Mechanical system equipped with moving mechanical elements, a magnetic plug and a lubrication system equipped with mechanical and magnetic filters.

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mechanical system (1) comprising movable mechanical elements (6) to be lubricated or cooled in a casing, the mechanical system (1) having a lubrication system (10) provided with a reservoir (7) containing a lubricating fluid (4), the lubrication system (10) having a main fluid circuit (101) extending from the reservoir (7) to a fluid projection circuit (12), the main fluid circuit (101) having a flow generator (11), a mechanical filter (25), and a magnetic plug (80). The main fluid circuit (101) comprises a magnetic filter (30) crossed by the lubricating fluid (4) between the reservoir (7) and the fluid projection circuit (12), the magnetic filter (30) comprising at least one magnetized wall (32). Abstract figure: figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Mechanical system equipped with mobile mechanical elements, a magnetic plug and a lubrication system equipped with mechanical and magnetic filters.

[0001] The present invention relates to a mechanical system provided with movable mechanical elements, a magnetic plug and a lubrication system provided with mechanical and magnetic filters.

[0002] A mechanical system may comprise moving mechanical elements to be cooled or lubricated, such as shafts, bearings, mechanical elements for transmitting power or even reducing or increasing rotational speed, pinions, wheels, splines, etc.

[0003] For example, a rotary wing aircraft may comprise a rotor participating at least partially in the lift of this aircraft. To rotate such a rotor, a mechanical system of the “power transmission box” type may mechanically connect one or more motors and the rotor. Such a power transmission box comprises mechanical elements to be lubricated or cooled.

[0004] Such a mechanical system then comprises a lubrication system for conveying a lubricating fluid to mechanical elements to lubricate and / or cool them. Such mechanical elements are hereinafter referred to as “mechanical elements to be lubricated or cooled”.

[0005] A known lubrication system comprises a main fluid circuit. This main fluid circuit comprises a lubricating fluid resting in a reservoir. The reservoir is, for example, formed by the bottom of a casing of the mechanical system to be lubricated or cooled. In addition, the fluid circuit is equipped with a pump drawing the fluid from the reservoir. The pump then moves the fluid to at least one fluid projection circuit, sometimes called a "lubrication ramp" or "fluid spray ramp". The fluid is then expelled outside the fluid projection circuit to reach the mechanical elements to be lubricated or cooled before returning by gravity to the bottom of the casing. In addition, the main fluid circuit comprises a cooler. The term "cooler" designates a device capable of lowering the temperature of a fluid, unlike a heater.

[0006] Furthermore, the lubricating fluid may be polluted by metallic and magnetic pollutants. Therefore, the mechanical system may comprise mechanical filtration means to prevent large pollutants, for example of the order of 10 microns and more, from obstructing in particular the fluid projection circuit and ensuring the reliability of the mechanical contacts.

[0007] Thus, strainers may be arranged upstream of the pump and / or the fluid projection circuit. The main fluid circuit may also include a cartridge filter located upstream of the fluid projection circuit. Such a cartridge filter comprises a tank housing a porous filtration cartridge. The fluid entering the tank passes through the casing, then exits the filter. Therefore, particles having dimensions larger than the openings of the casing are trapped in the tank.

[0008] Optionally, the lubrication system comprises only the main fluid circuit, or additionally comprises a backup fluid circuit. In this case, the main fluid circuit and the backup fluid circuit may both be configured to draw a lubricating fluid from the same reservoir and to convey this fluid to the same fluid projection circuit or separate fluid projection circuits. The backup fluid circuit aims to allow the operation of the mechanical system at least for a predetermined duration in the event of a failure of the main fluid circuit. The backup fluid circuit may extend only into the casing of the mechanical system to prevent leakage outside the mechanical system.

[0009] Furthermore, during its operation, the mechanical system can generate metallic and magnetic particles following degradation of at least one of these rotating mechanical elements, for example by chipping of the teeth of a pinion or a toothed wheel. These metallic and magnetic particles, images of a malfunction, have significant dimensions, of the order of a tenth of a millimeter.

[0010] To detect abnormal operation of the mechanical system, the mechanical system usually includes a removable magnetic plug to isolate, immobilize and remove the metallic and magnetic particles, resulting from the abnormal operation, falling into the tank. The magnetic plug can be connected to an alerter in order to generate an alert in the presence of a certain quantity of captured metal. A magnetic plug is usually present at the bottom of the tank and captures the metallic and magnetic particles falling towards the bottom of this tank. The fluid circuit(s) can draw the lubricating fluid from the tank via a strainer so as not to suck up these metallic and magnetic particles.

