Patent ID: 7918023

Claim:
A method for manufacturing a variable-vane mechanism for a variable-geometry turbine of a turbocharger, comprising the steps of: (a) providing components for a variable-vane cartridge including a generally annular nozzle ring for supporting an array of vanes circumferentially spaced about a central axis of the nozzle ring, an insert having a tubular portion for being sealingly received into a bore of a turbine housing and having a nozzle portion extending generally radially out from one end of the tubular portion, the insert having a central axis, and a plurality of spacers for extending between and connecting the nozzle portion of the insert and the nozzle ring; (b) forming a plurality of circumferentially spaced first holes through the nozzle ring for respectively receiving first portions of the spacers, the first portions of the spacers fitting loosely in the first holes; (c) forming a plurality of circumferentially spaced second holes through the nozzle portion of the insert for respectively receiving second portions of the spacers, the second portions of the spacers fitting loosely in the second holes; (d) assembling the cartridge by inserting the spacers into the first and second holes; (e) engaging the cartridge with a locating fixture to adjust relative radial positioning of the nozzle ring and the insert such that the center axes of the nozzle ring and the insert have a desired positional relationship, the spacers moving radially within the first and second holes as necessary to allow the relative radial positioning of the nozzle ring and insert to be established by the fixture; and (f) securing the spacers to the nozzle ring and the insert to fix the nozzle ring and the insert in the relative radial positioning established by the fixture.