U.S. patent application number 12/006557 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-24 for pressure balanced bearing.
This patent application is currently assigned to BorgWarner Inc.. Invention is credited to Michael J. Halsig, Robert D. Keefover, Hal E. Pringle.
Application Number | 20080173279 12/006557 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33135335 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080173279 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pringle; Hal E. ; et
al. |
July 24, 2008 |
Pressure balanced bearing
Abstract
A method of pressure balancing across a bearing adjacent to a
pressure differential is described. The method primarily includes
providing a bypass port around the bearing for allowing a fluid
flow from a first pressure side to a second pressure side. A
throttle body for an engine is also described. The throttle body
primarily includes: (1) a bearing cooperating with the valve body;
and (2) a bypass port around the bearing for allowing the fluid
flow from a first pressure side to a second pressure side.
Inventors: |
Pringle; Hal E.;
(Bloomfield, MI) ; Keefover; Robert D.;
(Farmington Hills, MI) ; Halsig; Michael J.;
(Warren, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WARN, HOFFMANN, MILLER & OZGA, P.C.
P.O. BOX 70098
ROCHESTER HILLS
MI
48307
US
|
Assignee: |
BorgWarner Inc.
Auburn Hills
MI
|
Family ID: |
33135335 |
Appl. No.: |
12/006557 |
Filed: |
January 3, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10789399 |
Feb 27, 2004 |
7337764 |
|
|
12006557 |
|
|
|
|
60474354 |
May 30, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
123/337 ;
251/305 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F02D 9/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
123/337 ;
251/305 |
International
Class: |
F02D 9/08 20060101
F02D009/08; F16K 1/22 20060101 F16K001/22 |
Claims
1-37. (canceled)
38. A valve body for an engine, wherein a pressure differential is
present in proximity to the valve body, the pressure differential
including a first pressure side and a second pressure side,
comprising: a bearing cooperating with a valve body; and a bypass
port around said bearing for allowing a fluid flow from the first
pressure side to the second pressure side.
39. The invention according to claim 38, said valve body further
comprising a selectively operable valve for metering a fluid
flow.
40. The invention according to claim 38, wherein the first pressure
side is a high-pressure side.
41. The invention according to claim 38, wherein the second
pressure side is a low-pressure side.
42. The invention according to claim 38, further comprising a
rotational shaft, said shaft rotationally cooperating with said
valve body by way of said bearing.
43. The invention according to claim 38, wherein said bypass port
is configured in said shaft and provides a passage around an inner
periphery of said bearing.
44. The invention according to claim 42, wherein said passage is
milled into said shaft.
45. The invention according to claim 42, wherein said passage is
molded into said shaft.
46. The invention according to claim 38, wherein said bypass port
is configured in said valve body and provides a passage around an
outer periphery of said bearing.
47. The invention according to claim 46, wherein said passage is
milled into said valve body.
48. The invention according to claim 46, wherein said passage is
molded into said valve body.
49. The invention according to claim 38, wherein said bypass port
is configured in said bearing and provides a passage around an
outer periphery of said bearing.
50. The invention according to claim 49, wherein said passage is
milled into said bearing.
51. The invention according to claim 49, wherein said passage is
molded into said bearing.
52. The invention according to claim 38, wherein said bypass port
is configured in said bearing and provides a passage around an
inner periphery of said bearing.
53. The invention according to claim 52, wherein said passage is
milled into said bearing.
53. The invention according to claim 52, wherein said passage is
molded into said bearing.
55. The invention according to claim 38, wherein said bearing is
selected from the group consisting of a ball bearing, needle
bearing, bushing, and combinations thereof.
56. A valve body for an engine, comprising: a body portion
including an air intake portion; a butterfly valve configured to
meter air through said air intake portion; said butterfly valve
attached to a shaft which is configured to rotate said body
portion; said shaft being rotationally coupled with a bearing in
said body portion, said bearing being fit into a cavity in said
body portion; and surfaces for forming a port bypassing said
bearing between a differential pressure zone.
57. The invention according to claim 56, wherein the differential
pressure is defined axially along said shaft.
58. The invention according to claim 56, wherein the differential
pressure is between said air intake portion and a control portion
of said body portion.
