Turbocharger device and method for mounting a turbocharger device

Abstract

A turbocharger device for an internal combustion engine and a method for mounting a turbocharger device are described. The turbocharger device has a housing with a locating hole, in which a turbocharger shaft is mounted by two rolling element bearings. A rolling element bearing sleeve is situated between the two rolling element bearings. The rolling element bearing sleeve and hence the two rolling element bearings are fixed with the turbocharger shaft in the axial direction with the aid of two pins, which are introduced through a hole in the housing and are pressed into a groove in the rolling element bearing sleeve. During this process, the beveled tips of the pins slide along the chamfered outer edges of the groove as far as an end position, which fixes the axial position of the rolling element bearing sleeve.

Claims

1. A turbocharger device for an internal combustion engine, comprising: a housing having a housing axis; a turbine wheel; a compressor wheel; a common turbocharger shaft, the turbine wheel and compressor wheel arranged on the common turbocharger shaft; a plurality of rolling element bearings which are spaced apart from one another in an axial direction of the common turbocharger shaft; a rolling element bearing sleeve, which is arranged between and spaces two of the plurality of rolling element bearings apart; a locating hole formed as part of the housing, the common turbocharger shaft mounted in the locating hole in the housing of the turbocharger device by the plurality of rolling element bearings; a groove formed on the outside of the rolling element bearing sleeve, such that the groove extends in a circumferential direction; a plurality of chamfered outer edges integrally formed as part of the groove; a hole integrally formed as part of the housing of the turbocharger device, such that the hole extends perpendicularly to the housing axis; and at least two pins, wherein the at least two pins are arranged in the hole such that the at least two pins are pressed against the chamfered outer edges of the groove.

2. The turbocharger device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of chamfered outer edges of the groove are chamfered at different angles.

3. The turbocharger device of claim 1, wherein each of the at least two pins is of semicircular design in cross section.

4. The turbocharger device of claim 3, wherein the at least two pins together form a full circle in cross section in the state in which the at least two pins are inserted into the hole.

5. The turbocharger device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the tips or heads of each of the at least two pins is designed as a partial cone.

6. The turbocharger device of claim 1, wherein the combined outside diameter of the at least two pins is greater than the width of the groove formed as part of the rolling element bearing sleeve.

7. The turbocharger device of claim 1, wherein the contact between at least one of tips or heads of the pins and at least one of the plurality of chamfered outer edges of the groove further comprises one of a point, line, or surface contact.

8. The turbocharger device of claim 1, wherein the at least two pins are arranged in the hole spaced apart from one another.

9. A method for mounting a turbocharger device, comprising the steps of: providing a housing having a housing axis; providing a common turbocharger shaft; providing a plurality of rolling element bearings; providing a rolling element bearing sleeve; providing a groove formed on the outside of the rolling element bearing sleeve, such that the groove extends in a circumferential direction; providing a plurality of chamfered outer edges being formed as part of the groove; providing a hole integrally formed as part of the housing of the turbocharger device, and the hole extends perpendicularly to the housing axis; and providing at least two pins; mounting the plurality of rolling element bearings and the rolling element bearing sleeve onto the common turbocharger shaft; pushing the housing over the plurality of rolling element bearings and the rolling element bearing sleeve until the groove in the rolling element bearing sleeve and the hole in the housing are substantially aligned relative to one another; arranging the at least two pins into the hole integrally formed as part of the housing; pressing at least one of tips or heads of the at least two pins against one or more of the plurality of chamfered outer edges of the groove to fix the rolling element bearing sleeve in an axial direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be explained in more detailed below with reference to exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the drawing. In the drawing:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a turbocharger device in vertical section in a first mounting stage;

(3) FIG. 2 shows the turbocharger device of FIG. 1 in a second mounting stage;

(4) FIG. 3 shows the turbocharger device of FIG. 1 in a third mounting stage;

(5) FIG. 4 shows the turbocharger device of FIG. 1 in a fourth mounting stage;

(6) FIG. 5 shows the turbocharger device of FIG. 1 in a fifth mounting stage;

(7) FIG. 6 shows the turbocharger device of FIGS. 1-5 in a first end position;

(8) FIG. 7 shows the turbocharger device of FIGS. 1-5 in a second end position;

(9) FIG. 8 shows detailed illustrations of the contact region between the mounting pins and the mounting groove in the rolling element bearing sleeve;

(10) FIG. 9 shows corresponding detailed illustrations in the case of other embodiments;

(11) FIG. 10 shows a detailed illustration of yet another embodiment;

(12) FIG. 11 shows a horizontal section through the two mounting pins of the embodiment in FIGS. 1-7 and of further embodiments; and

(13) FIG. 12 shows enlarged illustrations of the turbocharger device of FIGS. 1-7 in the mounted state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(14) The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

(15) FIGS. 1 to 5 show an embodiment of a turbocharger device in vertical section in various mounting positions. The turbocharger device illustrated has a turbocharger shaft 1, on which a turbine wheel 2 is arranged. In the mounted state of the turbocharger shaft, the corresponding compressor wheel is situated on the other end region thereof. No details of this are explained since they do not play any role in the invention.

