Lubricating a rotating component during forward and/or reverse rotation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10196926-B2
Application number	US-201514683824-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 10, 2015
Priority date	Apr 11, 2014
Publication date	Feb 5, 2019
Grant date	Feb 5, 2019

Abstract

An assembly is provided for a turbine engine. This turbine engine assembly includes a rotating component, a turbine engine component and a lubrication system. The lubrication system is adapted to lubricate the turbine engine component where the rotating component rotates a first direction about an axis. The lubrication system is also adapted to lubricate the turbine engine component where the rotating component rotates a second direction about the axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly for a rotational system that includes a rotating component, the assembly comprising:
a bearing adapted to support the rotating component; and
a lubrication system adapted to lubricate the bearing where the rotating component rotates a first direction about an axis, and adapted to lubricate the bearing where the rotating component rotates a second direction about the axis;
wherein the lubrication system comprises
a first pump adapted to direct lubricant to the bearing where the rotating component rotates the first direction; and
a second pump adapted to direct lubricant to the bearing where the rotating component rotates the second direction;
wherein the first pump is adapted to direct lubricant to the second pump where the rotating component rotates the first direction.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second pump is adapted to direct lubricant to the first pump where the rotating component rotates the second direction.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lubrication system comprises
a first lubricant reservoir fluidly coupled with the first pump; and
a second lubrication reservoir fluidly coupled with the second pump.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein
the first pump is adapted to be driven by torque from a shaft of the rotational system; and
the second pump is adapted to be driven by the torque from the shaft of the rotational system.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bearing comprises a journal bearing.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fan rotor;
a compressor rotor; and
a gear train connected between the fan rotor and the compressor rotor, the gear train including the bearing.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rotational system comprises a turbine engine.

8. An assembly for a rotational system that includes a rotating component, the assembly comprising:
a bearing adapted to support the rotating component; and
a lubrication system adapted to lubricate the bearing where the rotating component rotates a first direction about an axis, and adapted to lubricate the bearing where the rotating component rotates a second direction about the axis;
wherein the lubrication system comprises
a first lubrication circuit adapted to direct lubricant to the bearing where the rotating component rotates the first direction; and
a second lubrication circuit adapted to direct lubricant to the bearing, independent of the first lubricant circuit, where the rotating component rotates the second direction.

9. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein
the first lubrication circuit comprises a first pump; and
the second lubrication circuit comprises a second pump.

10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first lubrication circuit is adapted to lubricate the first pump where the rotating component rotates the first direction.

11. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the second lubricant circuit is adapted to lubricate the second pump where the rotating component rotates the second direction.

12. The assembly of claim 8 , further comprising:
a fan rotor;
a compressor rotor; and
a gear train connected between the fan rotor and the compressor rotor, the gear train including the bearing.

13. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the rotational system comprises a turbine engine.

14. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the bearing comprises a journal bearing.

15. A method involving a bearing and a rotating component of a turbine engine, the method comprising:
lubricating the bearing where the rotating component rotates a reverse direction about an axis;
wherein the bearing supports the rotating component, and the rotating component is operable to rotate a forward direction and the reverse direction about the axis; and
wherein the rotating component rotates the reverse direction where a rotor of the turbine engine is windmilling.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising lubricating the bearing where the rotating component rotates the forward direction about the axis.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the lubricating of the bearing comprises directing lubricant to the bearing using a pump driven by torque from a shaft of the turbine engine.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the bearing comprises a journal bearing.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Ketchum David A
• Thoresen James T
• James Denman H
• James Reade W
• Sheridan William G

Classifications

• F02C7/36

  Power transmission arrangements between the different shafts of the gas turbine plant, or between the gas-turbine plant and the power user ({F02C3/107 - F02C3/13 and} F02C7/32 take precedence; couplings for transmitting rotation F16D; gearing in general F16H) · CPC title

• F01D25/20

  using lubrication pumps · CPC title

• F05D2260/40311

  of the epicyclical, planetary or differential type · CPC title

• F02C7/06

  Arrangements of bearings (bearings F16C); Lubricating ({of turbo machines F01D25/18; of machines or} engines in general F01M) · CPC title

• F01D21/00 Primary

  Shutting-down of machines or engines, e.g. in emergency; Regulating, controlling, or safety means not otherwise provided for · CPC title