[0011] Furthermore, the lubricating fluid may be polluted by metal powder and ma very fine genetic. The metallic and magnetic powder comprises metallic and magnetic particles, of the order of approximately 0.5 to 3 microns and / or smaller than the perforations of the aforementioned strainer, suspended in the lubricating fluid. This metallic and magnetic powder may result from the manufacture and / or assembly of the mechanical system, by shrinking and / or tightening for example, or from the normal friction of the contact zones between its various moving mechanical elements. The metallic and magnetic powder has no impact on the operation of the mechanical system and its lubrication system due to its expected presence resulting from a normal functioning, and on the other hand the very small dimensions of the particles constituting it.

[0012] The term "metallic particle" hereinafter refers to large metallic and magnetic pollutants resulting from a malfunction or pollution resulting from manufacturing or assembly, and covers, for example, any metallic and magnetic particle comprising a gap greater than 10 microns between two distinct points of this particle. The expression "metallic powder" conversely designates any metallic and magnetic pollutant resulting from manufacturing, assembly or normal and expected wear of the mechanical system (e.g., running-in, fretting), and covers, for example, any pollutant comprising a gap less than or equal to 10 microns between two distinct peripheral points. It is also possible to also generate "metallic powder" with or without "metallic particles" during a malfunction.

[0013] In the presence of a metal powder, the mechanical system can continue to be used until its next maintenance, whereas in the presence of a certain quantity of metal particles a premature maintenance action is undertaken.

[0014] However, certain regulations require the detection of a reduced volume of metal particles in a reduced time. To comply with these regulations, a magnetic cap with a high magnetic attraction capacity can be used.

[0015] Although effective in capturing large metal particles that fall into the reservoir, such a magnetic plug also attracts metal powder suspended in the lubricating fluid in the reservoir. Therefore, the magnetic plug is likely to quickly capture a large amount of material, even in the presence of normal wear, by means of the metal powder. The circulation of the fluid in the lubrication system tends to circulate the metal powder which gradually attaches to the magnetic plug. Therefore, a magnetic plug with a high attraction capacity can generate false alarms causing undue and costly maintenance actions. Such a magnetic plug has the advantage of detecting possible flaking and generating an alert accordingly, but has the disadvantage of generating a possible false alarm in the medium term due to the capture of the metal powder passing near it.The presence of metal powder resulting from normal operation may further delay the capture of metal particles resulting from a malfunction.

[0016] Document FR 3 083 283 B1 describes a mechanical system having in particular a magnetic plug in a reservoir, as well as a magnet in a lubrication system. This magnetic plug and the magnet form capture devices intended to capture metal particles passing nearby. The metals attracted by the magnet are swept away by the lubricating fluid when the lubrication system is active. As soon as then, this document provides for the arrangement of a bypass pipe.

[0017] Document FR 3 100 614 B1 describes a mechanical system having in particular magnetic plugs in a tank and a particle counter.

[0018] The present invention therefore aims to propose a mechanical system equipped with a lubrication system aimed at limiting the number of false alarms generated with a magnetic cap.

[0019] The present invention relates to a mechanical system comprising mobile mechanical elements to be lubricated or cooled in a casing, the mechanical system having a lubrication system provided with a reservoir containing a lubricating fluid, the lubrication system having a main fluid circuit extending from the reservoir to a fluid projection circuit, the main fluid circuit having a flow generator and a mechanical filter provided with a cartridge having a porous casing, the lubrication system comprising at least one magnetic plug.

[0020] The magnetic plug(s) are in contact with the lubricating fluid, at least in operation. Thus, a magnetic plug may be arranged, for example, in the reservoir or on a return path traveled by the lubricating fluid between an element to be lubricated or cooled and the reservoir. At least one magnetic plug may be outside the main fluid circuit.

[0021] For example, such a porous envelope of a mechanical filter may comprise a perforated wall, possibly folded in an accordion fashion to provide a maximized filtration surface area.

[0022] In addition, the lubrication system may additionally comprise at least one secondary fluid circuit. For example, a secondary fluid circuit may form a standard emergency circuit partially or even entirely housed in the casing, and / or drawing the lubricating fluid from the same reservoir as the main fluid circuit.

[0023] Furthermore, the main fluid circuit comprises a magnetic filter through which the lubricating fluid passes between the reservoir and the fluid projection circuit, the magnetic filter comprising at least one magnetized wall.

[0024] Therefore, this mechanical system goes against prejudices by providing, in addition to a mechanical cartridge filter, a magnetic filter. Contradictorily, the magnetic plug has the function of capturing the metallic and magnetic pollutants which are present in the lubricating fluid after spraying the elements to be lubricated or cooled, to determine the possible presence of a malfunction. Filtering the metallic pollutants present in the lubricating fluid therefore appears at first sight counterproductive.

