# US 2014/0150400 A1 · Fluid system with gravity controlled valve > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150400 A1 - Document ID: US20140150400A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/689,851 - Filed: 2012-11-30 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: United Technologies Corporation - Applicants: United Technologies Corporation - Inventors: JinQuan Xu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150400A1 ## CPC - F02C 7/06: Arrangements of bearings (bearings F16C); Lubricating ({of turbo machines F01D25/18; of machines or} engines in general F01M) - F01M 11/067: {inverted, e.g. for inverted flight} - F05D 2260/60: Fluid transfer - F02C: GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS (construction of turbines F01D; jet-propulsion plants F02K; construction of compressors or fans F04; generating combustion products of high pressure or high velocity F23R; using gas turbines in compression refrigeration plants F25B11/00) - F01M: LUBRICATING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; LUBRICATING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES; CRANKCASE VENTILATING - F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS ## Abstract A fluid system for use with a gas turbine engine includes a reservoir having a reservoir inlet and a reservoir outlet and includes a supply assembly positioned in the reservoir. The supply assembly includes a first passage, a second passage, and a valve disc. The first and second passages are fluidically connected to the reservoir outlet. The valve disc is positioned in the first passage. The valve disc is pivotable about an axis and is weighted to have a center of gravity offset from the axis. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fluid system for use with a gas turbine engine, the fluid system comprising: a reservoir having a reservoir inlet and a reservoir outlet; and a supply assembly positioned in the reservoir, the supply assembly comprising: a first passage fluidically connected to the reservoir outlet; a second passage fluidically connected to the reservoir outlet; and a valve disc positioned in the first passage, wherein the valve disc is pivotable about an axis and is weighted to have a center of gravity offset from the axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fluid system of claim 1, wherein the first passage has a first passage inlet, the second passage has a second passage inlet, and the second passage inlet is nearer a top of the reservoir than the first passage inlet. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fluid system of claim 1, wherein the valve disc is weighted such that the first passage is open under positive gravity conditions and closed under negative gravity conditions. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The fluid system of claim 3, wherein the valve disc includes a first material on a first side of the axis, the valve disc includes a second material on a second side of the axis, and the second material has a greater density than that of the first material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The fluid system of claim 3, wherein the valve disc includes a weighted mass attached to a first side of the valve disc. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The fluid system of claim 3, wherein the valve disc is weighted via a connecting mass. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The fluid system of claim 6, wherein the connecting mass is positioned outside of the first passage and is connected to the valve disc via an axis pin extending through the first passage. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The fluid system of claim 7, wherein the supply assembly further comprises: a block attached to an outer surface of the first passage and positioned to stop rotation of the valve disc when the valve disc is rotated to a closed position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fluid system of claim 1, wherein the supply assembly further comprises a connection passage fluidically connecting the reservoir outlet to the first and second passages. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The fluid system of claim 9, wherein the supply assembly is substantially Y-shaped with the second passage being longer than the first passage. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The fluid system of claim 1, wherein the second passage is open under positive gravity conditions and negative gravity conditions. ### Claim 12 A lubrication system for use with a gas turbine engine, the lubrication system comprising: a reservoir having a reservoir inlet and a reservoir outlet; and a supply assembly positioned in the reservoir, the supply assembly comprising: a first passage fluidically connected to the reservoir outlet; a second passage fluidically connected to the reservoir outlet; and a pivotable valve fluidically connected to the first passage and configured to be open under positive gravity conditions and to be closed under negative gravity conditions. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The lubrication system of claim 12, wherein the first passage has a first passage inlet, the second passage has a second passage inlet, and the second passage inlet is nearer a top of the reservoir than is the first passage inlet. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The lubrication system of claim 12, wherein the pivotable valve comprises a valve disc that is weighted so as to pivot open under positive gravity conditions and pivot closed under negative gravity conditions. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The lubrication system of claim 12, wherein the second passage is free of valves. ### Claim 16 A gas turbine engine comprising: a spool comprising a compressor and a turbine connected by a spool shaft; a fan; a fan drive gear system connecting the fan to the spool shaft such that rotation of the spool drives rotation of the fan; a reservoir having a reservoir inlet and a reservoir outlet, wherein the fan drive gear system is fluidically connected to the reservoir inlet and the reservoir outlet; and a supply assembly positioned in the reservoir, the supply assembly comprising: a first passage fluidically connected to the reservoir outlet; a second passage fluidically connected to the reservoir outlet; and a pivotable valve fluidically connected to the first passage and configured to be open under positive gravity conditions and to be closed under negative gravity conditions. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The gas turbine engine of claim 16, and further comprising: a supply pump fluidically connected between the reservoir outlet and the fan drive gear system; and a scavenge pump fluidically connected between the fan drive gear system and the reservoir inlet. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The gas turbine engine of claim 16, wherein the fan drive gear system connects the fan to the spool so as to drive rotation of the fan at a slower speed than that of the spool. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The gas turbine engine of claim 16, wherein the pivotable valve comprises a valve disc that is weighted so as to pivot open under positive gravity conditions and pivot closed under negative gravity conditions. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The lubrication system of claim 16, wherein the first passage has a first passage inlet, the second passage has a second passage inlet, and the second passage inlet is nearer a top of the reservoir than is the first passage inlet.