Turbocharger with lubricant deflector

1. A turbocharger assembly comprising:

a center housing that comprises a compressor side, a turbine side, a journal bearing bore that extends between the compressor side and the turbine side, a boss at the compressor side, and a socket at the compressor side that is defined in part by a surface of the boss and that is disposed about and axially inset from a compressor side opening of the journal bearing bore;

a journal bearing disposed at least in part in the journal bearing bore; and

a lubricant deflector disposed at least partially in the socket,

wherein at least a portion of an axially extending wall of the lubricant deflector axially overlaps a portion of the journal bearing, wherein the portion of the journal bearing comprises a compressor end that extends axially past the compressor side opening of the journal bearing bore, and wherein the surface of the boss is at least in part radially inward of at least a portion of the axially extending wall of the lubricant deflector.

2. The turbocharger assembly of claim 1 wherein the lubricant deflector defines, in part, a cavity having a lubricant exit.

3. The turbocharger assembly of claim 2 wherein the center housing comprises a lubricant drainage cavity having a lubricant drain and wherein the lubricant exit comprises an angle to direct lubricant exiting the exit toward the lubricant drain.

4. The turbocharger assembly of claim 1 wherein the lubricant deflector comprises a U-shaped cross-section, an L-shaped cross-section or a curved cross-section.

5. The turbocharger assembly of claim 1 wherein the socket of the center housing comprises a keyway and wherein the lubricant deflector comprises a key for receipt by the keyway to orient the lubricant deflector with respect to the center housing.

6. The turbocharger assembly of claim 5 wherein the key comprises an axial stop for axially locating a backplate.

7. The turbocharger assembly of claim 1 wherein the lubricant deflector comprises a compressor side opening and a journal bearing side opening.

8. The turbocharger assembly of claim 7 wherein the compressor side opening comprises a radius that exceeds an outer radius of a thrust collar or slinger.

9. The turbocharger assembly of claim 7 wherein the journal bearing side opening comprises a radius that exceeds an outer radius of the journal bearing.

10. The turbocharger assembly of claim 1 wherein the lubricant deflector and the center housing form a cavity that comprises a substantially L-shaped cross-section.

11. The turbocharger assembly of claim 1 wherein the lubricant deflector comprises sheet metal.

12. The turbocharger assembly of claim 1 wherein the lubricant deflector comprises an outer diameter, wherein the socket of the center housing comprises an inner diameter and wherein the inner diameter of the socket exceeds the outer diameter of the lubricant deflector by an amount that defines a radial clearance.

13. The turbocharger assembly of claim 12 wherein the radial clearance provides for formation of a lubricant film during operation of the turbocharger assembly and floating of the lubricant deflector on the lubricant film for radial movement of the lubricant deflector with respect to the socket of the center housing.

14. The turbocharger assembly of claim 12 wherein the lubricant deflector and the center housing comprises a key and keyway pair to orient the lubricant deflector with respect to the socket of the center housing.

15. The turbocharger assembly of claim 14 wherein the key and keyway pair limit rotation of the lubricant deflector in the socket of the center housing.

16. The turbocharger assembly of claim 1 further comprising a backplate that comprises a journal bearing side and a compressor side wherein the journal bearing side comprises an annular recessed portion and wherein the lubricant deflector extends axially into the annular recessed portion.

17. A method comprising:

providing a cavity between a deflector and a compressor side of a center housing of a turbocharger, the turbocharger having a shaft supported by journal bearing disposed at least in part in a journal bearing bore of the center housing wherein the deflector is disposed at least in part in a socket of the compressor side of the center housing wherein the socket is defined in part by a surface of a boss at the compressor side of the center housing and disposed about and axially inset from a compressor side opening of the journal bearing bore, wherein at least a portion of an axially extending wall of the deflector axially overlaps a portion of the journal bearing, wherein the portion of the journal bearing comprises a compressor end of the journal bearing that extends axially past the compressor side opening of the journal bearing bore, and wherein the surface of the boss is at least in part radially inward of at least a portion of the axially extending wall of the deflector;

directing pressurized lubricant to an inlet of the center housing;

flowing the lubricant to the journal bearing for lubricating an annular clearance between the shaft and the journal bearing;

capturing within the cavity lubricant exiting a compressor side of the annular clearance wherein at least a portion of the axially extending wall deflects at least a portion of the lubricant; and

directing lubricant from the cavity towards a lubricant drain of a lubricant drainage cavity of the center housing.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the directing lubricant from the cavity comprises directing lubricant via one or more openings of the deflector.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the one or more openings of the deflector act to increase a pressure drop between the cavity and the lubricant drainage cavity.