Lubrication system with passive valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9816601-B2
Application number	US-201514962631-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 8, 2015
Priority date	Mar 11, 2013
Publication date	Nov 14, 2017
Grant date	Nov 14, 2017

Abstract

In one example embodiment, a valve can include a piston configured to open the valve when a first force is greater than a second force, a biasing member that pushes against the piston and exerts a substantial portion of the first force against the piston, and a material that exerts a substantial portion of the second force against the piston, wherein the material changes from a solid to a liquid at an approximate, predetermined temperature, the change of the material from solid to liquid decreases the second force and allows the piston to move and open the valve.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a mechanical assembly;
a pumping mechanism configured to deliver a lubricating media to a mechanical assembly; and
a cooling system comprising:
a storage unit configured to contain a supplemental media; and
a valve operable to deliver the supplemental media from the storage unit to the mechanical assembly when a first force is greater than a second force, the valve comprising:
a piston configured to open the valve when the first force is greater than the second force;
a biasing member that pushes against the piston and exerts a substantial portion of the first force against the piston; and
a material, which includes a eutectic alloy, that exerts a substantial portion of the second force against the piston, wherein the material changes from a solid to a liquid at an approximate, predetermined temperature, the change of the material from solid to liquid decreases the second force and allows the piston to move and open the valve.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the biasing member is a spring.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the valve further comprises a second biasing member that exerts a portion of the second force.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the supplemental media is a lubricant.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the mechanical assembly comprises a plurality of gears.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises an inner chamber and an outer chamber separated by a wall.

7. The system according to claim 6 , wherein the inner chamber comprises the biasing member and the material, the outer chamber comprises a port that allows the supplemental media to flow from the storage unit to the mechanical assembly when the valve is open.

8. A valve comprising:
a piston configured to open the valve when a first force is greater than a second force;
a biasing member that pushes against the piston and exerts a substantial portion of the first force against the piston; and
a material, which includes a eutectic alloy, that exerts a substantial portion of the second force against the piston, wherein the material changes from a solid to a liquid at an approximate, predetermined temperature, the change of the material from solid to liquid decreases the second force and allows the piston to move and open the valve.

9. The valve according to claim 8 , wherein the biasing member is a spring.

10. The valve according to claim 8 , wherein the valve further comprises a second biasing member that exerts a portion of the second force.

11. The valve according to claim 8 , wherein the valve comprises an inner chamber and an outer chamber separated by a wall.

12. The system according to claim 11 , wherein the inner chamber comprises the biasing member and the material, the outer chamber comprises a port.

Assignees

• Bell Helicopter Textron Inc

Inventors

• Poster Scott

Classifications

• F16N7/00

  Arrangements for supplying oil or unspecified lubricant from a stationary reservoir or the equivalent in or on the machine or member to be lubricated · CPC title

• F16H57/0447

  Control of lubricant levels, e.g. lubricant level control dependent on temperature · CPC title

• B64C27/12

  Rotor drives · CPC title

• F16H57/0413 Primary

  Controlled cooling or heating of lubricant; Temperature control therefor · CPC title

• F16H57/045

  Lubricant storage reservoirs, e.g. reservoirs in addition to a gear sump for collecting lubricant in the upper part of a gear case · CPC title