Patent ID: 8545172

Claim:
A turbocharger having a variable-nozzle turbine, comprising: a turbine comprising a turbine housing and a turbine wheel mounted in the turbine housing and connected to a rotatable shaft for rotation therewith, the turbine housing defining a chamber surrounding the turbine wheel for receiving exhaust gas, and an axially extending bore through which exhaust gas is discharged after passing through the turbine wheel; a nozzle leading from the chamber generally radially inwardly to the turbine wheel; a compressor comprising a compressor housing and a compressor wheel mounted in the compressor housing and connected to the rotatable shaft for rotation therewith; a center housing connected between the compressor housing and the turbine housing and having a nose portion adjacent the turbine wheel defining a generally radially outwardly facing first surface and a second surface that faces generally axially toward the turbine wheel; a generally annular nozzle ring having a first face comprising one wall of the nozzle and axially spaced from an opposite wall of the nozzle, and an array of vanes circumferentially spaced about the nozzle ring and disposed in the nozzle, the vanes being rotatably mounted to the nozzle ring such that the vanes are variable in setting angle for regulating exhaust gas flow to the turbine wheel, the nozzle ring adjacent an inner diameter thereof defining a generally radially inwardly facing third surface joined with a fourth surface that faces generally axially toward the center housing, the nozzle ring defining a blind hole in a second face of the nozzle ring opposite from the first face; and a pin fixedly mounted in the center housing and extending generally axially therefrom and engaged in the blind hole in the nozzle ring to orient the nozzle ring rotationally relative to the center housing, a portion of a length of the pin having a substantially greater compliance than the remainder of the length such that the pin has a flexible tip that engages the blind hole in the nozzle ring, the flexible tip reducing constraint of thermal deformation of the nozzle ring.