METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR A TURBO SHIELD

A turbo shield with a mesh screen, wherein the screen is configured to provide structure and protection to woven fibers, and to passively control heat dissipation. By varying the covering and thicknesses of the mesh screen as well as the thickness of insulation layer, the air flow created by turbocharger may be passively controlled.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Field of the Disclosure

Examples of the present disclosure are related to systems and methods for a turbo shield. Specifically, embodiments are related to a turbo shield with mesh screen, wherein the mesh screen is configured to protect a woven mesh screen while allowing the fabric to be exposed for heat dissipation properties.

Background

Heat shields in vehicles are designed to protect electronic packages, sensors, wiring, engines, and other vehicle components from contacting and/or emitting substantial amount of heat. For example, a heat shield may be utilized to cover a turbocharger, exhaust manifold, exhaust piping, engine, catalytic converter, etc., wherein these components may generate a substantial amount of heat.

Turbo shields are configured to elevate the performance of vehicles by providing heat protection and reducing turbo lag to a turbocharger. Conventional turbo shields are form fitted around a turbocharger, and utilize carbon fibers to retain heat inside of the turbo. This causes the exhaust gases inside the turbocharger to become hotter, enabling the turbocharger to spool up more quickly. The carbon fibers are either positioned within a rigid metal casing, or are exposed to the elements. Insulators with hard metal casings are not breathable. Alternatively, conventional turbo shields with exposed woven fibers are vulnerable to the elements and are stretched when positioned on the turbo engines.

Accordingly, needs exist for more efficient and effective turbo shields a breathable mesh screen positioned over a woven mesh, wherein the mesh screen is configured to protect the woven fibers from the elements while also disappointing heat.

SUMMARY

Embodiments described herein are directed towards systems and methods for a turbo shield that is configured to be efficiently removed and recoupled to a turbocharger without degrading the fibers associated with the turbo shield. The turbo shield may include a body, woven fibers, mesh screen, insulation, first rivet, second rivet.

The body of the turbo shield may be configured to house and secure the other elements of the turbo shield together. The body may be substantially annular in shape, and have an inner circumference and an outer circumference. The body of the turbo shield may be configured to isolate the heat produced by a turbocharger with the purpose of reducing turbo lag, cooler air intake temperatures, protecting and prolonging vital under hood components, and give a boost in horse power.

The body may include a front face, rear face, and a curved surface. The front face and the rear face may each include first portion, second portion, and a slit, wherein the slit separates the first portion from the second portion. The first portion may include a first edge and second edge, and the second portion may include a third edge and a fourth edge. The first portion and the second portion may be configured to be separated from each other at two locations, wherein the first location is between free ends of the first portion and the second portion and the second location is across a hinge aligned with the outer circumference of the body. This may enable the body to be positioned over the turbo charger without stretching the woven fibers. In embodiments, the first edge and the third edge may be free ends configured to be moved away from each other to increase a distance from the first edge and the third edge, wherein there is no piece of material directly connecting the first edge to the third edge.

The slit may be positioned between the second edge and the fourth edge, wherein the slit forms a hinge or axis of rotation aligned with the outer circumference of the body. The slit may extend from the inner circumference of the body towards the outer circumference of the body to form the hinge positioned on the outer circumference of the body. The hinge may enable the second edge and the fourth edge to be rotated away from each other. In embodiments, when the body is positioned on a turbo charger the second edge and the fourth edge may be positioned adjacent to each other, and when it is desired to remove the turbo shield from the turbocharger the angle between the third edge and the fourth edge may be greater than one hundred eighty degrees. In embodiments, a length of the slit may be slightly less than a distance between the outer circumferences of the body to the inner circumference of the body, and be greater than a thickness of the insulation layer.

The curved surface may be positioned between the front face and the rear face. The curved surface may directly connect the outer circumference of the front face and the rear face, over an entirety of the outer circumferences. The curved surface may be a continuous surface, without a change in materials, and extend through and around the slid and the second and fourth edges. The continuous curved surface may enable heat to be uniformly dissipated.

The woven fibers may be formed of any material that can be woven into tight woven fibers. For example, the woven fibers may form an outer layer of the body and be formed of pulverized volcanic lava rock (Rated 1800° F. Direct Heat/2500° F. Radiant Heat). In embodiments, the woven fibers may be any material that stretching causes the material to break down, which reduces their heat retention capabilities. For example, the woven fibers may be a stainless steel mesh. In embodiments, the woven fibers may be positioned on an outer layer of the base.

The mesh screen may be configured to be positioned over the woven fibers on the front face, rear face, and curved surface. The mesh screen may be uniformly formed, and be configured to protect the woven fibers from external elements while also allowing heat dissipation through the mesh screen. Furthermore, the mesh screen may be configured to give the turbo shield strength and structure, while not blocking heat transfer or over insulating the woven fibers. Specifically, if the outer layer of the mesh screen was formed of metal, the woven fibers would retain the heat, causing the woven fibers to break down. In embodiments, the mesh screen may be configured to cover around fifty percent of the surface area of the woven fibers.

The insulation may be insulating wool, such as calcium magnesium silicate wool. The insulation may be configured to retain the heat produced by the turbocharger within the turbo shield.

