Method of scavenging oil within a gas turbine engine

• US 20060037325A1
• Filed: 10/25/2005
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rtx Corporation
• Original Assignee: Dwayne Messerschmidt, Glahn J. Axel, Hsianmin F. Jen, Kenneth L. Allard, Larry W. Spires, Robert E. Peters, Roger M. Barnsby
• Inventors: Spires, Larry W., Messerschmidt, Dwayne, Peters, Robert E., Jen, Hsianmin F., Barnsby, Roger M., Allard, Kenneth L., Glahn, J. Axel
• Granted Patent: US 7,373,780 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/772
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/18 Lubricating arrangements of machines or engines in general F01M
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/60 Fluid transfer
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/602 Drainage
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2360/23 Gas turbine engines in general F02C
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/6685 Details of collecting or draining, e.g. returning the liquid to a sump

Abstract

An oil scavenge system includes a tangential scavenge scoop and a settling area adjacent thereto which separately communicate with a duct which feeds oil into an oil flow path and back to an oil sump. A shield is mounted over the settling area to at least partially shield the collecting liquid oil from interfacial shear. A multiple of apertures are located through the shield to permit oil flow through the shield and into the duct. The scavenge scoop forms a partition which separates the duct into a first portion and a second portion. The first portion processes upstream air/oil mixture that is captured by the tangential scoop while the second portion receives the oil collected in the settling area.

Claims

1. A method of scavenging oil within a gas turbine engine comprising the steps of:

(1) collecting an air-oil mixture within a scavenge scoop which includes an intake generally directed in a circumferential direction relative a rotational direction defined about an axis of rotation, the scavenge scoop defining a partition which separates the duct into a first portion and a second portion;

(2) communicating the air-oil mixture from the scavenge scoop to the first portion of a duct;

(3) collecting settled air-oil mixture in a settling area adjacent the scavenge scoop; and

(4) communicating the air-oil mixture from the settling area to the second portion of the duct.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said step (3) further comprising the step of:

(a) locating the settling area downstream of the scavenge scoop relative to a rotational direction defined about the axis of rotation.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

locating the axis of rotation along a gas turbine engine centerline.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

shielding the settling area from interfacial shear.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing flow apertures to the settling area.

6. A method of scavenging oil within a gas turbine engine comprising the steps of:

(1) collecting an air-oil mixture within a scavenge scoop which includes an intake generally directed in a circumferential direction relative a rotational direction defined about an axis of rotation, the scavenge scoop defining a partition which separates the duct into a first portion and a second portion; and

(2) communicating the air-oil mixture from the scavenge scoop to the first portion of a duct.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

(3) collecting settled air-oil mixture in a settling area adjacent the scavenge scoop; and

(4) communicating the air-oil mixture from the settling area to the second portion of the duct.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, further comprising the step of:

shielding the settling area from interfacial shear.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, further comprising the step of:

providing flow apertures to the settling area.