Bearing lubrication system and engine comprising same

Abstract

The invention relates to a bearing lubricating system and an engine comprising the system, the system comprises a bearing cavity (11) used for containing a bearing (10), an oil supply pipe (20) and an oil return pipe (30) which are in fluid communication with the bearing cavity (11), and a control device (40) used for controlling the liquid level height (12) of lubricating oil in the bearing cavity (11), and the control device (40) is of a tubular structure in fluid communication with the bearing cavity (11) and the oil return pipe (30). And the tubular structure is movably mounted at the end part of the oil return pipe (30), so that the length of the tubular structure extending into the bearing cavity (11) is adjustable. The control device has the advantages of simple and feasible structure, stability, reliability, capability of easily adjusting the liquid level of the lubricating oil according to actual requirements and the like.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of bearing lubrication, and in particular to a bearing lubrication system and an engine comprising the system, in particular an aircraft engine or a gas turbine engine. Background Art

[0002] Bearings are an important component widely used in mechanical equipment. Their main function is to support the mechanical rotating body, reduce the friction coefficient during its movement, and ensure its rotation accuracy. In order to reduce the friction and wear inside the bearing, extend the fatigue life, and discharge the heat generated by the friction of the bearing, and effectively prevent foreign matter from invading the inside of the bearing, and prevent rust or corrosion, it is often necessary to lubricate the bearing with lubricating oil or grease.

[0003] At present, the commonly used oil lubrication methods include oil bath method and circulating oil supply method. Among them, the oil bath method is a lubrication method mostly used for low-speed and medium-speed rotation. Its principle is to immerse the bearing in lubricating oil, and the bearing is in direct contact with the lubricating oil. In this method, there is no oil return device. In the case of high-speed rotation or high ambient temperature, the circulating oil supply method is often used. In this method, an oil supply system and an oil return system will be set on the equipment. The oil return system will discharge the lubricating oil in the bearing cavity through the oil return pump and send it back to the lubricating oil tank. After the lubricating oil is cooled, it will be supplied to the bearing cavity again through the oil supply system to cool the bearing. In the circulating oil supply method, in order to ensure the best lubrication effect, the lubricating oil in the bearing cavity needs to be controlled at a certain height so that the bearing is immersed in the lubricating oil. At the same time, the lubricating oil needs to be circulated continuously, and the high-temperature lubricating oil needs to be continuously replaced with low-temperature lubricating oil to ensure the cooling of the bearing. In order to control the height of the lubricating oil in the bearing cavity, the existing control method is to set a return oil pump and other devices in the return oil system, extract the lubricating oil through the return oil pump, and combine the oil supply pump to ensure the height of the lubricating oil and the circulation of the lubricating oil. However, this method cannot achieve precise control of the lubricating oil level, and the corresponding oil supply and return system has a complex structure, high cost, and a certain risk of failure.

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a lubricating oil level control device with simple structure and reliable function. Summary of the invention

[0005] One of the purposes of the present application is to provide a lubricating oil level control device with a simple structure, low cost and easy operation, through which the lubricating oil in the bearing cavity can be conveniently controlled to a desired height.

[0006] To this end, according to one aspect of the present application, a bearing lubrication system is provided, which includes a bearing cavity for accommodating a bearing, an oil supply pipe and an oil return pipe in fluid communication with the bearing cavity, and a control device for controlling the liquid level of the lubricating oil in the bearing cavity, wherein the control device is a tubular structure in fluid communication with both the bearing cavity and the oil return pipe, and the tubular structure can be movably mounted at the end of the oil return pipe so that the length of the tubular structure extending into the bearing cavity can be adjusted. The bearing lubrication system including the above tubular structure has a high bearing lubrication efficiency, and only needs to set a cavity to store the lubricating oil and make the liquid level of the lubricating oil submerge the bearing to achieve the bearing lubrication effect. In addition, when the liquid level of the lubricating oil in the bearing cavity is higher than the opening height of the tubular structure, the lubricating oil will flow out through the tubular structure and the oil return pipe, so that the lubricating oil in the bearing cavity can be conveniently controlled at a desired height, that is, a height that is roughly flush with the opening of the tubular structure. When the liquid level of the lubricating oil in the bearing cavity needs to be adjusted, it can be achieved by simply adjusting the length of the tubular structure extending into the bearing cavity. Compared with the existing oil return structure, the bearing lubrication system according to the present application eliminates the complicated oil return pump and oil return system, and has a simple structure, stable and reliable, low cost, and easy operation.

[0007] According to some embodiments of the present application, the tubular structure is a threaded tube, which is connected to the oil return pipe by threads. The threaded tube is easy to manufacture, can be easily assembled to the oil return pipe, and can simply be rotated to adjust the length of the threaded tube extending into the bearing cavity, thereby achieving the purpose of adjusting the lubricating oil level in the bearing cavity.

