Fluid plate assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12237754-B2
Application number	US-202117645213-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 20, 2021
Priority date	Dec 20, 2021
Publication date	Feb 25, 2025
Grant date	Feb 25, 2025

Abstract

The disclosure describes a fluid plate assembly that includes a plurality of fluid plates and one or more seals between the plurality of fluid plates. The plurality of fluid plates are coupled together to form a fluid passage. At least one fluid plate of the plurality of fluid plates includes a plurality of holes and one or more fluid channels. The plurality of holes are configured to spray pressurized fluid on at least a portion of one or more components of a rotary machine. The one or more fluid channels that form the fluid passage are configured to direct the pressurized fluid to the plurality of holes.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid plate assembly, comprising:
a plurality of fluid plates coupled together to form a fluid passage, wherein at least one fluid plate of the plurality of fluid plates comprises:
a plurality of holes configured to spray pressurized fluid on at least a portion of one or more components of a rotary machine; and
one or more fluid channels configured to direct the pressurized fluid to the plurality of holes; and

one or more seals between the plurality of fluid plates,
wherein a first portion of the plurality of holes is configured to deliver the pressurized fluid in a first spray distribution, and
wherein a second portion of the plurality of holes is configured to deliver the pressurized fluid in a second spray distribution, different from the first spray distribution.

2. The fluid plate assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more fluid channels are interconnected to form a continuous fluid passage.

3. The fluid plate assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one fluid plate of the plurality of fluid plates comprises an inlet fluidically coupled to the fluid passage and configured to receive the pressurized fluid.

4. The fluid plate assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least some holes of the plurality of holes form an axis at an angle with a plane of the at least one fluid plate that is less than about 90 degrees.

5. The fluid plate assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of fluid plates comprises:
a first fluid plate having an outer surface configured to face a first direction and spray pressurized fluid from a first plurality of holes to a first set of components; and
a second fluid plate having an outer surface configured to face a second direction, opposite the first direction, and spray pressurized fluid from a second plurality of holes to a second set of components.

6. A rotary machine, comprising:
a housing;
one or more components encased in the housing; and
one or more fluid plate assemblies at least partially encased in the housing,
wherein each fluid plate assembly includes a plurality of fluid plates coupled together to form a fluid passage, and
wherein at least one fluid plate of the plurality of fluid plates comprises:
a plurality of holes configured to spray pressurized fluid on at least a portion of the one or more components; and
one or more fluid channels configured to direct the pressurized fluid to the plurality of holes, and

wherein a first portion of the plurality of holes is configured to deliver the pressurized fluid in a first spray distribution, and
wherein a second portion of the plurality of holes is configured to deliver the pressurized fluid in a second spray distribution, different from the first spray distribution.

7. The rotary machine of claim 6 , wherein each fluid plate assembly includes one or more seals between the plurality of fluid plates.

8. The rotary machine of claim 6 , wherein the rotary machine comprises at least one of an electrical propulsion unit (EPU), an electric motor, an electric generator, or a gas turbine engine.

9. The rotary machine of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of fluid plates of at least one fluid plate assembly of the plurality of fluid plate assemblies comprises:
a forward fluid plate configured to face a forward direction and spray pressurized fluid on a forward set of components; and
an aft fluid plate configured to face an aft direction, opposite the forward direction, and spray pressurized fluid on an aft set of components.

10. The rotary machine of claim 6 , wherein the one or more fluid plate assemblies comprise:
a forward fluid plate assembly defining a forward cavity of the housing and configured to spray pressurized fluid on a forward set of components in the forward cavity; and
an aft fluid plate assembly defining an aft cavity of the housing and configured to spray pressurized fluid on an aft set of components in the aft cavity.

11. The rotary machine of claim 10 ,
wherein the forward and aft fluid plates define an intermediate cavity between the forward and aft cavities, and
wherein at least one of the forward and aft fluid plates is configured to spray pressurized fluid on a third set of components in the intermediate cavity.

12. The rotary machine of claim 11 ,
wherein the rotary machine comprises an EPU,
wherein the forward cavity comprises a propulsion cavity configured to house one or more components of a propulsion system,
wherein the intermediate cavity comprises a stator cavity configured to house a stator, and
wherein the aft cavity comprises an accessory cavity configured to house one or more components of an accessory system.

13. A method for forming a fluid plate assembly, comprising:
mating an inner surface of a first fluid plate and an inner surface of a second fluid plate, wherein at least one of the inner surfaces of the first or second fluid plates includes one or more seals, wherein at least one of the first or second fluid plates includes a plurality of holes configured to spray pressurized fluid, wherein at least one of the first or second fluid plates includes one or more fluid channels configured to direct the pressurized fluid to the plurality of holes, wherein a first portion of the plurality of holes is configured to deliver the pressurized fluid in a first spray distribution, and wherein a second portion of the plurality of holes is configured to deliver the pressurized fluid in a second spray distribution, different from the first spray distribution; and
coupling together the first and second fluid plates, wherein the one or more fluid channels are configured form a fluid passage configured to receive the pressurized fluid.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising forming the one or more fluid channels and the plurality of holes in the at least one of the first or second fluid plates.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein forming the one or more fluid channels and the plurality of holes further comprises machining the one or more fluid channels and the plurality of holes in the inner surface of the first or second fluid plates.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of holes are machined with an axis formed at an angle with a plane of the inner surface that is less than about 90 degrees.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising, prior to mating the inner surfaces of the first and second fluid plates:
forming one or more seal channels in at least one fluid plate; and
positioning one or more seals in the one or more seal channels.

18. A fluid plate assembly, comprising:
a plurality of fluid plates coupled together to form a fluid passage, wherein at least one fluid plate of the plurality of fluid plates comprises:
a plurality of holes configured to spray pressurized fluid on at least a portion of one or more components of a rotary machine; and
one or more fluid channels configured to direct the pressurized fluid to the plurality of holes; and

one or more seals between the plurality of fluid plates,
wherein the plurality of fluid plates comprises:
a first fluid plate having an outer surface configured to face a first direction and spray pressurized fluid from a first plurality of holes to a first set of components; and
a second fluid plate having an outer surface configured to face a second direction, opposite the first direction, and spray pressurized fluid from a second plurality of holes to a second set of components.

19. The fluid plate assembly of claim 18 ,
wherein the first plurality of holes is configured to deliver the pre

Assignees

• Rolls Royce Corp

Inventors

• Mclaughlin Allison
• Burnside David
• Bennett Thomas
• Pluim Martin

Classifications

• H02K7/1807

  Rotary generators (H02K7/006 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02K7/18

  Structural association of electric generators with mechanical driving motors, e.g. with turbines · CPC title

• F04B1/146

  Swash plates; Actuating elements · CPC title

• F04B45/043

  two or more plate-like pumping flexible members in parallel · CPC title

• F04B1/0465

  plate-like · CPC title