Granted Patent B2

US 8,157,516 · App. 11/660,457 · Granted Apr 17, 2012

Abstract

Claims (17)

1. A compressor wheel housing for a turbocharger compressor wheel, the housing comprising:

a substantially cylindrical shroud surface definable with respect to a radial dimension and an axial dimension along a rotational axis of a compressor wheel with an origin coincident with a z-plane of a compressor wheel wherein the axial position of the shroud surface decreases with increasing radial position to a compressor wheel blade outer edge radius; and

a diffuser surface extending radially outward and axially downward from the cylindrical shroud surface, wherein the diffuser surface includes a minimum diffuser surface axial position at a radial position less than about 1.25 times the compressor wheel blade outer edge radius and wherein the diffuser surface includes a greater axial position at a radial position beyond that corresponding to the minimum axial position, wherein the diffuser surface includes a section with a substantially constant axial position over radii greater than the radius at the minimum axial position.

2. The compressor wheel housing of claim 1 wherein the diffuser surface extends radially outward to a scroll.

3. The compressor wheel housing of claim 1 further comprising a plate that includes a surface proximate to the z-plane and forming a diffuser section in conjunction with the diffuser surface of the housing wherein axial height of the diffuser section is a function of radial dimension and varies with respect to radial dimension for at least a portion of the diffuser section.

4. The compressor wheel housing of claim 3 wherein the axial height decreases and then increases to a substantially constant axial height with respect to increasing radius.

5. The compressor wheel housing of any one of the preceding claims wherein a scroll exists at a radial distance of about 1.8 times the compressor wheel blade outer edge radius.

6. The compressor wheel housing of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the diffuser surface has a substantially constant axial position between a radial distance of about 1.2 times the compressor wheel blade outer edge radius and about 1.8 times the compressor wheel blade outer edge radius.

7. The compressor wheel housing of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the diffuser surface includes a minimum diffuser surface axial position at a radial position less than about 1.10 times the compressor wheel blade outer edge radius.

8. A compressor wheel housing for a turbocharger compressor wheel, the housing comprising:

a substantially cylindrical shroud surface definable with respect to a radial dimension and an axial dimension along a rotational axis of a compressor wheel with an origin coincident with a z-plane of a compressor wheel wherein the axial position of the shroud surface decreases with increasing radial position to a compressor wheel blade outer edge radius at a shroud surface angle of about 20 degrees or less with respect to the z-plane; and

a diffuser surface extending radially outward and axially downward from the cylindrical shroud surface wherein the diffuser surface includes

a minimum diffuser surface axial position at a radial position less than about 1.25 times the compressor wheel blade outer edge radius and wherein the diffuser surface approaches the minimum at a diffuser surface angle less than the shroud surface angle and of about 10 degrees or less with respect to the z-plane;

a section with a substantially constant axial position over radii greater than the radial position at the minimum axial position, and

a diffuser surface pinch angle with respect to the z-plane, the pinch angle greater than the shroud surface angle and intermediate the compressor wheel blade outer edge radius and the radial position of the minimum diffuser surface axial position.

9. The compressor wheel housing of claim 8 further comprising a plate including a surface proximate to the z-plane and forming a diffuser section in conjunction with the diffuser surface of the housing wherein axial height of the diffuser section is a function of radial dimension and varies with respect to radial dimension for at least a portion of the diffuser section leading to the minimum diffuser surface axial position.

10. The compressor wheel housing of claim 9 wherein the diffuser section includes an axial height that decreases to the minimum diffuser surface axial position and then maintains a substantially constant axial height with respect to increasing radius wherein the substantially constant axial height optionally comprises the minimum.

Assignments (7)