Venting generator assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10056805-B2
Application number	US-201514873505-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 2, 2015
Priority date	Oct 2, 2015
Publication date	Aug 21, 2018
Grant date	Aug 21, 2018

Abstract

A generator assembly includes a generator shaft defining an interior vent space. A valve assembly is positioned within the vent space configured to selectively allow venting of air through the generator shaft. A radial vent is positioned within the valve assembly configured to prevent oil from flowing through the vent space during operation and release air through the vent space during shutdown.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A generator assembly, comprising:
a generator shaft defining an interior vent space;
a valve assembly within the vent space configured to selectively allow venting of air through the generator shaft;
a radial vent positioned within the valve assembly configured to prevent oil from flowing through the vent space during operation and release air through the vent space during shutdown, wherein the radial vent is sealed due to centrifugal force during operation and released after every shutdown cycle; and
an oil restrictor adjacent the valve assembly upstream of the radial vent configured to restrict the flow of oil through the radial vent and the vent space of the generator shaft,
wherein the retaining ring and the oil restrictor each have anti-rotation tabs to prevent rotation relative to the generator shaft during operation.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a retaining ring, wherein the oil restrictor is positioned between the retaining ring and the valve assembly.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an O-ring surrounding the valve assembly configured to seal the valve assembly to generator shaft interior space.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the radial vent includes a check ball.

5. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the check ball includes tungsten or tungsten carbide.

6. The assembly of claim 4 , where the check ball is 0.125 inches in diameter.

7. The assembly of claim 4 , further comprising a check ball retainer having a ball stop within the retainer and a ball seat within the valve assembly.

8. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the check ball retainer includes a removal feature.

9. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein a second retaining ring is positioned around the check ball retainer for securing the check ball retainer within the valve assembly.

10. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an annular channel in an input shaft axially between the valve assembly and the interior vent space to provide oil escape paths.

11. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the input shaft includes disconnect jaw features for engaging the generator disconnect shaft.

12. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the input shaft includes a spline for engaging the aircraft accessory drive gearbox opposite the disconnect jaws, wherein the valve assembly is proximate the engagement features and the gearbox vent is proximate the receptacle.

Assignees

• Hamilton Sundstrand Corp

Inventors

• Behling David S
• Lemmers Jr Glenn C

Classifications

• H02K9/02 Primary

  by ambient air flowing through the machine · CPC title

• F16K17/0406

  in the form of balls · CPC title

• H02K5/12 Primary

  specially adapted for operating in liquid or gas (combined with cooling arrangements H02K9/00) · CPC title

• H02K7/1823

  structurally associated with turbines or similar engines · CPC title

• H02K2205/09

  Machines characterised by drain passages or by venting, breathing or pressure compensating means · CPC title