Power plants – Fluid motor means driven by waste heat or by exhaust energy... – With supercharging means for engine
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-21
2001-09-04
Denion, Thomas (Department: 3748)
Power plants
Fluid motor means driven by waste heat or by exhaust energy...
With supercharging means for engine
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282899
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to turbochargers for internal combustion engines, and more particularly to housings for the compressor stages in turbocharger systems.
BACKGROUND ART
A limiting factor in the performance of an internal combustion engine is the amount of combustion air that can be delivered to the intake manifold for combustion in the engine cylinders. Atmospheric pressure is often inadequate to supply the required amount of air for proper operation of an engine.
An internal combustion engine, therefore, may include one or more turbochargers for compressing air to be supplied to one or more combustion chambers within corresponding combustion cylinders. Each turbocharger typically includes a turbine driven by exhaust gases of the engine and a compressor driven by the turbine. The compressor receives the air to be compressed and supplies the air to the combustion chamber. It is also known to use turbochargers to compress gaseous fuels, and to compress a fluid stream mixture of combustion air and fuel.
A conventional multi-stage turbocharger includes a turbine section and two or more compressor sections. A common shaft interconnects the turbine wheel of the turbine section with compressor wheels in the compressor sections. Ambient air to be used for combustion in the internal combustion engine is brought into an inlet for the first compressor section. The air is compressed by the first compressor wheel, and passes from the first compressor section through a first compressor section outlet to the inlet of the second compressor section, for further compression. An interstage duct is used to conduct the compressed air from the first compressor section outlet to the inlet of the second compressor section. The out flow from the second compressor section exits the turbocharger at the second compressor section outlet, and is directed to the inlet manifold of the internal combustion engine.
One of the problems associated with the use of turbochargers is the build up of heat in the compressed air. Heat reduction has been accomplished through the use of so called “interstage coolers” between the compressor stages of a multistage turbocharger and/or so-called “aftercoolers” between the second or last compressor outlet and the intake manifold. Known interstage coolers and aftercoolers have included external units to which the compressed air is ducted for cooling therein. Ducting to and from interstage coolers and aftercoolers can be complex and expensive to manufacture.
Another problem associated with the use of turbochargers is the complex housing or scroll which surrounds the compressor wheels, and the complex interstage duct used to connect compressors of a multi-stage turbocharger. Manufacture of these components is complex and difficult, and adds significantly to the cost of providing a turbocharger.
It is known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,902 to provide a support housing to which exhaust gas turbochargers are fastened. The housing encloses a hollow space which receives the turbines of the exhaust gas turbocharger, while the compressors are situated outside the hollow space. The turbines include turbine housings having spiral ducts for the flow of exhaust gases there through.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In responding to the deficiencies of the prior art, the present invention provides a box-like housing defining a hollow space, a compressor wheel operatively disposed in the hollow space, and the housing defining an inlet opening associated with the compressor wheel. An outlet associated with the compressor wheel is in fluid flow communication with the hollow space.
In one aspect of the invention, a turbocharger for an internal combustion engine includes a first stage enclosure defining a first hollow space within the first stage enclosure, and a first stage first shaft. A first stage first turbine is disposed outside the enclosure, and includes a first stage first turbine wheel carried by the first stage first shaft. A first stage compressor includes a first stage first compressor wheel disposed in the first stage enclosure and carried by the first stage first shaft. A first stage first compressor inlet is defined by the enclosure and is in fluid flow communication with the area outside the first stage enclosure. A first stage first compressor outlet is associated with the first stage first compressor wheel, and is in fluid flow communication with the first hollow space. A second stage enclosure defines a second hollow space within the second stage enclosure. A second stage first shaft is provided, and a second stage first turbine disposed outside the second stage enclosure includes a second stage first turbine wheel carried by the second stage first shaft. A second stage first compressor includes a second stage first compressor wheel disposed in the second stage enclosure and carried by the second stage first shaft. A second stage first compressor inlet is defined by the second stage enclosure and associated with the second stage first compressor wheel. The second stage first compressor inlet is in fluid flow communication with the first hollow space. A second stage first compressor outlet is associated with the second stage first compressor wheel, and is in fluid flow communication with the second hollow space.
In another aspect of the invention; an internal combustion engine includes an exhaust manifold; a plurality of combustion cylinders, each having a cylinder head and an inlet port in the cylinder head. A turbocharger includes a first stage enclosure defining a first hollow space within the first stage enclosure and an area outside the first stage enclosure. The turbocharger has a first stage first shaft; a first stage first turbine disposed outside the first stage enclosure, and a first stage first turbine wheel carried by the first stage first shaft. A first stage first turbine inlet is in fluid flow communication with the exhaust manifold. A first stage compressor has a first stage first compressor wheel disposed in the first stage enclosure and carried by the first stage first shaft. A first stage first compressor inlet is defined by the first stage enclosure, is associated with the first stage first compressor wheel, and is in fluid flow communication with the area outside the first stage enclosure. A first stage first compressor outlet is associated with the first stage first compressor wheel, and is in fluid flow communication with the first hollow space. The turbocharger further includes a second stage enclosure defining a second hollow space within the second stage enclosure and an area outside the second stage enclosure. The second hollow space is in fluid flow communication with the inlet ports. The turbocharger has a second stage first shaft. A second stage first turbine is disposed outside the second stage enclosure, and has a second stage first turbine wheel carried by the second stage first shaft, and a second stage first turbine inlet in fluid flow communication with the exhaust manifold. A second stage first compressor has a second stage first compressor wheel in the second stage enclosure, a second stage first compressor inlet associated with the second stage first compressor wheel and, and a second stage first compressor outlet associated with the second stage first compressor wheel. The second stage first compressor outlet is in fluid flow communication with the second hollow space. Fluid flow means interconnects the second hollow space and the inlet ports.
In still another aspect of the invention, a method of operating a turbocharger for an internal combustion engine includes the steps of providing a box-like housing, having an inlet opening therein, and a compressor wheel disposed in the housing; operating the compressor wheel in the housing; passing a fluid through the inlet opening to the compressor wheel; compressing the fluid with the compressor wheel; and discharging the fluid from the compressing step into the housing.
REFERENCES:
pa
Caterpillar Inc.
Denion Thomas
Taylor Todd T.
Trieu Thai-Ba
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