Lubricating system for gas turbine engines
First Claim
1. A lubricating system for gas turbine engines, comprising a lubricant circulating circuit including lubricating chamber means (2), lubricant pressure pump means (1) and a main supply conduit means (14) operatively connecting said pressure pump means to a pressure input of said lubricating chamber means for lubricating an engine component in said lubricating chamber means, suction pump means (4) operatively connected to a suction output of said lubricating chamber means (2), lubricant air separator means (6) vented to the atmosphere, conduit means (2'"'"') operatively connecting said lubricant air separator means (6) to said suction pump means (4), return conduit means (11) operatively connecting said lubricant air separator means (6) back to said pressure pump means (1), and lubricant storage accumulator means (7) operatively connected to said return conduit means (11), said system comprising a further pressure pump means (9), lubricant supply container means (8), and auxiliary conduit means (12) operatively connecting said further pressure pump means (9) to said main supply conduit means (14) of said lubricant circulating circuit for replenishing lubricant from said supply container means (8) only during engine starting and during engine operation under normal flight conditions, said main supply conduit means (14) comprising first valve means (15), said return conduit means (11) comprising second valve means (13, 21), and said auxiliary conduit means (12) comprising third valve means (17), said first, second and third valve means being responsive to variable oil pressures occurring in said respective conduit means for assuring a lubrication in said lubricating chamber means (2) independently of gravity, especially zero gravity, influences under critical flight conditions.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Components, such as bearings, of gas turbine engines especially for aircraft are lubricated by a lubricant supply system including a main lubricant circulating circuit and an auxiliary lubricant circulating circuit for assuring a sufficient lubricant supply to the lubricating chamber or chambers under all operating conditions including those causing extremely rapid and locally differing displacements of the lubricant fluid in its supply tank. The main lubricant circulating circuit with its pumps, lubricating chamber or chambers, cooler, air separator and accumulator is operatively connected to the component being lubricated and is effective during normal and critical flight conditions. The auxiliary circulatory circuit with its lubricant supply tank and its pump is operatively connected to the main circulatory circuit for supplying lubricant into the main circuit. The auxiliary circulatory circuit is effective during the engine start-up and for replenishing lubricant into the main circuit during normal flight conditions.
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Citations
8 Claims
- 1. A lubricating system for gas turbine engines, comprising a lubricant circulating circuit including lubricating chamber means (2), lubricant pressure pump means (1) and a main supply conduit means (14) operatively connecting said pressure pump means to a pressure input of said lubricating chamber means for lubricating an engine component in said lubricating chamber means, suction pump means (4) operatively connected to a suction output of said lubricating chamber means (2), lubricant air separator means (6) vented to the atmosphere, conduit means (2'"'"') operatively connecting said lubricant air separator means (6) to said suction pump means (4), return conduit means (11) operatively connecting said lubricant air separator means (6) back to said pressure pump means (1), and lubricant storage accumulator means (7) operatively connected to said return conduit means (11), said system comprising a further pressure pump means (9), lubricant supply container means (8), and auxiliary conduit means (12) operatively connecting said further pressure pump means (9) to said main supply conduit means (14) of said lubricant circulating circuit for replenishing lubricant from said supply container means (8) only during engine starting and during engine operation under normal flight conditions, said main supply conduit means (14) comprising first valve means (15), said return conduit means (11) comprising second valve means (13, 21), and said auxiliary conduit means (12) comprising third valve means (17), said first, second and third valve means being responsive to variable oil pressures occurring in said respective conduit means for assuring a lubrication in said lubricating chamber means (2) independently of gravity, especially zero gravity, influences under critical flight conditions.
Specification