Method and device for supplying a lubricant

• US 9,708,981 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2016
• Issued: 07/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safran Helicopter Engines
• Original Assignee: Safran Helicopter Engines
• Inventors: Augros, Philippe Alain Francois
• Primary Examiner(s): RIEGELMAN, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US15/233,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20160348583A1
• Time in Patent Office: 341 Days
• Field of Search: 184 611
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/10 Heating, e.g. warming-up before starting
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/125 of bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/18 Lubricating arrangements of machines or engines in general F01M
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/20 using lubrication pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 5/001 Heating
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 5/002 Cooling
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/06 Arrangements of bearings bearings F16C; Lubricating of turbo machines F01D25/18; of machines or engines in general F01M
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/329 in helicopters
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/98 Lubrication
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/66 Special parts or details in view of lubrication

Abstract

A device and method feeding turbomachines with lubricant, the turbomachine including a first set of bearings and a second set of bearings. Both the first and the second sets of bearings are fed with lubricant, and the second set of bearings operate at a temperature higher than the first set. The second set of bearings is fed with lubricant at a temperature higher than the first set.

Claims

1. A lubricant feed method for feeding a turbomachine with lubricant, said turbomachine having at least a first set of bearings and a second set of bearings, both the first and the second set being fed with lubricant, and the second set of bearings operating at a bearing temperature that is higher than a bearing temperature of the first set, the method comprising a step of heating a lubricant flow upstream from the second set of bearings by exchanging heat with a flow of lubricant returning from the second set of bearings, so that the second set of bearings is fed with lubricant at a lubricant temperature that is higher than a lubricant temperature of lubricant fed to the first set of bearings.

2. The lubricant feed method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of cooling a flow of lubricant in a heat exchanger upstream from the first set of bearings.

3. The lubricant feed method according to claim 1, wherein the first set of bearings is fed with lubricant by a first circuit, and the second set of bearings is fed with lubricant by a second circuit branching from the first circuit.

4. A lubricant feed device for feeding a turbomachine with lubricant, said turbomachine comprising a first set of bearings and a second set of bearings, and said second set operating at a bearing temperature that is higher than a bearing temperature of said first set, the lubricant feed device comprising a first circuit for feeding lubricant to the first set of bearings, and a second circuit for feeding lubricant to the second set of bearings, the first circuit having a branch point leading to the second circuit, and the second circuit having a heat exchanger for transmitting heat from at least a flow of lubricant returning from the second set of bearings to a flow of lubricant for feeding the second set of bearings, so as to feed the second set of bearings with lubricant at a lubricant temperature that is higher than a lubricant temperature of lubricant fed to the first set of bearings.

5. The lubricant feed device according to claim 4, wherein the first circuit includes a heat exchanger between said branch point and the first set of bearings in order to cool a flow of lubricant for the first set of bearings.

6. A turbomachine comprising a first set of bearings, a second set of bearings operating at a temperature higher than the first set of bearings, and a lubricant feed device comprising a first circuit for feeding lubricant to the first set of bearings, and a second circuit for feeding lubricant to the second set of bearings, the first circuit having a branch point leading to the second circuit, and the second circuit having a heat exchanger for transmitting heat from at least a flow of lubricant returning from the second set of bearings to a flow of lubricant for feeding the second set of bearings, so as to feed the second set of bearings with lubricant at a lubricant temperature that is higher than a lubricant temperature of lubricant fed to the first set of bearings.

7. The turbomachine according to claim 6, wherein the first circuit includes a heat exchanger between said branch point and the first set of bearings in order to cool a flow of lubricant for the first set of bearings.

8. A turbine engine assembly, or a turbine engine assembly for aviation purposes, including a turbomachine comprising a first set of bearings, a second set of bearings operating at a temperature higher than the first set of bearings, and a lubricant feed device comprising a first circuit for feeding lubricant to the first set of bearings, and a second circuit for feeding lubricant to the second set of bearings, the first circuit having a branch point leading to the second circuit, and the second circuit having a heat exchanger for transmitting heat from at least a flow of lubricant returning from the second set of bearings to a flow of lubricant for feeding the second set of bearings, so as to feed the second set of bearings with lubricant at a lubricant temperature that is higher than a lubricant temperature of lubricant fed to the first set of bearings.

9. The turbine engine assembly according to claim 8, wherein the first circuit includes a heat exchanger between said branch point and the first set of bearings in order to cool a flow of lubricant for the first set of bearings.