An apparatus and method for verifying air plugs in a lubricating pump

Abstract

This invention discloses a testing device and method for verifying airlock in a lubricating oil pump. The device includes a drive unit, a lubricating oil pump, a supply stage oil tank, and a return stage oil tank. The drive unit drives the lubricating oil pump, and the supply and return stages of the lubricating oil pump are connected to the supply stage oil tank and the return stage oil tank, respectively, via pipelines. This device and method enable verification of airlock issues in a lubricating oil pump using a ground-based test bench, preventing engine starting failures caused by lubricating oil pumps with airlock problems after assembly.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of mechanical technology, specifically to a test apparatus and method for verifying air plugs in a lubricating oil pump. Background Technology

[0002] Airlock in the oil pump of an aircraft engine is a relatively common fault. The main symptom is that the air in the oil pump inlet cannot be discharged quickly, which prevents the oil pump from drawing oil from the oil tank to provide lubrication to the engine, and further leads to engine start failure.

[0003] Airlock problems in oil pumps are generally discovered during engine startup, and airlock verification tests are not conducted during the delivery testing of oil pumps. Currently, there are no ground-based test benches or methods available for conducting airlock verification tests on oil pumps. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Purpose of the invention

[0005] This invention provides a device and method for verifying airlocks in an oil pump. It can perform airlock verification tests on oil pumps without assembling the oil pump into the engine to verify the airlock situation. It can detect whether there is an airlock problem in the oil pump in time, and avoid engine starting failure due to airlock problems after the oil pump is assembled into the engine.

[0006] Invention Technology Solutions

[0007] A lubricating oil pump airlock verification test device includes a drive unit, a lubricating oil pump, a supply stage oil tank and a return stage oil tank. The drive unit is used to drive the lubricating oil pump. The supply stage and the return stage of the lubricating oil pump are respectively connected to the supply stage oil tank and the return stage oil tank through pipelines.

[0008] Preferably, the fuel tank for fuel supply adopts a height-adjustable structure.

[0009] Preferably, the end of the pipeline connecting to the oil supply tank can be disconnected from or inserted into the lubricating oil medium in the oil supply tank.

[0010] Preferably, a valve and a pressure gauge are installed on the pipeline at the oil supply outlet.

[0011] Preferably, the drive unit is a motor or a combination of a motor and a gearbox.

[0012] Preferably, a transparent flexible hose is used for the pipeline at the oil supply stage inlet of the lubricating oil pump.

[0013] Preferably, the height-adjustable structure includes a hydraulic lifting device or a pneumatic lifting device.

[0014] A method for verifying airlock in a lubricating pump is disclosed, comprising the following steps: At the start of the test, the pipeline at the inlet of the lubricating pump's supply stage is inserted below the surface of the lubricating medium in the supply stage tank. The pump is driven to a specified speed using a drive unit. The outlet pressure of the supply stage is adjusted to a specified pressure using a valve on the pipeline at the supply stage outlet, and the outlet pressure is recorded using a pressure gauge. The motor is then stopped, and the height of the supply stage tank is adjusted to ensure the height H from the liquid level to the lubricating pump's supply stage inlet reaches a specified value. The end of the pipeline at the supply stage inlet is disconnected from the lubricating medium in the supply stage tank. The drive unit is started, and the pump is driven to a specified speed and kept running stably. The end of the pipeline at the supply stage inlet is then inserted below the surface of the liquid in the supply stage tank, and the time T taken for the lubricating medium to flow from the supply stage tank to the lubricating pump's supply stage inlet is recorded. The time T is used to determine whether the lubricating pump has an airlock problem.

[0015] Preferably, if time T is greater than a specified time, it is determined that there is an air lock problem in the lubricating oil pump; otherwise, there is no air lock problem in the lubricating oil pump.

[0016] Advantages of the present invention:

[0017] This device and method can verify whether an oil pump has an airlock problem using a ground bench tester, thus preventing an oil pump with an airlock problem from causing engine start-up failure after being assembled into an engine. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a lubricating oil pump air plug verification test device according to the present invention.

[0019] In the diagram, 1 is the motor, 2 is the lubricating pump, 3 is the supply oil tank, 4 is the return oil tank, 5 is the valve, 6 is the pressure gauge, and 7 is the pipeline. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The present invention is achieved through the following technical solution.

[0021] like Figure 1 As shown, a lubricating oil pump airlock verification test device includes a drive unit, a lubricating oil pump 2, a supply stage oil tank 3, and a return stage oil tank 4. The lubricating oil pump 2 is driven by the drive unit, which can be a motor 1 or a combination of a motor and a gearbox. Pipelines 7 connect the supply stage and return stage of the lubricating oil pump to the supply stage oil tank 3 and the return stage oil tank 4, respectively. The pipeline 7 at the inlet of the supply stage of the lubricating oil pump 2 uses a transparent flexible tube for observing liquid flow, allowing control of whether the end of the pipeline 7 is inserted into or out of the lubricating oil medium in the supply stage oil tank 3. The supply stage oil tank 3 uses an adjustable height structure to ensure the oil level in the tank is at the height of the lubricating oil pump supply stage inlet. A valve 5 and a pressure gauge 6 are installed on the pipeline 7 at the outlet of the supply stage.

