Emergency lubrication system
First Claim
1. In a gas turbine engine having a controller which receives feedback signals from said engine and issues control signals in response thereto, a lubrication system lubricating a component during both normal operating conditions of said engine wherein a normal flow of lubricant is supplied to said component by said lubrication system, and malfunctioning conditions of said engine wherein said normal flow of lubricant supplied to said component by said lubrication system is disrupted, said lubrication system comprising:
- a reservoir for holding a reserve quantity of lubricant, said reservoir having an inlet and an outlet;
said inlet being closed during said malfunctioning condition to prevent backflow of lubricant from said reservoir through said inlet thereof;
an air conduit providing fluid communication between a supply of pressurized air and the interior of said reservoir anda control valve responsive to signals provided by said engine controller to effect lubricant flow from the interior of said reservoir through said outlet to said component, said control valve being disposed in said air conduit and being closed for blocking flow of said pressurized air to the interior of said reservoir during normal engine operating conditions and opening to allow pressurization of said reservoir by said pressurized air during said malfunctioning conditions to establish an emergency flow of lubricant to said component.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An emergency lubrication system for a turbine engine includes a reservoir 50 containing a reserve quantity of lubricant 52 and having a lubricant inlet 54 and a lubricant outlet 56. A lubricant supply line 62 and a lubricant outlet line 66 each have a respective valves 64, 68 for regulating lubricant flow into and out of the reservoir. A fluid supply line 70 includes a valve 72 for selectively establishing communication between the reserve quantity of lubricant and a source of pressurized fluid. During normal operation the lubricant outlet valve continuously releases lubricant at a normal rate to the component requiring lubrication while the lubricant inlet valve concurrently admits fresh lubricant into the reservoir. During abnormal operation, the lubricant inlet valve closes in response to abnormally low lubricant pressure outside the reservoir thereby preventing backflow of reserve lubricant out of the reservoir. The fluid inlet valve opens to admit pressurized fluid into the reservoir thus pressurizing the reserve lubricant. The lubricant outlet valve opens or cycles open and closed in response to a command from a controller 26 so that the pressurized fluid forces lubricant through the outlet 56 as a subnormal rate, which persists until the lubricant reserve is substantially depleted. The subnormal rate is ideally achieved by intermittently releasing lubricant from the reservoir, but may also be achieved by releasing a continuous stream of lubricant at a rate less than the normal rate of release.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. In a gas turbine engine having a controller which receives feedback signals from said engine and issues control signals in response thereto, a lubrication system lubricating a component during both normal operating conditions of said engine wherein a normal flow of lubricant is supplied to said component by said lubrication system, and malfunctioning conditions of said engine wherein said normal flow of lubricant supplied to said component by said lubrication system is disrupted, said lubrication system comprising:
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a reservoir for holding a reserve quantity of lubricant, said reservoir having an inlet and an outlet; said inlet being closed during said malfunctioning condition to prevent backflow of lubricant from said reservoir through said inlet thereof; an air conduit providing fluid communication between a supply of pressurized air and the interior of said reservoir and a control valve responsive to signals provided by said engine controller to effect lubricant flow from the interior of said reservoir through said outlet to said component, said control valve being disposed in said air conduit and being closed for blocking flow of said pressurized air to the interior of said reservoir during normal engine operating conditions and opening to allow pressurization of said reservoir by said pressurized air during said malfunctioning conditions to establish an emergency flow of lubricant to said component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 15, 16)
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7. In a gas turbine engine having a controller which receives feedback signals from said engine and issues control signals in response thereto, or said lubrication system lubricating a component during both normal operating conditions of said engine wherein a normal flow of lubricant is supplied to said component by said lubrication system, and malfunctioning conditions of said engine wherein said normal flow of lubricant supplied to said component by said lubrication system is disrupted, said lubrication system comprising:
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a reservoir for holding a reserve quantity of lubricant, said reservoir having an inlet and an outlet; said inlet being closed during said malfunctioning condition to prevent backflow of lubricant from said reservoir through said inlet thereof; an air conduit providing fluid communication between a supply of pressurized air and the interior of said reservoir and a control valve responsive to signals provided by said engine controller to effect lubricant flow from the interior of said reservoir through said outlet to said component, said control valve being disposed in said reservoir outlet and being open for allowing a normal flow of lubricant from said reservoir during normal engine operating conditions as well as during said engine malfunctioning conditions. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification