COMBINATION VARIABLE GEOMETRY COMPRESSOR, THROTTLE VALVE, AND RECIRCULATION VALVE

摘要

A variable air intake mechanism can include diffuser vanes (52) or other suitable structures. If diffuser vanes (52) are used then they are vanes that can be altered in order to control the air flow through the compressor housing (33) or the recirculation channel (44). Thus, depending on whether a high or low flow in the recirculation channel (44) is required, the position of the diffuser vanes can be changed accordingly. This will provide an increase in compressor efficiency. The diffuser vanes (52) can also provide a throttling function that will eliminate the need to have a throttle valve further down stream from the compressor (28). In another aspect the position of the diffuser vanes (52) can be used to control the flow of fluid through the recirculation channel (44). Thus a single mechanism can provide increased compressor efficiency, throttling and recirculation control, or combinations thereof.