Variable Geometry Turbine Yoke Assembly for Compact Turbochargers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional turbochargers face challenges in achieving a compact design without compromising performance, particularly in applications with space constraints, such as smaller engines or high-pressure systems, where the existing variable geometry turbines are not optimized for reduced spatial envelope.
Innovation Solution
A variable geometry turbine design featuring a yoke with a rotatably supported shaft and arms that engage with a movable member to control gas flow, utilizing recesses in the housing for compact assembly and operation, allowing for axial movement and rotation of the nozzle ring or shroud plate to adjust the inlet passageway size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a conventional variable geometry turbine design is used, then gas flow control capability is achieved, but the spatial envelope is too large for compact applications
Solution Approach 1:
The yoke shaft is received within the turbine housing and extends through the bearing housing, with the yoke arms nested within the housing cavity. The movable member is positioned within the housing, creating a nested arrangement that reduces the overall spatial envelope while maintaining all necessary functional components for gas flow control.
Solution Approach 2:
The yoke shaft rotates about an axis that is offset from the turbine axis, creating motion in a different dimensional plane. This allows the movable member to be positioned at a radial distance from the turbine axis, enabling compact packaging of the gas flow control mechanism within the housing volume rather than requiring axial extension.
2Ease of manufacture
If the yoke and shaft are assembled from separate components, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The yoke mechanism is divided into separable components: the yoke body, the shaft, and the arms. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently using optimal processes, then assembled together. The shaft is inserted through the bearing housing and yoke, with arms attached to the shaft, creating a modular assembly that balances manufacturing flexibility with assembly simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A variable geometry turbine has a housing for receipt of the turbine wheel. A gas flow control mechanism in the housing upstream of said turbine wheel is operable to control gas flow through a gas flow inlet passage. The control mechanism has a movable nozzle ring or shroud for varying the size of the gas flow inlet passage. A transmission mechanism for connection between an actuator and the control mechanism converts movement applied by the actuator into movement shroud or nozzle ring. The transmission mechanism comprises a yoke having a shaft that is rotatably supported by a wall of the housing. The yoke defines arms that extend outwardly of the shaft and which engage with the shroud or nozzle ring. There is provided at least one recess defined in an inside surface of the housing, the recess extending from shaft rotation axis and configured to allow passage of an end of the yoke shaft along it during insertion of the yoke into the housing.