Turbocharger with a Casing and Internal Combustion Engine

Abstract

A turbocharger includes a turbine for expanding a first medium and a compressor for compressing a second medium utilizing energy extracted in the turbine during the expansion of the first medium. A turbine housing of the turbine and a compressor housing of the compressor each are connected to a bearing housing arranged therebetween. A casing: surrounds the turbine housing radially outside and axially outside at least in certain sections, and/or surrounds the compressor housing radially outside and axially outside at least in certain sections. The respective casing is positioned loosely around the turbine housing without direct connection to the turbine housing or loosely around the compressor housing without direct connection to the compressor housing. The respective casing is connected to an assembly which, during the operation of the turbocharger, has a temperature level corresponding to the respective casing.

Claims

1. A turbocharger (14), comprising: a turbine configured to expand a first medium, the turbine having a turbine housing (16); a compressor configured to compress a second medium utilizing energy extracted in the turbine during the expansion of the first medium, the compressor having a compressor housing; a bearing housing (17) connected to the turbine housing (16) and the compressor housing, the bearing housing (17) being arranged between the turbine housing (16) and the compressor housing; the turbocharger further comprising: a casing (18) being at least one selected from the group of: (a) arranged so as to surround the turbine housing (16) radially outside and axially outside, at least in certain sections, and (b) arranged so as to surround the compressor housing radially outside and axially outside at least in certain sections, wherein: in a case of (a), the respective casing (18) is positioned around the turbine housing (16) without direct connection to the turbine housing (16), and, in a case of (b), the respective casing (18) is positioned around the compressor housing without direct connection to the compressor housing, and the respective casing (18) is connected to an assembly which, during operation of the turbocharger, has a temperature level corresponding to the respective casing (18).

2. The turbocharger according to claim 1, wherein the respective casing (18) is connected to an assembly which, during the operation of the turbocharger, is exposed to a thermal load corresponding to the respective casing (18).

3. The turbocharger according to claim 2, wherein the respective casing (18) is connected to the bearing housing (17).

4. The turbocharger according to claim 3, wherein the respective casing (18) is connected to the bearing housing (17) by a plurality of bent brackets (19).

5. The turbocharger according to claim 4, wherein the brackets (19) have a first end (19a) and a second end (19b), each of the brackets (19) being connected at the first end (19a) to the bearing housing (17) and connected at the second end (19b) to the casing (18), wherein each of the second ends (19b) has elongated holes (20) formed thereon to facilitate connecting each of the second ends (19b) to the casing (18) in respective different angular positions.

6. The turbocharger according to claim 5, wherein the second ends (19b) of the brackets (19) have a segment-like circular contour.

7. The turbocharger according to claim 6, wherein the second ends (19b) of multiple brackets (19) together form a common section contoured circular segment-like with the elongated holes (20).

8. An internal combustion engine (10), comprising: an engine (12) comprising multiple cylinders (13) for combusting fuel; the turbocharger (14) according to claim 1 for expanding exhaust gas, which exhaust gas accrues during the combustion of fuel in the cylinders (13), and for compressing charge air, which, for combusting fuel, is fed to the cylinders (13).

9. The internal combustion engine according to claim 8, wherein the respective casing (18) is connected to the engine (12).

10. The internal combustion engine according to claim 9, further comprising a support structure (15) or console for assemblies of the internal combustion engine, wherein the respective casing (18) is connected to the support structure (15) or console.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Preferred further developments of the invention are obtained from the the following. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail by way of the drawings without being restricted to this. In the drawings:

[0013] FIG. 1 is a lateral view of an internal combustion engine together with a generator;

[0014] FIG. 2 shows a casing for a turbocharger of the internal combustion engine without the housing of the turbocharger to be encased; and

[0015] FIG. 3 shows an extract from a turbocharger in the region of a bearing housing, of a turbine housing and of a casing of the turbine housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] FIG. 1 shows a lateral view of an internal combustion engine 10 together with a generator 11 driven by the internal combustion engine 10. The internal combustion engine 10 of FIG. 1 is purely exemplary in nature. The invention is not restricted to internal combustion engines 10 that drive a generator 11.

[0017] The internal combustion engine 10 comprises an actual engine 12 having multiple cylinders 13. In the cylinders 13 of the engine 10 a fuel is combusted. This fuel can be a liquid fuel or a gaseous fuel. The engine 12 can be, for example, a gas engine, a diesel engine or a dual fuel engine.

[0018] The internal combustion engine 10 comprises a turbocharger 14. The turbocharger 14 is mounted on a support structure 15 in FIG. 1, which can also be referred to as console.

[0019] The person skilled in the art is familiar with the fundamental construction of a turbocharger 14. Accordingly, a turbocharger 14 comprises a turbine for expanding a first medium, in particular for expanding the exhaust gas, which is incurred during the combustion of the fuel in the cylinders 13 of the engine 12. Furthermore, the turbocharger 14 comprises a compressor for compressing a second medium, in particular for compressing charge air, which is provided to the cylinders 13 of the engine 12 for combusting the fuel.

