Bearing compartment scavenge control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10450894-B2
Application number	US-201615362049-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 28, 2016
Priority date	Nov 28, 2016
Publication date	Oct 22, 2019
Grant date	Oct 22, 2019

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure are directed to a system associated with an engine, comprising: a bearing compartment, a scavenge line coupled to the bearing compartment at a first end of the scavenge line that receives a fluid via the first end of the scavenge line, a fluid pump coupled to the scavenge line at a second end of the scavenge line to receive the fluid, and a flow control valve having a variable flow area and disposed in the scavenge line to control flow of the fluid in the scavenge line and the fluid pump.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system associated with a gas turbine engine, comprising:
a bearing compartment;
a scavenge line coupled to the bearing compartment at a first end of the scavenge line that receives a fluid via the first end of the scavenge line;
a fluid pump coupled to the scavenge line at a second end of the scavenge line to receive the fluid; and
a flow control valve having a variable flow area and disposed in the scavenge line to control flow of the fluid in the scavenge line and the fluid pump,
wherein the flow control valve comprises at least one bypass orifice configured to provide at least a portion of the fluid through the flow control valve during a steady condition associated with an operation of the gas turbine engine.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a seal,
wherein the seal provides air to the bearing compartment during the steady state condition associated with the operation of the engine.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the air is provided by a compressor section of the engine.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein a flow control mechanism of the flow control valve is substantially or fully closed during the steady state condition.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein a flow control mechanism of the flow control valve controls the variable flow area and is at least partially open during a transient condition associated with the operation of the engine.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the transient condition corresponds to a deceleration of the engine.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fluid reservoir that receives fluid from the fluid pump.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the fluid reservoir includes a gearbox.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
first and second seals coupled to the bearing compartment.

10. The system of claim 9 , further comprising:
a third seal coupled to the first seal; and
a fourth seal coupled to the second seal.

11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second scavenge line coupled to the bearing compartment at a first end of the second scavenge line; and
a second fluid pump coupled to the second scavenge line at a second end of the second scavenge line.

12. The system of claim 11 , further comprising:
a first fluid reservoir coupled to the pump; and
a second fluid reservoir coupled to the second pump.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the first fluid reservoir and the second fluid reservoir are common with one another.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the first fluid reservoir is different from the second fluid reservoir.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein a first maximum flow capacity of the fluid pump is greater than a second maximum flow capacity of the second fluid pump.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein a first value of a parameter of the scavenge line is different from a second value of the parameter of the second scavenge line.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the parameter is one of a length, a diameter, or a material.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Witlicki Russell B
• Sodaro Joseph J
• James Denman H

Classifications

• F16N7/32

  Mist lubrication (splash lubrication F16N7/26) · CPC title

• F16N7/40

  in a closed circulation system · CPC title

• F16N2210/14

  Bearings · CPC title

• F05D2260/602

  Drainage · CPC title

• F01D25/32

  Collecting of condensation water; Drainage {; Removing solid particles} · CPC title