(16) The turbocharger device furthermore has a housing 7, in which there is a locating hole 12 for the turbocharger shaft 1. In the mounting position illustrated in FIG. 1, a first rolling element bearing (ball bearing) 3 and a second rolling element bearing (ball bearing) 4 have already been mounted on the turbocharger shaft 1. In this case, the inner rings of the two rolling element bearings 3, 4 are integrated into the turbocharger shaft 1, and therefore the positions of the rolling element bearings are fixed relative to the shaft. Between the two rolling element bearings 3, 4 there is a rolling element bearing sleeve 5, which is in the form of a C ring and which holds the two outer rings of the rolling element bearings 3, 4 apart.

(17) Arranged in the housing 7 of the turbocharger device is a hole 13, which extends vertically relative to the housing axis and which serves to receive two mounting pins 8, 9, by which the axial position of the rolling element bearing sleeve 5 with the two rolling bearings 3, 4 and the turbocharger shaft 1 is fixed relative to the housing 7. In the mounting state illustrated in FIG. 1, the two pins 8, 9 which are introduced into the hole 13 are shown.

(18) To fix the turbocharger shaft 1 in the housing 7, the shaft is introduced from the position shown in FIG. 1, with the pre-mounted rolling element bearing assembly, into the locating hole 12 in the housing 7 until, for instance, the axis of the hole 13 meets the center of a circumferential groove 6 arranged on the outside of the rolling element bearing sleeve 5. The turbocharger shaft is fixed in this position with the aid of a tool (not shown).

(19) The two pins 8, 9 are now introduced into the hole 13, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. First of all, the left-hand pin 8 illustrated in the figures is inserted and pressed by its conically tapering tip against a correspondingly chamfered outer edge of the groove 6. Thus, the rolling element bearing sleeve 5 may no longer move in an axial direction. After this, the pin 9 on the right in the figure is pressed in, with the result that a movement in the other axial direction is thus also prevented. FIG. 5 shows both pins 8, 9 in the position in which they have been pressed into the groove 6.

(20) Details in respect of the position of the pins 8, 9 in the groove 6 are illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. It is seen that the axial position of the rolling element bearing sleeve 5 may be adjusted by inserting the respective pin 8, 9 to different depths since the conical surface 11 at the tip of the respective pin slides along the chamfered outer edge 10 of the groove 6 and thereby moves the rolling element bearing sleeve 5 in the axial direction. FIGS. 6 and 7 show the two end positions of the rolling element bearing sleeve 5.

(21) When the rolling element bearing sleeve 5 and hence the turbocharger shaft 1 have reached the desired end position due to the pressing in of the pins 8, 9, the tool for fixing the shaft is removed, and the other parts of the turbocharger device may be mounted.

(22) The surface contact between the tip of the pins 8, 9 and the respective chamfered outer edge 10 of the groove 6 may be of different designs. FIGS. 8 and 9 show various embodiments thereof, wherein a point, line or surface contact is possible in general. In the respective sectional illustration, FIG. 8 shows a line contact in the left-hand illustration and a surface contact in the right-hand illustration. FIG. 9 shows the contact between a spherical surface and a spherical surface on the left and the contact between a spherical surface and a conical surface on the right. Any embodiments are possible as long as a corresponding effect is achieved that a movement of the two pins in the vertical direction leads to an axial movement of the rolling element bearing sleeve.

(23) In the above-described embodiments, the two pins 8, 9 are of semicircular design in horizontal section and rest against one another by way of their respective flat surface. This is illustrated at the top in FIG. 11. The pins 8, 9 therefore slide on one another when they are moved to fix the sleeve. Further cross-sectional shapes of the two pins 8, 9 are shown underneath in FIG. 11.

(24) FIG. 10 shows an embodiment in which the pins 8, 9 are arranged spaced apart. In this case too, they have tips of conical design which are in contact with chamfered outer edges 10 of the mounting groove 6.

(25) FIG. 12 shows the turbocharger device of FIGS. 1 to 7 in enlarged views in the mounted state.

(26) The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.