Patent ID: 7771162

Claim:
A cambered vane for use in a variable geometry turbocharger comprising: an inner airfoil surface; an outer airfoil surface oriented opposite the inner airfoil surface, the inner and outer airfoil surfaces defining a vane airfoil thickness; a leading edge positioned along a first inner and outer airfoil surface junction; and a trailing edge positioned along a second inner and outer airfoil surface junction; wherein the vanes are positioned concentrically around a turbine wheel in the turbocharger, the inner airfoil and outer airfoil surfaces define a camberline positioned therebetween that extends from the leading edge to the trailing edge, and wherein the camberline includes a curved section along a substantial length of the vane between the leading and tailing edges, the curved section having a measure of curvature that is within 75 to 125 percent of a vane placement diameter defined by the concentric placement of vanes around the turbine wheel and wherein the outer airfoil surface comprises a continuous convex shape and the inner airfoil surface includes a planar section adjacent the vane leading edge.