Oil collector for a mechanical turbomachine gearbox

Abstract

The invention relates to an oil collector (18) for a mechanical turbomachine gearbox (11), comprising a body (19) having two opposing lateral surfaces (20) each configured to extend partially around a planetary gear of said gearbox (11), the body (19) further comprising an internal oil circulation cavity, characterized in that the collector (18) has at least one tab (22) removably mounted on the body (19), said tab (22) extending from the body (19) in line with at least one lateral surface (20) and intended to be engaged at least partially in an annular groove (12b) of a sun gear (12) of the gearbox (11). Figure to be published with the abstract: [Fig. 6]

Description

Description Title of the invention: Oil collector for a reducer turbomachinery Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to an oil collector for a mechanical tur- reducer bomachine. Prior art

[0002] = Figure [Fig. 1] illustrates a prior art turbofan engine 1, with axis X, comprising, from upstream to downstream in the direction of gas flow within the tur- 1. A blower, 2. A low-pressure compressor, 3. A high-pressure compressor pressure 4, a combustion chamber 5, a high-pressure turbine 6 and a turbine low pressure 7. The airflow entering the blower is divided into a flow primary air passing through compressors 3, 4, combustion chamber 5 and the turbines 6, 7, and a secondary airflow flowing outside the airflow primary.

[0003] = The high-pressure compressor 4 is coupled to the high-pressure turbine 6 by via a high-pressure shaft 8, the assembly forming a high-pressure body pressure. The low-pressure compressor 3 is coupled to the low-pressure turbine 7 by via a low-pressure shaft 9, the assembly forming a low-pressure body pressure.

[0004] The blower 2 is driven in rotation by a blower shaft 10 coupled to the shaft low pressure 9, via a mechanical reducer 11. The reducer 11 allows blower 2 to rotate at a lower speed than the other elements of the low-pressure body, which improves the efficiency of the turbomachine. The The reducer 11 must transmit the driving power to the blower while ensuring the required speed ratio, respecting size and space constraints mass.

[0005] Figures 2 and 3 schematically illustrate the general structure of a reducer mechanical II. This classically includes a solar 12 (also called inner planetary), a 13-ring (also called outer planetary), coaxial with solar 12, satellites 14 meshing both with solar 12 and with the corona 13, and a satellite carrier 15 comprising bearings 16 around which the satellites 14 are mounted to rotate.

