Compressor assembly having dynamic diffuser ring retention

Abstract

A compressor assembly is disclosed. The compressor assembly may have a compressor housing, which may have an inner wall inclined at a first angle relative to a plane disposed generally orthogonal to a rotational axis of the compressor assembly. The compressor assembly may also have a compressor impeller disposed within the compressor housing. Further, the compressor assembly may have a bearing housing attached to the compressor housing. The bearing housing may have a body portion and a web that may extend outward from the body portion to a web end. The web may be inclined at a second angle relative to the plane. The compressor assembly may have a diffuser ring disposed between the inner wall and the web. The compressor assembly may also have a spring disposed between the web and the diffuser ring. The spring may be configured to apply a generally axial load on the diffuser ring.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A compressor assembly, comprising:
 a compressor housing, including an inner wall inclined at a first angle relative to a plane disposed generally orthogonal to a rotational axis of the compressor assembly;   a compressor impeller disposed within the compressor housing;   a bearing housing attached to the compressor housing, the bearing housing including:
 a body portion; and 
 a web extending outward from the body portion to a web end, the web being inclined at a second angle relative to the plane; 
   a diffuser ring disposed between the inner wall and the web; and   a spring disposed between the web and the diffuser ring, the spring being configured to apply a generally axial load on the diffuser ring.   
     
     
         2 . The compressor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the web includes:
 a ledge disposed between the body portion and the web end;   a first web face extending from the body portion to the ledge; and   a second web face extending from the ledge to the web end, wherein the diffuser ring is disposed between the second web face and the inner wall.   
     
     
         3 . The compressor assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the ledge includes:
 a ledge outer surface extending axially from the first web face to a ledge end disposed between the first web face and a compressor rear end; and   a ledge axial face extending radially outward from the ledge end to the second web face.   
     
     
         4 . The compressor assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the diffuser ring includes:
 a back plate extending from a back plate leading edge to a back plate trailing edge, wherein
 the back plate leading edge is disposed adjacent the ledge outer surface, and 
 the back plate is separated from the second web face by a cavity; and 
   a vane extending from the back plate towards the inner wall.   
     
     
         5 . The compressor assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the vane includes a vane tip configured to abut on the inner wall. 
     
     
         6 . The compressor assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the back plate includes:
 a front face disposed opposite the inner wall;   a bottom face configured to abut on the ledge outer surface;   a rear face separated from the second web face by the cavity; and   a recess disposed between the bottom face and the rear face, the recess being located adjacent the ledge outer surface, the recess including:
 a recess upper face extending axially from the rear face towards the front face; and 
 a recess side face extending between the recess upper face and the bottom face. 
   
     
     
         7 . The compressor assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the spring is disposed in the recess between the ledge axial face and the recess side face. 
     
     
         8 . The compressor assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the spring is a generally annular wave spring having an inner radius larger than a radius of the ledge outer surface. 
     
     
         9 . The compressor assembly of  claim 8 , wherein
 the ledge outer surface includes an annular groove, and   a seal member is disposed in the annular groove between the ledge outer surface and the bottom face of the back plate.   
     
     
         10 . The compressor assembly of  claim 8 , wherein
 the compressor housing includes a volute having a volute rear wall; and   the bearing housing includes a bearing housing flange extending radially outward from the web end, the bearing housing flange being configured to be connected to the volute rear wall.   
     
     
         11 . The compressor assembly of  claim 10 , wherein
 the volute rear wall has an inner face, and   the back plate includes a top face separated from the inner face by a radial gap.   
     
     
         12 . The compressor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first angle is about equal to the second angle. 
     
     
         13 . A diffuser ring comprising:
 a back plate, including:
 a front face inclined at a first angle relative to a plane disposed generally orthogonal to a rotational axis; 
 a rear face inclined at a second angle relative to the plane; 
 a top face extending axially from the front face towards the rear face; and 
 a bottom face extending axially from the front face towards the rear face; and 
   a vane extending outward from the front face.   
     
     
         14 . The diffuser ring of  claim 13 , wherein
 the front face extends from a back plate leading edge to a back plate trailing edge; and   the vane extends from a vane leading edge to a vane trailing edge disposed between the back plate leading edge and the back plate trailing edge.   
     
     
         15 . The diffuser ring of  claim 14 , further including a recess disposed adjacent the bottom face, the recess including:
 a recess upper face extending axially from the rear face towards the front face; and   a recess side face extending radially inwards from the recess upper face to the bottom face.   
     
     
         16 . The diffuser ring of  claim 14 , wherein the vane leading edge intersects with the front face at a location disposed between the back plate leading edge and the back plate trailing edge. 
     
     
         17 . A turbocharger, comprising:
 a turbine housing;   a turbine wheel disposed within the turbine housing and configured to be driven by exhaust received from an engine;   a compressor housing, including an inner wall inclined at a first angle relative to a plane disposed generally orthogonal to a rotational axis of the turbocharger;   a compressor impeller disposed within the compressor housing;   a shaft connecting the turbine wheel and the compressor impeller;   a bearing housing attached to the compressor housing and the turbine housing, the bearing housing including:
 a body portion; and 
 a web extending outward from the body portion to a web end, the web being inclined at a second angle relative to the plane; 
   a diffuser ring disposed between the inner wall and the web; and   a spring disposed between the web and the diffuser ring, the spring being configured to apply a generally axial load on the diffuser ring.   
     
     
         18 . The turbocharger of  claim 17 , wherein the web includes:
 a ledge disposed between the body portion and the web end;   a first web face extending from the body portion to the ledge; and   a second web face extending from the ledge to the web end, wherein the diffuser ring is disposed between the second web face and the inner wall.   
     
     
         19 . The turbocharger of  claim 18 , wherein the ledge includes:
 a ledge outer surface extending axially from the first web face to a ledge end disposed between the first web face and a compressor rear end; and   a ledge axial face extending radially outward from the ledge end to the second web face.   
     
     
         20 . The turbocharger of  claim 19 , wherein the diffuser ring includes:
 a back plate extending from a back plate leading edge to a back plate trailing edge, wherein
 the back plate leading edge is disposed adjacent the ledge outer surface, and 
 the back plate is separated from the second web face by a cavity; and 
   a vane extending from the back plate towards the inner wall.