Temporary Turbocharger Compressor Seal and Engine Employing Temporary Turbocharger Compressor Seal

Abstract

A seal for temporarily sealing a turbocharger compressor outlet and an engine employing the seal are disclosed. The seal may include a layer of lubricant, a cover and a layer of heat-shrink material. The seal creates a temporary water-tight seal around a turbocharger compressor outlet, preventing damage to the inside of the turbocharger while the turbocharger is not in use.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A seal for the outlet of a turbocharger compressor, comprising:
 a layer of lubricant covering a flange of the turbocharger compressor outlet;   a cover positioned over the layer of lubricant; and   a layer of heat-shrink material positioned around the cover.   
     
     
         2 . The seal of  claim 1 , wherein the layer of heat-shrink material, cover, and lubricant form a water-tight seal. 
     
     
         3 . The seal of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant is a lithium grease. 
     
     
         4 . The seal of  claim 1 , wherein the layer of heat-shrink material is provided in cylindrical form. 
     
     
         5 . The seal of  claim 1 , wherein the cover is made of an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         6 . The seal of  claim 5 , wherein the elastomeric material is an elastomer selected from the group consisting of polyacrylate, molded rubber, chlorobutyl, chloroprene, ethylene-propylene-diene, perfluoroelastomer, hydrogenated nitrile, low temperature nitrile, natural rubber and silicone. 
     
     
         7 . The seal of  claim 1 , wherein the layer of heat-shrink material is temporarily attached to the turbocharger. 
     
     
         8 . The seal of  claim 1 , wherein the layer of heat-shrink material is polyolefin. 
     
     
         9 . The seal of  claim 1 , wherein the heat-shrink material is shrunk by a heat gun. 
     
     
         10 . The seal of  claim 1 , wherein the heat-shrink material is a thermo-plastic. 
     
     
         11 . An engine, comprising:
 an engine block;   a plurality of cylinders disposed in the engine block;   a plurality of pistons reciprocating disposed in the plurality of cylinders;   a turbocharger in fluid connection with the plurality of cylinders and having a turbocharger compressor outlet;   a layer of lubricant positioned around the turbocharger compressor outlet;   a cover over the layer of lubricant; and   a layer of heat-shrink material positioned around the cover and layer of lubricant.   
     
     
         12 . The engine of  claim 11 , wherein the layer of heat-shrink material, cover, and layer of lubricant form a temporary water-tight seal. 
     
     
         13 . The engine of  claim 11 , wherein the cover is made of an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         14 . The engine of  claim 13 , wherein the elastomeric material is an elastomer selected from the group consisting of polyacrylate, molded rubber, chlorobutyl, chloroprene, ethylene-propylene-diene, perfluoroelastomer, hydrogenated nitrile, low temperature nitrile, natural rubber and silicone. 
     
     
         15 . The engine of  claim 11 , wherein the heat-shrink material is a thermo-plastic. 
     
     
         16 . The engine of  claim 11 , wherein the lubricant is a lithium grease. 
     
     
         17 . The engine of  claim 11 , wherein the heat-shrink material is shrunk by a heat gun. 
     
     
         18 . The engine of  claim 11 , wherein the layer of heat-shrink material is provided in cylindrical form. 
     
     
         19 . The engine of  claim 11 , wherein the layer of heat-shrink material is temporarily attached to the turbocharger. 
     
     
         20 . The engine of  claim 11 , wherein the layer of heat-shrink material is polyolefin.