Patent ID: 7631497

Claim:
A turbocharger ( 10 ) comprising: a turbocharger housing including a compressor housing, a bearing housing ( 20 ), and a turbine housing; a turbine wheel ( 30 ) located in said turbine housing, wherein said turbine wheel comprises a hub including a disc part, wherein the disk part has a) a front face supporting multiple blades and b) a backface; a compressor wheel ( 40 ) located in said compressor housing; a shaft ( 50 ) extending through the bearing housing ( 20 ) and connecting the turbine wheel ( 30 ) and the compressor wheel 40 ; a heat shield ( 60 ) positioned between the turbine wheel ( 30 ) and the bearing housing ( 20 ) and defining a gap ( 70 ) between the backface of the turbine wheel ( 30 ) and heat shield ( 60 ); at least one rib ( 80 ) on the heat shield and extending from the heat shield into said gap and towards said backface of said turbine wheel, interfering with the rotational and centrifugal flow of gas in the gap between the heat shield and the turbine backface when the turbine wheel is rotating.