59. The invention according to claim 56, wherein a passage is
formed around an outside periphery of said bearing for allowing
flow past said bearing in an axial direction of said shaft.
60. The invention according to claim 56, wherein said body portion
includes a high-pressure portion on a first side of said body
portion and a low-pressure portion on a second side of said body
portion in said air intake portion whereby a passage is provided
therebetween, wherein said passage communicates with either said
high-pressure side or said low-pressure side of said air intake
portion.
61. The invention according to claim 56, wherein said bearing is
selected from the group consisting of a ball bearing, needle
bearing, bushing, and combinations thereof.
62. A valve body for an engine, comprising: a body portion
including an air intake portion; a butterfly valve configured to
meter air through said air intake portion; said butterfly valve
attached to a shaft which is configured to rotate said body
portion; said shaft being rotationally coupled with a bearing in
said body portion, said bearing being fit into a cavity in said
body portion; and surfaces for forming a port bypassing said
bearing between a differential pressure zone; wherein said body
portion includes a high-pressure portion on a first side of said
body portion and a low-pressure portion on a second side of said
body portion in said air intake portion whereby a passage is
provided therebetween, wherein said passage communicates with
either said high-pressure side or said low-pressure side of said
air intake portion.
63. The invention according to claim 62, wherein the differential
pressure is defined axially along said shaft.
64. The invention according to claim 62, wherein the differential
pressure is between said air intake portion and a control portion
of said body portion.
65. The invention according to claim 62, wherein the passage is
formed around an outside periphery of said bearing for allowing
flow past said bearing in an axial direction of said shaft.
66. The invention according to claim 62, wherein said bearing is
selected from the group consisting of a ball bearing, needle
bearing, bushing, and combinations thereof.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation Application of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 10/789,399 filed Feb. 27, 2004, which
claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.
60/474,354 filed May 30, 2003. The disclosures of the above
applications are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for
improving bearing life in a bearing that exists in an environment,
such as fluid flow metering environments, having a pressure
differential or delta, such as those having a high-pressure section
and a low-pressure section.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In the past, throttle bodies have been used for metering a
fluid flow in an internal combustion engine. Typically, these
throttle bodies include a butterfly valve member which is
rotationally positioned in an intake bore. The valve member is
rotationally coupled to the valve body by way of one or more
bearings.
[0004] Because the valve is positioned in the intake portion of the
valve body, a pressure differential or delta exists between the
high-pressure side of the butterfly valve and the low-pressure side
of the butterfly valve. Also, a pressure differential or delta
exists between the inboard side of the shaft bearing that is nearer
to the valve than the outboard side of the shaft bearing. The
result of these pressure differentials or deltas is that it can
force contaminants into the bearing as well as force lubricant out
of the bearing.
[0005] Typically, it has been attempted to provide an extremely low
tolerance seal to reduce these tendencies. However, needing to
engineer the seal to such low tolerances increases the cost of the
assembly and is typically not effective in reducing the previously
described problems with the bearings. These problems are
particularly troublesome in turbocharged or boosted engines having
higher pressure than normally aspirated engines.
[0006] Accordingly, there exists a need for a new and improved
fluid flow metering system, and method of operating the same, in
order to overcome the aforementioned deficiencies. Additionally,
there exists a need for a new and improved throttle body, and
method of operating the same, in order to overcome the
aforementioned deficiencies. Furthermore, there exists a need for a
new and improved bearing system and method of operating the same,
in order to overcome the aforementioned deficiencies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention preferably provides a method and
apparatus that allows pressure balancing across a bearing that is
adjacent to a valve in which the bearing has a pressure
differential or delta, e.g., a high-pressure side and a
low-pressure side axially across its width.
[0008] The method of the present invention preferably includes
providing a valve body that has a valve on a rotational shaft for
metering flow through an intake body or the like. The valve is
preferably rotatable on the shaft with respect to the valve body.
The shaft is preferably rotationally connected to the valve body by
way of a bearing. A bypass port is preferably configured between
the bearing and the valve body for allowing a flow across the
pressure differential, e.g., from the high-pressure side to the
low-pressure side around the bearing.