[0025] However, false alarms have been innovatively identified as resulting from the presence of a powerful magnetic cap. This magnetic cap effectively captures metallic and magnetic pollutants present in the tank, including over time the very fine metal powder resulting from manufacturing and normal operation. Metal powder captured by the magnetic cap can thus generate a false alarm.

[0026] The invention also comprises a magnetic plug with a high attraction capacity. In the absence of a malfunction, the lubricating fluid circulates within the mechanical system and in fact passes through the magnetic filter. The metallic pollutants are attracted against the magnetic wall of this magnetic filter.

[0027] At this stage, the pollutants result only from the normal operation of the mechanical system. Therefore, the quantity of metal powder likely to be attracted by the magnetic plug is in fact reduced and the risks of generating a false alarm are reduced. The mechanical filter can for its part filter in particular other types of pollutants, while being less clogged by metal pollutants compared to a usual system. The lubricating fluid is thus effectively decontaminated.

[0028] In the presence of a malfunction of the scaling type of an element of the mechanical system, large metal particles fall towards the reservoir, by gravity for example, and are captured by the magnetic plug. This magnetic plug is in fact always placed upstream of the mechanical filter and the magnetic filter with respect to the direction of movement of the lubricating fluid from the reservoir to the fluid projection circuit to limit the risk of losing metal particles in these filters.

[0029] As a result, this mechanical system combines a magnetic filter with a mechanical filter within the main fluid circuit to at least limit the number of false alarms emitted by the magnetic plug. This results in potentially reduced downtime and operating costs for the mechanical system.

[0030] The mechanical system may further comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in combination.

[0031] According to one possibility, the main fluid circuit may include a filtration strainer upstream of the magnetic filter, or even the flow generator.

[0032] The terms “upstream” and “downstream” are to be considered with regard to the direction of circulation of the fluid.

[0033] For example, the filtration strainer is arranged in the tank, or even at an inlet of the main fluid circuit.

[0034] According to a possibility compatible with the previous ones, the magnetic cap can be connected to an alerter.

[0035] The magnetic cap can generate a signal transmitted to the alerter. For example, the magnetic cap can then close an electrical circuit electrically supplying an alerter.

[0036] According to a possibility compatible with the previous ones, the magnetic filter can include a retarder reducing a speed of movement of the lubricating fluid within the magnetic filter relative to a speed of movement reached at the inlet of the magnetic filter.

[0037] The main fluid circuit tends to move the lubricating fluid at a high flow rate (for example, greater than 800 l / h), which may seem favorable to the decontamination of this lubricating fluid. However, with such a flow rate, only the metallic and magnetic pollutants passing close to the magnetic wall are likely to be attracted and fixed on this magnetic wall. The speed retarder makes it possible to slow down the lubricating fluid in the magnetic filter in order to increase the chances that the metallic pollutants are attracted against the magnetic wall.

[0038] According to a possibility compatible with the previous ones, the magnetic filter may comprise an external tank and a tube arranged at least partially in the external tank, an external volume being comprised between the external tank and the tube, an internal volume being delimited by the tube and in communication with the external volume, the main fluid circuit comprising an upstream hydraulic connection going from the tank to an inlet of the magnetic filter, said inlet being hydraulically connected to an inlet volume formed by the external volume or the internal volume, the main fluid circuit comprising a downstream hydraulic connection hydraulically connecting to the fluid projection circuit the internal volume or the external volume not forming the inlet volume, the magnetized wall comprising the external tank or the tube.

[0039] Optionally, said inlet has an inlet passage surface crossed by the lubricating fluid, and the external volume has an external passage surface having an area greater than an area of ​​the inlet passage surface to form the previously mentioned retarder.

[0040] This solution also has the advantage of being able to increase the magnetic surface and therefore promote the capture of metallic and magnetic pollutants.

[0041] According to a possibility compatible with the previous ones, the tube can be a cylinder with a circular base.

[0042] According to a possibility compatible with the previous ones, the tube can comprise at least one open intermediate passage surface putting the external volume and the internal volume in communication.

[0043] According to a first alternative embodiment of the magnetic wall, the magnetic wall may comprise a wall made of aluminum alloy or plastic, the magnetic wall comprising a support fixed to this wall made of aluminum alloy or plastic and provided with at least one permanent magnet.

[0044] For example, such a support takes the form of a sock, made of plastic or other, engaged on the wall made of aluminum alloy or plastic, this sock carrying at least minus one magnet.

[0045] The aluminum alloy has the advantage of being permeable to magnetic waves, which can promote the attraction of metallic pollutants.

[0046] Alternatively, the wall may be made of plastic.

[0047] Using a holder carrying one or more magnets around a substantially non-magnetic wall makes it possible to easily recover the collected metallic and magnetic pollutants. When an operator removes the magnetic holder, the metallic and magnetic pollutants are no longer attracted by a magnetic force and fall off, making them easily harvestable. This arrangement makes it possible to temporarily suppress the magnetism acting on the metallic and magnetic pollutants.

