Apparatus and method for controlling a pressure differential across a seal of a bearing chamber
AssigneePratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
InventorsAdam Logan, Ritchie Domingo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods for controlling a pressure differential across one or more seals of a bearing chamber in a gas turbine engine are disclosed. In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises a scavenge pump in fluid communication with an interior of the bearing chamber for driving oil from the bearing chamber; and a venting valve. The venting valve is configured to cause venting of the interior of the bearing chamber in parallel to the scavenge pump based on the pressure differential across the one or more seals.
Claims9
An apparatus for controlling a pressure differential across one or more seals of a bearing chamber in a gas turbine engine, the apparatus comprising:
- a scavenge pump in fluid communication with an interior of the bearing chamber for pumping oil from the bearing chamber;
- and
- a venting valve configured to controllably vent the interior of the bearing chamber in parallel to the scavenge pump based on the pressure differential across the one or more seals,
- wherein:
- the venting valve is configured to:
- cause venting of the interior of the bearing chamber when the pressure differential is less than a predetermined non-zero threshold;
- and substantially stop venting the interior of the bearing chamber when the pressure differential is greater than the predetermined non-zero threshold;
- and
- the venting valve comprises a biasing member urging a valve member toward an open position to cause venting of the interior of the bearing chamber, the biasing member providing a biasing force correlated to the predetermined non-zero threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.