Lubrication system with tolerance for reduced gravity
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsLawrence E. Portlock, Michael E. McCune, Louis J. Dobek
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lubrication system includes an auxiliary lubricant tank 48, a supply conduit 58 extending from a source of lubricant 26 to the auxiliary lubricant tank. A reduced-G bypass line 108 branches from the conduit and enters the auxiliary tank at a first elevation E1. The system also includes an auxiliary tank discharge conduit 116, a portion of which resides within the tank. The resident portion has an opening 122 at least partially at a second elevation E2 higher than the first elevation.
Claims18
A lubrication system, comprising:
- an auxiliary lubricant tank;
- a lubricant supply conduit extending from a source of lubricant to the auxiliary lubricant tank, the conduit having an outlet to the tank;
- a lubricant bypass line branching from the conduit and having an outlet inside the auxiliary tank at a first elevation;
- an auxiliary tank discharge conduit, a portion of which resides within the tank, the resident portion having an opening at least partially at a second elevation higher than the first elevation;
- and
- wherein the resident portion of the tank discharge conduit has an arcuate profile with radially inner and outer boundaries, the opening of the resident portion being along the radially inner boundary.
A lubrication system for use with a gear train, the gear train including a ring gear and a lubricant recovery gutter radially outboard of the ring gear, the lubrication system comprising:
- an auxiliary lubricant tank;
- a lubricant supply conduit extending from the gutter to the auxiliary lubricant tank, the conduit having an outlet to the tank;
- a lubricant bypass line branching from the conduit and having an outlet inside the auxiliary tank at a first elevation;
- an auxiliary tank discharge conduit, a portion of which resides within the tank, the resident portion having an opening at least partially at a second elevation higher than the lower elevation;
- and
- wherein the resident portion of the tank discharge conduit has an arcuate profile with radially inner and outer boundaries, the opening of the resident portion being along the radially inner boundary.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.