On-demand lubrication system and method for improved flow management and containment
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsJorn A. Glahn, Denman H. James
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of oil flow management for a gas turbine engine includes moving oil from a tank to a compartment using a pressure pump, moving oil from the compartment to the tank using a scavenge pump, and at least temporarily increasing a rate at which oil is moved with the scavenge pump by a greater amount than a rate at which oil is moved with the pressure pump to create at least a partial vacuum to negatively pressurize the compartment to reduce oil leakage.
Claims20
A method of oil flow management for a gas turbine engine, the method comprising:
- moving oil from a tank to a compartment using a pressure pump;
- moving oil from the compartment to the tank using a scavenge pump;
- and
- at least temporarily increasing a rate at which oil is moved with the scavenge pump by a greater amount than a rate at which oil is moved with the pressure pump to create at least a partial vacuum to negatively pressurize the compartment to reduce oil leakage.
An oil circulation system for a gas turbine engine, the system comprising:
- a tank;
- a compartment where oil is utilized;
- a variable displacement scavenge pump for pumping oil from the compartment to the tank;
- a first actuator for controlling displacement of the scavenge pump;
- a variable displacement pressure pump for pumping oil from the tank to the compartment;
- a second actuator for controlling displacement of the pressure pump;
- and
- a drive shaft for the gas turbine engine, wherein both the scavenge pump and the pressure pump are driven by the drive shaft.
An oil circulation system for a gas turbine engine, the system comprising:
- a compartment where oil is utilized;
- a pressure pump for pumping oil to the compartment;
- a scavenge pump for pumping oil out of the compartment, wherein a pumping rate of the scavenge pump is variable, wherein the pumping rate of the scavenge pump is selected as a function of engine operating speed, and wherein the pumping rate of the scavenge pump is selected to be greater than a pumping rate of the pressure pump.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.