FLUID DISTRIBUTION ASSEMBLY HAVING ANTI-CLOG INLET HOUSING

• US 20180031107A1
• Filed: 02/10/2016
• Published: 02/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Howard, Bertrand J., Hodgkinson, Eric James
• Granted Patent: US 10,677,343 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/12 Rotor drives
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 33/00 Arrangements in aircraft of power plant parts or auxiliaries not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 1/10 Lubricating systems characterised by the provision therein of lubricant venting or purifying means, e.g. of filters
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/0004 Oilsumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/02 Arrangements of lubricant conduits
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2001/1007 characterised by the purification means combined with other functions
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2001/1057 comprising a plurality of filters, parallel or serial
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2001/1078 comprising an oil pick-up tube to oil pump, e.g. strainer
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2011/0029 with oil filters
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2011/005 with special anti-turbulence means, e.g. anti-foaming means or intermediate plates
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 2011/007 Oil pickup tube to oil pump, e.g. strainer
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0404 Lubricant filters
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2039/065 inlet foot filter
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2210/08 Aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2250/30 Dialectricum
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 39/06 by filtration filters in general B01D; magnetic separators B03C1/00; centrifugal separators or filters B04B5/005
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/2888 Lubricating oil characteristics, e.g. deterioration lubricating properties G01N33/30

Abstract

A fluid distribution assembly for distributing a fluid, the fluid distribution assembly includes an inlet housing including a first conduit and a bypass conduit; a chip detector cavity in fluid communication with the first conduit such that the fluid can pass through the first conduit into the chip detector cavity; and an outlet housing in fluid communication with the chip detector cavity and the bypass conduit such that the fluid can pass into the outlet housing through the chip detector cavity and/or the bypass conduit.

Claims

1. A fluid distribution assembly for distributing a fluid, the fluid distribution assembly comprising:

an inlet housing including a first conduit and a bypass conduit;

a chip detector cavity in fluid communication with the first conduit such that the fluid can pass through the first conduit into the chip detector cavity; and

an outlet housing in fluid communication with the chip detector cavity and the bypass conduit such that the fluid can pass into the outlet housing through the chip detector cavity and/or the bypass conduit.

2. The fluid distribution assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a screen positioned between the first conduit and the bypass conduit, the screen to pass fluid between the first conduit and the bypass conduit.

3. The fluid distribution assembly according to claim 1 further comprising:

a filter in the chip detector cavity between the first conduit and the outlet housing.

4. The fluid distribution assembly according to claim 1 wherein:

when fluid flow through the first conduit and the chip detector cavity is unblocked, fluid flows in the first conduit, the chip detector cavity and the bypass conduit to the outlet housing.

5. The fluid distribution assembly according to claim 1 wherein:

when fluid flow through the first conduit or the chip detector cavity is blocked, fluid flows in the bypass conduit to the outlet housing.

6. The fluid distribution assembly according to claim 1 wherein:

the inlet housing includes an inlet;

the inlet housing including a vortex reducer located adjacent the inlet which can reduce vortices created at an opening between the first conduit and the bypass conduit.

7. The fluid distribution assembly of claim 6 wherein:

the vortex reducer includes a lip extending from one wall of the inlet housing towards the inlet.

10. The rotary wing aircraft according to claim 1 further comprising:

a filter in the chip detector cavity between the first conduit and the outlet housing.

11. The rotary wing aircraft according to claim 1 wherein:

when fluid flow through the first conduit is unblocked, fluid flows in the first conduit and the bypass conduit to the outlet housing.

12. The rotary wing aircraft according to claim 1 wherein:

when fluid flow through the first conduit is blocked, fluid flows in the bypass conduit to the outlet housing.

13. The rotary wing aircraft according to claim 1 wherein:

the inlet housing includes an inlet;

the inlet housing including a vortex reducer located adjacent the inlet.

14. The rotary wing aircraft of claim 13 wherein:

the vortex reducer includes a lip extending from one wall of the inlet housing towards the inlet.

15. The rotary wing aircraft according to claim 1 further comprising:

a pump coupled to the outlet housing, the pump directing lubricant through inlet housing.

8. A rotary wing aircraft comprising:

a rotor;

a gearbox coupled to the rotor;

an engine coupled to the gearbox; and

a lubricant distribution system providing lubricant from a sump to the gearbox, the lubricant distribution system including;

an inlet housing including a first conduit and a bypass conduit;

a chip detector cavity in fluid communication with the first conduit such that the fluid can pass through the first conduit into the chip detector cavity, the chip detector cavity housing a chip detector; and

an outlet housing in fluid communication with the chip detector cavity and the bypass conduit such that the fluid can pass into the outlet housing through the chip detector cavity and/or the bypass conduit.

9. The rotary wing aircraft of claim 8 further comprising:

a screen positioned between the first conduit and the bypass conduit, the screen passing fluid between the first conduit and the bypass conduit.