[0008] According to some embodiments of the present application, the tubular structure can be telescopically sleeved on the oil return pipe. Such a tubular structure is also easy to implement and easy to assemble to the oil return pipe, and the length of the tubular structure extending into the bearing cavity can be adjusted simply by pulling the tubular structure, thereby achieving the purpose of adjusting the lubricating oil level in the bearing cavity.

[0009] According to some embodiments of the present application, the tubular structure has an axially through lubricating oil return channel. In other words, the tubular structure has a pipe opening with two ends open, one end leading to the bearing cavity and the other end leading to the oil return pipe, and a hollow structure constituting the axial return channel is between the two pipe openings. In this way, the lubricating oil above the pipe opening of the tubular structure can automatically and smoothly enter the tubular structure and flow into the oil return pipe through the axial return channel therein, and then be discharged from the bearing cavity, thereby controlling the lubricating oil in the bearing cavity to a height roughly flush with the pipe opening of the tubular structure.

[0010] According to another aspect of the present application, an aircraft engine or a gas turbine engine is also provided, which includes the bearing lubrication system as described above.

[0011] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and cannot limit the present application. Other features, objects and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the specification, drawings and claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments. It is easy for those skilled in the art to understand that these drawings are only for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present application. For illustrative purposes, these drawings may not be drawn completely to scale.

[0013] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of a bearing lubrication system according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0014] Figure 2 It is a schematic axial cross-sectional view of a lubricating oil level control device according to an embodiment of the present application connected to an oil return pipe.

[0015] Reference numerals list

[0016] 10 bearing; 11 bearing cavity; 12 lubricating oil level; 20 oil supply pipe; 30 oil return pipe; 40 lubricating oil level control device; 41 lubricating oil return channel. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Exemplary embodiments will be described in detail herein, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings. When the following description refers to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments according to the present application. Instead, they are merely examples of devices consistent with some aspects of the present application as detailed in the appended claims.

[0018] Figure 1A bearing lubrication system according to an embodiment of the present application is schematically shown. The system includes a bearing cavity 11 for accommodating a bearing 10, an oil supply pipe 20 and an oil return pipe 30 in fluid communication with the bearing cavity 11, and a control device 40 for controlling the lubricating oil level 12 in the bearing cavity 11. One end of the oil supply pipe 20 is connected to a lubricating oil tank (not shown), and the other end is connected to the upper wall of the bearing cavity 11 and is in fluid communication with the bearing cavity 11. Conventional devices such as pumps, filters, and valves may be provided between the oil supply pipe 20 and the lubricating oil tank, which are not described one by one here. One end of the oil return pipe 30 is connected to a lubricating oil tank (not shown), and the other end is connected to the lower wall of the bearing cavity 11 (preferably the lowest point of the lower wall) and is in fluid communication with the bearing cavity 11. The control device 40 is a tubular structure in fluid communication with both the bearing cavity 11 and the oil return pipe 30, and the tubular structure can be movably mounted at the end of the oil return pipe 30 so that the length of the tubular structure extending into the bearing cavity 11 can be adjusted.

[0019] exist Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment, the control device 40 is a threaded tube, which is connected to the oil return pipe 30 by threads. For example, the control device 40 can be a round tube (i.e., a tube with a substantially circular cross section) including a threaded section and a non-threaded section, wherein the outer diameters of the threaded section and the non-threaded section are the same or different, and the threads are arranged on the outer surface or inner surface of the threaded section. Accordingly, the inner surface or outer surface of the end of the oil return pipe 30 has threads that match the outer threads or inner threads of the control device 40. Of course, the non-threaded section can also have a non-circular (e.g., square, polygonal, elliptical) cross section. The threaded tube is easy to manufacture, can be easily assembled to the oil return pipe, and can simply adjust the length of the threaded tube extending into the bearing cavity by rotating the threaded tube, thereby achieving the purpose of adjusting the lubricating oil level in the bearing cavity. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the tubular structure is not limited to the threaded tube described above, and it can also have any other suitable structure and shape, and can be directly or indirectly connected to the end of the oil return pipe 30 in any suitable manner, as long as the length of its extension into the bearing cavity 11 is adjustable. For example, the tubular structure can be telescopically sleeved on the oil return pipe 30. Such a tubular structure is also easy to realize and to assemble to the oil return pipe, and the length thereof extending into the bearing cavity can be adjusted simply by pulling the tubular structure.

[0020] exist Figure 2In the illustrated embodiment, the threaded tube has an axially through lubricating oil return channel 41, the diameter of which can be set by a person skilled in the art according to actual needs. In other words, the threaded tube has a pipe opening with two ends open, one end leading to the bearing cavity 11, and the other end leading to the return oil pipe 30, and a hollow structure constituting the axial return channel 41 is provided between the two pipe openings. In this way, the lubricating oil in the bearing cavity 11 that is higher than the pipe opening of the tubular structure can automatically and smoothly enter the tubular structure and flow into the return oil pipe 30 through the axial return channel 41 therein, so that the height of the lubricating oil in the bearing cavity 11 is always maintained at a position flush with the pipe opening of the tubular structure. It should be understood by a person skilled in the art that the tubular structure can also achieve the purpose of fluid communication with both the bearing cavity 11 and the return oil pipe 30 in other ways. For example, the upper end face of the tubular structure is closed, and the lower end face has an open pipe opening leading to the oil return pipe 30. At the same time, the side wall has one or more slots at a certain height. Once the lubricating oil collected at the bottom of the bearing cavity 11 exceeds the height of the slot, it will enter the tubular structure through the slot, and then flow into the oil return pipe 30, and be discharged into the lubricating oil tank, thereby realizing the control of the lubricating oil height in the bearing cavity.