[0048] According to a second alternative embodiment of the magnetic wall, the magnetic wall may comprise a metal wall attached to at least one permanent magnet or comprises a hollow magnetic bar.

[0049] This second alternative has the advantage of comprising a large magnetized surface and of presenting an interesting efficiency / mass ratio.

[0050] According to another aspect, the main fluid circuit may comprise an upstream hydraulic connection going from the reservoir to an inlet of the magnetic filter, the upstream hydraulic connection may comprise said flow generator, the downstream hydraulic connection comprising at least one of the following equipment: a heater, a cooler, the mechanical filter.

[0051] The flow generator may be located within or outside the mechanical system.

[0052] Therefore, the magnetic filter can be downstream of the flow generator. The magnetic filter can be upstream of a heater, a cooler, and / or the mechanical filter to limit the number of pollutants conveyed to these components and to carry out additional collection of particles for characterization and quantification in the event of a malfunction before they are lost in the mechanical filter and / or the cooler and / or the heater.

[0053] According to another aspect and in the presence of a magnetic filter having an external tank and a tube, independently of the manner of obtaining the magnetized wall and according to a first variant, the tube may comprise the magnetized wall.

[0054] The tube can be magnetized, instead of the external tank to optimize the mass of the system for example.

[0055] According to a second variant, the external tank may comprise the magnetic wall.

[0056] Optionally, the magnetic filter and the mechanical filter can form the same filter, said magnetic wall comprising the external tank, the tube comprising the porous envelope.

[0057] A single piece of equipment then acts as a magnetic filter and a mechanical filter. In addition, by using the same envelope as a retrofit on an existing system porous, the filter can generate the same pressure drop as before.

[0058] According to one possibility, it is possible to arrange at least one magnet or magnetic sock on the external tank of an existing mechanical filter to obtain a magnetic wall.

[0059] According to another aspect, the magnetic filter may be arranged outside said housing.

[0060] Such an arrangement allows the magnetic filter to be easily dismantled if necessary. magnetic filter contents can be collected and analyzed to perform a health diagnosis of the mechanical system.

[0061] According to another aspect, the mechanical system may be a power transmission box. In addition to a mechanical system, the invention relates to an aircraft comprising such a mechanical system.

[0062] For example, the mechanical system is a power transmission box connected by a mechanical chain to at least one rotating wing to set it in rotation.

[0063] In addition to a mechanical system, the invention relates to a method for reducing a number of false alarms within a mechanical system comprising mobile mechanical elements to be lubricated or cooled in a casing, the mechanical system having a lubrication system provided with a reservoir containing a lubricating fluid, the lubrication system having a main fluid circuit extending from the reservoir to a fluid projection circuit, the main fluid circuit having a flow generator and a mechanical filter provided with a cartridge having a porous casing, the lubrication system comprising at least one magnetic plug. The magnetic plug may be in contact with the lubricating fluid at least in operation, possibly outside the main fluid circuit, for example in the reservoir or on a return path traveled by the lubricating fluid from an element to be lubricated or cooled to the reservoir.

[0064] The method comprises the following steps:

[0065] - circulation of the lubricating fluid in the main fluid circuit, the fluid leaving through the fluid projection circuit and returning to the tank,

[0066] - decontamination of the lubricating fluid circulating in the main fluid circuit with a magnetic filter and the mechanical filter, the magnetic filter comprising at least one magnetized wall and possibly a retarder reducing a speed of movement of the lubricating fluid,

[0067] - generation of an alert with the magnetic cap in the presence of metal captured by this magnetic cap.

[0068] This minimum quantity can be established by testing or results from a regulation to be respected for example, such as for example the regulation called “Certification Specification for large helicopters CS-29” in English.

[0069] The invention and its advantages will appear in more detail in the context of the description which follows with examples given for illustrative purposes with reference to the attached figures which represent:

[0070] [Fig.l], a diagram illustrating a mechanical system according to the invention and the associated method,

[0071] [Fig.2], an example of a magnetic wall provided with a metal tube and at least one magnet,

[0072] [Fig.3], an example of a magnetic filter,

[0073] [Fig.4], an example of a magnetic filter,

[0074] [Fig.5], an example of a magnetic filter,

[0075] [Fig.6], an example of a magnetic filter, and

[0076] [Fig.7], a diagram illustrating a filtration unit comprising a mechanical filter and a magnetic filter.

[0077] Elements present in several distinct figures are assigned a single reference.

[0078] [Fig.l] shows a mechanical system 1 according to the invention. This mechanical system 1 can be arranged within various structures and for example within a vehicle and possibly within an aircraft 2 according to the example illustrated. The mechanical system 1 can be a power transmission box 8.