[0006] There are several mechanical reducer architectures 11. In the state of the art of In double-flow turbomachinery, the gearboxes are of the planetary or epicyclic type. exists in other similar applications, so-called differential or " compound. On an epicyclic gearbox, the ring gear 13 is fixed and the planet carrier 15 forms the output shaft of the gearbox 11, which rotates in the same direction as the sun gear 12. In this configuration, the set of planet gears 14 drives the planet carrier 15 in rotation around the X-axis of the turbomachine 1. The ring gear 13 is fixed to the motor or stator housing, and the planet carrier 15 is fixed to the shaft 9 of the fan 2. On a planetary gearbox, the planet carrier 15 is fixed and the ring gear 13 forms the output shaft of the gearbox 11, which rotates in the opposite direction to the sun gear 12. In this configuration, the set of planet gears 14 is held by a planet carrier 15, which is fixed to the motor or stator housing. Each satellite 14 drives the crown 13 which is brought to the shaft 9 of the blower 2. On a differential gearbox, no element is fixed for rotation. The ring 13 rotates in the opposite direction to the solar element 12 and the satellite carrier 15. Mechanical gearboxes can consist of one or more meshing stages. This meshing is achieved in various ways, such as by contact, friction, or magnetic fields. Furthermore, there are several types of contact meshing, such as with spur or herringbone teeth. As illustrated in [Fig. 4], the solar element 12 and / or the satellites 14 can each have two toothed zones 12a separated axially from each other by an annular groove 12b. Such a reducer 11 must be supplied with oil during its operation in order to ensure the cooling and lubrication of the various elements of the reducer 11. For this purpose, the reducer 11 includes lubrication means 17 including in particular oil distribution channels (not shown) in order to convey cold oil H; from an oil reservoir to the meshing areas of the reducer 11. The oil is heated during the operation of the gearbox 11. The hot oil He may tend to be directed towards an internal area of ​​the gearbox 11, particularly the area delimited by two adjacent planet gears 14. To ensure proper drainage, and as illustrated in [Fig. 5], collectors 18 can be mounted in these areas. Only one collector 18 is shown in this figure, although a collector 18 could be placed in each circumferential space between two planet gears 14. Each collector 18 has a body 19. The body 19 is, for example, fixed to the planet carrier 15 and has two rounded and concave lateral surfaces 20 positioned opposite the teeth of the corresponding adjacent planet gears 14. The body 19 also has an internal oil circulation cavity 21 ([Fig. 9]) fluidically connected to an oil drainage channel. During operation, a phenomenon of recirculation or stagnation is observed. oil and particles at the solar 12 level, particularly in the throat 12b, generating poor heat dissipation and potentially leading to degradation or performance loss. The invention aims to remedy such a drawback in a simple, reliable and inexpensive way. Document FR 3 088 978 discloses a collector for a mechanical reducer whose concave side walls have protruding tabs extending into the annular grooves of circumferentially adjacent satellites in order to limit recirculation phenomena at the level of said satellites. Presentation of the invention The present document proposes an oil collector for a mechanical turbomachine reducer, comprising a body having two longitudinal ends connected by two opposite lateral surfaces each configured to extend partially around a satellite of said reducer, the body further comprising an internal oil circulation cavity, characterized in that the collector has at least one tab mounted removably on the body, said tab extending from the body to one of the two longitudinal ends in the continuation of at least one lateral surface and the tab being intended to be engaged at least partially in an annular groove of a solar part of the reducer. Such a collector is thus equipped with a tab designed to limit recirculation phenomena at the solar cell's throat, rather than at the satellite cell's throat, as is the case in prior art. Furthermore, the fact that the tab is removable facilitates, or in some cases makes possible, the mounting of such a collector within a mechanical gearbox. Furthermore, if the tab is damaged, it is possible to change only the tab without having to replace the collector body. The tab may have an oil guiding surface extending into the length of the corresponding lateral surface of the manifold. The oil guide surface can be a curved surface, for example concave. The oil guide surface may have continuity of surface and slope with the corresponding lateral surface of the manifold, in contrast to the prior art shown previously where the tab protrudes from the corresponding lateral surface of the manifold. The lateral surface of the collector can be cylindrical. The lateral surface of the collector can have a diameter greater than the diameter of the adjacent satellite. The tongue can be manufactured by additive manufacturing or forging, for example. The tongue may have a concave surface, for example in a portion of cylinder, intended to be turned towards the bottom of the solar throat and distinct from the oil guide surface. The tab can be fixed to the body using a screw. The said screw can cooperate with a nut in the form of an insert fixedly mounted on the body. The insert can be crimped or brazed onto the body. Alternatively, the screw can cooperate with a tapping of the body. The screw has a head that is housed, for example, entirely within a recess, milling, or counterbore in the body. In this way, the head does not impede the flow of oil onto the corresponding surface of the tab. The said recess, milling or counterbore of the body may be filled, at least partially, by a plug having a surface extending in line with or flush with a surface of the tongue. In the case of a counterbore, it can have a cylindrical shape. In the case of milling, the resulting shape can be conical or truncated conical. The plug can be formed by a flexible or rigid piece, mounted in said recess, milling or counterboring. Alternatively, the plug may be formed by a material introduced in gel, powder, paste, or liquid form into the recess, milling, or counterbore, the material then being at least partially hardened. The material may be silicone-based. The collector may include an anti-loosening sleeve designed to prevent the tab's fixing screw from being unscrewed. Alternatively, the anti-loosening function may be provided by the cap. The tongue may be symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal median plane of said tongue. Alternatively, said