The first rivet may be a projection positioned on the first portion of the body proximate to the first edge. The second rivet may be a projection positioned on the second portion of the body proximate to the third edge. In use, a coupling mechanism, such as a spring or clamp, may utilize the first rivet and the second rivet to secure the body around a turbocharger. This may create a linear force across the body on an opposite side of the body as the slit, wherein the linear force extends in a first axis that is perpendicular to a second axis associated with a length of the slit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments described herein are directed towards systems and methods for a heat shield configured to be removably coupled to a turbocharger without degrading the woven fibers associated with the turbo shield.

Turning now toFIG.1,FIG.1depicts one embodiment of a turbo shield100. Turbo shield100may include a body110, woven fibers150, insulation160, first rivet170, and second rivet180.

Body110of turbo shield100may be configured to house and secure the other elements of the turbo shield100together. Body110may have an annular shape, with an inner circumference112and an outer circumference114. In embodiments, the inner circumference112and outer circumference114may dynamically change in shape and size to change the overall contour and outline of body110. This may enable inner circumference112and outer circumference114to increase in size to be positioned around a turbo charger without stretching woven fibers, and then to subsequently decrease in size to secure body110to a turbo charger. Body110may include a first portion120with first edge122and second edge124, and second portion130with third edge132and fourth edge134. First portion120and second portion130may be configured to be separated at two different locations.

A first location of separation may be between first edge122and third edge132, wherein first edge122and third edge132are free ends that are not coupled together. When first edge122and third edge132are pulled apart there may be an open space extending across multiple different planes. Through the opening created between first edge122and third edge132a turbocharger may be positioned within the inner circumference112of body110.

The second location of separation between first portion120and second portion130may be at slit140. Slit140may be positioned between the second edge124and the fourth edge134, wherein second edge124and fourth edge132are not free ends. Slit140may extend from inner circumference112towards the outer circumference114to form a hinge142positioned on the outer circumference114. In embodiments, an axis of rotation created by hinge142may extend from a front face of body110to a rear face of body110. The hinge142formed by the slit140may enable the second edge124and the fourth edge134to be rotated away from each other while the outer ends of second edge124and fourth edge134remain in close contact and a distance between the inner ends of second edge124and fourth edge134increases. In embodiments due to hinge142there will be constant contact between first portion110and second portion120, which is unlike the complete opening formed across the first location.

In embodiments, when body110is positioned on a turbo charger the second edge124and the fourth edge134may be positioned adjacent to each other, and when it is desired to remove the turbo shield100from the turbocharger the angle between the second edge124and fourth edge134may gradually increase to be greater than one hundred eighty degrees. This may enable an outer surface of second portion120to be rotated and positioned adjacent to an outer surface first portion130, without stretching woven fibers130. In embodiments, a length of the slit140may be slightly less than a distance between the outer circumferences114to the inner circumference112, and be greater than a thickness of the insulation layer160. Furthermore, when the body is positioned over a turbo charger, second edge124and fourth edge134may be overlaid on top of each other, or may be positioned directly adjacent to each other across slit140.

Body110may also include a curved surface116that extends from a front face of the turbo shield100to a rear face of the turbo shield along a lateral axis, and along the outer circumference114. Body110may be a continuous surface, and be configured to extend over an axis of rotation of first portion120and second portion130. Curve surface116may enable the outer surface of body110to be substantially uniform, which may assist in heat being more uniformly dissipated. Specifically, if body110included a hinge directly coupling first portion120and second portion130made of different materials or different thickness of materials than other portion of body110, then the separable hinge may not uniformly dissipate the heat. This may cause a heat buildup around the hinge, damaging the woven fibers close to the hinge. Additionally, in embodiments, an insulation layer160may be positioned on the front face and the rear face that has a different thickness than that of an insulation layer160positioned on the curved surface116. This may change the heat dissipation towards the front and rear faces, away from the curved surface116. Accordingly, more heat may be dissipated in a plane that is in parallel to opening on inner circumference112than an angle orthogonal from the inner circumference112.

Woven fibers150may be formed of any material that can be woven into a tight woven fibers, and form an outer surface of body110. Woven fibers150may be positioned on a front face, rear face, and curved surface of body110—extending from first edge122to third edge132. Woven fibers150may be formed of pulverized volcanic lava rock (Rated 1800° F. Direct Heat/2500° F. Radiant Heat). In embodiments, the woven fibers150may be any material that is negatively impacted by stretching, wherein the stretching causes the material associated with woven fibers150to break down and reduces the heat retention capabilities of the material. For example, the woven fibers150may be a stainless steel mesh. In embodiments, a thickness of the woven fibers150may be the same on the front face, rear face, and curved surface116of body110.

Mesh screen190may be a barrier of connected strands of metal, fiber, or other flexible or ductile materials. In embodiments, a material of mesh screen may be more rigid and durable than that of woven fibers150. Mesh screen190may be directly overlaid on woven fibers150on the front face, rear face, and curved surface116, and form an outer barrier to turbo shield110. The mesh screen190may be configured to protect woven fibers150from the elements while also allowing for controlling heat dissipation. In embodiments, when mesh screen190is positioned over woven fibers150, the first portion120and second portion130may not be able to rotate one hundred eighty degrees due to the structure provided by mesh screen190. For example, first portion120may only be able to rotate ninety degrees relative to second portion130.

