A turbocharger flange

Abstract

A turbocharger flange includes a mounting face for attaching a turbocharger to a manifold, wherein the mounting face includes a guiding structure for guiding the flange to an operative position in relation to the manifold.

1 . A turbocharger flange comprising a mounting face for attaching a turbocharger to a manifold, the mounting face comprises a guiding structure for guiding the flange to an operative position in relation to the manifold, wherein the guiding structure is configured to retain the flange in the operative position in a self-supported manner. 
     
     
         2 . The flange according to  claim 1 , wherein the mounting face comprises a mounting structure for attaching the flange to the manifold, wherein the mounting structure extends in a direction perpendicular to a mounting direction being defined by the guiding structure. 
     
     
         3 . The flange according to  claim 2 , wherein the mounting face surrounds a piping of the flange. 
     
     
         4 . The flange according to  claim 3 , wherein a normal of the mounting face is parallel to the axial direction of the piping. 
     
     
         5 . The flange according to  claim 2 , wherein the mounting structure comprises a projection extending from the outer periphery of the mounting face. 
     
     
         6 . The flange according to  claim 5 , wherein the projection extends in a direction being parallel to a normal of the mounting face. 
     
     
         7 . The flange according to  claim 5 , wherein the projection comprises at least one bore for receiving a bolt. 
     
     
         8 . The flange according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one bore extends in the mounting direction. 
     
     
         9 . The flange according to  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the bores is provided with internal threads. 
     
     
         10 . The flange according to  claim 1 , wherein the guiding structure has a tapering shape in the mounting direction. 
     
     
         11 . The flange according to  claim 1 , wherein the guiding structure comprises a step. 
     
     
         12 . The flange according to  claim 11 , wherein the step forms an undercut. 
     
     
         13 . The flange according to  claim 1 , wherein the guiding structure extends along at least half a height of the mounting face in the mounting direction and preferably along the complete height of the mounting face in the mounting direction. 
     
     
         14 . The flange according to  claim 1 , wherein the guiding structure comprises a central portion and two lateral portions arranged on two opposite sides of the central portion, wherein the central portion is displaced relative the lateral portions in a direction perpendicular to the mounting direction. 
     
     
         15 . The flange according to  claim 14 , wherein the central portion has a width formed by an extension in a direction towards the two lateral portions, and a height famed by an extension in the mounting direction, and wherein the width of the central portion decreases along its height. 
     
     
         16 . The flange according to  claim 15 , wherein the central portion forms a projection in relation to the lateral portions. 
     
     
         17 . The flange according to  claim 16 , wherein the projecting central portion has a conical shape in a plane defining the width and the height. 
     
     
         18 . The flange according to  claim 14 , wherein the central portion has a depth formed by an extension in the direction of which the mounting structure extends, and wherein the width of the central portion increases along its depth. 
     
     
         19 . The flange according to  claim 16 , wherein the central portion has a depth formed by an extension in the direction of which the mounting structure extends, and wherein the width of the central portion increases along its depth, and wherein the projecting central portion has a conical shape in a plane defining the width and the depth. 
     
     
         20 . The flange according to  claim 14 , wherein a surface of each of the two lateral portions is substantially flat. 
     
     
         21 . The flange according to  claim 20 , wherein the surfaces of the two lateral portions extend in parallel with each other. 
     
     
         22 . The flange according to  claim 21 , wherein the surfaces of the two lateral portions extend in the same plane. 
     
     
         23 . The flange according to  claim 14 , wherein an engagement surface of central portion is substantially flat. 
     
     
         24 . The flange according to  claim 23 , wherein the engagement surface of the central portion extend substantially in parallel with the engagement surfaces of the two lateral portions. 
     
     
         25 . The flange according to  claim 1 , wherein the flange is configured for a substantially vertical mounting movement of the turbocharger relative to the manifold. 
     
     
         26 . A manifold flange comprising a support face for attaching a turbocharger flange to a manifold, the support facer comprises an engagement structure for allowing a guiding structure of a turbocharger flange to be guided into an operative position in relation to it the manifold flange, wherein the engagement structure is configured to retain the turbocharger flange in the operative position in a self-supported manner. 
     
     
         27 . The manifold flange according to  claim 26 , wherein the support face further comprises attachment means for allowing a mounting structure of the turbocharger flange to be securely attached to the manifold flange, wherein the attachment means extends in a direction parallel to a mounting direction being defined by the engagement structure. 
     
     
         28 . The manifold flange according to  claim 27 , wherein the attachment means comprises at least one threaded bore. 
     
     
         29 . The manifold flange according to  claim 26 , wherein the engagement structure comprises a central portion and two lateral portions arranged on two opposite sides of the central portion, wherein the central portion is displaced relative the lateral portions in a direction perpendicular to the mounting direction. 
     
     
         30 . The manifold flange according to  claim 29 , wherein the central portion has a width formed by an extension in a direction towards the two lateral portions, and a height formed by an extension in the mounting direction, and wherein the width of the central portion increases along its height. 
     
     
         31 . The manifold flange according to  claim 30 , wherein a projection of the central portion, in a plane defining the width and the height, has a conical shape. 
     
     
         32 . The manifold flange according to  claim 29 , wherein the central portion has a depth, and wherein the width of the central portion decreases along its depth. 
     
     
         33 . The manifold flange according to  claim 32 , wherein a projection of the central portion, in a plane defining the width and the depth, has a conical shape. 
     
     
         34 . A connection system for attaching a turbocharger to a manifold, comprises a turbocharger flange according to  claim 1 , and a manifold flange according to  claim 26 . 
     
     
         35 . A turbocharger turbine housing wherein it comprises a turbocharger flange according to  claim 1 , wherein the flange forms a one-piece unit with the turbocharger turbine housing. 
     
     
         36 . A turbocharger comprising an exhaust gas inlet wherein it is provided with a flange according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         37 . A turbocharger according to  claim 36 , wherein the flange forms a one-piece unit with a turbocharger turbine housing. 
     
     
         38 . A vehicle comprising a turbocharger according to  claim 37 . 
     
     
         39 . A method for attaching a turbocharger to a vehicle component, the method comprises:
 positioning a turbocharger so that a connection flange thereof is displaced in relation to a corresponding connection flange of the vehicle component in a predefined mounting direction,   moving the turbocharger in relation to the vehicle component in the mounting direction while a guiding structure of the turbocharger flange guides the flange towards an operative position in relation to the manifold, whereby the guiding structure retains the turbocharger flange in the operative position in a self-supported manner.   
     
     
         40 . A method according to  claim 39 , comprising: moving the turbocharger in relation to the vehicle component in the mounting direction, which is in a transverse direction in relation to a normal of the mounting face of the turbocharger flange. 
     
     
         41 . A method according to  claim 39 , comprising: moving the turbocharger in relation to the vehicle component in the mounting direction, which is in a direction perpendicular to a normal of the mounting face of the turbocharger flange. 
     
     
         42 . A method according to  claim 39 , comprising: attaching the turbocharger flange to the manifold flange after the mounting movement towards the operative position. 
     
     
         43 . A method according to  claim 42 , comprising attaching the turbocharger flange to the manifold flange by tightening an engagement between the turbocharger flange and the manifold flange so that the turbocharger is forced to its operative position. 
     
     
         44 . A method according to  claim 39 , comprising moving the turbocharger relative to the manifold substantially in a substantially vertical direction from above in the mounting movement.