IP Library Granted Patent US 10,513,949
Granted Patent B2
US 10,513,949 · App. 15/260,995 · Granted Dec 24, 2019

Auxiliary journal oil supply system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,513,949
App. No.
15/260,995
Granted
Dec 24, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fluid circulation system may comprise a main pump configured to provide oil to a journal bearing. An auxiliary system including a pump system may be configured to provide oil to the journal bearing. A manifold may be configured to mix the oil from the main pump with oil from the auxiliary system. A journal delivery line may be configured to deliver the oil from the manifold to the journal bearing.

Claims (43)

1. A fluid circulation system, comprising:

a main pump configured to provide oil to a journal bearing;

an auxiliary system including a pump system configured to provide oil to the journal bearing continuously through an auxiliary journal supply line;

a manifold configured to mix the oil from the main pump with oil from the auxiliary system; and

a journal delivery line configured to deliver the oil from the manifold to the journal bearing, wherein the auxiliary journal supply line is fluidly coupled uninterruptedly and directly to the manifold.

2. The fluid circulation system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a main journal supply line coupled between the main pump and the manifold.

3. The fluid circulation system of claim 2 , further comprising a check valve disposed on the main journal supply line between the main pump and the auxiliary journal supply line.

4. The fluid circulation system of claim 2 , further comprising a filter disposed on the auxiliary journal supply line between the auxiliary system and the manifold.

5. The fluid circulation system of claim 2 , further comprising an auxiliary oil pressure sensor disposed on the auxiliary journal supply line between the pump system and the manifold.

6. The fluid circulation system of claim 1 , wherein the pump system of the auxiliary system includes:

a first pump configured to retrieve oil from a gutter of a fan drive gear system, and

a second pump configured to retrieve oil from a bearing compartment.

7. The fluid circulation system of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary system is configured to pump oil in response to rotation by a fan.

8. A gas turbine engine, comprising:

a fan drive gear system;

a fan mechanically coupled to the fan drive gear system and configured to rotate about an axis, the fan drive gear system including a journal bearing;

a main pump configured to provide oil to a manifold; and

an auxiliary system comprising an auxiliary journal supply line, the auxiliary journal supply line fluidly coupled uninterruptedly and directly to the manifold, the auxiliary journal supply line configured to continuously provide oil to the manifold, wherein the manifold is configured to supply the journal bearing with oil from the main pump and the auxiliary system.

9. The gas turbine engine of claim 8 , wherein the auxiliary system includes:

a first pump configured to retrieve oil from a gutter of the fan drive gear system; and

a second pump configured to retrieve oil from a bearing compartment.

10. The gas turbine engine of claim 8 , wherein the auxiliary system is configured to pump oil to the manifold in response to rotation by the fan.

11. The gas turbine engine of claim 8 , further comprising:

a main journal supply line couple between the main pump and the manifold;

and

a journal delivery line coupled to the main journal supply line and the auxiliary journal supply line.

12. The gas turbine engine of claim 11 , further comprising a filter disposed on the auxiliary journal supply line between the auxiliary system and the manifold.

13. The gas turbine engine of claim 11 , further comprising a check valve disposed on the main journal supply line between the main pump and the auxiliary journal supply line.

14. The gas turbine engine of claim 9 , wherein the first pump and the second pump of the auxiliary system are housed within a bearing compartment.

15. A method of supplying fluid to journal bearings of a fan drive gear system, comprising:

collecting oil from a bearing compartment into a compartment sump;

collecting oil from a gutter of the fan drive gear system into an auxiliary reservoir;

pumping oil from at least one of the auxiliary reservoir or the compartment sump to a manifold through an auxiliary journal supply line fluidly coupled uninterruptedly and directly to the manifold, wherein the auxiliary journal supply line is configured to deliver oil continuously to the manifold;

pumping oil from a main reservoir to the manifold; and

delivering the oil from the manifold to a journal bearing.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the pumping oil from at least one of the auxiliary reservoir or the compartment sump to a manifold is in response to rotation by a fan.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising mixing in the manifold the oil from the main reservoir and the oil from at least one of the auxiliary reservoir or the compartment sump.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

pumping oil from the auxiliary reservoir by a first pump of a pump system; and

pumping oil from the compartment sump by a second pump of the pump system.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the pump system is housed within the bearing compartment.

20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising filtering the oil from at least one of the auxiliary reservoir or the compartment sump prior to delivering the oil to the manifold.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 27, 2023
From: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RTX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064714/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE AND REMOVE PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 11886281 AND ADD PATENT APPLICATION NUMBER 14846874. TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 054062 FRAME: 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF ADDRESS. Recorded Mar 4, 2021
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 055659/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 4, 2020
From: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
To: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 054062/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 9, 2016
From: PARNIN, FRANCIS; HEISS, JUSTIN W
To: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 039688/0856 →