In embodiments, mesh screen190may be uniformly positioned over woven fibers150on the front face, rear face, and curved surface116. Accordingly, each of the front face, rear face, and curved surface116may have a same pattern mesh, wherein mesh screen may cover between twenty five to seventy percent of the faces and curved surface116. This coverage may be configured to allow for heat dissipation. Alternatively, a complete coverage would limit the dissipation of heat and retain the heat within body110, which would lead to break down of woven fibers.

In other embodiments, mesh screen190may be not be uniformly positioned over woven fibers150on the front face, rear face, and curved surface116. Accordingly, the front face may have a different mesh pattern with a different surface coverage than that of the rear face and/or curved surface116, the rear face may have a different mesh pattern with a different surface coverage than that of the front face and/or the curved surface116, or curved surface116may have a different mesh pattern with a different surface coverage than that of the rear face and/or the front face. By modifying the coverage and/or mesh pattern between curved surface116and the front face and rear face, embodiments may allow more heat dissipation in angles orthogonal or parallel to that of a central axis of inner circumference112. For example, if a first mesh screen190positioned on the front face and rear face of covered seventy percent of the surfaces and a second mesh screen190positioned on curved surface116covered twenty five percent of the curved surface116, then more heat may travel along a path towards curved surface116due to it being covered by less material.

In other embodiments, mesh screen116may be formed of connected strands that have different thicknesses. The thicknesses of the mesh screen116may be different on the curved surface, wherein the thickest portion of the mesh screen116on the curved surface may be along central axis of the curved surface116. The central axis of the curved surface116may extend along the external circumference of the turbo shield100. This may enable heat to be dissipated away from the intake and outlet of the turbocharger, in a plane orthogonal to the exhaust outlet.

By varying the covering and thicknesses of the mesh screen190as well as the thickness of insulation layer160, the air flow created by turbocharger may be passively controlled.

The insulation layer160may be insulated wool, such as calcium magnesium silicate wool. The insulation layer160may be configured to retain the heat produced by the turbocharger within the turbo shield100. In embodiments, the insulation layer160may be positioned on an internal surface of body110, and the stretching of the insulation may or may not impact the insulation properties of the insulation layer170. As such, insulation layer160may be formed of a much more pliable material than the woven fibers150. In embodiments, insulation layer160may have a first thickness on the front face and rear face, and a second thickness on curved surface116of body110, wherein the second thickness is greater than the first thickness, and is less than a length of slit140.

The first rivet170may be a projection positioned on the first portion120of the body110proximate to the first edge122. The second rivet180may be a projection positioned on the second portion130proximate to the third edge132. In use, a coupling mechanism, such as a spring or clamp, may utilize the first rivet170and the second rivet180to secure the body110around a turbocharger. The external coupling mechanism may create a linear force across the body110on an opposite side of the body as the slit, wherein the linear force extends in a first axis that is perpendicular to a second axis associated with a length of the slit140.

In implementations, the bottom opening of turbo shield100may be moved/stretching apart such that first edge122and third edge132are positioned away from each other to accommodate a turbocharger. The bottom opening may be increased to a substantial length due to slit140allowing second edge124and fourth edge134to be positioned away from each other. As shown inFIG.2, the location of slit140may be aligned in a plane to be within the opening created between first edge122and third edge132. This may allow a length of the bottom opening to be maximized without stretching mesh weave150.

FIG.2depicts a method for removable coupling a turbo shield from a turbocharger, according to an embodiment. The operations of the method presented below are intended to be illustrative. In some embodiments, the method may be accomplished with one or more additional operations not described, and/or without one or more of the operations discussed. Additionally, the order in which the operations of the method are illustrated inFIG.2and described below is not intended to be limiting.

At operation210, a first portion of a turbo shield may be rotated away from a second portion of the turbo shield. An axis of rotation may be formed via a slit extending from an inner circumference of the body towards the outer circumference of the body of the turbo shield. Specifically, inner edges of the first portion and the second portion of the turbo shield may be rotated around the axis of rotation to create a space between the inner edges, wherein the angle associate with the hinge may be greater than ninety degrees. This may allow a bottom opening to be formed between external edges of the first portion and the second portion that not directly coupled together. In embodiments, when the first portion and the second portion are rotated away from each other, a woven fibers on the external surface of the first portion and the second portion may not be stretched.

At operation220, the turbo shield may be positioned around turbocharger by sliding an open bottom end between external edge of the first portion around the turbocharger.

At operation230, the turbo shield may be protected by the mesh screen positioned over the woven fibers.

At operation240, the mesh screen may allow for uniform heat dissipation. Specifically, a layering of the insulation and the thickness and coverage of the mesh screen may passively control the heat dissipation created by the turbocharger.

The flowcharts and block diagrams in the flow diagrams illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustrations, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustrations, may be implemented in different orderings, combinations, etc., with additional blocks and/or blocks removed.