Patent ID: 8353666

Claim:
An assembly for a turbocharger, comprising: a turbine comprising a turbine housing and a turbine wheel mounted in the turbine housing and connected to a rotatable shaft for rotation therewith; a center housing for containing a bearing for the shaft, the center housing defining a generally planar first surface facing generally axially toward and axially spaced from a generally planar opposing surface of the turbine housing, the first surface being spaced axially from the turbine wheel by a first axial distance; the turbine housing further comprising a generally cylindrical surface facing radially inwardly and located radially inwardly relative to said opposing surface; and a heat shield disposed between the center housing and the turbine housing, the heat shield having an outer portion captured between the first surface of the center housing and the opposing surface of the turbine housing, and a centering portion extending from the outer portion generally axially toward the turbine wheel, the centering portion passing directly radially inwardly of the generally cylindrical surface of the turbine housing, the centering portion having a non-axisymmetric configuration characterized by a plurality of relatively smaller-radius portions alternating in a circumferential direction with a plurality of relatively larger-radius portions, radial clearances existing between the smaller-radius portions and the generally cylindrical surface of the turbine housing, the larger-radius portions engaging the generally cylindrical surface of the turbine housing so as to locate the heat shield substantially coaxially with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the turbine housing.