Multi-channel rotational shaft lubrication system
Methods and systems for lubricating a rotating shaft are provided. The lubrication system, in one example, includes a pump coupled to a central lubricant channel, the rotating shaft having a plurality of channels, an air intake channel positioned parallel to an axis of rotation of the rotating shaft, and a first orifice of a first channel of the plurality of channels, where the first orifice is positioned between the air intake channel and the central lubricant channel.
1. A method for a lubrication system, comprising:
pumping oil into a housing channel of a rotating shaft using a pump;
distributing oil among a plurality of channels coupled to the housing channel;
flowing oil through a first orifice of a first channel;
flowing air into an air intake channel via an air intake orifice;
mixing air and oil in the first channel downstream of the first orifice of the first channel in a direction of oil flow; and
flowing an air and oil mixture out of the first channel at a first outlet to lubricate a first component coupled to the first outlet.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of channels includes a first plurality of channels of a first rotating shaft and a second plurality of channels of a second rotating shaft, and wherein oil is distributed among the first plurality of channels via a first branch of the housing channel and among the second plurality of channels via a second branch of the housing channel.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein each of the first branch and the second branch is positioned axially along a first axis of rotation and a second axis of rotation, respectively, and wherein the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation are parallel.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first channel of the plurality of channels is positioned furthest from the rotational shaft.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first orifice has a first length and an orifice diameter and is positioned upstream of a third length of the first channel, which has a channel diameter.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the air intake channel is parallel to the housing channel.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the air intake orifice has an air intake orifice length and an air intake orifice diameter.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the air intake channel has an air intake channel length downstream of the air intake orifice in a direction of air flow, and wherein the air intake channel length has an air intake channel diameter greater than the air intake orifice diameter of the air intake orifice.