[0079] For example, the mechanical system 1 is arranged within an aircraft 2 to rotate in particular a rotor 3, possibly via an output rotor mast. Such a rotor 3 may be a main rotor of a helicopter, a rotor participating in the control of the yaw movement, a propeller, etc.

[0080] Whatever the nature of the mechanical system 1 and its arrangement, this mechanical system 1 comprises mobile mechanical elements 6 to be lubricated or cooled. These mechanical elements 6 to be lubricated or cooled may comprise mobile, or even rotating, elements relative to a casing 5. Each mechanical element 6 to be lubricated or cooled may comprise, for example, a shaft, a ball bearing mechanism or the like, a power transmission element, an element for reducing or increasing the rotation speed, a pinion, a wheel, a member provided with splines, etc.

[0081] The mechanical elements 6 are arranged in an internal volume delimited by the casing 5. This casing 5 may comprise a plurality of sub-assemblies which jointly delimit an enclosure in which the mechanical element(s) 6 to be lubricated or cooled are arranged.

[0082] Furthermore, the mechanical system 1 comprises a lubrication system 10. This lubrication system 10 has a reservoir 7 containing a lubricating fluid 4. For example, a subassembly forming a bottom of the casing 5 forms at least part of the reservoir 7. The lubricating fluid 4 may be a lubricating liquid, such as a liquid comprising oil, or any other liquid capable of lubricating and / or cooling a mechanical element 6.

[0083] The lubrication system 10 comprises one or more magnetic plugs 80, such as a conventional magnetic plug. The magnetic plug 80 is in contact with the lubricating fluid 4 in the reservoir 7 according to the illustrated example. Alternatively, the magnetic plug 80 may be located on a path traveled by the lubricating fluid, for example between a mechanical element 6 to be lubricated or cooled and the reservoir 7. For example, the magnetic plug 80 is fixed to the bottom of the reservoir 7. The magnetic plug 80 may comprise a receiving part in contact with the lubricating fluid 4, and at least one magnetic attraction means in order to capture metallic and magnetic pollutants, and in particular metallic particles resulting from flaking of the mechanical elements 6. Such an attraction means may comprise a permanent magnet. For example, the magnetic plug may be of the type of patent EP 3627032.

[0084] Usually, the magnetic cap 80 can be connected to an alerter 81. Such an alerter 81 can generate a visual alarm, for example by means of the emission of a light with a light-emitting diode or an equivalent or the display on a screen of one or more characters, an audible alarm, by means of a loudspeaker, and / or a haptic alarm, for example using a vibrating unit vibrating an organ held or worn by an individual.

[0085] To move the lubricating fluid 4 towards the mechanical elements 6, the lubrication system 10 comprises a main fluid circuit 101, or even in addition at least one secondary fluid circuit 102 such as a backup circuit for example.

[0086] To direct the lubricating fluid 4 to the mechanical elements 6 to be lubricated or cooled, the main fluid circuit 101 extends from the reservoir 7 to a fluid projection circuit 12. The fluid projection circuit 12 may comprise one or more pipes 13 opening onto at least one means for projection of the lubricating fluid 14 called a “sprinkler” for convenience. Such a sprinkler may be, for example, a nozzle or equivalent, a simple orifice of a pipe, a system mixing the lubricating fluid with a gas, etc.

[0087] Generally, the term "piping" used previously and subsequently may represent a single pipe or a plurality of pipes attached to each other.

[0088] More precisely, the main fluid circuit 101 comprises a flow generator 11 in order to draw the lubricating fluid from the reservoir 7. The flow generator 11 may comprise a pump or an ejector in communication with a main suction inlet immersed under normal conditions in the lubricating fluid 4 present in the reservoir 7.

[0089] Downstream of the flow generator 11 and upstream of the fluid projection circuit 12, the main fluid circuit 101 comprises a mechanical filter 25. This mechanical filter 25 is provided with a filtration device having a cartridge 26 provided with a porous envelope 28. The porous envelope 28 can form a filtering wall comprising small perforations, for example of the order of 10 to 25 micrometers or even less. The cartridge 25 can be arranged in an enclosure 27. The lubricating fluid 4 to be filtered enters the filtration device and joins the volume arranged between the enclosure 27 and the porous envelope 28, passes through this porous envelope 28, then leaves the filtration device filtered. Optionally, the mechanical filter 25 comprises a bypass conduit 29 to bypass the filtration device, for example when this filtration device is obstructed.

[0090] Optionally, the main fluid circuit 101 may comprise a heater 20 and / or a cooler 21. According to one example, a cooler 21 may comprise a heat exchanger. Such a heat exchanger may be a radiator or equivalent swept by air set in motion by a fan. According to one example, a heater may comprise an electrical resistor.

