Metal founding – Process – Shaping a forming surface
Reexamination Certificate
2002-05-07
2003-10-07
Lin, Kuang Y. (Department: 1725)
Metal founding
Process
Shaping a forming surface
C164S045000, C164S516000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06629556
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention concerns a titanium compressor wheel for use in an air boost device, capable of operating at high RPM with acceptable aerodynamic performance, yet capable of being produced economically by an investment casting process.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Air boost devices (turbochargers, superchargers, electric compressors, etc.) are used to increase combustion air throughput and density, thereby increasing power and responsiveness of internal combustion engines. The design and function of turbochargers are described in detail in the prior art, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,705,463, 5,399,064, and 6,164,931, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The blades of a compressor wheel have a highly complex shape, for (a) drawing air in axially, (b) accelerating it centrifugally, and (c) discharging air radially outward at elevated pressure into the volute-shaped chamber of a compressor housing. In order to accomplish these three distinct functions with maximum efficiently and minimum turbulence, the blades can be said to have three separate regions.
First, the leading edge of the blade can be described as a sharp pitch helix, adapted for scooping air in and moving air axially. Considering only the leading edge of the blade, the cantilevered or outboard tip travels faster (MPS) than the part closest to the hub, and is generally provided with an even greater pitch angle than the part closest to the hub (see FIG.
1
). Thus, the angle of attack of the leading edge of the blade undergoes a twist from lower pitch near the hub to a higher pitch at the outer tip of the leading edge. Further, the leading edge of the blade generally is bowed, and is not planar. Further yet, the leading edge of the blade generally has a “dip” near the hub and a “rise” or convexity along the outer third of the blade tip. These design features are all designed to enhance the function of drawing air in axially.
Next, in the second region of the blades, the blades are curved in a manner to change the direction of the airflow from axial to radial, and at the same time to rapidly spin the air centrifugally and accelerate the air to a high velocity, so that when diffused in a volute chamber after leaving the impeller the energy is recovered in the form of increased pressure. Air is trapped in airflow channels defined between the blades, as well as between the inner wall of the compressor wheel housing and the radially enlarged disc-like portion of the hub which defines a floor space, the housing-floor spacing narrowing in the direction of air flow.
Finally, in the third region, the blades terminate in a trailing edge, which is designed for propelling air radially out of the compressor wheel. The design of this blade trailing edge is generally complex, provided with (a) a pitch, (b) an angle offset from radial, and/or (c) a back taper or back sweep (which, together with the forward sweep at the leading edge, provides the blade with an overall “S” shape). Air expelled in this way has not only high flow, but also high pressure.
Recently, tighter regulation of engine exhaust emissions has led to an interest in even higher pressure ratio boosting devices. However, current compressor wheels are not capable of withstanding repeated exposure to higher pressure ratios (>3.8). While aluminum is a material of choice for compressor wheels due to low weight and low cost, the temperature at the blade tips, and the stresses due to increased centrifugal forces at high RPM, exceed the capability of conventionally employed aluminum alloys. Refinements have been made to aluminum compressor wheels, but due to the inherent limited strength of aluminum, no further significant improvements can be expected. Accordingly, high pressure ratio boost devices have been found in practice to have short life, to be associated with high maintenance cost, and thus have too high a product life cost for widespread acceptance.
Titanium, known for high strength and low weight, might at first seem to be a suitable next generation material. Large titanium compressor wheels have in fact long been used in turbojet engines and jet engines from the B-52B/RB-52B to the F-22. However, titanium is one of the most difficult metals to work with, and currently the cost of production associated with titanium compressor wheels is so high as to limit wide spread employment of titanium.
There are presently no known cost-effective manufacturing techniques for manufacturing automobile or truck industry scale titanium compressor wheels. The automotive industry is driven by economics. While there is a need for a high performance compressor wheel, it must be capable of being manufactured at reasonable cost.
One example of a patent teaching casting of compressor wheels is U.S. Pat. No. 4,556,528 (Gersch et al) entitled “Method and Device for Casting of Fragile and Complex Shapes”. This patent illustrates the complex design of compressor wheels (as discussed in detail above), and the complex process involved in forming a resilient pattern for subsequent use in forming molds. More specifically, Gersch et al teach a process involving placing a solid positive resilient master pattern of an impeller into a suitable flask, pouring a flexible and resilient material, such as silastic or platinum rubber material, over the master pattern, curing, and withdrawing the solid master pattern of the impeller from the flexible material to form a flexible mold with a reverse or negative cavity of the master pattern. A flexible and resilient curable material is then poured into the cavity of the reverse mold. After the flexible and resilient material cures to form a positive flexible pattern of the impeller, it is removed from the flexible negative mold. The flexible positive pattern is then placed in an open top metal flask, and foundry plaster is poured into the flask. After the plaster has set up, the positive flexible pattern is removed from the plaster, leaving a negative plaster mold. A non-ferrous molten material (e.g., aluminum) is poured into the plaster mold. After the non-ferrous molten material solidifies and cools, the plaster is destroyed and removed to produce a positive non-ferrous reproduction of the original part.
While the Gersch et al process is effective for forming cast aluminum compressor wheels, it is limited to non-ferrous or lower temperature or minimally reactive casting materials and cannot be used for producing parts of high temperature casting materials such as ferrous metals and titanium. Titanium, being highly reactive, requires a ceramic shell.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,019,927 (Galliger) entitled “Method of Casting a Complex Metal Part” teaches a method for casting a titanium gas turbine impeller which, though different in shape from a compressor wheel, does have a complex geometry with walls or blades defining undercut spaces. A flexible and resilient positive pattern is made, and the pattern is dipped into a ceramic molding media capable of drying and hardening. The pattern is removed from the media to form a ceramic layer on the flexible pattern, and the layer is coated with sand and air-dried to form a ceramic layer. The dipping, sanding and drying operations are repeated several times to form a multi-layer ceramic shell. The flexible wall pattern is removed from the shell, by partially collapsing with suction if necessary, to form a first ceramic shell mold with a negative cavity defining the part. A second ceramic shell mold is formed on the first shell mold to define the back of the part and a pour passage, and the combined shell molds are fired in a kiln. A high temperature casting material is poured into the shell molds, and after the casting material solidifies, the shell molds are removed by breaking.
It is apparent that the Galliger gas turbine flexible pattern is (a) collapsible and (b) is intended for manufacturing large-dimension gas turbine impellers for jet or turbojet engines. This technique is not suitable for mass-production of automobile scale compressor wheels with thin blades, usi
Decker David M.
Roby Steven
Borg-Warner Inc.
Dziegielewski Greg
Lin Kuang Y.
Pendorf & Cutliff
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