Canted Pumping Vane Transfer Bearing for Turbine Lubrication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current lubrication systems for aircraft gas turbine engines face challenges in minimizing lubricant leakage, which leads to increased maintenance costs and reduced operational efficiency due to higher thermal loads and varying angular velocities between the turbine and fan sections.
Innovation Solution
A lubrication system incorporating a transfer bearing assembly with canted pumping vanes and side plates positioned radially outward from the rotating shaft, creating a hydraulic seal through centrifugal force and negative pressure to prevent lubricant leakage, while maintaining effective lubrication of the gear and bearing systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a prior art lubrication system uses radially inner and outer flanges to form a hydraulic seal, then lubrication fluid leakage is prevented, but the system complexity increases and manufacturing difficulty rises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex radially inner and outer flange structure from the lubrication system. Instead of using multiple flanges to form a hydraulic seal, the invention uses a simplified transfer bearing assembly with canted pumping vanes that actively manages lubricant flow, thereby preventing leakage without increasing system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs hydraulic principles through canted pumping vanes that utilize the rotational motion and pressure differentials to actively pump lubricant through the transfer bearing assembly. This hydraulic approach replaces the passive flange-based seal with an active pumping mechanism that is simpler to manufacture and maintain
2Productivity
If lubricant leakage is minimized using complex sealing mechanisms, then operational efficiency improves, but maintenance costs increase due to higher manufacturing precision requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer bearing assembly with canted pumping vanes is designed to self-regulate lubricant flow based on operational conditions. The system automatically adjusts to varying angular velocities and thermal loads without requiring precision-machined sealing surfaces, thereby maintaining high operational efficiency while simplifying manufacturing requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic elements through canted pumping vanes that adapt to changing operational conditions. The vanes utilize rotational dynamics and pressure differentials to maintain effective lubricant delivery across varying speeds and loads, eliminating the need for static, precision-machined seals that are difficult to manufacture
3Reliability
If a hydraulic seal with radially inner and outer flanges is implemented, then lubricant containment is improved, but the device complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex multi-flange hydraulic seal structure and replaces it with a single integrated transfer bearing assembly. This extraction of unnecessary components maintains reliable lubricant containment while significantly reducing device complexity and assembly requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the functions of lubricant containment, transfer, and distribution into a single integrated transfer bearing assembly with canted pumping vanes. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate radially inner and outer flanges, maintaining reliability while simplifying the overall device structure
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively reduces lubricant leakage, minimizing the need for frequent replacements and maintaining optimal performance of the gear and bearing systems under high thermal and pressure conditions, thereby enhancing the operational life and efficiency of the gas turbine engine.
Implementation Method 1
creating a hydraulic seal through centrifugal force and negative pressure to prevent lubricant leakage
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
What is described is a transfer bearing assembly (84; 484) configured to allow a flow of a fluid from an inlet tube (106; 406) to a channel (100A, 100B; 404, 407) defined by a rotating shaft (80; 480). The transfer bearing assembly (84; 484) includes a body (370; 470) having an axially forward side (372) and an axially aft side (374) and a first wing (312; 412) having an axially aft end (375) coupled to the axially forward side (372) and an axially forward end (376). The transfer bearing assembly (84; 484) also includes a first side plate (316; 416) having a radially outward end (378) coupled to the axially forward end (376) of the first wing (312; 412) and a radially inward end (380).