Continuous supply fluid reservoir
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsRobert D. Szolomayer, David L. Motto
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An assembly for holding a fluid includes an auxiliary reservoir inside a main reservoir. The auxiliary reservoir includes an auxiliary reservoir shell with a fill passage at or near its bottom. The auxiliary reservoir shell also has a vent passage at or near its top. The fill passage and the vent passage fluidically connect the auxiliary reservoir to the main reservoir. A fluid inlet is located inside the main reservoir and outside of the auxiliary reservoir. A fluid outlet located inside the auxiliary reservoir between the fill passage and the vent passage.
Claims4
A method for circulating a lubricant in a gas turbine engine, the method comprising:
- pumping the lubricant from a first reservoir to a first engine component through a first supply passage with a first supply pump;
- scavenging the lubricant moved by the first supply pump from the first engine component to an inlet of the first reservoir;
- pumping the lubricant from a second reservoir disposed within the first reservoir to a second engine component through a second supply passage with a second supply pump;
- scavenging the lubricant moved by the second supply pump from the second engine component to the inlet of the first reservoir;
- and
- flowing a portion of the lubricant from the first reservoir to the second reservoir.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.