Rotary kinetic fluid motors or pumps – Selectively adjustable vane or working fluid control means – Upstream of runner
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-26
2002-10-29
Look, Edward K. (Department: 3745)
Rotary kinetic fluid motors or pumps
Selectively adjustable vane or working fluid control means
Upstream of runner
C415S163000, C415S209300, C415S209400, C415S210100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06471470
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention concerns a vane adjustment mechanism used in a variable-capacity turbine to control the quantity of exhaust gas. The vane adjustment mechanism has fewer parts and a simpler configuration than its predecessors, which will operate in a stable fashion, and which will be highly durable. This invention also concerns the assembling method for the vane adjustment mechanism.
2. Description of the Related Art
The question of how to make exhaust gases cleaner, i.e., how to reduce the harmful nitrous oxides (NOx) and particulates in the exhaust, has become an environmental concern, particularly with respect to diesel engines. On the other end of the spectrum, the dynamic capability of a diesel engine, i.e., its torque and its output, can be increased by installing a turbocharger. In a turbocharger, a turbine powered by the exhaust gas is used to drive an air compressor which can supply a large quantity of intake air to the engine. Forcing more air into the engine will boost the rate of combustion in the engine and so increase its output.
Since the details of turbochargers are known to the public, we shall not explain them here; however, one means which has been employed to meet the demands in a diesel engine, as well as to increase its dynamic capabilities, is a turbocharger with a vane adjustment mechanism equipped with variable capacity vanes to control the quantity of exhaust gas from the engine.
As can be seen in
FIG. 7
, the vane adjustment mechanism
51
to control the quantity of exhaust gas lies within turbine housing
61
of turbocharger
60
, which is installed on intake pipe E
1
, which runs into engine E, and exhaust pipe E
2
. Mechanism
51
is on the outside of turbine blades
63
on one end of shaft
62
. In
FIG. 7
,
64
is the compressor impeller provided on the other end of turbine shaft
62
.
A prior art design for a vane adjustment mechanism
51
to control the quantity of exhaust gas is shown in
FIGS. 8 and 9
.
52
is a base unit formed by a short pipe member on the end of which is base flange
52
a
. The turbine blades
63
fit inside the interior of base unit
52
and are coaxial with it.
A second flange,
52
b
, is formed on the end of base unit
52
opposite of that where flange
52
a
is formed. A number of vane shaft holes
52
c
, which are equal in number to the nozzle vane units
53
that go from flange
52
a
to flange
52
b
. A cover
52
d
protects nozzle vane units
53
, which will be discussed shortly, on flange
52
a.
Each nozzle vane unit
53
is a variable capacity vane, and it has a vane shaft
53
a
slipped into vane shaft hole
52
c
, which fits to the vane shaft
53
a
. The nozzle vane unit
53
protrudes from flange
52
a
at a right angle with respect to the surface of that flange. The angle of inclination of the surface of the nozzle vane unit
53
can be adjusted between a radius angle and an arc angle with respect to the center of base unit
52
. One end of vane shaft
53
a
has nozzle vane unit
53
, and the opposite end of the vane shaft
53
a
is fixed by riveting to the drilled hole
54
a
of lever
54
, to be discussed shortly.
54
is a lever on top of flange
52
b
. The number of these levers
54
, is equal in number to the nozzle vane units
53
. A through hole
54
a
is provided on one end of lever
54
through which vane shaft
53
a
of nozzle vane unit
53
, runs through to base unit
52
. On the other end of lever
54
, on the surface opposite that of which nozzle vane unit
53
is located, is a protrusion
54
b
, which engages with one of holes
55
a
of link plate
55
, which will be discussed shortly.
The end of vane shaft
53
a
of nozzle vane unit
53
, the insert shaft in hole
54
a
of lever
54
, is riveted so that the nozzle vane unit
53
and the lever
54
form a single piece. Thus, both of the nozzle vane unit
53
and lever
54
are connected through base unit
52
. Since the end of vane shaft
53
a
is riveted, the movement of lever
54
will change the angular orientation of the surface of nozzle vane unit
53
.
