Patent ID: 7396204

Claim:
A variable-nozzle mechanism of an exhaust turbocharger in which a driving force of an actuator is transmitted to nozzle vanes supported for rotation by a nozzle mount to vary an angle of a blade of the nozzle vanes, wherein the variable-nozzle mechanism is arranged such that a nozzle plate having an annular shape is connected to said nozzle mount by means of a plurality of nozzle supports located circumferentially between the nozzle vanes, and a drive ring is provided at a side of the nozzle mount opposite to the nozzle vanes in an axial direction of the turbocharger so that an axial position of said drive ring is restricted by thrust bearing elements attached to said nozzle mount, the variable-nozzle mechanism being constructed as a variable-nozzle mechanism assembly which can be incorporated to or removed from the turbocharger.