# US 2019/0170294 A1 · Lubrication and scavenge system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0170294 A1 - Document ID: US20190170294A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/830,657 - Filed: 2017-12-04 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-04 - Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE plc - Applicants: Rolls-Royce Corporation - Inventors: Eric Wilson; John Gebhard; Josh Gear; Mihir Desai - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190170294A1 ## CPC - F16N 13/22: with distributing equipment (separate distributing equipment F16N25/00) - F01D 15/12: Combinations with mechanical gearing (driven by multiple engines F01D13/00) - F01D 25/20: using lubrication pumps - F16N 7/40: in a closed circulation system - F16N 31/00: Means for collecting, retaining, or draining-off lubricant in or on machines or apparatus (oil separators for separating oil from exhaust steam F22G) - F16N 19/00: Lubricant containers for use in lubricators or lubrication systems - F16N 2210/02: Turbines - F16N: LUBRICATING - F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D) ## Abstract A lubrication system comprises a lubricant feed tank, a lubricant feed pump, one or more lubricant nozzles, a scavenge pump drive motor, and one or more scavenge pumps. The lubricant feed pump takes suction from the lubricant feed tank and pumps a lubricant feed as lubricant jets exiting the one or more lubricant nozzles. The lubricant feed pump has a rotating feed pump shaft coupled to a power source. The scavenge pump drive motor drives a rotating scavenge pump shaft that is coupled to the one or more scavenge pumps. The scavenge pumps return lubricant to the lubricant feed tank. The feed pump shaft and scavenge pump shaft rotate independently of each other. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lubrication system comprising: a lubricant supply tank; a lubricant feed pump having a rotating feed pump shaft, said lubricant feed pump drawing a suction from said lubricant supply tank and discharging a lubricant feed; one or more lubricant jets receiving the lubricant feed and directing the lubricant to one or more components; a scavenge pump drive motor driving a rotating scavenge pump shaft; one or more scavenge pumps being driven by the scavenge pump shaft, wherein the scavenge pump shaft rotates independently of the feed pump shaft. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The lubrication system of claim 1 wherein the scavenge pump drive motor is electrically driven. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The lubrication system of claim 1 wherein the scavenge pump drive motor is hydraulically driven. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The lubrication system of claim 3 wherein the scavenge pump drive motor is hydraulically driven by the lubricant feed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The lubrication system of claim 4 wherein the pressure of the lubricant feed is greater than 1000 psi. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The lubrication system of claim 4 wherein the pressure of the lubricant feed is between 2000 psi and 3000 psi. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The lubrication system of claim 1 further comprising a pressure reducing element receiving the lubricant feed and directing the lubricant feed at a reduced pressure to at least one lubricant jet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The lubrication system of claim 7 wherein the pressure of the lubricant feed is greater than 1000 psi and the reduced pressure lubricant feed is less than 500 psi. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The lubrication system of claim 4 wherein the pressure of the lubricant feed is between 2000 psi and 3000 psi and the reduced pressure lubricant feed is between 250 and 350 psi. ### Claim 10 A lubrication system comprising: a lubricant supply tank; a lubricant feed pump having a rotating feed pump shaft, said lubricant feed pump drawing a suction from said lubricant supply tank and discharging a lubricant feed; a hydraulically-driven scavenge pump drive motor driven by said lubricant feed and driving a rotating scavenge pump shaft; one or more lubricant jets receiving the lubricant feed and directing the lubricant to one or more bearing chambers; and one or more scavenge pumps being driven by the scavenge pump shaft and taking suction from said one or more bearing chambers. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The lubrication system of claim 10 wherein said lubricant feed pump is driven by a machine via a gearbox. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The lubrication system of claim 10 wherein said lubricant feed pump is driven by a motor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The lubrication system of claim 10 wherein said one or more bearing chambers are disposed in a gas turbine engine. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The lubrication system of claim 10 wherein said lubricant feed drives a plurality of hydraulically-driven scavenge pump drive motors arranged in series. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The lubrication system of claim 10 wherein the lubricant feed discharged from a first of said plurality of hydraulically-driven scavenge pump drive motors is used to drive a second of said plurality of hydraulically-driven scavenge pump drive motors. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The lubrication system of claim 10 wherein said lubricant feed drives a plurality of hydraulically-driven scavenge pump drive motors arranged in parallel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The lubrication system of claim 10 wherein said lubricant feed pump is driven by a rotating shaft in a gas turbine engine via a gearbox. ### Claim 18 A method of lubricating a machine, comprising: rotating a feed pump shaft of a lubricant feed pump to discharge a lubricant feed; directing the lubricant feed to one or more component chambers having a sump; driving a scavenge pump drive motor to rotate a scavenge pump shaft independently of the feed pump shaft; and driving one or more scavenge pumps taking suction from a component chamber sump via the scavenge pump shaft. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein said scavenge pump drive motor is hydraulically driven by said lubricant feed. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 wherein the step of directing the lubricant feed to one or more component chambers having a sump comprises supplying said lubricant feed to a nozzle to produce a lubricant jet directed into said component chamber.