TURBOCHARGER WITH VANED TURBINE NOZZLE AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING SAME

A method of assembling a turbocharger 10 having a vaned turbine nozzle 28 includes first forming a sub-assembly of a center housing 20, shaft 18, bearings 19, compressor wheel 14, turbine wheel 22, and vane cartridge 50. The vane cartridge 50 is held captive in attachment to the center housing 20 by an annular heat shield 80 that includes prongs 82, 84 or the like at its inner and outer peripheries for respectively engaging a first catch C1 formed on the center housing 20 and a second catch C2 formed on the nozzle ring 38 of the vane cartridge 50. The heat shield 80 forms a snap fit to the center housing 20 and nozzle ring 38, thereby connecting the cartridge 50 to the center housing 20. The whole sub-assembly is then joined to the turbine housing 24, in the process axially compressing the heat shield 80 and a spring shroud 70 for exerting an axial biasing force on the nozzle ring 38.