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Title:
TURBOCHARGER WITH INTEGRATED VENTURI MIXER AND EGR VALVE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2015/153439
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A number of variations may include a product comprising: a turbocharger, comprising a housing; and a venturi mixer, comprising a housing; wherein the turbocharger housing and the venturi mixer housing are integrated into a single housing.

Inventors:
ROTH DAVID B (US)
BECKER MICHAEL (DE)
Application Number:
PCT/US2015/023304
Publication Date:
October 08, 2015
Filing Date:
March 30, 2015
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
BORGWARNER INC (US)
International Classes:
F02B39/00; F02B37/16; F15D1/02
Foreign References:
US20080149198A12008-06-26
US20060045764A12006-03-02
US20130118162A12013-05-16
US20080134678A12008-06-12
US20070144170A12007-06-28
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
BROOKS, Cary W. et al. (48685 HayesShelby Township, Michigan, US)
Download PDF:
Claims:
CLAIMS

What is claimed is:

1 . A product comprising:

a turbocharger and a venturi mixer;

the turbocharger comprising a first housing and a compressor wheel, the turbocharger being constructed and arranged to force an exhaust-gas and air mixture through the first housing; and

the venturi mixer being constructed and arranged to improve the homogeneity of the exhaust-gas and air mixture flowing through the housing.

2. A product as set forth in claim 1 :

wherein the first housing is a single-piece construction housing the turbocharger and the venturi mixer.

3. A product as set forth in claim 1 :

further comprising an exhaust-gas recirculation valve disposed within the first housing and being constructed and arranged to control the flow of exhaust-gas flowing from the turbocharger to the venturi mixer and being integrated into the housing.

4. A product as set forth in claim 1 :

wherein the turbocharger and the venturi mixer are of a single-piece construction. 5. A product as set forth in claim 1 :

wherein the venturi mixer comprises a second housing.

6. A product as set forth in claim 1 :

wherein the venturi mixer comprises a venturi tube insert disposed within the first housing.

7. A product as set forth in claim 1 : wherein the venturi mixer defines a venturi tube disposed within the first housing wherein the venturi mixer and the venturi tube are of a single- piece construction.

8. A product as set forth in claim 1 :

further comprising one or more of oxygen sensors, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, or turbocharger speed sensors disposed within the first housing.

9. A product as set forth in claim 1 :

further comprising an integrated electrical connector in communication with the first housing to provide a single electrical connector for the sensors.

10. A product comprising:

an EGR valve and a venturi mixer wherein the EGR valve and the venturi mixer are constructed and arranged to form an integrated housing.

1 1 . A product as set forth in claim 10:

further comprising a compressor wheel received in the integrated housing.

12. A product as set forth in claim 10:

wherein the EGR valve and the venturi mixer are constructed and arranged to form a single piece housing construction.

13. A product as set forth in claim 1 1 :

wherein the compressor, the venturi mixer, and the EGR valve are constructed and arranged to form an integrated housing.

14. A product as set forth in claim 10:

further comprising one or more of sensors disposed within the integrated housing, an EGR valve actuator, and an integrated electrical connector in communication with the sensors and valve actuator.

15. A product as set forth in claim 14:

wherein one or more of the sensors includes an oxygen sensor, temperature sensor, pressure sensor, or turbocharger speed sensor. 16. A product comprising:

an EGR-mixer system comprising a first housing, a venturi mixer, an EGR valve, an air intake, an air outlet, a reservoir, and a compressor;

the venturi mixer comprising a second housing, a converging inlet, a throat, a diverging outlet, at least one exhaust gas EGR inlet channel, and at least one cooling channel;

the EGR valve comprising a third housing, an inlet, a valve, and an outlet, the inlet constructed and arranged to receive exhaust gas from a combustion engine, the valve being positionable to adjust the flow of exhaust gas through the inlet and outlet, and the outlet being constructed and arranged to allow exhaust gas to flow from the EGR valve to the at least one EGR inlet channel of the venturi mixer;

the at least one EGR inlet channel being constructed and arranged to facilitate the flow of incoming exhaust gas flow from the EGR valve into the venturi mixer;

the converging inlet, throat, and diverging outlet defining a through- channel within the venturi mixer;

the converging inlet being constructed and arranged to facilitate intake of air from an air intake and float said air to the throat;

the throat connecting the converging inlet to the diverging outlet;

the diverging outlet being constructed and arranged to facilitate the flow of the exhaust gas and air from the converging inlet and throat to the air outlet in fluid communication with the compressor;

wherein the venturi mixer is constructed and arranged to mix exhaust gas and incoming air flow to create an exhaust gas and air mixture and to facilitate condensation of liquid from the exhaust gas and air mixture as said mixture flows through the through-channel of the through-channel of the venturi mixer; the compressor comprising an inlet for receiving the exhaust gas and air mixture from the venturi mixer and an outlet in fluid communication with a combustion engine; and

wherein the at least one condensate outlet channel is constructed and arranged to collect and flow condensate to the reservoir and the at least one cooling channel is constructed and arranged to actively cool the venturi mixer via an active cooling system.