[0009] Allowing the pressure to be balanced on either side of the
bearing between the low pressure and high pressure sides preferably
provides a passageway for pressure equalization without tendencies
for pressure equalization to be through the bearing, which
introduces contaminants in the bearing or may force out lubricants
from the bearing or both. This invention preferably provides
improved bearing life throughout the life of the valve body.
[0010] In accordance with a first embodiment of the present
invention, a method of pressure balancing across a bearing adjacent
to a pressure differential is provided, the pressure differential
including a first pressure side on a first side of said bearing and
a second pressure side on a second side of said bearing, comprising
providing a bypass port around said bearing for allowing a fluid
flow from the first pressure side to the second pressure side.
[0011] In accordance with a second embodiment of the present
invention, a method of pressure balancing across a bearing adjacent
to a valve having a high-pressure side on a first side of said
bearing and a low-pressure side on a second side of said bearing is
provided, comprising: (1) providing a valve body including a valve
on a rotational shaft for metering flow by rotating said shaft with
respect to said valve body, said shaft being rotationally connected
to said valve body by way of a bearing; and (2) providing a bypass
port between said bearing and said valve body for allowing a flow
from said high-pressure side to said low-pressure side.
[0012] In accordance with a third embodiment of the present
invention, a method of pressure balancing across a bearing adjacent
to a valve having a high-pressure side on a first side of said
bearing and a low-pressure side on a second side of said bearing is
provided, comprising: (1) providing a valve body including a valve
on a rotational shaft for metering flow by rotating said shaft with
respect to said valve body, said shaft being rotationally connected
to said valve body by way of a bearing; and (2) providing a bypass
port between said bearing and said valve body for allowing a flow
from said high-pressure side to said low-pressure side; wherein
said bypass port communicates to the shaft on a first side of said
bearing and on a second side of said bearing.
[0013] In accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present
invention, a throttle body for an engine is provided, wherein a
pressure differential is present in proximity to the throttle body,
the pressure differential including a first pressure side and a
second pressure side, comprising: (1) a bearing cooperating with
said valve body; and (2) a bypass port around said bearing for
allowing a fluid flow from the first pressure side to the second
pressure side.
[0014] In accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present
invention, a throttle body for an engine is provided, comprising:
(1) a body portion including an air intake portion; (2) a butterfly
valve configured to meter air through said air intake portion; said
butterfly valve attached to a shaft which is configured to rotate
said body portion; said shaft being rotationally coupled with a
bearing in said body portion, said bearing being fit into a cavity
in said body portion; and (3) surfaces for forming a port bypassing
said bearing between a differential pressure zone.
[0015] In accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present
invention, a throttle body for an engine is provided, comprising:
(1) a body portion including an air intake portion; (2) a butterfly
valve configured to meter air through said air intake portion; said
butterfly valve attached to a shaft which is configured to rotate
said body portion; said shaft being rotationally coupled with a
bearing in said body portion, said bearing being fit into a cavity
in said body portion; and (3) surfaces for forming a port bypassing
said bearing between a differential pressure zone; wherein said
body portion includes a high-pressure portion on a first side of
said body portion and a low-pressure portion on a second side of
said body portion in said air intake portion whereby a passage is
provided therebetween, wherein said passage communicates with
either said high-pressure side or said low-pressure side of said
air intake portion.
[0016] Further areas of applicability of the present invention will
become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter.
