Patent ID: 7008194

Claim:
A turbocharger comprising: a rotor shaft ( 5 ) defining an axis of rotation (R), a turbine housing ( 2 ) including at least one gas supply channel ( 9 ) for supplying exhaust gas, wherein a first end of said rotor shaft ( 5 ) projects into said turbine housing ( 2 ); at least one turbine rotor ( 4 ) axially mounted on said rotor shaft ( 5 ) to receive exhaust gas at the periphery of said rotor; a compressor housing ( 3 ) comprising at least one air supply channel ( 13 ′) for supplying air to be compressed, and wherein a second end of said rotor shaft ( 5 ) projects into said compressor housing ( 3 ); at least one compressor rotor ( 21 ) mounted on said rotor shaft ( 5 ) to deliver air to the periphery of said compressor rotor ( 21 ); and a seal arrangement ( 16 ) for the rotor shaft in the area of the compressor rotor ( 21 ) , comprising a bearing means ( 24 , 25 , 26 ) and sealing means ( 29 , 30 , 29 ′, 30 ′); wherein sealing means ( 29 , 30 , 29 ′, 30 ′) further comprises in addition to a first seal means ( 29 , 30 ) a second seal means ( 29 ′, 30 ′) axially spaced therefrom, and wherein a vacuum bore ( 33 , 34 ) is provided in communication with a space ( 31 ) between the two sealing means ( 29 , 30 , 29 ′, 30 ′) and a vacuum source ( 11 , 39 , 40 ), wherein said vacuum source is formed by the vacuum source suction side ( 11 ) of the compressor ( 21 ) itself.