# US 11,994,165 B2 · Lubricant supply system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,994,165 B2 - Document ID: US11994165B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/653,027 - Filed: 2022-03-01 - Published: 2023-09-07 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2022-03-01 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: General Electric Company - Inventors: Charles S. Orkiszewski; Weize Kang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11994165B2 ## CPC - F01D 25/20: using lubrication pumps - F16C 27/045: {with a fluid film, e.g. squeeze film damping} - F01D 25/164: {Flexible supports; Vibration damping means associated with the bearing} - F16C 27/02: Sliding-contact bearings - F16C 33/6659: {Details of supply of the liquid to the bearing, e.g. passages or nozzles} - F16F 15/0237: {involving squeeze-film damping} - F16N 7/40: in a closed circulation system - F16N 31/00: Means for collecting, retaining, or draining-off lubricant in or on machines or apparatus (oil separators for separating oil from exhaust steam F22G) - F05D 2220/32: in gas turbines - F05D 2240/50: Bearings - F16C 2360/23: Gas turbine engines - F16F 2230/04: Lubrication - F16F 2230/24: Detecting or preventing malfunction, e.g. fail safe - F16F 2232/02: Rotary - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS - F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION - F16N: LUBRICATING - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS ## Abstract A lubricant supply system for a squeeze film damper. The lubricant supply system includes a fluid passage configured to supply a lubricant to the squeeze film damper of a bearing assembly. The fluid passage includes a first flow path for lubricant into the lubricant supply system and into the squeeze film damper of the bearing assembly and a second flow path for lubricant into the squeeze film damper of the bearing assembly. The lubricant supply system includes a valve assembly configured to allow the fluid passage to move from the first flow path to the second flow path in response to an interruption of the first flow path. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lubricant supply system for a squeeze film damper, the lubricant supply system comprising: a fluid passage configured to supply a lubricant to the squeeze film damper of a bearing assembly, the fluid passage having: a first flow path for lubricant into the lubricant supply system and into the squeeze film damper of the bearing assembly; and a second flow path for lubricant into the squeeze film damper of the bearing assembly; and a valve assembly configured to allow the fluid passage to move from the first flow path to the second flow path in response to an interruption of the first flow path, wherein the lubricant supply system is provided within a damper housing or within a housing fluidly coupled to the damper housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The lubricant supply system of claim 1, further comprising a heat sink in the fluid passage, wherein the heat sink is configured to reduce a temperature of lubricant along the second flow path. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The lubricant supply system of claim 1, wherein the valve assembly is configured to inhibit loss of lubricant from the second flow path. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The lubricant supply system of claim 1, further comprising: a reservoir configured to store lubricant; and a stop valve configured to fluidly isolate the reservoir from the first flow path when the valve assembly allows the first flow path and to fluidly connect the reservoir with the second flow path when the valve assembly allows the second flow path. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The lubricant supply system of claim 1, wherein eccentric orbit of a rotor of the bearing assembly is configured to recirculate lubricant in the second flow path. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The lubricant supply system of claim 1, further comprising: a reservoir configured to store lubricant from the second flow path; and a piston and a spring within the reservoir, the piston and the spring configured to pressurize the reservoir. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The lubricant supply system of claim 1, further comprising a reservoir configured to store lubricant, wherein the first flow path is configured to allow lubricant to flow from a main lubricant supply into the squeeze film damper and into the reservoir, and the second flow path is configured to allow lubricant to flow from the reservoir into the squeeze film damper. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The lubricant supply system of claim 1, wherein the valve assembly includes a first valve and a second valve, the first valve and the second valve laterally spaced from one another and coupled to a common valve stem such that the first valve and the second valve are configured to move simultaneously. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The lubricant supply system of claim 1, further comprising a reservoir configured to store lubricant; and an air flow passage configured to pressurize the reservoir. ### Claim 10 A gas turbine engine comprising: a bearing assembly configured to enable rotation of a shaft; a squeeze film damper configured to dampen a vibration caused by rotation of the bearing assembly; and a lubricant supply system including: a fluid passage configured to supply a lubricant to the squeeze film damper of the bearing assembly, the fluid passage having: a first flow path for lubricant into the lubricant supply system and into the squeeze film damper of the bearing assembly; and a second flow path for lubricant into the squeeze film damper of the bearing assembly; and a valve assembly configured to allow the fluid passage to move from the first flow path to the second flow path in response to an interruption of the first flow path, wherein the lubricant supply system is provided within a damper housing or within a housing fluidly coupled to the damper housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The gas turbine engine of claim 10, further comprising a heat sink in the fluid passage, wherein the heat sink is configured to reduce a temperature of lubricant along the second flow path. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The gas turbine engine of claim 10, wherein the valve assembly is configured to inhibit loss of lubricant from the second flow path. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The gas turbine engine of claim 10, further comprising: a reservoir configured to store lubricant; and a stop valve configured to fluidly isolate the reservoir from the first flow path when the valve assembly allows the first flow path and to fluidly connect the reservoir with the second flow path when the valve assembly allows the second flow path. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The gas turbine engine of claim 10, wherein eccentric orbit of a rotor of the bearing assembly is configured to recirculate lubricant in the second flow path. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The gas turbine engine of claim 10, further comprising: a reservoir configured to store lubricant from the second flow path; and a piston and a spring within the reservoir, the piston and the spring configured to pressurize the reservoir. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The gas turbine engine of claim 10, further comprising a reservoir configured to store lubricant, wherein the first flow path is configured to allow lubricant to flow from a main lubricant supply into the squeeze film damper and into the reservoir, and the second flow path is configured to allow lubricant to flow from the reservoir into the squeeze film damper. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The gas turbine engine of claim 10, wherein the valve assembly includes a first valve and a second valve, the first valve and the second valve laterally spaced from one another and coupled to a common valve stem such that the first valve and the second valve are configured to move simultaneously. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The gas turbine engine of claim 10, further comprising a reservoir configured to store lubricant; and an air flow passage configured to pressurize the lubricant received in the reservoir. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The gas turbine engine of claim 10, wherein the bearing assembly comprises a roller element bearing, an inner race, and an outer race, the roller element bearing configured to allow relative rotation of the shaft. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The gas turbine engine of claim 19, further comprising the damper housing, wherein the squeeze film damper is located between the outer race and the damper housing.