[0022] At the start of the test, the inlet of pipe 7 at the oil supply stage inlet of oil pump 2 is inserted below the lubricating oil level in the oil supply stage tank 3. Motor 1 drives oil pump 2 to the specified speed. Valve 5 on pipe 7 at the oil supply stage outlet is used to adjust the oil supply stage outlet pressure to the specified pressure. Pressure gauge 6 is used to record the oil supply stage outlet pressure of oil pump 2. Motor 1 is stopped, and the height of oil supply stage tank 3 is adjusted to ensure that the height H from the oil level to the oil supply stage inlet of oil pump 2 is at the specified value (simulating the height from the engine oil tank level to the oil pump inlet). The end of pipe 7 at the oil supply stage inlet is disconnected from the lubricating medium in oil supply stage tank 3. Motor 1 is started to drive oil pump 2 to the specified speed and it runs stably. The inlet of pipe 7 at the oil supply stage inlet is inserted below the lubricating medium level in oil supply stage tank 3. The time T for the lubricating medium to flow from oil supply stage tank 3 to the oil supply stage inlet of oil pump 2 is recorded. The height H and time T are used to determine whether there is an air lock problem in the oil pump. If time T is greater than the specified time, it is determined that there is an air lock problem in the lubricating oil pump; otherwise, there is no air lock problem in the lubricating oil pump.

[0023] The principle of this method is to simulate the working state of the oil pump after it is installed in the engine using a ground-based test bench, specifically simulating the height of the oil level in the engine oil tank from the oil pump inlet. By measuring the oil suction time of the oil pump, it is determined whether the oil pump can supply oil within a specified time during engine startup after installation. The device structure and principle for achieving this function are relatively simple, requiring fewer parameters to be measured, and are relatively easy to operate. Using this device and testing method, the presence of airlocks can be quickly and effectively identified before the oil pump is installed in the engine, allowing for proactive optimization and remedial measures to avoid affecting engine operation and causing starting failures after installation. This effectively reduces the time and economic costs associated with repeated engine disassembly and reassembly.

[0024] The above embodiments are only for illustrating the technical concept and features of the present invention, and are intended to enable those skilled in the art to understand the content of the present invention and implement it accordingly. They should not be used to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. All equivalent transformations or modifications made according to the spirit and essence of the present invention should be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention. The technologies, shapes, and structures not described in detail in this invention are all well-known technologies.

Claims

1. A method for verifying air plugs in a lubricating oil pump, characterized in that, This test was conducted using a lubricating oil pump airlock verification device. The verification device includes a drive unit, a lubricating oil pump, a supply stage oil tank, and a return stage oil tank. The drive unit drives the lubricating oil pump. The supply stage and return stage of the lubricating oil pump are connected to the supply stage oil tank and the return stage oil tank, respectively, via pipelines. The test procedure is as follows: At the start of the test, the pipeline at the inlet of the supply stage of the lubricating oil pump is inserted below the surface of the lubricating oil medium in the supply stage oil tank. The drive unit drives the lubricating oil pump to run at the specified speed. The valve on the pipeline at the outlet of the supply stage is used to adjust the outlet pressure of the supply stage to the specified pressure. The pressure gauge is used to record the outlet pressure of the lubricating oil pump supply stage. Stop the motor, adjust the height of the oil supply tank to ensure that the height H of the oil level to the oil supply inlet of the lubricating oil pump is at the specified value, and disconnect the end of the pipe at the oil supply inlet from the lubricating oil medium in the oil supply tank. Start the drive unit to drive the lubricating oil pump to the specified speed and run it stably. Insert the end of the pipe at the oil supply inlet below the oil level in the oil supply tank, and record the time T for the lubricating oil medium to flow from the oil supply tank to the oil supply inlet of the lubricating oil pump. Use the time T to determine whether there is an air lock problem in the lubricating oil pump.

2. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The fuel tank for fuel supply uses an adjustable height design.

3. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The end of the pipeline connecting to the oil supply tank can be disconnected from or inserted into the lubricating oil medium in the oil supply tank.

4. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Valves and pressure gauges are installed on the pipeline at the oil supply outlet.

5. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The drive unit uses an electric motor or a combination of an electric motor and a gearbox.

6. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Transparent flexible tubing is used in the piping at the oil supply stage inlet of the lubricating oil pump.

7. The method as described in claim 2, characterized in that, Adjustable height structures include hydraulic lifting devices or pneumatic lifting devices.

8. The method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, If time T is greater than the specified time, it is determined that there is an air lock problem in the lubricating oil pump; otherwise, there is no air lock problem in the lubricating oil pump.

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