Fluid flow metering device for aircraft shaft(s)

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12535183-B2
Application number	US-202418416962-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 19, 2024
Priority date	Jan 19, 2024
Publication date	Jan 27, 2026
Grant date	Jan 27, 2026

Abstract

An assembly for an aircraft includes a first shaft, a second shaft and a metering device. The metering device includes a device sidewall, a device first end, a device second end, a device bore, a plurality of channels and a plurality of ports. The device sidewall circumscribes the first shaft at the device first end. The device sidewall is disposed in a second shaft bore of the second shaft at the device second end. The device bore extends axially along the axis through the metering device between the device first end and the device second end. The channels are arranged circumferentially about the axis. Each of the channels projects radially into the device sidewall from the device bore and axially into the device sidewall from the device second end. The ports are arranged circumferentially about the axis. Each of the ports projects radially through the device sidewall.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An assembly for an aircraft, comprising:
a first shaft including a first shaft bore and a first shaft end, the first shaft bore projecting axially along an axis into the first shaft from the first shaft end; a second shaft including a second shaft bore and a second shaft end, the second shaft bore projecting axially along the axis into the second shaft from the second shaft end; and a metering device including a device sidewall, a device first end, a device second end, a device bore, a plurality of channels and a plurality of ports, the device sidewall circumscribing the first shaft at the device first end, the device sidewall disposed in the second shaft bore at the device second end, the device bore extending axially along the axis through the metering device between the device first end and the device second end, the plurality of channels arranged circumferentially about the axis and running axially along an inner side of the device sidewall, each of the plurality of channels projecting partially radially into the inner side of the device sidewall from the device bore and axially into the device sidewall from the device second end, the plurality of ports arranged circumferentially about the axis, and each of the plurality of ports projecting radially through the device sidewall, wherein the first shaft bore is in fluid communication with the plurality of channels and the plurality of ports.

2 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of channels is disposed circumferentially between and axially overlaps a respective circumferentially neighboring pair of the plurality of ports.

3 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of channels is disposed radially outboard of and axially overlaps the first shaft.

4 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of channels is axially spaced from the device first end.

5 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of channels comprises a first channel; and a radial depth of the first channel increases as the first channel extends axially within the device sidewall towards the device second end.

6 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of channels comprises a first channel; and a lateral width of the first channel increases as the first channel extends axially within the device sidewall towards the device second end.

7 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of ports is disposed circumferentially between and axially overlaps a respective circumferentially neighboring pair of the plurality of channels.

8 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of ports is disposed radially outboard of and axially overlaps the first shaft.

9 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of ports is located axially between the second shaft end and the device first end.

10 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of ports is axially spaced from the device first end and the device second end.

11 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the metering device further includes
a plurality of second channels arranged circumferentially about the axis, each of the plurality of second channels projecting radially into the device sidewall from the device bore and extending axially in the device sidewall; and a plurality of second ports, each of the plurality of second ports projecting radially out from a respective one of the plurality of second channels and through the device sidewall, and the plurality of second ports located axially between the plurality of ports and the device second end.

12 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein
the device sidewall has a radial thickness extending radially between the inner side of the device sidewall and an outer side of the device sidewall; the radial thickness increases as the device sidewall extends axially towards the device second end; and the inner side of the device sidewall forms an outer peripheral boundary of the device bore.

13 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the metering device is mounted to and configured to rotate with the first shaft.

14 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the metering device is disengaged from the second shaft.

15 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the metering device is mounted to and configured to rotate with the second shaft.

16 . The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fluid source fluidly coupled to the first shaft bore; the metering device configured to receive fluid from the fluid source through the first shaft bore; the plurality of channels configured to direct a first portion of the fluid into the second shaft bore; and the plurality of ports configured to direct a second portion of the fluid into a volume axially next to the second shaft at the second shaft end.

17 . An assembly for an aircraft, comprising:
a first shaft including a first shaft bore and a first shaft end, the first shaft bore projecting axially along an axis into the first shaft from the first shaft end; a metering device including a device sidewall, a device bore, a plurality of channels and a plurality of ports, the device sidewall forming an outer peripheral boundary of the device bore with the first shaft projecting axially into the device bore to the first shaft end, the plurality of channels arranged circumferentially about the device bore, running axially along an inner side of the device sidewall, and partially axially overlapping the first shaft, each of the plurality of channels projecting axially into the device sidewall from an end of the metering device and projecting partially radially into the inner side of the device sidewall from the device bore, the plurality of ports arranged circumferentially about the device bore and partially axially overlapping the first shaft, and each of the plurality of ports projecting radially out from the device bore and through the device sidewall, wherein the first shaft bore is in fluid communication with the plurality of channels and the plurality of ports.

18 . The assembly of claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of ports is spaced axially from the end of the metering device.

19 . The assembly of claim 17 , wherein
the metering device is configured to receive lubricant from the first shaft bore; the plurality of channels are configured to direct a first portion of the lubricant to a first location; and the plurality of ports are configured to direct a second portion of the lubricant to a second location axially spaced from the first location.

20 . An apparatus for an aircraft, comprising:
a metering device rotatable about an axis, the metering device including a sidewall, a bore, a plurality of channels and a plurality of ports circumferentially interposed with and axially overlapping the plurality of channels; the sidewall extending axially along the axis from a first end of the sidewall to a second end of the sidewall, the sidewall extending radially from an inner side of the sidewall to an outer side of the sidewall with the inner side of the sidewall forming an outer peripheral boundary of the bore, and a radial thickness of the sidewall increasing as the sidewall extends axially towards the second end of the sidewall; the bore extending axially through the metering device; each of the plurality of channels running axially along the inner side of the sidewall, extending axially into the sidewall from the second end of the sidewall, and projecting partially radially into the inner s

Assignees

• Pratt & Whitney Canada

Inventors

• Menheere David
• Alecu Daniel

Classifications

• F16N27/00 Primary

  Proportioning devices (liquid meters G01F) · CPC title

• F05D2230/232

  by welding · CPC title

• F01D5/063

  Welded rotors (welding per se B23K) · CPC title

• F05D2260/36

  by a form fit connection, e.g. by interlocking · CPC title

• F05D2240/61

  Hollow · CPC title