Compressor inlet adjustment mechanism

Abstract

An adjustment mechanism variably adjusts the cross-section of a compressor inlet. The adjustment mechanism comprises a plurality of rotatable orifice elements and a transmission ring. Each orifice element has a plate body, a coupling element and a bearing pin. The transmission ring is mechanically coupled to the orifice elements via the coupling elements. One of the orifice elements is configured as a drive orifice element. The bearing pin of the drive orifice element is configured as an elongated bearing pin. The elongated bearing pin is configured longer than the bearing pins of the other orifice elements. Furthermore, the elongated bearing pin is adapted to be coupled to an actuation system such that when the drive orifice element is moved by the actuation system, movement is transmitted from the drive orifice element via the transmission ring to the other orifice elements.

1 . An adjustment mechanism ( 10 ) for variably adjusting the cross-section ( 312   a ) of a compressor inlet ( 312 ), the adjustment mechanism ( 10 ) comprising:
 a plurality of rotatable orifice elements ( 100 ,  100 ′) each having a plate body ( 130 ), a coupling element ( 110 ) and a bearing pin ( 120 ,  120 ′); and   a transmission ring ( 210 ) mechanically coupled to the plurality of orifice elements ( 100 ) via the coupling elements ( 110 );   wherein   one of the orifice elements ( 100 ,  100 ′) is configured as a drive orifice element ( 100 ′) whose bearing pin ( 120 ′) is configured as an elongated bearing pin ( 120 ′) being longer than the bearing pins ( 120 ) of the other orifice elements ( 100 ), wherein the elongated bearing pin ( 120 ′) is adapted to be coupled with an actuation system ( 230 ),   such that when the drive orifice element ( 100 ′) is moved by the actuation system ( 230 ), movement is transmitted from the drive orifice element ( 100 ′) via the transmission ring ( 210 ) to the other orifice elements ( 100 ).   
     
     
         2 . The adjustment mechanism ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling element ( 110 ) is arranged in a radial middle portion ( 136 ) of the respective orifice element ( 100 ,  100 ′), and wherein the bearing pin ( 120 ,  120 ′) is arranged in a radial outer portion ( 138 ) of the respective orifice element ( 100 ,  100 ′). 
     
     
         3 . The adjustment mechanism ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , wherein each orifice element ( 100 ,  100 ′) has an upstream surface ( 132 ) and a downstream surface ( 134 ), wherein the upstream surface ( 132 ) points in a first axial direction ( 22   a ) to an upstream side ( 132   a ) and wherein the downstream surface ( 134 ) points in a second axial direction ( 22   b ) to a downstream side ( 134   a ) opposite the first axial direction ( 22   a ). 
     
     
         4 . The adjustment mechanism ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing portion ( 220 ) having a bore ( 222 ), wherein the elongated bearing pin ( 120 ′) extends through the bore ( 222 ) to be coupled with the actuation system ( 230 ) outside the housing portion ( 220 ). 
     
     
         5 . An adjustment assembly ( 30 ) for variably adjusting the cross-section ( 312   a ) of a compressor inlet ( 312 ), the adjustment assembly ( 30 ) comprising:
 the adjustment mechanism ( 10 ) of  claim 1 ; and   an actuation system ( 230 ) to actuate the drive orifice element ( 100 ′), wherein the actuation system ( 230 ) is coupled to the elongated bearing pin ( 120 ′).   
     
     
         6 . The adjustment assembly ( 30 ) of  claim 5 , further comprising a first geared structure ( 142 ) arranged in a first end portion ( 122 ′) of the elongated bearing pin ( 120 ′). 
     
     
         7 . The adjustment assembly ( 30 ) of  claim 6 , further comprising a first geared element ( 140 ) arranged at the first end portion ( 122 ′) and comprising the first geared structure ( 142 ). 
     
     
         8 . The adjustment assembly ( 30 ) of  claim 6 , wherein the first geared structure ( 142 ) is directly formed on the elongated bearing pin ( 120 ′). 
     
     
         9 . The adjustment assembly ( 30 ) of  claim 6 , wherein the first geared structure ( 142 ) extends at least along an arc length ( 144   a ) of a circular sector ( 144 ). 
     
     
         10 . The adjustment assembly ( 30 ) of  claim 6 , further comprising a second geared structure ( 242 ) which is formed complementary to the first geared structure ( 142 ) and which is operatively coupled with the drive unit ( 234 ), wherein the second geared structure ( 242 ) is engagingly coupled with the first geared structure ( 142 ) in order to rotate the elongated bearing pin ( 120 ′). 
     
     
         11 . The adjustment assembly ( 30 ) of  claim 10 , wherein the second geared structure ( 242 ) is directly formed on the rotatable drive shaft ( 232 ). 
     
     
         12 . The adjustment assembly ( 30 ) of  claim 10 , further comprising a second geared element ( 240 ) operatively coupled with the drive unit ( 234 ) and comprising the second geared structure ( 242 ). 
     
     
         13 . The adjustment assembly ( 30 ) of  claim 5 , wherein the actuation system ( 230 ) is directly coupled with the elongated bearing pin ( 120 ′) of the drive orifice element ( 100 ′). 
     
     
         14 . A compressor ( 300 ) of a charging apparatus ( 400 ), the compressor ( 300 ) comprising:
 a compressor housing ( 310 ) having a compressor inlet ( 312 ) and a compressor outlet ( 314 );   an impeller ( 320 ) rotatably mounted in the compressor housing ( 310 ) between the compressor inlet ( 312 ) and the compressor outlet ( 314 ); and   the adjustment assembly ( 30 ) of  claim 5 .   
     
     
         15 . A charging apparatus ( 400 ) comprising:
 a compressor drive unit ( 410 ); and   the compressor ( 300 ) of  claim 14  which is rotationally coupled to the compressor drive unit ( 410 ) via a shaft ( 420 ).   
     
     
         16 . The adjustment mechanism ( 10 ) of  claim 3 , wherein the elongated bearing pin ( 120 ′) is always arranged on the upstream side ( 132   a ) and extends from the upstream surface ( 132 ) in the first axial direction ( 22   a ). 
     
     
         17 . The adjustment assembly ( 30 ) of  claim 5 , wherein the actuation system ( 230 ) comprises a drive unit ( 234 ) that is rotatory. 
     
     
         18 . The adjustment assembly ( 30 ) of  claim 8 , wherein a geared recess ( 146 ) is formed in an end face ( 122   a ′) of the elongated bearing pin ( 120 ′), and wherein the geared recess ( 146 ) comprises the first geared structure ( 142 ). 
     
     
         19 . The adjustment assembly ( 30 ) of  claim 9 , wherein the circular sector ( 144 ) is defined by a central angle θ 1  between 5° to 360°. 
     
     
         20 . The adjustment assembly ( 30 ) of  claim 11 , wherein a geared recess ( 246 ) is formed in a shaft end face ( 235   a ) of the rotatable drive shaft ( 232 ), and wherein the geared recess ( 246 ) comprises the second geared structure ( 242 ).