17. A product as set forth in claim 16, wherein:

the EGR-mixer system further comprises a reservoir, the reservoir comprising an inlet, a fluid reservoir, and a pump; and

wherein the reservoir is constructed and arranged to receive condensate from the venturi mixer and flow said condensate to at least one portion of a motor vehicle to actively cool or heat that portion of the motor vehicle.

18. A product as set forth in claim 16, wherein:

the venturi mixer further comprises at least one heat transfer fin constructed and arranged to facilitate passive cooling of the venturi mixer and condensation of liquid from the exhaust gas and air mixture as said mixtures flows through the through-channel of the venturi mixer.

19. A product as set forth in claim 16, wherein:

the first housing defines both the second housing and the third housing and is constructed and arranged such that the first housing, second housing, and third housing are of a single piece construction.

Description:
TURBOCHARGER WITH INTEGRATED VENTURI MIXER AND EGR VALVE

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPICATIONS This application claims benefit of the United States Provisional

Application No. 61/974,024 filed April 2, 2014.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The field to which the disclosure generally relates includes internal combustion engine turbochargers, exhaust gas breathing systems, and methods of making and using the same.

BACKGROUND

Turbochargers and exhaust gas breathing systems may be used in a variety of internal combustion engine applications.

SUMMARY OF SELECT ILLUSTRATIVE VARIATIONS

One illustrative variation may be a product that may include a housing. The housing may include a turbocharger and a venturi mixer.

Another illustrative variation may be a product that may include a housing. The housing may include an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system and a venturi mixer.

Other illustrative variations within the scope of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while disclosing optional variations or variants within the scope of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Select examples of variations will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates a variation including a turbocharger assembly with an integrated venturi mixer and EGR valve. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE VARIATIONS

The following description of the variations is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the scope of the invention, its application, or uses.

Referring to Fig. 1 ; a turbocharger assembly 10 may include a compressor 12, a venturi mixer 14, and an EGR valve 16.

The compressor 12 may include a housing 20, a compressor wheel 40, a venturi interface 60, and one or more sensors 44, 46 disposed within the housing. The one or more sensors 44, 46 may measure oxygen levels, pressures, temperatures and/or turbocharger speed. One or more of the sensors may be a wide-band oxygen sensor. The housing 20 may include a venturi interface 60 and an exhaust gas breathing system interface 70 and may define an inlet port 1 1 and an outlet port 13. The housing 20 may be made of metal or any other material suitable for high temperature environments.

The venturi mixer 14 may include a housing 22, a venturi tube 42, and one or more sensors 48 to measure oxygen levels, pressures, and/or temperatures within the venturi housing 22. The housing 22 may include a compressor interface 62, an EGR interface 64, and an exhaust gas breathing system interface 68, and may define an intake air flow inlet port 31 , an exhaust gas flow inlet port 38, and an outlet port 36. The venturi tube 42 may have an internal circumference that gradually converges in axial direction A towards a throat 74 and gradually diverges in axial direction A and may be constructed and arranged to create a venturi effect at the throat 74 for the particular internal combustion engine and exhaust gas breathing system in which it is being used. The venturi tube 42, together with the venturi housing 22, may define a path for exhaust gas flow 33 though one or more orifices 35 which may be formed in the venturi tube 42 and may be disposed around the circumference of the venturi tube 42, which may allow exhaust gas flow 33 into venturi intake air flow 30. The housing 22 may be made of metal or any other material suitable for high temperature environments. In one variation, the venturi tube 42 may be an insert placed within the housing 22 and may be made of metal or any other material suitable for high temperature environments. In other variations, the venturi tube 42 may be cast, molded, and/or machined into the housing 22 and may be made of metal or any other material suitable for high temperature environments.

The EGR valve 16 may include a housing 24, a valve 26, a valve actuator 28, and sensors 50, 52 that may measure intake oxygen levels, pressures, and/or temperatures, disposed within the EGR valve housing 24. The housing 24 may include a venturi mixer interface 66 and an exhaust gas breathing system interface 72 and may define an inlet port 18 and an outlet port 19. The housing 24 may be made of metal or any other material suitable for high temperature environments.

In one variation, turbocharger assembly 10 may include a compressor housing 20 and venturi mixer housing 22 connected at interfaces 60, 62 and may include attaching the venturi mixer housing 22 to the EGR housing 24 at interfaces 64, 66 using fasteners, welds, adhesives, or any other suitable attachment means. In another variation, turbocharger assembly 10 may be a one-piece housing including housing 20, housing 22, and housing 24 all being inter-connected. In another variation, the turbocharger assembly 10 may be a one-piece housing including housing 20, housing 22, and housing 24 attached at interfaces 64, 66 using fasteners, welds, adhesives, or any other suitable attachment means. In yet another variation, the turbocharger assembly 10 may be a one-piece construct that may include housing 22, housing 24, and housing 20 attached at interfaces 60, 62 using fasteners, welds, adhesives, or any other suitable attachment means.

