Gearbox filler assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10830333-B2
Application number	US-201815967935-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 1, 2018
Priority date	May 1, 2018
Publication date	Nov 10, 2020
Grant date	Nov 10, 2020

Abstract

A gearbox filler assembly includes a cylindrical insert attached to an interior of a port disposed within a housing of the gearbox. The cylindrical insert has a first end disposed within the port, a second end extending outward from the port and is configured to receive a detachable filler cap, a retaining lip around at least a portion of a first interior circumference proximate to the first end, and a retaining slot around at least a second interior circumference between the retaining lip and the second end. A retaining ring is detachably coupled within the retaining slot. A cylindrical baffle is detachably retained between the retaining ring and the retaining lip.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A filler assembly for a gearbox, comprising:
a cylindrical insert attached to an interior of a port disposed within a housing of the gearbox, the cylindrical insert having a first end disposed within the port, a second end extending outward from the port and configured to receive a detachable filler cap, a retaining lip around at least a portion of a first interior circumference proximate to the first end, and a retaining slot around at least a second interior circumference between the retaining lip and the second end;
a retaining ring is detachably coupled within the retaining slot; and
a cylindrical baffle is detachably retained between the retaining ring and the retaining lip, wherein the cylindrical baffle comprises:
a first end having two or more first openings;
a second end having two or more second openings; and
wherein each first opening is offset from the second openings, and one or more passageways connect the first openings to the second openings.

2. The filler assembly of claim 1 , wherein the port is positioned or oriented such that one or more gears or portions thereof within the gearbox are visible via the port.

3. The filler assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first openings and the second openings are sized and positioned to allow a lubricant to flow into the gearbox and prevent large amounts of the lubricant from splashing out of the gearbox.

4. The filler assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical baffle comprises:
a first disk having two or more first openings;
a second disk having two or more second openings;
the first openings are offset from the second openings; and
the second disk is attached to the first disk such that a gap is formed between one or more portions of the first disk and the second disk, and the gap connects the first openings to the second openings.

5. The filler assembly of claim 1 , wherein the gearbox is a main rotor gearbox, a tail rotor gearbox, an intermediate gearbox, an accessory gearbox, or a reduction gearbox.

6. The filler assembly of claim 1 , further comprising the filler cap detachably secured to the second end of the cylindrical insert.

7. The filler assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical insert is formed as part of the housing.

8. A method for managing a lubricant in a gearbox, comprising:
providing a gearbox having a housing, a port disposed within the housing and a filler assembly;
the filler assembly comprises a cylindrical insert attached to an interior of the port, the cylindrical insert having a first end disposed within the port, a second end extending outward from the port and configured to receive a detachable filler cap, a retaining lip around at least a portion of a first interior circumference proximate to the first end, a retaining slot around at least a second interior circumference between the retaining lip and the second end, a retaining ring is detachably coupled within the retaining slot, and a cylindrical baffle is detachably retained between the retaining ring and the retaining lip, wherein the cylindrical baffle comprises:
a first end having two or more first openings;
a second end having two or more second openings; and

wherein each first opening is offset from the second openings, and one or more passageways connect the first openings to the second openings;
adding a lubricant to the gearbox via the port without removing the cylindrical baffle; and
preventing large amounts of the lubricant from splashing out of the gearbox using the cylindrical baffle.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
removing the detachable filler cap;
removing the retaining ring and the baffle; and
visually inspecting one or more gear teeth within the gearbox via the port.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first openings and the second openings are sized and positioned to allow a lubricant to flow into the gearbox and prevent large amounts the lubricant from splashing out of the gearbox.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the cylindrical baffle comprises:
a first disk having two or more first openings; and
a second disk having two or more second openings, the second disk attached to the first disk such that a gap is formed between one or more portions of the first disk and the second disk, and the gap connects the first openings to the second openings.

12. A rotorcraft, comprising:
a fuselage;
a gearbox disposed within the fuselage, the gearbox having a housing and a port disposed within the housing;
a cylindrical insert attached to an interior of the port, the cylindrical insert having a first end disposed within the port, a second end extending outward from the port and configured to receive a detachable filler cap, a retaining lip around at least a portion of a first interior circumference proximate to the first end, and a retaining slot around at least a second interior circumference between the retaining lip and the second end;
a retaining ring configured to be detachably coupled within the retaining slot; and
a cylindrical baffle configured to be detachably retained between the retaining ring and the retaining lip, wherein the cylindrical baffle comprises:
a first end having two or more first openings;
a second end having two or more second openings; and

wherein each first opening is offset from the second openings, and one or more passageways connect the first openings to the second openings.

13. The rotorcraft of claim 12 , wherein the port is positioned or oriented such that one or more gear teeth within the gearbox are visible via the port.

14. The rotorcraft of claim 12 , wherein the first openings and the second openings are sized and positioned to allow a lubricant to flow into the gearbox and prevent large amounts the lubricant from splashing out of the gearbox.

15. The rotorcraft of claim 12 , wherein the cylindrical baffle comprises:
a first disk having two or more first openings; and
a second disk having two or more second openings, the second disk attached to the first disk such that a gap is formed between one or more portions of the first disk and the second disk, and the gap connects the first openings to the second openings.

16. The rotorcraft of claim 12 , wherein the gearbox is a main rotor gearbox, a tail rotor gearbox, an intermediate gearbox, an accessory gearbox, or a reduction gearbox.

17. The rotorcraft of claim 12 , further comprising the filler cap detachably secured to the second end of the cylindrical insert.

Assignees

• Bell Helicopter Textron Inc

Inventors

• Poster Scott David

Classifications

• F01M11/0458

  Lubricant filling and draining · CPC title

• F16H57/0408 Primary

  Exchange, draining or filling of transmission lubricant · CPC title

• F01M2011/0491

  Filing cap with special features · CPC title

• F16H2057/012

  of gearings · CPC title

• F16N2210/12

  Gearings · CPC title