Gearbox Lubrication System
AssigneeBell Helicopter Textron Inc.
InventorRyan T. Ehinger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
According to one embodiment, a rotorcraft includes a body, a rotor blade, a drive system that can be operated to rotate the rotor blade, and an emergency valve control unit. The drive system contains a first gearbox assembly, a second gearbox assembly, a first lubrication system that can deliver lubricant to the first gearbox assembly, and a second lubrication system that can deliver lubricant to the second gearbox assembly. The drive system also contains an emergency valve that can be opened to deliver lubricant from the first lubrication system to the second gearbox assembly. The emergency valve control unit can instruct the emergency valve to open.
Claims20
A rotorcraft, comprising:
- a body;
- a rotor blade;
- a drive system operable to rotate the rotor blade, the drive system comprising:
- a first gearbox assembly comprising a gearbox;
- a second gearbox assembly comprising a gearbox;
- a first lubrication system configured to deliver lubricant to the first gearbox assembly;
- a second lubrication system configured to deliver lubricant to the second gearbox assembly;
- and
- an emergency valve that is operable to allow the first lubrication system to deliver lubricant to the second gearbox assembly when the valve is open;
- and
- an emergency valve control unit operable to instruct the emergency valve to open.
A drive system comprising:
- a first gearbox assembly comprising a gearbox;
- a second gearbox assembly comprising a gearbox;
- a first lubrication system configured to deliver lubricant to the first gearbox assembly;
- a second lubrication system configured to deliver lubricant to the second gearbox assembly;
- an emergency valve that is operable to allow the first lubrication system to deliver lubricant to the second gearbox assembly when the valve is open;
- and
- an emergency valve control unit operable to instruct the emergency valve to open.
A method of providing emergency lubricant to a drive system of a rotorcraft, the method comprising:
- providing a first lubrication system configured to deliver lubricant to a first gearbox assembly;
- providing a second lubrication system configured to deliver lubricant to a second gearbox assembly;
- opening an emergency valve to allow a flow of lubricant from the first lubrication system to the second gearbox assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.