RADIAL COMPRESSOR

Abstract

A radial compressor, with a compressor rotor, a compressor housing having a radially outer and a radially inner insert section, a main flow channel for supplying a medium toward the compressor rotor, a circulation chamber arranged radially outside of the main flow channel, which is separated from the main flow channel by a contour wall connected with the main flow channel via circulation openings to the insert section via struts extending into the circulation chamber. The main flow channel is bordered by the contour wall, and upstream from the contour wall by an upstream portion of the insert section. A suction element is arranged upstream from the compressor housing, whose radially outer portion adjoins the spiral housing section, and whose radially inner portion adjoins the upstream portion of the insert section. Adjoining surfaces of the suction element and the insert section lie on a cylindrical surface.

Claims

1. A radial compressor, comprising: a compressor rotor; a compressor housing, which has a radially outer spiral housing section and a radially inner insert section; a main flow channel configured to supply a medium to be compressed towards the compressor rotor; a circulation chamber arranged radially outside of the main flow channel; a contour wall that separates the circulation chamber from the main flow channel and is connected with the main flow channel via circulation, and which is connected with the radially inner insert section via struts extending into the circulation chamber, wherein the main flow channel is bordered by the contour wall, and upstream from the contour wall by an upstream portion of the radially inner insert section; and a suction element arranged upstream from the compressor housing, whose radially outer portion adjoins the spiral housing section, and whose radially inner portion adjoins the upstream portion of the radially inner insert section; wherein adjoining surfaces of the radially inner portion of the suction element and the upstream portion of the radially inner insert section lie on a cylindrical surface.

2. The radial compressor according to claim 1, wherein respective surfaces of the radially inner portion of the suction element face radially inward, and an adjoining surface of the upstream portion of the radially inner insert section face radially outward.

3. The radial compressor according to claim 1, wherein the upstream portion of the radially inner insert section is positioned radially inward relative to the radially inner portion of the suction element.

4. The radial compressor according to claim 1, wherein the struts that connect the contour wall with the radially inner insert section engage a portion of the radially inner insert section that is offset radially outward relative to the upstream portion of the radially inner insert section and connected with the upstream portion of the radially inner insert section by a portion extending in a radial direction.

5. The radial compressor according to claim 4, wherein a free space is formed between the portion extending in the radial direction of the radially inner insert section extending in the radial direction and the radially inner portion of the suction element.

6. The radial compressor according to claim 1, wherein one of an undercut and a material recess is formed at the upstream portion of the radially inner insert section.

7. The radial compressor according to claim 6, wherein the one of the undercut and the material recess is directed radially inward in relation to a radially outwardly directed surface of the upstream portion of the radially inner insert section.

8. The radial compressor according to claim 1, wherein the radially inner insert section is integral in design.

9. The radial compressor according to claim 1, wherein the radially inner insert section has a multipart design.

10. The radial compressor according to claim 1, wherein the radially inner insert section and the radially outer spiral housing section of a stator-side compressor housing are separated on the component side and are provided by separate components.

11. The radial compressor of claim 1, wherein the radial compressor is a radial compressor of an exhaust gas turbocharger.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Preferred further developments of the invention may be gleaned from the subclaims and following description. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in greater detail based on the drawing, without being limited thereto. Shown on:

[0015] FIG. 1: is a perspective cross section through a turbocharger known from prior art; and

[0016] FIG. 2: is a schematized meridian section through a radial compressor according to one aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] FIG. 2 shows a meridian section through a radial compressor 21 according to one aspect of the invention, which in particular is designed as a radial compressor of an exhaust gas turbocharger.

[0018] The radial compressor 21 has a compressor rotor 22, which is arranged in a compressor housing 23. The compressor housing 23 has a radially outer spiral housing section 24, as well as a radially inner insert section 25, which in the exemplary embodiment shown is comprised of two segments 25a, 25b. The two segments 25a, 25b of the insert section 25 are configured as separate assemblies in the exemplary embodiment shown, and can also be integral in design.

[0019] The radial compressor 21 has a main flow channel 26, through which medium to be compressed can be guided toward the compressor rotor 22. A circulation chamber 27 is formed radially outside of the main flow channel 26, which is separated from the main flow channel 26 by a contour wall 28. The circulation chamber 27 is connected with the main flow channel 26 via circulation openings 29, 30.

[0020] Struts 31 extend inside the circulation chamber 27, and connect the contour wall 28 with the insert section 25, specifically with the segment 25b of the insert section 25 on FIG. 2.

[0021] Therefore, sections of the main flow channel 26 are bordered radially outwardly by the contour wall 28. The main flow channel 26 is bordered upstream from the contour wall 28 by a downstream portion 32 of the insert section 25. The main flow channel 26 is bordered downstream from the contour wall 28 by a downstream portion 33 of the insert section 25, which outwardly adjoins the compressor rotor 22.