It should be understood that the detailed description and specific
examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the
invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are
not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description and the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a valve body, in
accordance with the general teachings of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a broken away side view illustrating a vacuum
bypass, in accordance with the general teachings of the present
invention;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a schematic view illustrating a first alternative
embodiment of a valve body, in accordance with the general
teachings of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 4A is an elevational view illustrating a bearing having
a bypass port formed on an exterior surface thereof, in accordance
with a first alternative embodiment of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 4B is a sectional view of the bearing illustrated in
FIG. 4A, in accordance with a first alternative embodiment of the
present invention;
[0023] FIG. 4C is a perspective view of the bearing illustrated in
FIGS. 4A and 4B, in accordance with a first alternative embodiment
of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 5A is an elevational view illustrating a bearing having
a bypass port formed on an interior surface thereof, in accordance
with a second alternative embodiment of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 5B is a sectional view of the bearing illustrated in
FIG. 5A, in accordance with a second alternative embodiment of the
present invention;
[0026] FIG. 5C is a perspective view of the bearing illustrated in
FIGS. 5A and 5B, in accordance with a second alternative embodiment
of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view illustrating a shaft
having a bypass formed on an exterior surface thereof, in
accordance with a third alternative embodiment of the present
invention;
[0028] FIG. 7A is an elevational view illustrating a second
alternative valve body having a bypass port formed therein, in
accordance with a fourth alternative embodiment of the present
invention;
[0029] FIG. 7B is a partial sectional view of the second
alternative valve body illustrated in FIG. 7A, in accordance with a
fourth alternative embodiment of the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 7C is a partial broken away view of the second
alternative valve body illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B, in
accordance with a fourth alternative embodiment of the present
invention;
[0031] FIG. 8 is a partial broken away view of a third alternative
valve body, in accordance with a fifth alternative embodiment of
the present invention;
[0032] FIG. 9 is a partial broken away view of a fourth alternative
valve body, in accordance with a sixth alternative embodiment of
the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 10 is a partial broken away view of a fifth alternative
valve body, in accordance with a seventh alternative embodiment of
the present invention; and
[0034] FIG. 11 is a partial broken away view of a sixth alternative
valve body, in accordance with an eighth alternative embodiment of
the present invention.
[0035] The same reference numerals refer to the same parts
throughout the various Figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0036] The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is
merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the
invention, its application, or uses.
[0037] By way of a non-limiting example, the present invention can
be practiced with any type of fluid (e.g., air, gas, liquid and the
like) metering system, including but not limited to internal
combustion engines.
[0038] In accordance with the general teachings of the present
invention, a method of pressure balancing across a bearing area is
provided. Additionally, a valve body having a pressure balanced
bearing system therein is also included in the present
invention.
[0039] Referring generally to the Figures, a valve body that
includes the present invention is generally shown at 10. Shown
herein, the invention is preferably used in an illustrative
throttle body, generally indicated at 12, of an engine. The engine
may be of the internal combustion variety; however, it is
envisioned that the present invention with be compatible with other
types of engines, as well.
[0040] Valve body 10 preferably includes a valve 14 mounted on a
selectively rotatable shaft 16. The shaft 16 is preferably
rotationally coupled with the throttle body 12 by way of at least
one bearing 18.
[0041] A bypass port generally indicated at 20 preferably provides
a method for allowing a fluid flow across a pressure differential
or delta, e.g., from a high-pressure side to a low-pressure side.
More preferably, bypass port 20 provides a bypass in the valve body
10 for allowing the flow from the high-pressure side of the valve
body 10 generally indicated in FIG. 3 at 22 to a low-pressure side
24. Still more preferably, the bypass port 20 preferably provides a
bypass in the valve body 10 for allowing the fluid flow from a
high-pressure side 22A adjacent the bearing 18 to a low-pressure
side 24A adjacent the bearing 18.
[0042] Typically, the bypass port 20 aids in the regulation of
pressure or vacuum, and is sometimes referred to as a vacuum
bypass. The bypass port 20 could also be a pressure bypass or the
like and is effectively characterized as a pressure equalization
port which provides a path around the bearing 18 for pressure to
pass around rather than through the bearing 18.
[0043] While the present invention is particularly useful in any
throttle body, for instance, it is particularly useful in boosted
engines wherein the low-pressure to high-pressure side of the
bearing 18 may have a very large delta, which in previous throttle
body designs has detrimentally affected the bearing life of the
shaft bearing.
[0044] As shown in FIG. 1, the throttle body 12 preferably includes
a valve actuation side (e.g., control side chamber), generally
shown at 26. In this embodiment, the control side chamber 26
includes an electronic throttle control body that preferably
includes drive gears or the like, contained in control side chamber
26, and a return spring mechanism generally shown at 28. Valve 14
is preferably in an intake chamber 30 (e.g., bore) in the throttle
body 12. It should be appreciated that the present invention can be
practiced with open throttle systems, as well as closed throttle
systems.
