Oil direction control baffle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10066733-B2
Application number	US-201615214262-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 19, 2016
Priority date	Jul 19, 2016
Publication date	Sep 4, 2018
Grant date	Sep 4, 2018

Abstract

A baffle for a gear may comprise a baffle wall and a baffle outlet, the baffle wall having a peripheral portion at least partially defining a channel, the channel extending circumferentially around an axial centerline, the channel configured to receive lubricant through a slot, the slot extending circumferentially around the axial centerline. The baffle wall may be configured to prevent a subset of gear teeth from receiving lubricant. A width of the slot may vary along a circumferential direction. A cross-section area of the channel may vary along the circumferential direction. The cross-section area of the channel may increase along a direction of rotation of the subset of gear teeth.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A baffle for a gear comprising:
a baffle wall;
a channel extending circumferentially around an axial centerline, the channel configured to receive a lubricant through a slot; and
a baffle outlet configured to receive the lubricant from the channel;
wherein the baffle wall comprises:
an outer wall defining at least a portion of a radial outer peripheral portion of the baffle wall;
an inner wall disposed radially inward from the outer wall, wherein the inner wall is oriented substantially parallel with the axial centerline; and
a radial interior portion disposed radially inward from the inner wall;

wherein the channel is at least partially defined by the outer wall and the inner wall;
wherein the slot is at least partially defined by the inner wall, the slot extending circumferentially around the axial centerline,
wherein the baffle wall is configured to receive the gear radially between the inner wall and the radial interior portion and a plurality of gear teeth of the gear radially aligned with at least a portion of the inner wall.

2. The baffle of claim 1 , wherein the baffle wall is configured to prevent a subset of gear teeth from receiving the lubricant.

3. The baffle of claim 2 , wherein the channel is configured to direct the lubricant in a direction of rotation of the subset of gear teeth towards the baffle outlet.

4. The baffle of claim 3 , wherein the baffle outlet comprises a duct configured to direct the lubricant away from the subset of gear teeth.

5. The baffle of claim 2 , wherein a cross-section area of the channel varies along a circumferential direction.

6. The baffle of claim 5 , wherein the cross-section area of the channel increases along a direction of rotation of the subset of gear teeth.

7. The baffle of claim 1 , wherein the channel extends between 1.5 radians and 4.8 radians circumferentially around the axial centerline.

8. The baffle of claim 1 , wherein the slot is disposed in the inner wall at least partially defining the channel.

9. The baffle of claim 1 , wherein the baffle further comprises a window, a portion of the gear extending radially through the window.

10. The baffle of claim 1 , wherein the slot extends between 1.5 radians and 4.8 radians circumferentially around the axial centerline.

11. The baffle of claim 1 , wherein a width of the slot varies along a circumferential direction.

12. A transmission system comprising:
a first bevel gear;
a second bevel gear meshed with the first bevel gear, and including a plurality of gear teeth arranged in a circumferential array; and
a baffle, comprising:
a baffle wall arranged next to and covering a subset of the gear teeth;
a channel extending circumferentially around an axial centerline, the channel configured to receive a lubricant through a slot; and
a baffle outlet configured to receive the lubricant from the channel;
wherein the baffle wall comprises:
an outer wall defining at least a portion of a radial outer peripheral portion of the baffle wall;
an inner wall disposed radially inward from the outer wall, wherein the inner wall is oriented substantially parallel with the axial centerline; and
a radial interior portion disposed radially inward from the inner wall;

wherein the channel is at least partially defined by the outer wall and the inner wall;
the slot is at least partially defined by the inner wall, the slot extending circumferentially around the axial centerline, and
the baffle wall is configured to receive the second bevel gear radially between the inner wall and the radial interior portion and the plurality of gear teeth radially aligned with at least a portion of the inner wall.

13. The transmission system of claim 12 , wherein the subset of the gear teeth are disengaged from the first bevel gear, and another subset of the gear teeth are meshed with the first bevel gear.

14. The transmission system of claim 12 , wherein the baffle wall is configured to substantially prevent the subset of the gear teeth from receiving lubricant.

15. The transmission system of claim 12 , wherein the slot is disposed in the inner wall defining the channel.

16. The transmission system of claim 12 , wherein the baffle further comprises a window, a portion of the second bevel gear extending radially out through the window, and the portion of the second bevel gear meshes with the first bevel gear.

17. The transmission system of claim 12 , wherein the baffle outlet comprises a duct configured to direct the lubricant away from the subset of gear teeth.

18. The transmission system of claim 12 , wherein the channel extends between 1.5 radians and 4.8 radians circumferentially around the rotational axis.

19. The transmission system of claim 12 , wherein the slot extends between 1.5 radians and 4.8 radians circumferentially around the rotational axis.

20. A turbine engine, comprising:
a turbine engine spool;
a tower shaft;
a bearing compartment; and
a transmission system located within the bearing compartment, the transmission system comprising a first bevel gear, a second bevel gear, and a baffle;
the first bevel gear connected to the turbine engine spool;
the second bevel gear connected to the tower shaft and configured to rotate about a rotational axis;
wherein the second bevel gear includes a plurality of gear teeth arranged in a circumferential array, wherein a first subset of the gear teeth within a first region are meshed with the first bevel gear, and a second subset of the gear teeth within a second region are disengaged from the first bevel gear; and
the baffle, comprising:
a baffle wall covering the second subset of the gear teeth;
a channel extending circumferentially around an axial centerline, the channel configured to receive a lubricant through a slot; and
a baffle outlet configured to receive the lubricant from the channel;
wherein the baffle wall comprises:
an outer wall defining at least a portion of a radial outer peripheral portion of the baffle wall;
an inner wall disposed radially inward from the outer wall, wherein the inner wall is oriented substantially parallel with the axial centerline; and
a radial interior portion disposed radially inward from the inner wall;

wherein the channel is at least partially defined by the outer wall and the inner wall;
the slot is at least partially defined by the inner wall, the slot extending circumferentially around the axial centerline, and
the baffle wall is configured to receive the gear radially between the inner wall and the radial interior portion and the plurality of gear teeth radially aligned with at least a portion of the inner wall.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Anglin Christopher

Classifications

• F05D2260/4031

  as in toothed gearing · CPC title

• F16H57/0427 Primary

  on rotary parts, e.g. using baffles for collecting lubricant by centrifugal force · CPC title

• F02C7/32

  Arrangement, mounting, or driving, of auxiliaries · CPC title

• F16H57/0421

  on or within the casing, e.g. shields or baffles for collecting lubricant, tubes, pipes, grooves, channels or the like · CPC title

• F05D2260/98

  Lubrication · CPC title