curved section for controlling flow therethrough such that as said valve is moved towards a closed position, both the mass average radius of curvature and the velocity of the incoming exhaust gas are increased; and (d) a divider wall formed in said housing and extending from said valve inwardly through said curved section and into said volute section for dividing said housing into inner and outer radial passages, each passage having a cross-sectional area within said volute section which is constantly decreasing as said passage approaches said rotor.

Claim 20

An improved variable flow turbine comprising: (a) a housing including a curved section with an inlet at one end and joined at a second end to a volute section which is formed about an axis, said volute section having an outlet coaxially aligned with the axis, and said curved section being curved in the direction of said volute; (b) a rotor positioned within said housing for rotation about the axis of said volute section, said rotor having a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades; (c) a divider wall formed within both said curved section and said volute section for dividing said housing into inner and outer radial passages, each passage having a cross-sectional area within said volute section which is constantly decreasing as said passage approaches said rotor; and (d) a rotary valve positioned within said curved section between said inlet and said divider wall, said rotary valve being operative between a first position wherein said inner passage is open to gas flow and a second position wherein said inner passage is closed to gas flow, and wherein the closing of said rotary valve increases both the mass average radius of curvature and the velocity of the incoming gas.

Claim 21

An improved variable flow turbine comprising: (a) a housing including a curved section with an inlet at one end and joined at a second end to a volute section which is formed about an axis, said volute section having an outlet coaxially aligned with the axis, and said curved section being curved in the direction of said volute; (b) a rotor positioned within said housing for rotation about the axis of said volute section, said rotor having a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades; (c) a divider wall formed within both said curved section and said volute section for dividing said housing into inner and outer radial passages, each passage having a cross-sectional area within said volute section which is constantly decreasing as said passage approaches said rotor; and (d) a rotary valve positioned within said curved section between said inlet and said divider wall, said rotary valve being operative between a first position wherein said inner passage is open to gas flow and a second position wherein said inner passage is closed to gas flow, and wherein the closing of said rotary valve increases both the mass average radius of curvature and the velocity of the incoming gas.

Claim 22

An improved variable flow turbine for enabling a turbocharger to operate more efficiently, said improvement comprising: (a) a housing including a curved section with an inlet at one end and joined at a second end to a volute section which is formed about an axis, said volute section having an outlet coaxially aligned with the axis, said curved section further having a direction of curvature in the same direction as said volute section; (b) a rotor positioned within said housing for rotation about the axis of said volute section, said rotor having a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades; (c) a divider wall formed in said housing and extending from a point adjacent to said inlet to said curved section to a point located approximately tangential to the circumference of said rotor, said divider wall dividing said housing into inner and outer radial passages, each passage having a cross-sectional area within said volute section which is constantly decreasing as said passage approaches said rotor; and (d) a valve positioned at said inlet to said curved section for controlling flow through said inner radial passage such that as said valve is moved towards a closed position, both the mass average radius of curvature and the velocity of the incoming exhaust gas are increased.

Claim 23

An improved variable flow turbine for enabling a turbocharger to operate more efficiently, said improvement comprising: (a) a housing including a curved section with an inlet at one end and joined at a second end to a volute section which is formed about an axis, said volute section having an outlet coaxially aligned with the axis, said curved section further having a direction of curvature in the same direction as said volute section; (b) a rotor positioned within said housing for rotation about the axis of said volute section, said rotor having a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades; (c) a divider wall formed in said housing and extending from a point adjacent to said inlet to said curved section to a point located approximately tangential to the circumference of said rotor, said divider wall dividing said housing into inner and outer radial passages, each passage having a cross-sectional area within said volute section which is constantly decreasing as said passage approaches said rotor; and (d) a valve positioned at said inlet to said curved section for controlling flow through said inner radial passage such that as said valve is moved towards a closed position, both the mass average radius of curvature and the velocity of the incoming exhaust gas are increased.

Claim 24

An improved variable flow turbine for enabling a turbocharger to operate more efficiently over an engine's operating range, said improvement comprising: (a) a housing including a curved section with an arcuate span of at least 30 degrees and an inlet at one end thereof, said curved section joined at a second end to a volute section having an arcuate span of at least 270 degrees, said volute section formed about an axis and having an outlet coaxially aligned with the axis, an inner surface of said curved section converging with an inner surface of said volute section to form a tongue terminating at the entrance to said volute section, and said curved section further having a direction of curvature in the same direction as said volute section; (b) a rotor positioned within said housing for rotation about the axis of said volute section and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades, the outer periphery of said rotor being aligned approximately tangential to said tongue; (c) a divider wall formed in said housing and extending from a point adjacent to said inlet to said curved section to a point located approximately tangential to the circumference of said rotor, said point positioned approximately 90 degrees in arcuate span from the termination of said tongue, said divider wall dividing said housing into inner and outer radial passages, each passage having a cross-sectional area within said volute section which is constantly decreasing as said passage approaches said rotor; and (d) a rotary valve positioned at said inlet to said curved section for controlling flow through said inner radial passage, said rotary valve capable of rotating outward away from an inner surface of said curved section such that as said valve is moved towards a closed position, both the mass average radius of curvature and the velocity of the incoming exhaust gas are increased through said outer radial passage.

