REVERSIBLE SPIRAL GROOVE JOURNAL BEARING FOR USE ON STANDARD AND REVERSE ROTATION TURBOCHARGERS

摘要

A journal bearing (51) has spiral grooves (63, 64) on opposite ends (61, 62) of the journal bearing (51) as to face towards the opposing shaft surface and generate a flow of oil outwardly of the journal bearing (51) during shaft rotation. One bearing end has a clockwise spiral groove (63) which pumps lubricant fluid in a first direction. The opposite bearing end includes a reverse-directed, counterclockwise spiral groove (64) which pumps fluid in a second direction, opposite to the first direction. During clockwise rotation of the shaft (21), the lubricating oil flows in the first and second directions to lubricate the turbine and compressor sides of a turbocharger. The journal bearing (51) also may be flipped endwise so as to function during opposite, counterclockwise shaft rotation.

主权项

1. A journal bearing (51) which is mountable within a turbocharger bearing housing (23) to provide radial load support to a turbocharger shaft (21), said journal bearing 51 comprising;
annular first and second bearing flanges (55, 56) at opposite bearing ends (61, 62), wherein said first and second bearing flanges (55, 56) are joined axially together by an annular bearing wall (57), each of said first and second bearing flanges (55, 56) defining respective inner and outer bearing surfaces (53, 54) which respectively face radially inwardly and outwardly and are configured to receive lubricant fluid therealong which forms inner and outer fluid films during shaft rotation to support radial journal loads on said journal bearing (51); and wherein each of said inner bearing surfaces (53) at said bearing ends (61, 62) respectively include oppositely directed spiral grooves (63, 64) which cause lubricant fluid to flow in opposite directions out of said bearing ends (61, 62) during shaft rotation in a first rotation direction.