Oil discharge assembly for a turbocharger

Abstract

A turbocharger assembly ( 100 ) includes an insert ( 200 ) having an outer axially extending lip ( 204 ) and an inner axially extending lip ( 208 ). The outer lip ( 204 ) is radially spaced from the inner lip ( 208 ), and the inner lip ( 208 ) has a radially outwardly extending tip ( 212 ). The inner lip ( 208 ) can define an annular drainage channel ( 216 ). The insert ( 200 ) is positioned in the turbocharger assembly ( 100 ) so as to engage a thrust collar ( 124 ) and a thrust bearing ( 140 ). The insert ( 200 ), the thrust collar ( 124 ) and the thrust bearing ( 140 ) can cooperatively define an oil collection chamber ( 240 ). The oil collection chamber ( 240 ) is in fluid communication with an oil release interface defined between the thrust collar ( 124 ) and the thrust bearing ( 140 ). Pressurized oil discharged from the oil release interface is centrifugally propelled toward a radially outer region of the oil collection chamber ( 240 ) and can gravitationally collect in the drainage channel ( 216 ), which can direct the oil out of the turbocharger assembly ( 100 ).

1 . A turbocharger assembly comprising: 
 a thrust collar ( 124 ) having a first radially outwardly extending wall ( 130 ) and a second radially outwardly extending wall ( 134 ), the first and second radially outwardly extending walls ( 130 ,  134 ) being axially spaced such that an annular channel ( 160 ) is defined therebetween, the first radially outwardly extending wall ( 130 ) having a proximal face ( 131 ) and a distal face ( 133 ), the second radially outwardly extending wall ( 134 ) having a proximal face ( 135 ) and a distal face ( 137 ), wherein the annular channel ( 160 ) is formed in part by the distal face ( 133 ) of the first radially outwardly extending wall ( 130 ) and the proximal face ( 135 ) of the second radially outwardly extending wall ( 134 );    a thrust bearing ( 140 ) having a first axial face ( 144 ) and a second axial face ( 148 ), the thrust bearing ( 140 ) further having a radially outer end ( 152 ) and a radially inner end ( 156 ), at least a portion of the thrust bearing ( 140 ) including the radially inner end ( 156 ) being received in the annular channel ( 160 ); and    an insert ( 200 ) having an outer axially extending lip ( 204 ) and an inner axially extending lip ( 208 ), the outer lip ( 204 ) being radially spaced from the inner lip ( 208 ), the inner lip ( 208 ) having a radially outwardly extending tip ( 212 ), wherein the inner lip ( 208 ) defines an annular drainage channel ( 216 ), the insert ( 200 ) annularly surrounding a portion of the thrust collar ( 124 ) such that the tip ( 212 ) of the inner lip ( 208 ) directly engages the proximal face ( 131 ) of the first radially outwardly extending wall ( 130 ) and such that the outer lip ( 204 ) directly engages the first axial face ( 144 ) of the thrust bearing ( 140 ) proximate the radially outer end ( 152 ),    wherein an oil collection chamber ( 240 ) is defined at least in part by the drainage channel ( 216 ) of the insert ( 200 ), the first radially outwardly extending wall ( 130 ) of the thrust collar ( 124 ) and the first axial face ( 144 ) of the thrust bearing ( 140 ), the chamber ( 240 ) being in fluid communication with an oil release interface between the first radially outwardly extending wall ( 130 ) and the thrust bearing ( 140 ),    whereby pressurized oil discharged from the oil release interface is permitted to be centrifugally propelled toward a radially outer region of the oil collection chamber ( 240 ) and to collect in the oil collection chamber ( 240 ) for subsequent drainage.    
   
   
       2 . The turbocharger assembly of  claim 1  wherein the insert ( 200 ) includes a deflecting surface ( 206 ), wherein the deflecting surface ( 206 ) forms a part of the oil collection chamber ( 240 ), wherein the deflecting surface ( 206 ) is angular.  
   
   
       3 . The turbocharger assembly of  claim 1  wherein the insert ( 200 ) includes a deflecting surface ( 206 ), wherein the deflecting surface ( 206 ) forms a part of the oil collection chamber ( 240 ), wherein the deflecting surface ( 206 ) is substantially curvilinear.  
   
   
       4 . The turbocharger assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first radially outwardly extending wall ( 130 ) has an associated diameter and the radially outwardly extending tip ( 212 ) has an associated second diameter, wherein the second diameter is greater than the first diameter.  
   
   
       5 . The turbocharger assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first radially outwardly extending wall ( 130 ) has an associated diameter and the radially outwardly extending tip ( 212 ) has an associated second diameter, wherein the second diameter is less than the first diameter.  
   
   
       6 . The turbocharger assembly of  claim 5  wherein the first radially outwardly extending wall ( 130 ) is at a first diameter at the proximal face ( 131 ) and at a second diameter at the distal face ( 133 ), wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter, whereby a sharp edge ( 138 ) is formed at the proximal face ( 131 ).