[0020] The turbine of the turbocharger 14 comprises a turbine rotor and a turbine housing. The compressor of the turbocharger 14 comprises a compressor rotor and a compressor housing. Turbine rotor and compressor rotor are coupled via a shaft. The shaft is mounted on a bearing housing of the turbocharger, wherein the bearing housing is positioned between the turbine housing and the compressor housing and connected both to the turbine housing and also to the compressor housing.

[0021] FIG. 3 shows an extract from a turbocharger 14 in the region of a turbine housing 16 and of a bearing housing 17.

[0022] During the operation there is a danger that the turbine rotor of the turbine of the turbocharger 14 or the compressor rotor of the compressor of the turbocharger 14 may break. In such an occurrence, fragments of the respective rotor can then strike through the respective housing, i.e., the turbine housing or the compressor housing and enter the surroundings. This has to be avoided and for this purpose it is known to equip a turbocharger with at least one casing. Accordingly, FIG. 3 shows a casing 18 for the turbine of the turbocharger, the casing 18 surrounding the turbine housing 16 in certain sections axially and radially outside.

[0023] Preferentially, such casings are employed both in the region of the turbine and also in the region of the compressor that surrounds the respective housing, i.e., the turbine housing 16 or the compressor housing radially outside and axially outside at least in certain sections.

[0024] In terms of the invention the respective casing is positioned loosely around the respective housing to be encased without direct connection to the respective housing to be encased. In FIG. 3, the casing 18 is positioned around the turbine housing 16 without direct connection to the turbine housing 16. In the region of the compressor, such a casing is positioned around the compressor housing without direct connection to the compressor housing.

[0025] According to the invention, the respective casing 18 is connected to an assembly which, during the operation of the turbocharger 14, has a temperature level corresponding to the casing 18. Accordingly, the casing 18, in FIG. 3, which is arranged around the turbine housing 16 without direct connection to the turbine housing 16, is connected to the bearing housing 17. In FIG. 3, this purpose is served by multiple brackets 19, which at a first end 19a are connected to the bearing housing 17 and with a second end 19b located opposite are connected to the casing 18 for the turbine housing 16.

[0026] Accordingly one purpose of the present invention is to connect a casing 18 of a turbocharger 14 not to the housing to be encased, but rather to an assembly which during the operation of the turbocharger 14 has a temperature level corresponding to the casing 18.

[0027] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3, in which the casing 18 of the turbine housing 16 is not connected to the turbine housing 16 but to the bearing housing 17, the brackets 19 serves for connecting the casing 18 to the bearing housing 17. The brackets 19 have a bent contour. The brackets 19 at their first end 19a are connected to the bearing housing 17, in particular screwed. At their second end 19b located opposite, the brackets 19 are connected to the casing 18 of the turbine 14, in particular screwed.

[0028] According to FIG. 3, elongated holes 20 are formed on the two ends 19b of the bent brackets 19 which, for screwing the brackets 19 to the casing 18, screws extend into the threaded bore of the casing 18. These elongated holes 20 allow connecting the casing 18 in different angular positions on the bearing housing 17 in order to thereby make possible different attachment positions of the turbine housing. The second ends 19b of the bent brackets 19, on which the elongated holes 20 are formed, are circular segment-like contoured. At their second ends 19b, multiple brackets 19 can form a common, circular segment like-contoured section with elongated holes 20 or terminate in such a common circular segment-like section.

[0029] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a further casing 18. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2 the casing 18 is attached to the bearing housing 17 via the brackets 19. By way of a further bracket 21, the casing 18 can be additionally mounted to the support structure 15 of the internal combustion engine 10 for the turbocharger 14.

[0030] Although not shown it is also possible that the casing 18, dependent on the installation position of the turbocharger 14 on the engine 12, is also connected to the engine 12.

[0031] Because of the invention it is not necessary that connecting elements, which serve for mounting the casing 18, have to compensate for thermally-induced relative movements between the casing 18 and the housing to be encased. For this reason, the connecting elements can be embodied rigidly, in particular with respect to ensuring a high natural frequency of the casing 18. For this reason, simple and cost-effective brackets can be employed.

[0032] The assembly of a casing according to the invention can be utilized in the region of the turbine and in the region of the compressor. In any case, the casing is not directly mounted to the housing to be encased but to an assembly which, during the operation of the turbocharger, has a temperature level corresponding to the casing.

[0033] Thus, while there have been shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0034] 10 Internal combustion engine [0035] 11 Generator [0036] 12 Engine [0037] 13 Cylinder [0038] 14 Turbocharger [0039] 15 Support structure [0040] 16 Turbine housing [0041] 17 Bearing housing [0042] 18 Casing [0043] 19 Bracket [0044] 19a End [0045] 19b End [0046] 20 Elongated hole [0047] 21 Bracket