tongue may be asymmetrical with respect to said longitudinal median plane. The invention also relates to a mechanical reducer for a turbomachine extending along an axis, comprising a sun gear, a ring gear, and satellites meshing with the sun gear and the ring gear, the satellites being held by a satellite carrier, the sun gear comprising two toothed areas separated axially from each other by an annular groove, characterized in that it comprises at least one collector of the aforementioned type, the body of which is mounted circumferentially between two satellites and radially between said satellites and the sun gear, the tab being engaged at least in part in said annular groove of the sun gear. The tongue can extend over a portion between 25 and 90% of the width of said throat. It is therefore possible to adjust the amount of fluid evacuated from the throat by the The tongue is adjusted by changing its width relative to the width of the groove. Furthermore, reducing the width of the tongue also makes it easier to assemble or disassemble. The groove may have two lateral surfaces or flanks, the tongue having its two opposite lateral surfaces extending respectively opposite each of the flanks of the groove, a gap of between 0.5 and 5 mm being formed between each lateral surface of the tongue and the corresponding flank. This document also relates to a method for assembling a reducer of the aforementioned type, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: - mount at least one body of at least one manifold onto a support, - mount the solar panel on the said support, - mount the tab onto the said body so that it extends at least partially into the throat of the solar plexus, - mount the satellites on the satellite carrier. Brief description of the figures [Fig.1] is a half-view in axial cross-section of a prior art turbomachine, [Fig.2] is a schematic view of a prior art mechanical reducer, [Fig.3] is a kinematic diagram of the reducer of [Fig.2], [Fig. 4] is a side view of the solar array, [Fig. 5] is a view corresponding to [Fig. 2] of a mechanical reducer equipped with commutators, in accordance with the prior art, [Fig. 6] is a perspective view of part of a mechanical reducer according to this document, [Fig.7] is a detailed view of the reducer tab of [Fig.6], [Fig.8] is a detailed view of a reducer according to another embodiment, [Fig.9] is a cross-sectional view of part of a reducer according to this document, [Fig.10] is a detailed view illustrating another embodiment, [Fig. 11] is a detailed view illustrating yet another embodiment. Detailed description of the invention Figures 6 and 7 illustrate a portion of a mechanical reducer 11 according to one embodiment of the invention. This reducer comprises, as before, a sun gear 12, a ring gear 13, and planet gears 14 meshing with the sun gear 12 and the ring gear 13, the planet gears 14 being held by a planet carrier 15. The sun gear 12 has two toothed areas 12a separated axially from each other by an annular groove 12b. The reducer 11 further comprises oil collectors 18, each mounted circumferentially between two planet gears 14 and radially between said planet gears 14 and the sun gear 12. Each oil collector 18 has a body 19 comprising two opposing lateral surfaces 20, concave in shape and in part cylindrical, each configured to extend partially around a satellite 14. The body also has an internal oil circulation cavity 21 and a tab 22, formed by a part separate from the body 19 and removably mounted on the body 19. The tongue 22 has an elongated shape and extends generally radially between a radially external end 22a fixed to the body and a radially internal end 22b engaged in the groove. The tongue 22 has a curved concave oil guiding surface 23, in the shape of a portion of a cylinder, having a continuity of surface and slope with the corresponding lateral surface 20 of the collector 18. The radially internal end 22b of the tongue 22 has another surface, namely a curved concave end surface 24 in the shape of a portion of a cylinder, extending opposite the cylindrical bottom surface 25 of the groove 12. A gap 26 can be formed between the end surface 24 of the tongue 22 and the bottom surface 25 of the groove 12b. This gap 26 can be between 1 and 5 mm. The radially inner end of the tab 22 further comprises two lateral surfaces 27 extending respectively opposite each of the lateral surfaces or flanks 28 of the groove 12b of the solar element 12, a gap 29 being able to be formed between each pair of surfaces 27, 28. This gap 29 can be between 0.5 and 5 mm. This gap 29 can be equal ([Fig. 7]) or different ([Fig. 8]) from one lateral surface 28 to another. The tongue can be symmetrical or asymmetrical. In other words, the set 29 can be equal or different on one side and the other of the end 22b. The case of a different set 29 ([Fig.8]), corresponding to an asymmetrical tongue 22, can further facilitate the mounting of the tongue 22 in the groove 12b, or its dismounting. The tongue 22 is for example fixed by means of a screw 30 on the body 19. Said screw 30 can cooperate with a nut in the form of an insert 30a ( [Fig.9]) fixedly mounted on the body 19. Insert 30a can be crimped or brazed onto body 19. The screw 30 has a head 31 housed entirely in a recess 32 formed by a counterbore in the body 19. The counterbore 32 is cylindrical in shape, in the case of figures 7 to 10. Of course, this recess 32 can be in other shapes. As illustrated in [Fig. 10], said recess 32 can be filled, at least partially, by a plug 33 having a surface extending in line with a surface of the tab 22. The plug 33 can be formed by a flexible or rigid part, mounted in said recess 32. Alternatively, said plug 33 can be formed by a material introduced in the form of a gel, powder, or paste, or in the form liquid in said recess 32, said material then being hardened at least partially. Said material may be silicone-based. Figure 11 illustrates the case where the recess 32 is a truncated conical milling, the head 31 of the screw 30 being of complementary shape. Such a collector 18, equipped with a tab 22, makes it possible to effectively limit the recirculation phenomena at the level of the throat 12b of the solar 12. Moreover, the fact that the tab 22 is removable facilitates, or in some cases makes possible, the mounting of such a collector 18 within a mechanical reducer 11. Such an assembly can be made by successively mounting the body 19 of each collector 18 on a support, mounting the solar 12, then mounting the tab 22 on each body 19 so that it extends at least partly into the groove of the solar, and finally mounting the satellites 14 on the satellite carrier 15. If the tab 22 is damaged, it is possible to change only the tab 22 without having to replace the body 19 of the collector 18.

