Hot-charge duct for turbocharger system
A turbocharger system includes a compressor, an intercooler, and a hot-charge duct connecting an outlet of the compressor to an inlet of the intercooler. The hot-charge duct has a first end portion connected to the inlet, a second end portion connected to the outlet, and a central tubular portion extending from the first end portion to the second end portion. The central tubular portion is formed of a plurality of circumferentially interconnected semi-tubular sections that extend longitudinally.
1. A turbocharger system comprising:
a compressor;
an intercooler; and
a hot-charge duct connecting an outlet of the compressor to an inlet of the intercooler, the hot-charge duct including:
a first end portion connected to the inlet;
a second end portion connected to the outlet, and
a central tubular portion extending from the first end portion to the second end portion, the central tubular portion being formed of a plurality of circumferentially interconnected semi-tubular sections that extend longitudinally.
2. The turbocharger system of claim 1 , wherein the semi-tubular sections have convex sides that form exterior ribs of the central tubular portion and wherein intersections of the semi-tubular sections form interior ribs of the central tubular portion.
3. The turbocharger system of claim 2 , wherein the semi-tubular sections have concaved sides that extend circumferentially between the interior ribs.
4. The turbocharger system of claim 1 , wherein radii of the semi-tubular sections are all the same.
5. The turbocharger system of claim 1 , wherein each of the semi-tubular sections has a center point, and the center points all lie on a common circle.
6. The turbocharger system of claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the central tubular portion includes convex exterior ribs formed by the semi-tubular sections and concaved valleys extending circumferentially between the exterior ribs.
7. The turbocharger system of claim 6 , wherein each of the exterior ribs has a first circumferential side connected to one of the valleys and a second circumferential side connected to another of the valleys.
8. The turbocharger system of claim 7 , wherein each of the valleys has a first circumferential side connected to one of the exterior ribs and a second circumferential side connected to another of the exterior ribs.
9. The turbocharger system of claim 1 , wherein the semi-tubular sections extend along an entire length of the central tubular portion.
10. The turbocharger system of claim 1 , wherein the hot-charge duct is formed of plastic.
11. A turbocharger system comprising:
a compressor;
an intercooler; and
a hot-charge duct connecting an outlet of the compressor to an inlet of the intercooler, the hot-charge duct including:
a first end portion connected to the inlet,
a second end portion connected to the outlet, and
a central portion extending from the first end to the second end, the central portion having a plurality of semi-tubular exterior ribs that extend longitudinally along the central portion and are circumferentially interconnected to form an enclosed tube.
12. The turbocharger system of claim 11 , wherein the exterior ribs extend along an entire length of the central portion.
13. The turbocharger system of claim 11 , wherein circumferential spacing between the exterior ribs is constant along a length of the central portion.
14. The turbocharger system of claim 11 , wherein the central portion further has a plurality of circumferentially spaced interior ribs that extend longitudinally along the central portion.
15. The turbocharger system of claim 14 , wherein the interior and exterior ribs circumferentially alternate around the central portion.
16. The turbocharger system of claim 11 , wherein each of the exterior ribs has a convex side forming a portion of an exterior of the central portion and a concave side forming a portion of an interior of the central portion.
17. A hot-charge duct of a turbocharger system comprising:
a tubular first end portion;
a tubular second end portion; and
a tubular central portion extending from the first end portion to the second end portion, the tubular central portion being formed of a plurality of circumferentially interconnected semi-tubular sections that extend longitudinally along a length of the tubular central portion.
18. The hot-charge duct of claim 17 , wherein the first and second end portions include first and second collars, and wherein the semi-tubular sections extend from the first collar to the second collar.
19. The hot-charge duct of claim 17 , wherein the semi-tubular sections have convex sides that form exterior ribs of the tubular central portion and wherein intersections of the semi-tubular sections form interior ribs of the tubular central portion.
20. The turbocharger system of claim 17 , wherein an outer surface of the tubular central portion includes convex exterior ribs formed by the semi-tubular sections and concaved valleys extending between the exterior ribs, and wherein each of the exterior ribs has a first circumferential side connected to one of the valleys and a second circumferential side connected to another of the valleys.