[0022] FIG. 2 further shows a suction element 34, which is arranged upstream from the compressor housing 23. The suction element 34 has a radially inner portion 34a and a radially outer portion 34b. The radially outer portion 34b of the suction element 34 adjoins the spiral housing section 24. The radially inner portion 34a of the suction element adjoins the upstream portion 32 of the insert section 25, which in the exemplary embodiment shown is provided by the segment 25a of the insert section 25.

[0023] A flange connection 36 is formed between the flange-like, radially outer portion 34b of the suction element 34 and a flange 35 of the spiral housing section 24.

[0024] In the radial compressor 21 according to one aspect of the invention, adjoining surfaces of the radially inner portion 34a of the suction element 34 and upstream portion 32 of the insert section 25 lie on a cylindrical surface. The respective surface of the radially inner portion 34a of the suction element 34 lying on this cylindrical surface here faces radially inward, and the respective surface of the upstream portion 32 of the insert section 25 lying on the cylindrical surface faces radially outward. The downstream portion 32 of the insert section 25 is positioned radially inwardly relative to the radially inner portion 34 of the suction element 34.

[0025] If the compressor rotor 22 breaks during operation and fragments thereof impact the insert section 25, the upstream portion 32 of the insert section 25 can move into the suction element 34 in a defined manner, so that the suction element 34 is not exposed to any forces that could lead to a failure of the flange connection 36.

[0026] As already explained, the contour wall 28 is connected with the insert section 25 via the struts 31 extending in the circulation space 27. The struts 31 here engage the portion 37 of the insert section 25 that is offset radially outwardly in relation to the upstream portion 32 of the insert section 25 and connected with the upstream portion 32 via a portion 38 extending in the radial direction. In the exemplary embodiment on FIG. 2, this portion 37 of the insert section 25 offset radially outward is provided by the segment 25b of the insert section 25. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the portion 38 extending in the radial direction and connects the portion 37 with the downstream portion 32 of the insert section 25 is formed by the segment 25a of the insert section 25. As already explained, the segments 25a, 25b can also be integral in design, in contrast to FIG. 2.

[0027] Arranged between this portion 38 of the insert section 25 extending in the radial direction, which connects the upstream portion 32 of the insert section 25 with the portion 37 of the insert section 25 offset radially outward relative to the upstream portion 32, and the radially inner portion 34a of the suction element 34 is a free space 39, which forms a kind of deformation space and defines a possible axial entryway for the upstream portion 32 of the insert section 25 into the suction element 34. The free space 39 provides an axial freedom of movement for the upstream portion 32 of the insert section 25 in the event of damage.

[0028] In the exemplary embodiment shown, an undercut 40 or material recess is introduced in the upstream portion 32 of the insert section 25 between the portion 38 of the insert section 25 extending in the radial direction, which connects the upstream portion 32 of the insert section 25 with the radially outwardly offset portion 37 thereof, and the radially inner portion 34a of the suction element 34.

[0029] The undercut 40 or material recess is radially inwardly arranged on the axial position of the free space 39, which can also be referred to as the axial deformation space, relative to the free space 39, and passes over into the latter.

[0030] The undercut 40 or material recess is directed radially inwardly in relation to the radially outwardly directed surface of the upstream portion 32 of the insert section 25, which lies opposite the radially inwardly directed surface of the radially inner portion 34a of the suction element 34. If the insert section 25 should move into the suction element 34 in the event of damage, this undercut 40 or material recess prevents a tilting of the upstream portion 32 of the insert section 25 in the suction element 34.

[0031] The undercut 40 is continuous in design in the circumferential direction, and formed on a radially outer surface of the upstream portion 32 of the insert section 25.

[0032] As already explained, the multipart insert section 25 consists of the segments 25a, 25b in the exemplary embodiment shown. The latter can also consist of a single component, in which case the segments 25a, 25b are integral in design.

[0033] In the exemplary embodiment on FIG. 2, the insert section 25 and radially outer spiral housing section 24 of the compressor housing 24 are separated on the component side, so that the latter are thus provided by separate components. It is possible that the insert section 25 extend until into the spiral housing section 24, wherein sections of the spiral housing section 24 then consist of the insert section 25 as well.

[0034] In the event of damage to the compressor rotor 22 and the resultant axial displacement of the insert section 25 in the direction toward the suction element 34, the invention makes it possible to prevent a failure of the flange connection 36 between the compressor housing 23, namely in the spiral housing section 24 of the latter, and the suction element 34 from arising. As a consequence, this flange connection 36 is not exposed to any direct load in the event of damage. For this reason, the flange connection 36 can be given a more slender and lightweight design by comparison to conventional radial compressors.

[0035] Thus, while there have 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.