# US 2015/0147178 A1 · Bearing with lubrication means and system for changing the pitch of the blades of a turboprop propeller of an aircraft equipped with said bearing

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- Number: US 2015/0147178 A1
- Document ID: US20150147178A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/405,240
- Filed: 2013-06-27
- Published: 2015-05-28
- Earliest claimed: 2012-06-27
- Assignees: Snecma
- Applicants: Snecma
- Inventors: Caroline Frantz; Dominik Igel; Nadege Hugon; Augustin Curlier
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20150147178A1

## CPC

- F01D 25/18: Lubricating arrangements (of machines or engines in general F01M)
- B64C 11/306: {specially adapted for contrarotating propellers}
- F01D 17/16: by means of nozzle vanes
- F16C 29/04: Ball or roller bearings
- F16C 33/6659: {Details of supply of the liquid to the bearing, e.g. passages or nozzles}
- F16C 33/6677: {from radial inside, e.g. via a passage through the shaft and/or inner ring}
- B64D 2027/005: {Aircraft with an unducted turbofan comprising contra-rotating rotors, e.g. contra-rotating open rotors [CROR]}
- F16C 23/06: Ball or roller bearings
- F16C 2326/43: Aeroplanes; Helicopters
- F16C 2360/23: Gas turbine engines
- Y02T 50/60: Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft
- F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D)
- B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

A bearing, such as a rolling bearing, is mounted on a support mobile in translation and includes a lubrication mechanism. The lubrication mechanism includes at least one pipe delivering a lubricant, linked to a lubricant supply source, and at least partially engaging in the support mobile in translation to deliver the lubricant from the mobile support along an internal channel to the bearing, passing through an inner ring of the bearing.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-8. (canceled)

### Claim 9

A bearing, or a rolling bearing, mounted on a support configured to move in translation and comprising:
a lubrication means;
the support configured to move in translation being defined by a movable part sliding about a fixed piston of a linear-movement actuator, around which an inner ring of the bearing to be lubricated is mounted;
the lubrication means for lubricating the bearing comprising at least one pipe for conveying a lubricant, connected to a lubricant supply source; and
a conduit connected to the movable support, in which engages, at least in part, the pipe for conveying the lubricant on an internal path from the movable support to the bearing, passing through the inner ring of the bearing;
wherein the pipe and the conduit extend parallel to the translational movement of the movable support to cooperate with each other by sliding between two extreme positions of the support, the pipe being fixed and the conduit sliding with respect thereto.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A bearing according to claim 9, wherein the conduit is provided in a lateral wall of the support configured to move in translation, and wherein the internal path comprises at least one hole made in the inner ring of the bearing and in communication with the conduit.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

A bearing according to claim 10, wherein the lubrication means comprises a plurality of pipes distributed angularly with respect to one another and communicating, on an upstream side, with a common element for conveying the lubricant connected to the supply source, and engaging, on a downstream side, in respective conduits provided in correspondence in a wall of the movable support.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

A bearing according to claim 9, wherein the movable part and the fixed part of the linear actuator are interconnected in rotation by at least one connection tube supported by transverse end faces of the movable part and associated with the fixed part, the tube including an internal passage forming the conduit configured to receive the pipe conveying the lubricant.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

A bearing according to claim 12, wherein the internal passage of the lubrication means comprises first and second portions, the first portion for conveying the lubricant through the internal passage in the movable part of the actuator, and the second portion for conveying the lubricant from the internal passage to the transfer bearing.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

A bearing according to claim 13, wherein the second portion is defined by orifices formed in correspondence in the tube and a relevant transverse face of the movable part, and by an annular chamber formed between the lateral wall of the movable part and a sleeve for annular support of the inner ring of the bearing, and communicating with the orifices and the ring.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

A system for changing a pitch of vanes of a turboshaft engine propeller having a longitudinal axis for an aircraft, comprising:
a linear-movement actuator centred on the longitudinal axis and rigidly connected to a fixed casing supporting the propeller;
a connection mechanism for transforming translation of the movable part of the actuator into a rotation of the vanes to modify a pitch thereof, and comprising a transfer bearing, an inner ring of which is rigidly connected to the movable part of the actuator, and a means of transmission between the outer ring of the bearing and the vanes; and
a means for lubricating the transfer bearing as defined according to claim 9.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

A turbine engine comprising coaxial and contrarotatory propulsion propellers, upstream and downstream respectively, wherein at least the upstream propeller comprises a system for changing the pitch of the vanes having lubrication means, as defined according to claim 15.