[0021] The control device 40 can be made of any suitable material and by any suitable process, and the present application does not impose any limitation thereto. Advantageously, the control device 40 is made of plastic material and is made by processes such as injection molding or 3D printing.

[0022] The following describes how the bearing lubrication system according to the embodiment of the present application works. The lubricating oil in the lubricating oil tank is pressurized by the pump and enters the bearing cavity 11 through the oil supply pipe 20, and is collected at the bottom of the bearing cavity 11. When the lubricating oil liquid level at the bottom of the bearing cavity 11 is lower than the opening of the control device 40 (for example, its pipe mouth or the slot on its side wall), the lubricating oil cannot return to the lubricating oil tank through the return oil pipe 30. On the contrary, when the lubricating oil liquid level at the bottom of the bearing cavity 11 is higher than the opening of the control device 40, the lubricating oil will return to the lubricating oil tank through the control device 40 and the return oil pipe 30 until the liquid level is flush with the opening of the control device 40. After the lubricating oil returned to the lubricating oil tank is cooled, it is pressurized by the pump again and enters the bearing cavity 11 through the oil supply pipe 20, and the cycle repeats.

[0023] The lubricating oil level control device in the bearing cavity according to the present application has the advantages of simple structure, stability and reliability, and the ability to easily adjust the lubricating oil level according to actual needs.

[0024] There are rotating parts in many mechanical parts, and the two ends of these rotating parts are usually supported by bearings, so a bearing lubrication system needs to be provided. The present application also relates to an aircraft engine or a gas turbine engine (not shown), which includes a bearing lubrication system as described above. The bearing lubrication system can efficiently and reliably lubricate the bearings in the engine, and can conveniently control the liquid level of the lubricating oil in the bearing cavity at a desired height, and when the height needs to be adjusted, it can also be achieved through simple operations.

[0025] Unless otherwise defined, the technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as those generally understood by those skilled in the art of the technical field of the application. The terms used in the present application are only for the purpose of describing a specific embodiment, and are not intended to limit the present application. The singular forms of "a", "an" and "the" used in the present application are also intended to include plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates other meanings. It should also be understood that the term "and / or" that may be used herein refers to and includes any or all possible combinations of one or more associated listed items.

[0026] Terms such as "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "front", "back", "thickness", "radial", "axial" and the like that may be used herein to indicate relative positions in space are for the purpose of convenience of description to describe the relationship of one feature relative to another feature as shown in the accompanying drawings, and are not limited to one position or one spatial orientation. It is understood that, depending on the placement of the product, the terms of relative positions in space may be intended to include different orientations in addition to the orientation shown in the drawings, and should not be understood as limiting. In addition, the descriptive word "horizontal" that may be used herein is not completely equivalent to being along the direction perpendicular to the gravity, and a certain angle of inclination is allowed. Words such as "include" or "comprise" and the like used herein mean that the elements or objects appearing before "include" or "comprises" include the elements or objects listed after "include" or "comprises" and their equivalents, and do not exclude other elements or objects.

[0027] It should be understood that the terms “first”, “second” and similar terms used in the present application specification do not indicate any order, quantity or importance, but are only used to distinguish different components.

[0028] The above is only a preferred implementation mode of the present application and is not intended to limit the present application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present application should be included in the scope of protection of the present application.

Claims

1. A bearing lubrication system, comprising a bearing cavity (11) for accommodating a bearing (10), an oil supply pipe (20) and an oil return pipe (30) in fluid communication with the bearing cavity (11), and a control device (40) for controlling a lubricating oil level (12) in the bearing cavity (11), It is characterized in that The control device (40) is a tubular structure that is fluidically connected to both the bearing cavity (11) and the oil return pipe (30). The tubular structure is movably mounted at the end of the oil return pipe (30) so that the length of the tubular structure extending into the bearing cavity (11) is adjustable.

2. The bearing lubrication system according to claim 1, in, The tubular structure is a threaded pipe, which is connected to the oil return pipe (30) via threads.

3. The bearing lubrication system according to claim 1, in, The tubular structure is telescopically sleeved on the oil return pipe (30).

4. The bearing lubrication system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in, The tubular structure has an axially penetrating lubricating oil return channel (41).

5. An aircraft engine or a gas turbine engine, It is characterized in that 4. A bearing lubrication system comprising a bearing lubrication system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

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