CYLINDRICAL AIR GUIDE IN A TURBINE ENGINE
First Claim
1. An air/oil separator for a gas turbine engine, said air/oil separator comprising:
- a drive shaft having a central axis extending in an axial direction;
a free vortex chamber mounted radially around said drive shaft;
a separation chamber coupled with said free vortex chamber in the axial direction on a side of said free vortex chamber opposite to said drive shaft;
a rotatable outlet shaft having an inlet end, an outlet end, and a hollow interior chamber therebetween, said hollow interior chamber having an inner circumference extending in the axial direction, said inlet end coupled with said separation chamber on a side of said separation chamber opposite to said free vortex chamber, and said rotatable outlet shaft radially rotatable about the central axis; and
a cylindrical air guide comprising;
a nonporous cylindrical main body having an outer circumference extending coaxially within the inner circumference of said hollow interior chamber of said rotatable outlet shaft;
an upstream end fixedly coupled with said inlet end of said rotatable outlet shaft; and
a downstream end coaxially disposed within said outlet end of said rotatable outlet shaft.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An air/oil separator for a gas turbine engine includes a drive shaft having a central axis extending in an axial direction, a free vortex chamber mounted radially around the drive shaft, a separation chamber coupled with the free vortex chamber in the axial direction opposite to the drive shaft, and a rotatable outlet shaft radially rotatable and having an inlet end coupled with the separation chamber opposite to the free vortex chamber, an outlet end, and a hollow interior chamber therebetween. The hollow interior chamber has an inner circumference extending in the axial direction a cylindrical air guide extending coaxially therein. The cylindrical air guide has a nonporous cylindrical main body, an upstream end fixedly coupled with the inlet end of the rotatable outlet shaft, and a downstream end coaxially disposed within the outlet end of the rotatable outlet shaft.
6 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An air/oil separator for a gas turbine engine, said air/oil separator comprising:
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a drive shaft having a central axis extending in an axial direction; a free vortex chamber mounted radially around said drive shaft; a separation chamber coupled with said free vortex chamber in the axial direction on a side of said free vortex chamber opposite to said drive shaft; a rotatable outlet shaft having an inlet end, an outlet end, and a hollow interior chamber therebetween, said hollow interior chamber having an inner circumference extending in the axial direction, said inlet end coupled with said separation chamber on a side of said separation chamber opposite to said free vortex chamber, and said rotatable outlet shaft radially rotatable about the central axis; and a cylindrical air guide comprising; a nonporous cylindrical main body having an outer circumference extending coaxially within the inner circumference of said hollow interior chamber of said rotatable outlet shaft; an upstream end fixedly coupled with said inlet end of said rotatable outlet shaft; and a downstream end coaxially disposed within said outlet end of said rotatable outlet shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for discharging exhaust air from air/oil separator of a gas turbine engine, the air/oil separator having a separation chamber and a hollow rotatable outlet shaft, said method comprising:
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venting exhaust air from the separation chamber into a first end of the hollow rotatable outlet shaft through air discharge slots in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal central axis of the hollow rotatable outlet shaft, the air discharge slots providing air communication between the separation chamber and the rotatable outlet shaft; rotating the rotatable outlet shaft around the longitudinal central axis; and guiding airflow of the exhaust air through the hollow rotatable outlet shaft, from a first end to a second opposing end thereof, radially around a cylindrical air guide coaxially mounted within the rotating outlet shaft about the longitudinal central axis, while preventing airflow from reaching the central longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A gas turbine engine including a core engine, a compressor, a high pressure turbine, a low pressure turbine, a combustor assembly, a fan, and a rotor, said gas turbine engine comprising:
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an air/oil separator comprising; a drive shaft having a central axis extending in an axial direction, said drive shaft coupled with said gas turbine engine rotor; a free vortex chamber mounted radially around said drive shaft; a separation chamber coupled with said free vortex chamber in said axial direction on a side of said free vortex chamber opposite to said drive shaft; a rotatable outlet shaft having an inlet end, an outlet end, and a hollow interior chamber therebetween, said hollow interior chamber having an inner circumference extending in the axial direction, said inlet end coupled with said separation chamber on a side of said separation chamber opposite to said free vortex chamber, and said rotatable outlet shaft radially rotatable around the axial direction; and a cylindrical air guide comprising; a nonporous cylindrical main body having an outer circumference extending coaxially within said inner circumference of said hollow interior chamber of said rotatable outlet shaft; an upstream end fixedly coupled with said inlet end of said rotatable outlet shaft; and a downstream end coaxially disposed within said outlet end of said rotatable outlet shaft. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification