Turbine engine transmission gutter
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A gutter system for capturing lubricating fluid slung from a gear system comprising:
- a gutter extending partially circumferentially about a centerline and having a gutter first circumferential end edge;
an inlet channel having an inlet at the gutter first circumferential end edge and locally radially outboard of the gutter; and
at least one vane spaced apart from the gutter first circumferential end edge, the at least one vane positioned with a chord oriented with a component from an outboard edge to an inboard edge circumferentially in the same direction as an inlet flow direction, so as to pass a first portion of a lubricating fluid flowing along a gutter inboard surface into the inlet of the inlet channel and divert a second portion away from the inlet.
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Abstract
A turbine engine case defines a centerline and a gaspath within the engine case. A fan is coupled to a fan shaft. A transmission couples the shaft to the fan shaft to drive the fan and comprises a gear system. A gutter system is positioned to capture lubricating fluid slung from the gear system. The gutter system includes a gutter extending partially circumferentially about the centerline having a first circumferential end edge. An inlet channel has an inlet at the gutter first circumferential end edge and locally radially outboard of the gutter. At least one vane is spaced apart from the gutter first circumferential end edge.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A gutter system for capturing lubricating fluid slung from a gear system comprising:
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a gutter extending partially circumferentially about a centerline and having a gutter first circumferential end edge; an inlet channel having an inlet at the gutter first circumferential end edge and locally radially outboard of the gutter; and at least one vane spaced apart from the gutter first circumferential end edge, the at least one vane positioned with a chord oriented with a component from an outboard edge to an inboard edge circumferentially in the same direction as an inlet flow direction, so as to pass a first portion of a lubricating fluid flowing along a gutter inboard surface into the inlet of the inlet channel and divert a second portion away from the inlet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A gutter system for capturing lubricating fluid slung from a gear system comprising:
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a gutter extending partially circumferentially about a centerline and having a first circumferential end edge; an inlet channel having an inlet at the gutter first circumferential end edge and locally radially outboard of the gutter; and means circumferentially ahead of the first circumferential end edge for diverting gas from a tangential flow of the slung lubricating fluid, wherein; the means comprises at least one vane positioned to divert a relatively gas-rich inboard portion of the tangential flow from a relatively gas-poor outboard portion; the vane is positioned to pass said relatively gas-poor outboard portion to the inlet where a relatively gas-rich portion thereof is diverted by the first circumferential end edge so that a relatively gas-poor portion thereof is passed through the inlet. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method for operating gutter system for capturing lubricating fluid slung from a gear system, said gutter system comprising;
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a gutter extending partially circumferentially about a centerline and having a gutter first circumferential end edge; an inlet channel having an inlet at the gutter first circumferential end edge and locally radially outboard of the gutter; and at least one vane spaced apart from the gutter first circumferential end edge, wherein; the lubricating fluid is flung with a tangential/circumferential velocity component in a first direction; a portion of the flung lubricating fluid flows in the first direction along an inboard surface of the gutter; an oil-rich portion of the lubricating fluid flowing along the gutter inboard surface passes into the inlet of the inlet channel; and a recirculation zone behind the vane facilitates separation of an air-rich portion from the oil-rich portion.
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18. A method for operating a gutter system for capturing lubricating fluid slung from a gear system wherein:
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the gutter system comprises; a gutter extending partially circumferentially about a centerline and having a gutter first circumferential end edge; an inlet channel having an inlet at the gutter first circumferential end edge and locally radially outboard of the gutter; and at least one vane spaced apart from the gutter first circumferential end edge, the at least one vane positioned with a chord oriented with a component from an outboard edge to an inboard edge circumferentially in the same direction as an inlet flow direction; the lubricating fluid is flung with a tangential/circumferential velocity component in a first direction; a portion of the flung lubricating fluid flows in the first direction along an inboard surface of the gutter; and a portion of the lubricating fluid flowing along the gutter inboard surface passes into the inlet of the inlet channel; as the portion of the lubricating fluid flowing along the gutter inboard surface passes into the inlet of the inlet channel the at least one vane diverts a relatively air-rich portion away from the inlet between a trailing surface of the at least one vane and the gutter end edge.
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Specification