Patent ID: 7059129

Claim:
A variable geometry turbocharger assembly comprising: a turbine housing having an exhaust gas inlet and an outlet, a volute connected to the inlet, and a nozzle wall adjacent the volute; a turbine wheel carried within the turbine housing and attached to a shaft; a plurality of vanes disposed within the turbine housing between the exhaust gas inlet and turbine wheel, each vane comprising: an inner airfoil surface oriented adjacent the turbine wheel; an outer airfoil surface oriented opposite and parallel to the inner airfoil surface; first and second axial surfaces each positioned perpendicular to and interposed between the inner and outer airfoil surfaces; a leading edge positioned along a first inner and outer airfoil surface junction; a trailing edge positioned along a second inner and outer airfoil surface junction; wherein each of the first and second axial surfaces comprises a composite construction of a solid section and a cored-out section, wherein each vane further comprises an opening within at least one of the first and second axial surfaces for accommodating a post, wherein the solid section of one of the first and second axial surface extends from the leading edge to the opening, and wherein the cored-out section of the same one of the first and second axial surface extends from the opening to the trailing edge.