Standpipe assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9422979-B2
Application number	US-201313862664-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 15, 2013
Priority date	Apr 15, 2013
Publication date	Aug 23, 2016
Grant date	Aug 23, 2016

Abstract

A standpipe assembly to connect to a starter/generator housing includes a standpipe with a first end that sits within the housing and a second end that connects to the standpipe base; and one or more brackets to secure the standpipe to the housing. The housing includes a standpipe base formed integral to the housing.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A standpipe assembly to connect to a starter/generator housing with a standpipe base integral to the housing, the standpipe assembly comprising:
a standpipe aligned within the housing so that the standpipe is oriented to drain oil through the standpipe when oil in the housing reaches a threshold level, the standpipe having a first portion with a first end that sits within the housing and a second portion with a second end that connects to the standpipe base, wherein the first portion extends along a first direction, and wherein the second portion extends along a second direction that is different than the first direction; and
one or more brackets to secure the standpipe to the housing, wherein the one or more brackets comprise:
a first bracket comprising:
a first aperture configured to receive the second end of the standpipe and secure around the second end of the standpipe to fit at least partially within the standpipe base in the housing; and
a second aperture configured to receive a fastener for securing the first bracket to the housing; and

a second bracket securing the standpipe to the housing.

2. The standpipe assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first bracket and the second bracket are welded to the standpipe.

3. The standpipe assembly of claim 1 , and further comprising:
a seal connecting between the standpipe and the standpipe base.

4. The standpipe assembly of claim 1 , wherein the standpipe is aluminum.

5. The standpipe assembly of claim 1 ,
wherein the standpipe further comprises a third portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion;
wherein the third portion extends along a third direction that is different than both the first direction and the second direction.

6. The standpipe assembly of claim 5 , wherein the third direction forms an obtuse angle with each of the first direction and the second direction.

7. The standpipe assembly of claim 6 , wherein the first direction and the second direction are orthogonal.

8. A starter/generator comprising:
a housing surrounding the starter/generator, the housing with an integral standpipe assembly base that includes a first aperture and a passage to receive oil and allow the oil to flow out of the housing; and
a standpipe assembly connected to and extending from the first aperture in the standpipe assembly base forming a flowpath from a first end of the standpipe assembly through the passage and out of the housing, wherein the standpipe assembly comprises a first portion with a first end that sits within the housing to receive the oil and a second portion with a second end to connect to the standpipe base to drain the oil into the passage in the standpipe assembly base, wherein the first portion extends along a first direction, and wherein the second portion extends along a second direction that is different than the first direction;
wherein the standpipe assembly further comprises:
a first connection piece secured to the second end to connect the standpipe to the first aperture in the standpipe assembly base, the first connection piece comprising a first bracket comprising:
a second aperture configured to receive the standpipe second end and secure around the standpipe second end; and
a third aperture configured to receive a first fastener for connecting the first bracket to the housing; and

a second connection piece to secure the standpipe to the housing, the second connection piece comprising a second bracket that secures to the side of the standpipe, and connects to the housing with a second fastener.

9. The starter/generator of claim 8 , and further comprising a seal between the first connection piece and the standpipe assembly base.

10. The starter/generator of claim 8 , wherein the first connection piece and the second connection piece are welded to the standpipe.

11. The starter/generator of claim 8 , wherein the standpipe assembly is shaped and oriented to regulate oil levels within the housing so that a minimum oil level in the housing at all orientations of the starter/generator is maintained.

12. A method of installing a standpipe assembly having a standpipe in a starter/generator with a housing, the method comprising:
aligning the standpipe assembly within the housing so that the standpipe assembly is oriented to drain oil through the standpipe when oil in the housing reaches a certain level, wherein the standpipe comprises a first portion with a first end that sits within the housing and a second portion with a second end that connects to a receiving portion of the housing, the first end extending along a first direction, and the second portion extending along a second direction that is different than the first direction;
connecting the second end of the standpipe to the receiving portion of the housing, the receiving portion of the housing with a passage to drain oil from the standpipe out of the housing; and
securing the standpipe assembly to the housing, wherein securing the standpipe assembly to the housing comprises connecting one or more brackets of the standpipe assembly to the housing with one or more fasteners, the one or more brackets comprising:
a first bracket comprising:
a first aperture configured to receive the second end of the standpipe and connect around the second end of the standpipe in the standpipe assembly, the first bracket fitting at least partially inside the receiving portion of the housing; and
a second aperture configured to receive a fastener for securing the first bracket to the housing; and

a second bracket connecting to a side of the standpipe and to the housing.

Assignees

• Hamilton Sundstrand Corp

Inventors

• Hochstetler Derek R
• Abels Jan Henry
• Welch Timothy R

Classifications

• H02K7/08

  Structural association with bearings · CPC title

• H02K5/16

  Means for supporting bearings, e.g. insulating supports or means for fitting bearings in the bearing-shields (magnetic bearings H02K7/09) · CPC title

• H02K7/1823

  structurally associated with turbines or similar engines · CPC title

• H02K5/22 Primary

  Auxiliary parts of casings not covered by groups H02K5/06-H02K5/20, e.g. shaped to form connection boxes or terminal boxes · CPC title

• F16C33/1045 Primary

  Details of supply of the liquid to the bearing · CPC title