Machine having a liquid lubrication system and a shaft
AssigneePratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
InventorsDana TOMESCU, Daniel ALECU
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A machine includes a liquid lubrication system and a shaft, the shaft being rotatable about a rotation axis, the shaft including a first part, a second part engaged coaxially with the first part, and a journal bearing between the first part and the second part, the first part being rotatable relative to the second part about the rotation axis, a helical feature disposed between the first part and the second part and configured to define a helical pump between the first part and the second part, the pump being hydraulically connected to the liquid lubrication system, the journal bearing being disposed adjacent to the helical feature.
Claims20
A machine comprising a liquid lubrication system and a shaft, the shaft being rotatable about a rotation axis, the shaft including a first part, a second part engaged coaxially with the first part, and a journal bearing between the first part and the second part, the first part being rotatable relative to the second part about the rotation axis, a helical feature disposed between the first part and the second part and configured to define a helical pump between the first part and the second part, the pump hydraulically connected to the liquid lubrication system, the journal bearing disposed adjacent to the helical feature.
A machine comprising:
- a motor,
- a liquid lubrication system operatively connected to the motor to lubricate the motor during operation of the motor,
- a bearing, and
- a shaft including a first part and a second part, the first part defining an axial channel therein, the second part being received in the axial channel, the axial channel being hydraulically connected to the liquid lubrication system via the second part, the first part being operatively connected to the motor for rotation by the motor about a rotation axis relative to the second part with a helical feature disposed between the first part and the second part to define a helical pump between the first part and the second part, the bearing being disposed between the first part and the second part adjacent to the helical feature, the helical fin having a fin direction that is opposite to the rotation of the first part of the shaft.
A method of operating a machine having a liquid system circulating a liquid when the machine is in use, comprising:
- rotating a first part of a shaft of the machine about a rotation axis relative to a second part of the shaft;
- circulating at least some of the liquid through the first part and the second part of the shaft;
- passing a flow of the liquid from inside the second part of the shaft into a bearing between the first part and the second part of the shaft;
- and
- generating a pumping action with a helical feature disposed between the first part and the second part of the shaft to oppose the flow into the bearing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.