Air turbine starter including a lightweight, low differential pressure check valve

A gas turbine engine system, comprising:

• a gas turbine engine;
• a gear box coupled to the gas turbine engine and configured to supply and receive lubricant;
• and
• an air turbine starter coupled to the auxiliary gear box and comprising:
• a starter housing including a lubricant supply opening and a lubricant discharge opening, the lubricant supply opening coupled to receive lubricant supplied from the auxiliary gear box, the lubricant discharge opening configured to supply lubricant from the starter housing to the auxiliary gear box;
• and
• a check valve disposed within the starter housing proximate the lubricant discharge opening, the check valve configured, in response to a pressure differential between the starter housing and the auxiliary gear box, to selectively allow and prevent lubricant to flow from the starter housing, through the discharge opening, and into the auxiliary gear box, the check valve comprising:
• a valve body including a lubricant inlet port and a lubricant outlet port, the lubricant inlet port adapted to receive a flow of lubricant, the lubricant outlet port in fluid communication with the lubricant discharge opening,
• a valve seat formed in the valve body and disposed between the lubricant inlet port and the lubricant outlet port, the valve seat having an opening formed therein,
• a valve bore formed in the valve body between the valve seat and the lubricant outlet port,
• a valve element disposed within the valve bore and movable between a plurality of open positions, in which lubricant may flow between the lubricant inlet port and the lubricant outlet port, and a closed position, in which lubricant may not flow between the lubricant inlet port and the lubricant outlet port, and
• a plurality of rounded grooves formed in the valve body, the rounded grooves disposed adjacent to, and in fluid communication with, the valve bore to improve lubricant to flow past the valve element when the valve element is in an open position.

A check valve, comprising:

• a valve body including a lubricant inlet port and a lubricant outlet port, the lubricant inlet port adapted to receive a flow of lubricant, the lubricant outlet port in fluid communication with the lubricant discharge opening;
• a valve seat formed in the valve body and disposed between the lubricant inlet port and the lubricant outlet port, the valve seat having an opening formed therein;
• a valve bore formed in the valve body between the valve seat and the lubricant outlet port;
• a valve element disposed within the valve bore and movable between a plurality of open positions, in which lubricant may flow between the lubricant inlet port and the lubricant outlet port, and a closed position, in which lubricant may not flow between the lubricant inlet port and the lubricant outlet port;
• and
• a plurality of rounded grooves formed in the valve body, the rounded grooves disposed adjacent to, and in fluid communication with, the valve bore to improve lubricant to flow past the valve element when the valve element is in an open position.