Claims

Demands

1. Oil collector (18) for a mechanical tur- reducer (11) bomachine, comprising a body (19) including two long- ends gitudinales connected by two opposing lateral surfaces (20) configured each to extend around a satellite (14) of said reducer (11), the body (19) further comprising an internal cavity (21) of circulation oil, characterized in that the collector (18) comprises at least one tab (22) removably mounted on the body (19), said tongue (22) extending from the body (19) at one of the two ends longitudinal in the extension of at least one lateral surface (20) and the tongue (22) being intended to be engaged at least partially in an annular groove (12b) of a solar element (12) of the reducer (11).

2. Collector (18) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the tab (22) is fixed by means of a screw (30) to the body (19).

3. Collector (18) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said screw (30) cooperates with a nut in the form of a insert (30a) fixedly mounted on the body (19).

4. Manifold (18) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the screw comprises a head (31) housed in a recess (32), milled or body painting (19).

5. Collector (18) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said recess (32), milling or counterboring of the body (19) is filled, at less partially, by a stopper (33) comprising a surface which a surface (23) of the tongue (22) is flush.

6. Collector (18) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said tongue (22) is symmetrical with respect to a median plane longitudinal of said tongue (22).

7. Mechanical reducer (11) for a turbomachine extending along a axis (X), comprising a solar system (12), a corona (13), and satellites (14) meshing with the solar system (12) and the corona (13), the satellites (14) being held by a satellite carrier (14), the solar panel (12) comprising two toothed zones (12a) separated axially from each other by a annular groove (12b), characterized in that it comprises at least one collector (18) according to one of the preceding claims, the body of which {19) is mounted circumferentially between two satellites (14) and ra- dialement between said satellites (14) and the solar (12), the tongue (22) being engaged at least in part in said annular groove (12b) of the solar (12).

8. Reducer (11) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the tongue (22) extends over a portion between 25 and 90% of the width of said throat (12b).

9. Reducer (11) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the throat (12b) has two flanks (28), the tongue (22) having its two opposing lateral surfaces (27) extending respectively in view of each of the flanks (28) of the gorge (12b), a game (29) included between 0.5 and 5 mm being formed between each lateral surface (27) of the tongue (22) and the corresponding side (28).

10. Method of mounting a reducer (11) according to any one of the claims 7 to 9, characterized in that it comprises the steps consisting of: mount at least one body (19) of at least one collector (18) on a support, mount the solar panel (12) on said support, mount the tab (22) onto said body (19) so that that it extends at least partly into the gorge (12b) of the solar (12), mount the satellites (14) on the satellite carrier (14).