Oil control device

Abstract

An oil control device for incorporation in a system for sealing the passage of a rotating shaft ( 3 ) through an opening. The oil control device comprises an annular member ( 10 ) for rotation with said shaft ( 3 ) and provided with a circumferentially spaced array of passages ( 24, 18 ) for centrifugally displacing fluid away from said shaft ( 3 ) as it rotates. The passages ( 24, 18 ) comprise channels which are open along their length.

Having thus described the invention, what is novel and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:  
     
         1 . An oil control device for incorporation in a system for sealing the passage of a rotating shaft through an opening, the oil control device comprising an annular member for rotation with said shaft and provided with a circumferentially spaced array of passages for centrifugally displacing fluid away from said shaft as it rotates, wherein said passages comprise channels which are open along their length.  
     
     
         2 . An oil control device according to  claim 1 , wherein said annular member defines at least one generally radially extending face in which a plurality of said channels are formed.  
     
     
         3 . An oil control device according to  claim 2 , wherein the annular member comprises a central cylindrical body portion and a surrounding annular portion, and wherein said at least one face is defined by said annular portion.  
     
     
         4 . An oil control device according to  claim 3 , wherein said at least one face is defined at an axial end of said annular portion.  
     
     
         5 . An oil control device according to  claim 4 , wherein said annular portion defines first and second oppositely facing axial end faces each of which is provided with an array of said channels.  
     
     
         6 . An oil control device according to  claim 5 , wherein said annular portion has an axially extending part which is radially spaced from said body portion defining an annular gap therebetween.  
     
     
         7 . An oil control device according to  claim 6 , wherein at least some of said channels in the or each face communicate with said annular gap.  
     
     
         8 . An oil control device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said channels is substantially straight.  
     
     
         9 . An oil control device according to  claim 8 , wherein said substantially straight channel extends radially from the axis of rotation of the shaft and oil control device.  
     
     
         10 . An oil control device according to  claim 8 , wherein said straight channel is angularly off-set relative to radial lines extending from the axis of rotation of the oil control device, such that said channel is swept relative to the direction of rotation.  
     
     
         11 . An oil control device according to  claim 1 , wherein at least some of said channels are curvilinear.  
     
     
         12 . An oil control device according to  claim 11 , wherein said curvilinear channels have a constant radius of curvature.  
     
     
         13 . An oil control device according to  claim 11 , wherein said curvilinear channels have a radius of curvature which varies along the length of said channels in a direction away from the centre of axis of rotation.  
     
     
         14 . An oil control device according to  claim 13 , wherein said channels have a constant cross-sectional area.  
     
     
         15 . An oil control device according to  claim 13 , wherein the cross-sectional area of at least some of said channels varies along the length of the respective channel in a direction away from the axis rotation of the oil control device.  
     
     
         16 . An oil control device according to  claim 15 , wherein the width of said channels varies to give said varied cross-sectional area.  
     
     
         17 . An oil control device according to  claim 15 , wherein the depth of said channels varies to give said varying cross-sectional area.  
     
     
         18 . A seal system according to  claim 1  further comprising a turbocharger comprising a compressor housing and a bearing housing separated by a wall, a rotating shaft mounted on bearing systems housed within said bearing housing, said shaft extending through said wall into from the bearing housing into the compressor housing, said oil control device being mounted to said shaft on the bearing housing side of said wall to help prevent leakage of lubricant from the bearing housing into the compressor housing.  
     
     
         19 . A turbocharger according to  claim 18 , wherein said wall is a compressor back plate, adapted for mating co-operation with the oil control device.  
     
     
         20 . A turbocharger according to  claim 19 , wherein said oil control device has a first generally radially extending axial end face which is in running engagement with said plate, at least some of said channels being defined in said first end face.