In another variation, an integrated electrical connector 54 may be attached to the housing 20, 22, or 24 of the turbocharger assembly 10 and may provide a single electrical connector for one or more of sensors 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, and valve actuator 28.

In another variation, sensors 44, 46, 48, 50, and 52 may be wide-band oxygen sensors.

The following description of variants is only illustrative of components, elements, acts, product and methods considered to be within the scope of the invention and are not in any way intended to limit such scope by what is specifically disclosed or not expressly set forth. The components, elements, acts, product and methods as described herein may be combined and rearranged other than as expressly described herein and still are considered to be within the scope of the invention.

According to a first variation, a product may include a housing, a turbocharger, and a venturi mixer.

A second variation may include a product as set forth in the first variation wherein the housing is a single-piece construction wherein the housing, the turbocharger, and venturi mixer are interconnected.

A third variation may include a product as set forth in the first through second variations that may further include an EGR valve wherein the EGR valve may be a part of the single-piece construction housing.

A fourth variation may include a product as set forth in the first through third variations wherein the turbocharger and the venturi mixer may be of a single-piece construction.

A fifth variation may include a product as set forth in the first through fourth variations wherein the housing may be a first housing; the turbocharger may include a second housing; the venturi mixer may include a third housing and wherein the first housing may include a body portion and the body portion may define both the second housing and the third housing such that the first housing, second housing, and third housing may be of a single piece construction.

A sixth variation may include a product as set forth in the first through fifth variations wherein the venturi mixer may further include a venturi tube insert disposed within the housing.

A seventh variation may include a product as set forth in the first through sixth variations wherein the venturi mixer may further define a venturi tube disposed within the housing wherein the venturi mixer and the venturi tube may be of a single-piece construction.

A eighth variation may include a product as set forth in the first through seventh variations that may further include one or more of oxygen sensors, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, or turbocharger speed sensors disposed within the housing. A ninth variation may include a product as set forth in the first through eighth variations that may further include an integrated electrical connector in communication with the housing to provide a single electrical connector for the sensors.

A tenth variation may include an EGR valve and a venturi mixer wherein the EGR valve and the venturi mixer are constructed and arranged to form an integrated housing.

An eleventh variation may include a product as set forth in the tenth variation that may further include a compressor wherein the compressor may be an integrated portion of the integrated housing.

A twelfth variation may include a product as set forth in the tenth and eleventh variations wherein the EGR valve and the venturi mixer may be of a single piece construction.

A thirteenth variation may include a product as set forth in the tenth through twelfth variations that may further include a compressor, a venturi mixer, and an EGR valve; wherein the compressor, the venturi mixer, and the EGR valve are constructed and arranged to form an integrated housing.

A fourteenth variation may include a product as set forth in the tenth through thirteenth variations that may further include one or more sensors disposed within the integrated housing, an EGR valve actuator, and an integrated electrical connector in communication with the sensors and valve actuator.

A fifteenth variation may include a product as set forth in the tenth through fourteenth variations wherein one or more of the sensors may include an oxygen sensor, temperature sensor, pressure sensor, or turbocharger speed sensor.

A sixteenth variation may include a product that may include a first housing, a venturi mixer, and an EGR valve. The venturi mixer may include a second housing, a converging inlet, a throat, a diverging outlet, at least one exhaust gas EGR inlet channel, and at least one cooling channel. The EGR valve may include a third housing, an inlet, a valve, and an outlet. The inlet may be constructed and arranged to receive exhaust gas from a combustion engine and the valve may be positionable to adjust the flow of exhaust gas through the inlet and outlet, and the outlet may be constructed and arranged to allow exhaust gas to flow from the EGR valve to the at least one EGR inlet channel of the venturi mixer. The at least one EGR inlet channel may be constructed and arranged to facilitate the flow of incoming exhaust gas flow from the EGR valve into the venturi mixer. The converging inlet may be constructed and arranged to facilitate intake of air from an air intake and flow said air to the throat. The throat may connect the converging inlet to the diverging outlet. The diverging outlet may be constructed and arranged to facilitate the flow of the exhaust gas and air from the converging inlet and throat to an outlet. The venturi mixer may constructed and arranged to mix exhaust gas and incoming air flow to create an exhaust gas and air mixture and to facilitate condensation of liquid from the exhaust gas and air mixture as said mixtures flows through the venturi mixer.

An seventeenth variation may include an EGR-mixer system as set forth in the sixteenth through seventeenth variations where the venturi mixer may further include at least one exhaust gas inlet channel that may be constructed and arranged to facilitate the mixing of incoming exhaust gas flow and incoming air flow to create an exhaust gas and air mixture.

A eighteenth variation may include a product as set forth in the sixteenth through eighteenth variations wherein the EGR valve and the venturi mixer may be of a single piece construction.

A ninetieth variation may include a product as set forth in the sixteenth through nineteenth variations wherein the first housing may define both the second housing and the third housing and may be constructed and arranged such that the first housing, second housing, and third housing may be of a single piece construction.

The above description of select examples of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations or variants thereof are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.