Claim 25

An improved variable flow turbine for enabling a turbocharger to operate more efficiently over an engine's operating range, said improvement comprising: (a) a housing including a curved section with an arcuate span of at least 30 degrees and an inlet at one end thereof, said curved section joined at a second end to a volute section having an arcuate span of at least 270 degrees, said volute section formed about an axis and having an outlet coaxially aligned with the axis, an inner surface of said curved section converging with an inner surface of said volute section to form a tongue terminating at the entrance to said volute section, and said curved section further having a direction of curvature in the same direction as said volute section; (b) a rotor positioned within said housing for rotation about the axis of said volute section and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades, the outer periphery of said rotor being aligned approximately tangential to said tongue; (c) a divider wall formed in said housing and extending from a point adjacent to said inlet to said curved section to a point located approximately tangential to the circumference of said rotor, said point positioned approximately 90 degrees in arcuate span from the termination of said tongue, said divider wall dividing said housing into inner and outer radial passages, each passage having a cross-sectional area within said volute section which is constantly decreasing as said passage approaches said rotor; and (d) a rotary valve positioned at said inlet to said curved section for controlling flow through said inner radial passage, said rotary valve capable of rotating outward away from an inner surface of said curved section such that as said valve is moved towards a closed position, both the mass average radius of curvature and the velocity of the incoming exhaust gas are increased through said outer radial passage.

Claim 26

An improved variable flow turbine comprising: (a) a housing including a curved section with an arcuate span of at least 30 degrees and with an inlet at one end thereof, said curved section joined at a second end to a volute section having an arcuate span of at least 270 degrees, said volute section formed about an axis and having an outlet coaxially aligned with the axis, an inner surface of said curved section converging with an inner surface of said volute section to form a tongue terminating at the entrance of said volute section and said curved section further having a direction of curvature in the same direction as said volute section; (b) a rotor positioned within said housing for rotation about the axis of said volute section and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades, the outer periphery of said rotor being aligned approximately tangential to said tongue; (c) an axial divider formed in said housing and extending inward from said inlet of said curved section for dividing said housing into a pair of axially separated flow paths; (d) a divider wall formed in said housing and extending from a point adjacent to said inlet to said curved section to a point located approximately tangential to the circumference of said rotor, said point positioned approximately 90 degrees in arcuate span from the termination point of said tongue, said divider wall dividing each of said flow paths into inner and outer radial passages, each passage having a cross-sectional area within said volute section which is constantly decreasing as said passage approaches said rotor; (e) a rotary valve positioned at said inlet to said curved section and upstream from said termination point of said tongue for controlling the flow of a gas through said inlet, said rotary valve being operable anywhere between a first position wherein said inner passages are open to gas flow and a second position wherein said inner passages are closed to gas flow, and wherein the closing of said rotary valve increases both the mass average radius of curvature and the velocity of the incoming gas; and (f) means for regulating said rotary valve to move between said first and second positions.

Claim 27

An improved variable flow turbine comprising: (a) a housing including a curved section with an arcuate span of at least 30 degrees and with an inlet at one end thereof, said curved section joined at a second end to a volute section having an arcuate span of at least 270 degrees, said volute section formed about an axis and having an outlet coaxially aligned with the axis, an inner surface of said curved section converging with an inner surface of said volute section to form a tongue terminating at the entrance of said volute section and said curved section further having a direction of curvature in the same direction as said volute section; (b) a rotor positioned within said housing for rotation about the axis of said volute section and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced blades, the outer periphery of said rotor being aligned approximately tangential to said tongue; (c) an axial divider formed in said housing and extending inward from said inlet of said curved section for dividing said housing into a pair of axially separated flow paths; (d) a divider wall formed in said housing and extending from a point adjacent to said inlet to said curved section to a point located approximately tangential to the circumference of said rotor, said point positioned approximately 90 degrees in arcuate span from the termination point of said tongue, said divider wall dividing each of said flow paths into inner and outer radial passages, each passage having a cross-sectional area within said volute section which is constantly decreasing as said passage approaches said rotor; (e) a rotary valve positioned at said inlet to said curved section and upstream from said termination point of said tongue for controlling the flow of a gas through said inlet, said rotary valve being operable anywhere between a first position wherein said inner passages are open to gas flow and a second position wherein said inner passages are closed to gas flow, and wherein the closing of said rotary valve increases both the mass average radius of curvature and the velocity of the incoming gas; and (f) means for regulating said rotary valve to move between said first and second positions.