[0091] Furthermore, the main fluid circuit 101 comprises a magnetic filter 30 through which the lubricating fluid 4 passes. This magnetic filter 30 is arranged between the reservoir 7 and the fluid projection circuit 12. Therefore, the magnetic filter 30 is connected by an upstream hydraulic connection 61 to the reservoir 7 and by a downstream hydraulic connection 62 to the fluid projection circuit 12. Optionally, the main fluid circuit 101 comprises a filtration strainer 17 upstream of the magnetic filter 30. According to one example, the main suction inlet is provided with this filtration strainer 17. The filtration strainer 17 can be sized to filter large pollutants, such as washers or nuts in order to protect the flow generator 11, or even to filter metal particles resulting from abnormal operation, but does not allow the metal powder resulting from normal operation to be filtered.Any metal particle to be filtered may have a distance between two points on its outer surface greater than a threshold, any distance between two points on the outer surface of each particle of the metal powder being less than or equal to this threshold. For example, the threshold is equal to 10 microns, the metal particles having dimensions usually between 0.4 and 1.5 millimeters and the elements of the metal powder having dimensions usually less than 3 microns.

[0092] The flow generator 11, the magnetic filter 30, the heater 20, the cooler 21 and / or the mechanical filter 25 can be arranged outside the casing 5.

[0093] Furthermore, the magnetic filter 30 comprises at least one magnetized wall 32, or even a retarder 31 reducing a speed of movement of the lubricating fluid 4 within the magnetic filter 30 relative to a speed of movement reached at the inlet of the magnetic filter 30.

[0094] For example, the magnetic filter 30 comprises an external tank 35 and a tube 40, possibly at least partially arranged in the external tank 35, as well as an inlet connection 51 forming an inlet connected to the upstream hydraulic connection 61 and an outlet connection 52 forming an outlet connected to the downstream hydraulic connection 62.

[0095] For example, the outer tank 35 and the tube 40 may be connected to a cover 50 which includes the inlet fitting 51 and the outlet fitting 52.

[0096] The lubricating fluid 4 thus enters the magnetic filter 30 via an inlet passage surface SI of the inlet. The inlet passage surface SI is, according to the illustrated example, to be considered in a plane perpendicular to the direction of movement of the lubricating fluid 4. The inlet passage surface SI may represent the smallest passage surface obtained by cutting the inlet connection 51 with a plane.

[0097] The magnetic filter 30 comprises an inlet volume in hydraulic connection with the inlet passage surface SL. This inlet volume may be an external volume VEXT comprised between the external tank 35 and the tube 40 or the internal volume VINT delimited by the tube 40. The external volume VEXT or the internal volume VINT not forming the inlet volume is in hydraulic connection with the outlet connection 52.

[0098] Therefore, according to the example of [Fig.l], the upstream hydraulic connection 61 hydraulically connects the reservoir 7 to the external volume VEXT, possibly via the cover 50, and the downstream hydraulic connection 62 hydraulically connects the internal volume VINT to the fluid projection circuit 12, possibly via the cover 50.

[0099] The fluid speed retarder 31 may be formed by an enlarged passage surface. Thus, the external volume VEXT may comprise an external passage surface S2 having an area greater than the inlet passage surface SL. The external passage surface S2 is to be considered in a plane perpendicular to the direction of movement of the lubricating fluid 4, and to the extension axis AX1 according to the example illustrated. The external passage surface S2 may represent the smallest passage surface obtained by cutting the volume VEXT with a plane.

[0100] Furthermore, the magnetic filter 30 comprises at least one intermediate passage surface 41 placing the external volume VEXT and the internal volume VINT in hydraulic communication. According to the example of [Fig.l], the tube 40 rests on a bottom 351 of the external tank 35 and extends along an extension axis AX1 from this bottom 351 of the external tank 35. Each intermediate passage surface 41 can then be crossed by a radial axis AX2 perpendicular to the extension axis AX1, favorably close to the bottom 351 to ensure that the lubricating fluid 4 circulates along the entirety of the external tank 35 and the tube 40.

[0101] For example, the tube 40 is a cylinder with a circular base. For example, a ring of this cylinder comprises one or more openings forming one or more intermediate passage surfaces 4L

[0102] Furthermore, the magnetic filter 30 has a magnetized wall 32. This magnetized wall 32 comprises the external tank 35 or the tube 40 depending on the embodiment.

[0103] According to the example of [Fig.l], the tube 40 forms the magnetic wall 32 by comprising a hollow magnetic bar 38. Such a bar 38 may comprise a half-cylinder forming a north pole and a half-cylinder forming a south pole. Alternatively, the external tank 35 may comprise such a hollow magnetic bar 38.

