Patent ID: 8449190

Claim:
An assembly comprising: a turbocharger center housing that comprises a bore wall that defines a bore having a bore axis extending between a compressor end and a turbine end of the housing, a lower recess extending from the bore radially outwardly and azimuthally with respect to the bore axis, a lubricant inlet for flow of lubricant to the bore, and a lubricant outlet adjacent to the lower recess for flow of lubricant from the lower recess; a bearing, disposed in the bore, that comprises a compressor end and, proximate thereto, a compressor side journal, a compressor side annular channel, and openings in the compressor side annular channel for flow of lubricant from the bore to the compressor side journal, and, disposed axially between the compressor side annular channel and the compressor end, a compressor side annular notch, and a turbine end and, proximate thereto, a turbine side journal, a turbine side annular channel, and openings in the turbine side annular channel for flow of lubricant from the bore to the turbine side journal, and, disposed axially between the turbine side annular channel and the turbine end, a turbine side annular notch; a compressor side ring disposed at least partially in the compressor side annular notch and in contact with the bore wall and the bearing to hinder axial flow of lubricant to the compressor end of the bearing and to reduce variation in a lubricant squeeze film thickness defined by and between the bearing and the bore wall; and a turbine side ring disposed at least partially in the turbine side annular notch and in contact with the bore wall and the bearing to hinder axial flow of lubricant to the turbine end of the bearing and to reduce variation in the lubricant squeeze film thickness.