US 11,834,982 B2
Inverted compressor for electric turbocharger
Christopher Homison, Wattsburg, PA (US); and Louis Kobielski, Sherman, NY (US)
Assigned to TRANSPORTATION IP HOLDINGS, LLC, Norwalk, CT (US)
Filed by Transportation IP Holdings, LLC, Norwalk, CT (US)
Filed on Dec. 23, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/146,169.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/268,106, filed on Feb. 16, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0258121 A1, Aug. 17, 2023
Int. Cl. F02B 33/40 (2006.01); F02B 39/10 (2006.01); F04D 25/02 (2006.01); F02B 37/10 (2006.01); F04D 25/04 (2006.01)
CPC F02B 39/10 (2013.01) [F02B 33/40 (2013.01); F04D 25/024 (2013.01); F05D 2220/40 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electric turbocharger, comprising:
an electric motor circumferentially surrounding a shaft;
a turbine coupled to a first end of the shaft;
a conical diffusor of the turbine partially enclosing the electric motor; and
a compressor coupled to a second end of the shaft, opposite of the first end, the compressor having a volute with a curved portion protruding towards the turbine, the curved portion curving along a central axis of rotation of the electric turbocharger.
 
9. A method for assembling an electric turbocharger, comprising:
coupling an electric motor to a shaft with the electric motor partially enclosed by a conical turbine diffusor;
attaching each of a compressor and a turbine to opposite ends of the shaft with the electric motor positioned therebetween; and
coupling a volute to the compressor by orienting a curved portion of the volute to protrude from an inlet of the volute along a central axis of rotation of the electric turbocharger in a direction from the compressor to the turbine, wherein the inlet of the volute is positioned further from the turbine than the curved portion of the volute.
 
15. A turbocharger with an inverted volute, comprising:
a volute with an inlet aligned with a wheel of a compressor along a direction perpendicular to a central axis of rotation of the turbocharger, the inlet of the volute positioned further from a disc of a turbine than a curved inner cavity of the volute; and
an alternator coupled to a shaft extending between the wheel of the compressor and the turbine, the alternator positioned closer to the wheel of the compressor than the disc of the turbine, wherein the turbocharger is an axial turbocharger with a conical turbine diffusor,
wherein the alternator is spaced away from the disc of the turbine by a portion of the conical turbine diffusor and a portion of a water jacket surrounding the conical turbine diffusor.