55
is a link plate. The rounded center portion of link plate
55
engages with the outer surface of base unit
52
. There is an eccentric hole
55
a
over the arc of the rounded portion, in which protrusion
54
b
of lever
54
engages. Link plate
55
also has a link portion
55
b
on a portion of the circumference of the plate, to engage with actuator unit.
A vane adjustment mechanism
51
to control the quantity of exhaust gas configured as described above is driven with an actuator (not pictured) connected to link portion
55
b
of link plate
55
. When link plate
55
rotates over a given angle of rotation, the protrusion
54
b
of lever
54
rotates, and the other end of lever
54
which is fixed to the vane shaft
53
a
also rotates. In this way vane shaft
53
a
is made to rotate as a shaft, and the angle of nozzle vane unit
53
changes. A vane adjustment mechanism
51
which is driven in this way can adjust the quantity of exhaust gas to turbocharger
60
so as to optimize the function of the engine.
The prior art vane adjustment mechanism
51
to control the quantity of exhaust gas, which is shown in
FIGS. 8 and 9
, requires that the vane shaft hole
52
c
, provided in base unit
52
for vane shaft
53
a
of nozzle vane unit
53
, be drilled to precise dimensions. Forming such a hole
52
c
during the manufacture of mechanism
51
requires careful labor. Also, because vane shaft
53
a
must fit closely in vane shaft hole
52
c
, particulates in the exhaust gas which adheres to its surface will fuse to the inserted shaft and the surface of vane shaft hole
52
c
, adversely affecting its durability.
The prior art vane adjustment mechanism
51
has a lever
54
and a vane shaft
53
a
which are riveted together. This requires a number of components, such as vane shaft
53
a
(nozzle vane unit
53
) and lever
54
, thus increasing both the parts count and the number of assembly processes. Just as was discussed earlier, these components also require a high degree of precision machining. Determining the correct position (i.e., the proper angle) at which to fix nozzle vane units
53
to levers
54
also required a high degree of precision.
In prior art vane adjustment mechanisms
51
, the same problem as described above was experienced between hole
55
a
in link plate
55
and protrusion
54
b
of lever
54
.
The high degree of machining precision which is required in prior art vane adjustment mechanism
51
, to control the quantity of exhaust gas required in order to withstand being used under severe conditions in a turbocharger, increased the labor and the cost required to produce it. In addition, it required a large number of components, which complicated its configuration and increased the production time, reducing the efficiency of production and increasing its cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention was developed to solve the problems described above. The object of this invention is to provide a vane adjustment mechanism to control the quantity of exhaust gas, which will have fewer components and a simpler design, which will operate in a stable fashion, and which will be extremely durable.
In order to achieve these objectives, the vane adjustment mechanism, according to this invention, has the following essential features. With respect to the base unit and the link plate in which holes were formed by drilling, according to the prior arts vane adjustment mechanism, this invention uses a U-shaped indentation so as to eliminate the drilling process for forming a through hole. With respect to the components to adjust the vanes and the levers in a prior art mechanism to control the quantity of exhaust gas, which were composed of numerous parts, this invention uses a single part for the purpose of reducing the parts count. With respect to the insert shaft in the vane lever unit, which was linear in the prior art mechanism to control the quantity of exhaust gas, this invention narrows the diameter of the insert partway alon
Ishihara Yoshihiro
Mikogami Takashi
Yoshimura Hyoji
Look Edward K.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.
Nguyen Ninh
Wenderoth , Lind & Ponack, L.L.P.
LandOfFree
Vane adjustment mechanism for variable capacity turbine, and... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Vane adjustment mechanism for variable capacity turbine, and..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Vane adjustment mechanism for variable capacity turbine, and... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2991791