Gas turbine lubrication systems
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsJames H. Denman, Julie Henion
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lubrication circuit for a gas turbine engine includes a bearing compartment, an air inlet connected to the bearing compartment, a lubricant inlet, and a lubricant outlet. The air inlet fluidly connects the bearing compartment to an environment external to the compartment. The lubricant inlet and outlet are connected to the bearing compartment. A scavenge valve is operatively connected between the lubricant outlet and a scavenge pump that is responsive to bearing compartment pressure for controlling pres sure drop across the air inlet.
Claims19
A lubrication circuit for a gas turbine engine, comprising:
- a bearing compartment;
- an air inlet connected to the bearing compartment;
- a lubricant inlet and a lubricant outlet connected to the bearing compartment;
- a scavenge pump connected to the lubricant outlet;
- and
- a scavenge valve operatively connected between the lubricant outlet and the scavenge pump responsive to bearing compartment pressure for controlling pressure drop across the air inlet.
A lubrication system for a gas turbine engine, comprising:
- a bearing compartment;
- an air inlet connected to the bearing compartment;
- a lubricant inlet and a lubricant outlet connected to the bearing compartment;
- a scavenge pump connected to the lubricant outlet;
- and
- a scavenge valve operatively connected between the lubricant outlet and the scavenge pump responsive to bearing compartment pressure for controlling pressure drop across the air inlet, wherein the air inlet is a contacting shaft seal bounding the bearing compartment and separating the bearing compartment interior from the environment external to the bearing compartment;
- and
- a spool rotatably supported by a bearing body disposed within the bearing compartment and having a rotatable portion sealably engaged by the shaft seal, wherein the spool is mechanically connected to the scavenge pump for driving the scavenge pump such that air flow through the air inlet is a function of rotational speed of the spool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.