[0045] Typically, there is a pressure delta between the intake
chamber 30 and the control side chamber 26. This difference in
pressure tends to be equalized through the bearings inside of the
bearing 18 housing. However, this tends to detrimentally remove
lubrication or interpose contaminants into the surface of the
bearing 18 or the surface thereof, thereby reducing performance of
the shaft 16, regardless of whether a bearing or a bushing is
employed.
[0046] To avoid this problem, the bypass port 20 (e.g., passage) of
the present invention preferably provides an egress on the outside
portion 32 of the bearing 18, along the axial direction of the
shaft 16. While seals and close tolerances are designed around the
shaft 16, axial flow along rotational shaft 16 is still a
possibility. The bypass port 20 preferably allows such pressure to
bypass the bearing 18 rather than go through the bearing 18. This
preferably allows flow between the control side chamber 26 and the
intake chamber 30.
[0047] By way of a non-limiting example, the bypass port 20, as
shown in FIG. 3, also preferably communicates with the throttle
body 12 such that it provides equalization on either side of the
valve 14, to provide equalization along between either the
high-pressure 22 side or low-pressure 24 side of the valve body 10,
which also reduces any tendency to flow through the bearing 18
during operation. The bypass port 20 also permits pressure
equalization between high-pressure side 22A and low-pressure side
24A adjacent bearing 18.
[0048] Thus, in the preferred embodiment, the bypass port 20 can
either be a "U," "L," or other suitably shaped channel
communicating with the shaft 16 on either side of the bearing 18
or, alternatively, the "U," "L," or other suitably shaped bypass
port 20 could be in communication with the intake chamber 30 on one
of the high-pressure 22 or low-pressure 24 sides. Alternatively,
the bypass port 20 can be configured in a straight channel
shape.
[0049] As shown in the present Figures, a second bearing 34 is
preferably provided on the opposite end of the shaft 16 and is
sealed in place by the seal 36. Similarly, if desirable, an
additional bypass port or channel (not shown) could be used on the
opposite side of the shaft 16.
[0050] The bypass port 20 is preferably milled into the valve body
10 or molded into the valve body 10 at the bearing location. It
should be appreciated that in an alternate embodiment the bypass
port 20 could be configured into either an exterior surface (as
generally shown in FIGS. 4A-4C) and/or interior surface of the
bearing 18 (either milled or molded in), as shown generally in
FIGS. 5A-5C.
[0051] In a further alternate embodiment, the bypass port 20 can be
configured into a surface (e.g., exterior) of the shaft 16 (either
milled or molded in), as generally shown in FIG. 6.
[0052] In a still further alternate embodiment of the present
invention, the bypass port 20 can be configured into a surface
(e.g., interior) of the throttle body 12, as generally shown in
FIGS. 7A-7C.
[0053] Thus, the several configurations that the bypass port 20 can
be incorporated into the various components of the valve body 10
are shown in FIGS. 8-11.
[0054] In FIG. 8, the bypass port 20 is incorporated into an
interior surface of the bearing 18, as previously depicted in FIGS.
4A-4C. In this manner, the high-pressure side 22A can communicate
with the low-pressure side 24A, without harming or causing damage
to the bearing 18 and/or shaft 16 (e.g., contamination or loss of
lubricant).
[0055] In FIG. 9, the bypass port 20 is incorporated into an
exterior surface of the bearing 18. In this manner, the
high-pressure side 22A can communicate with the low-pressure side
24A, without harming or causing damage to the bearing 18 and/or
shaft 16 (e.g., contamination or loss of lubricant).
[0056] In FIG. 10, the bypass port 20 is incorporated into a
surface of the throttle body 12. In this manner, the high-pressure
side 22A can communicate with the low-pressure side 24A, without
harming or causing damage to the bearing 18 and/or shaft 16 (e.g.,
contamination or loss of lubricant).
[0057] In FIG. 11, the bypass port 20 is incorporated into an
exterior surface of the shaft 16. In this manner, the high-pressure
side 22A can communicate with the low-pressure side 24A, without
harming or causing damage to the bearing 18 and/or shaft 16 (e.g.,
contamination or loss of lubricant).
[0058] The description of the invention is merely exemplary in
nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of
the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention.
Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the
spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *