Aircraft Gearbox Lubrication System

• US 20140001307A1
• Filed: 06/29/2012
• Published: 01/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Original Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Inventors: Ehinger, Ryan T., Vollmer, Brian S.
• Application Number:
  US13/538,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20140001307A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/17.11
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/12 Rotor drives
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 125/02 Carbon; Graphite
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 171/06 Particles of special shape or size
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2020/06 Particles of special shape or size
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2030/02 Pour-point; Viscosity index
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0471 Bearing
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0495 with fixed gear ratio

Abstract

According to one embodiment, an aircraft gearbox lubrication system includes a lubricant source containing a nanodiamond lubricant, a pump, and a dispenser. The nanodiamond lubricant comprises a base lubricant and a nanodiamond additive. The pump is in fluid communication with the lubricant source and is configured to provide a flow of the lubricant from the lubricant source. The dispenser is in fluid communication with the reservoir and configured to allow the nanodiamond lubricant to flow from the pump onto a component in a gearbox at a predetermined rate.

Claims

1. An aircraft, comprising:

a fuselage;

one or more rotor blades; and

a drive train coupled to the fuselage and operable to rotate the one or more rotor blades, the drive train comprising;

a lubricant source containing a nanodiamond lubricant, the nanodiamond lubricant comprising a base lubricant and a nanodiamond additive;

a pump in fluid communication with the lubricant source and configured to provide a flow of the lubricant from the lubricant source; and

a dispenser in fluid communication with the reservoir and configured to allow the nanodiamond lubricant to flow from the pump onto a component in a gearbox at a predetermined rate.

2. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the nanodiamond additive is between 0.005 and 0.3 percent of the weight of the nanodiamond lubricant.

3. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the gearbox is a transmission.

4. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the component is a bearing.

5. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the component is a gear.

6. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the base lubricant is oil.

7. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the lubricant source is a fluid housing integral with a gearbox housing.

8. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the lubricant source is a separate fluid housing attached to a gearbox housing.

9. An aircraft gearbox lubrication system comprising:

a lubricant source containing a nanodiamond lubricant, the nanodiamond lubricant comprising a base lubricant and a nanodiamond additive;

a pump in fluid communication with the lubricant source and configured to provide a flow of the lubricant from the lubricant source; and

a dispenser in fluid communication with the reservoir and configured to allow the nanodiamond lubricant to flow from the pump onto a component in a gearbox at a predetermined rate.

10. The gearbox lubrication system of claim 9, wherein the nanodiamond additive is between 0.005 and 0.3 percent of the weight of the nanodiamond lubricant.

11. The gearbox lubrication system of claim 9, wherein the gearbox is a transmission.

12. The gearbox lubrication system of claim 9, wherein the component is a bearing.

13. The gearbox lubrication system of claim 9, wherein the component is a gear.

14. The gearbox lubrication system of claim 9, wherein the base lubricant is oil.

15. The gearbox lubrication system of claim 9, wherein the lubricant source is a fluid housing integral with a gearbox housing.

16. The gearbox lubrication system of claim 9, wherein the lubricant source is a separate fluid housing attached to a gearbox housing.

19. The method of claim 17, 12. wherein the component is a bearing or a gear.

17. A method of lubricating an aircraft gearbox, comprising:

storing a nanodiamond lubricant, the nanodiamond lubricant comprising a base lubricant and a nanodiamond additive;

pressurizing the nanodiamond lubricant to yield a pressurized flow of the lubricant; and

dispensing the pressurized flow of the lubricant towards a component in a gearbox at a predetermined rate.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the nanodiamond additive is between 0.005 and 0.3 percent of the weight of the nanodiamond lubricant.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the base lubricant is oil.