[0104] According to the example of [Fig.2], the magnetic wall 32 comprises a metal wall 33 attached to one or more permanent magnets 42, at least one permanent magnet possibly being able to extend into the lubricating fluid. According to this [Fig.2], the metal wall 33 forms the tube 40. Alternatively, the magnetic wall 32 forms the external tank 35.

[0105] According to the example of [Fig. 3], the magnetic wall 32 comprises a wall 90 made of aluminum alloy. Therefore, the magnetic wall 32 comprises a support 36 fixed to this wall 90 made of aluminum alloy, by screwing, gluing, or other means. The support 36 then carries one or more permanent magnets 37. According to this [Fig. 3], the metal wall 33 forms the external tank 35. Alternatively, the magnetic wall 32 forms the tube 40.

[0106] Figures 4 to 6 illustrate various alternative embodiments. In each of the illustrated embodiments, the external tank 35 can be connected to the upstream hydraulic connection 61 and the tube 40 is connected to the downstream hydraulic connection 62, or vice versa.

[0107] According to the examples of figures 4 and 5, the tube 40 extends into the external tank 35 without touching the bottom, unlike the examples of figures 1 and 3. The tube 40 and / or the external tank 35 may comprise a magnetic wall 32.

[0108] According to the example of [Fig.6], the external tank 35 comprises a magnetic wall 32.

[0109] As illustrated in [Fig.l] with magnetic filters of these types, the upstream hydraulic connection 61 comprises the flow generator 11 connected by piping to the magnetic filter 30. The downstream hydraulic connection 62 comprises piping starting from the magnetic filter 30 and joining the heater 20 and / or the cooler 21 if any, then piping starting from the heater 20 and / or the cooler 21 if any and joining the mechanical filter 25.

[0110] According to the example of [Fig.7], the magnetic filter 30 and the mechanical filter 25 form the same filtration unit.

[0111] In this case, the upstream hydraulic connection 61 may, according to one example, comprise the flow generator 11 connected by a pipe to the heater 20 and / or to the cooler 21, if any, then a pipe starting from the heater 20 and / or from the cooler 21, if any, and joining the external volume of the filtration unit. The downstream hydraulic connection 62 comprises a connector connecting the filtration unit and the fluid projection circuit 12. An arrangement in place of the magnetic filter of [Fig.l] is also possible.

[0112] Furthermore, the magnetic wall 32 comprises the external tank 35. This external tank 35 can then comprise a hollow magnetic bar 38, a metal wall attached to one or more permanent magnets, or an aluminum alloy wall attached to a support carrying one or more permanent magnets.

[0113] Further, the tube 40 includes the porous envelope 28.

[0114] The method implemented according to the invention is explained below on the basis of the embodiment of [Fig.l], knowing that the other embodiments described operate in a similar manner.

[0115] This method comprises the circulation STP1 of the lubricating fluid 4 in the main fluid circuit 101. At the outlet of the main fluid circuit 101, the lubricating fluid 4 is ejected by the fluid projection circuit 12 and returns to the reservoir 7 by gravity for example.

[0116] In addition, the method comprises a step STP21, STP22 of decontamination of the lubricating fluid 4 circulating in the main fluid circuit 101 with the magnetic filter 30 and the mechanical filter 25.

[0117] According to the example of [Fig.l], the lubricating fluid 4 containing metal powder enters the inlet volume, this inlet volume being formed by the external volume VEXT according to the example. The speed of movement of the lubricating fluid 4 is possibly reduced due to the passage surface S2 of the external volume VEXT being greater than the inlet passage surface SL. The magnetized wall 32 attracts this metal powder. Limiting the speed of movement of the lubricating fluid 4 also tends to limit tearing of the metal powder from the magnetized wall 31. Optionally, at the end of a phase of use of the mechanical system 1, the magnetic filter 30 can be cleaned, all the more easily when this magnetic filter 30 is located outside the casing 5. The lubricating fluid 4 is furthermore also filtered subsequently by the porous casing 28. The pollutants collected during cleaning can be used to evaluate the state of the mechanical system.

[0118] Thus, the magnetic 30 and mechanical 25 filters make it possible to decontaminate the lubricating fluid 4. The magnetic plug 80 then captures little magnetic powder.

[0119] If a mechanical element 6 deteriorates, magnetic particles fall or reach the reservoir 7. The possible filtration strainer 17 can prevent these magnetic particles from entering the magnetic filter 30 or even the main fluid circuit 101. In addition, the magnetic particles are captured by the magnetic plug 80. This magnetic plug 80 can generate a signal transmitted to the alerter 81 to generate an STP3 alert in the presence of a minimal quantity of metal captured by this magnetic plug 80.

[0120] Naturally, the present invention is subject to numerous variations in its implementation. Although several embodiments have been described, it is understood although it is not conceivable to exhaustively identify all possible modes. It is of course possible to replace a means described by an equivalent means without departing from the scope of the present invention defined by the claims.

