Gearbox lubrication system
AssigneeBell Helicopter Textron Inc.
InventorRyan T. Ehinger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
According to one embodiment, a rotorcraft includes a body, a rotor blade, a drive system that can be operated to rotate the rotor blade, and an emergency valve control unit. The drive system contains a first gearbox assembly, a second gearbox assembly, a first lubrication system that can deliver lubricant to the first gearbox assembly, and a second lubrication system that can deliver lubricant to the second gearbox assembly. The drive system also contains an emergency valve that can be opened to deliver lubricant from the first lubrication system to the second gearbox assembly. The emergency valve control unit can instruct the emergency valve to open.
Claims20
A rotorcraft comprising:
- a drive system, the drive system comprising:
- a first gearbox assembly;
- a second gearbox assembly, wherein the first gearbox assembly is in mechanical communication with the second gearbox assembly;
- a first lubrication system associated with the first gearbox assembly;
- a second lubrication system associated with the second gearbox assembly;
- a valve operable to allow lubricant to be delivered from the first lubrication system to the second gearbox assembly when the valve is open;
- and
- a control unit operable, at least in part, to instruct the valve to open or close.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.