Electric motor assisted turbocharger

Abstract

A turbocharger comprises a turbine wheel and a compressor wheel mounted to a turbocharger shaft. An electric induction motor is provided for assisting rotation of the compressor wheel in predetermined circumstances. The motor comprises a fixed stator having motor field coils which generate a rotating magnetic field when energised by an AC control signal which induces eddy current flow in a rotor to generate a rotor magnetic field which in turn interacts with the stator magnetic field producing torque in the rotor.

1 . A turbocharger comprising:
 a turbine wheel and a compressor wheel mounted to a turbocharger shaft;   an electric induction motor for assisting rotation of the compressor wheel in predetermined circumstances, the motor comprising a fixed stator having an array of motor field coils which generate a rotating magnetic field when energized by an AC control signal which induces eddy current flow paths in a rotor in a plane generally perpendicular to the rotating magnetic field, wherein the eddy current flow generates a rotor magnetic field which interacts with the rotating magnetic field producing torque in the rotor.   
     
     
         2 . A turbocharger according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotor does not include any closed conductor paths within which an electric current circulates. 
     
     
         3 . A turbocharger according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotor is non-laminated. 
     
     
         4 . A turbocharger according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotor is a solid rotor. 
     
     
         5 . A turbocharger according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotor is a unitary member. 
     
     
         6 . A turbocharger according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotor is constructed from a ferromagnetic material. 
     
     
         7 . A turbocharger according to  claim 1 , wherein the control signal is a fixed frequency AC control signal such that the motor has a predetermined synchronous speed. 
     
     
         8 . A turbocharger according to  claim 1 , wherein the motor is configured as an axial flux motor comprising an annular field coil array positioned adjacent a generally disc shaped rotor. 
     
     
         9 . A turbocharger according to  claim 8 , wherein stator coils are adjacent opposing axial surfaces of the rotor. 
     
     
         10 . A turbocharger according to  claim 9 , wherein the maximum diameter of the rotor is smaller than the outer diameter of the annular coil array such that the eddy current flow paths from one axial side of the rotor to the other across the peripheral edge of the rotor. 
     
     
         11 . A turbocharger according to  claim 10 , wherein the rotor tapers radially towards its outer peripheral edge. 
     
     
         12 . A turbocharger according to  claim 1 , wherein the motor is configured as a radial flux motor comprising a generally cylindrical rotor surrounded by an annular stator. 
     
     
         13 . A turbocharger according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotor is mounted on the turbocharger shaft. 
     
     
         14 . A turbocharger according to  claim 1 , comprising a bearing housing located between the turbine wheel and compressor wheel and housing bearings on which the turbocharger shaft rotates, wherein the electric motor is located within the bearing housing. 
     
     
         15 . A turbocharger according to  claim 14 , wherein the rotor is mounted on the turbocharger shaft between bearing assemblies located towards the compressor and turbine ends of the bearing housing respectively. 
     
     
         16 . An AC induction motor comprising a stator having motor field coils which generate a rotating magnetic field when energized by an AC control signal which induces electric current flow in a rotor to generate a rotor magnetic field which interacts with the stator magnetic field to rotate said rotor about an axis, the electric flow induced in the rotor which generates said rotor magnetic field comprising eddy currents, and wherein the field coils are arranged in an annular array adjacent first and second axial surfaces of the rotor and the maximum diameter of the rotor is smaller than the outer diameter of the annular coil array such that eddy currents are induced in the rotor which flow from one axial side of the rotor to the other across the peripheral edge of the rotor. 
     
     
         17 . An AC induction motor according to  claim 16 , wherein the rotor tapers radially towards its outer peripheral edge. 
     
     
         18 . An AC induction motor according to  claim 16 , wherein the rotor does not induce any closed conductor paths within which an electric current circulates. 
     
     
         19 . An AC induction motor according to  claim 16 , wherein the rotor is non-laminated. 
     
     
         20 . An AC induction motor according to  claim 16 , wherein the rotor is a solid rotor. 
     
     
         21 . An AC induction motor according to  claim 16 , wherein the rotor is a unitary member. 
     
     
         22 . An AC induction motor according to  claim 16 , wherein the rotor is constructed from a ferromagnetic material. 
     
     
         23 . An AC induction motor according to  claim 16 , wherein the motor field coils are energized by a fixed frequency AC control signal such that the motor has a predetermined synchronous speed. 
     
     
         24 . A method, comprising:
 rotating a turbine wheel, a compressor wheel, and a rotor mounted to a turbocharger shaft relative to a stator, the stator including a number of field coils each wound around a respective one of a number of pole pieces;   providing an AC control signal to the stator;   generating a rotating magnetic field with the stator in response to the AC control signal;   inducing eddy current flow in the rotor, the eddy current flow circulating in a plane approximately perpendicular to the rotating magnetic field to provide a rotor magnetic field; and   in response to the rotor magnetic field, causing the rotor to rotate.   
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein the rotor is generally cylindrical shaped and the fixed stator is radial relative to the rotor and method shaft to form a radial flux motor configuration. 
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein the rotor is generally disc shaped and the field coils of the fixed stator are arranged in an axial direction relative to the turbocharger shaft such that the field coils form an annular array adjacent the disc shaped rotor to thereby form an axial flux type motor configuration. 
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein the providing of the AC control signal is at a generally fixed frequency. 
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 24 , which includes turning the rotor at a predetermined synchronous speed in response to the AC control signal. 
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 24 , which includes flowing the eddy current flow from one axial side of the rotor to another across a peripheral edge of the rotor. 
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein the rotor tapers inwardly towards an outer peripheral edge. 
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein the rotor comprises a solid non-laminated rotor constructed from a ferromagnetic material.