Claims

Claims

1. Mechanical system (1) comprising movable mechanical elements (6) to be lubricated or cooled in a casing (5), the mechanical system (1) having a lubrication system (10) provided with a reservoir (7) containing a lubricating fluid (4), the lubrication system (10) having a main fluid circuit (101) extending from the reservoir (7) to a fluid projection circuit (12), the main fluid circuit (101) having a flow generator (11) and a mechanical filter (25) provided with a cartridge (26) having a porous casing (28), the lubrication system (10) comprising a magnetic plug (80), characterized in that the main fluid circuit (101) comprises a magnetic filter (30) crossed by the lubricating fluid (4) between the reservoir (7) and the fluid projection circuit (12), the magnetic filter (30) comprising at least one magnetized wall (32).

2. Mechanical system according to claim 1, characterized in that the magnetic plug (80) is connected to an alerter (81).

3. Mechanical system according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the magnetic filter (30) comprises a retarder (31) reducing a speed of movement of the lubricating fluid (4) within the magnetic filter (30) relative to a speed of movement reached at the inlet of the magnetic filter (30).

4. Mechanical system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the magnetic filter (30) comprises an external tank (35) and a tube (40) arranged at least partially in the external tank (35), an external volume (VEXT) being comprised between the external tank (35) and the tube (40), an internal volume (VINT) being delimited by the tube (40) and in communication with the external volume (VEXT), the main fluid circuit (101) comprising an upstream hydraulic connection (61) going from the tank to an inlet of the magnetic filter (30), said inlet being hydraulically connected to an inlet volume formed by the external volume (VEXT) or the internal volume (VINT), the main fluid circuit (101) comprising a downstream hydraulic connection (62) hydraulically connecting to the fluid projection circuit (12) the internal volume (VINT) or the external volume (VEXT) not forming the inlet volume, the magnetized wall (32) comprising the external tank (35) or the tube (40).

5. Mechanical system according to claims 3 and 4, characterized in that said inlet has an inlet passage surface (SI) crossed by the lubricating fluid, the external volume (VEXT) has an external passage surface (S2) having an area greater than an area of ​​the inlet passage surface (SI) to form said retarder (31).

6. Mechanical system according to any one of claims 4 to 5, characterized in that the tube (40) comprises at least one open intermediate passage surface (41) putting the external volume (VEXT) and the internal volume (VINT) into communication.

7. Mechanical system according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the tube (40) comprises said magnetized wall (32).

8. Mechanical system according to any one of claims 4 to 5, characterized in that the magnetic filter (30) and the mechanical filter (25) form the same filter, said magnetized wall (32) comprising the external tank (35), the tube (40) comprising the porous envelope (28).

9. Mechanical system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the magnetic wall (32) comprises a wall (90) made of aluminum alloy or plastic, the magnetic wall (32) comprising a support (36) fixed to this wall (90) made of aluminum alloy or plastic and provided with at least one permanent magnet (37).

10. Mechanical system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said magnetic wall (32) comprises a metal wall (33) attached to at least one permanent magnet (42) or comprises a hollow magnetic bar (38).

11. Mechanical system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the main fluid circuit (101) comprising an upstream hydraulic connection (61) going from the reservoir to an inlet of the magnetic filter (30), the upstream hydraulic connection (61) comprises said flow generator (11), the downstream hydraulic connection (62) comprising at least one of the following equipment: a heater (20), a cooler (21), the mechanical filter (25).

12. Mechanical system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the magnetic filter (30) is arranged outside said casing (5).

13. Mechanical system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the mechanical system (1) is a gearbox power transmission (8).

14. Aircraft (2), characterized in that said aircraft (5) comprises a mechanical system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. Method for reducing a number of false alarms within a mechanical system (1) comprising movable mechanical elements (6) to be lubricated or cooled in a casing (5), the mechanical system (1) having a lubrication system (10) provided with a reservoir (7) containing a lubricating fluid (4), the lubrication system (10) having a main fluid circuit (101) extending from the reservoir (7) to a fluid projection circuit (12), the main fluid circuit (101) having a flow generator (11) and a mechanical filter (25) provided with a cartridge (26) having a porous casing (28), the lubrication system comprising at least one magnetic plug (80), characterized in that the method comprises the following steps: - circulation of the lubricating fluid (4) in the main fluid circuit (101), the lubricating fluid exiting through the fluid projection circuit (12) and returning to the reservoir (7),- decontamination of the lubricating fluid (4) circulating in the main fluid circuit (101) with a magnetic filter (30) and the mechanical filter (25), - generation of an alert with the magnetic plug (80) in the presence of metal captured by this magnetic plug (80).,

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