Hydraulic Clutch Porting Manifold for Fluid Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional clutch assemblies for low speed spool turbomachines require improved speed ratio conversion and torque transmission, as existing systems lack efficient control and lubrication fluid isolation, leading to suboptimal performance.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic clutch assembly with a porting manifold that includes separate fluid communication paths for control pressure and lubrication, using a piston and clutch pack configuration to selectively engage and disengage the clutch, with seals to isolate flow paths and ensure proper operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single fluid path is used in the shaft for both control pressure and lubrication, then the device complexity is reduced, but fluid leakage occurs between control and lubrication systems
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft is segmented into multiple independent fluid pathways: a control pressure pathway and a lubrication pathway. These pathways are physically separated within the shaft structure, with the control pressure pathway including control pressure inlet/outlet ports and the lubrication pathway including lubrication inlet/outlet ports. This segmentation prevents fluid mixing while maintaining a unified shaft structure.
Solution Approach 2:
A seal is introduced as an intermediary element between the control pressure pathway and lubrication pathway. The seal is positioned within the shaft to prevent fluid communication between the two pathways, ensuring that control pressure fluid and lubrication fluid remain isolated from each other while allowing both pathways to coexist within the same shaft structure.
2Ease of manufacture
If control pressure and lubrication flow are not isolated, then manufacturing is simpler, but torque transmission reliability deteriorates due to leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft is segmented into multiple independent fluid pathways: a control pressure pathway and a lubrication pathway. These pathways are physically separated within the shaft structure, with the control pressure pathway including control pressure inlet/outlet ports and the lubrication pathway including lubrication inlet/outlet ports. This segmentation prevents fluid mixing while maintaining a unified shaft structure.
Solution Approach 2:
A seal is introduced as an intermediary element between the control pressure pathway and lubrication pathway. The seal is positioned within the shaft to prevent fluid communication between the two pathways, ensuring that control pressure fluid and lubrication fluid remain isolated from each other while allowing both pathways to coexist within the same shaft structure.
3Volume of moving object
If a compact shaft design is used, then the transmission size is reduced, but adequate sealing space for isolating fluid paths becomes unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid pathways are arranged in different spatial dimensions within the shaft. The control pressure pathway and lubrication pathway are positioned radially adjacent to each other, with the seal positioned at the radial interface between the two pathways. This dimensional arrangement allows effective isolation within a compact shaft volume.
Solution Approach 2:
A seal is introduced as an intermediary element between the control pressure pathway and lubrication pathway. The seal is positioned within the shaft to prevent fluid communication between the two pathways, ensuring that control pressure fluid and lubrication fluid remain isolated from each other while allowing both pathways to coexist within the same shaft 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 solution enables precise control of clutch engagement and disengagement, maintaining efficient torque transmission across a wide speed range while preventing leakage, enhancing the reliability and efficiency of low speed spool turbomachine transmissions.
Implementation Method 1
one or more hydraulic ports defined through the shaft... A porting manifold can be disposed at least partially within the shaft channel. The porting manifold can include a control pressure path in fluid communication with the one or more hydraulic ports
Implementation Method 2
one or more lubrication holes defined through the shaft... a lubrication flow path in fluid communication with the one or more lubrication holes
Implementation Method 3
The control pressure path and the lubrication path can be fluidly isolated in the porting manifold... The assembly can include a plurality of manifold seals disposed within the seal grooves and configured to fluidly isolate the control pressure from the lubrication flow within the shaft
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic clutch assembly can include a shaft defining a shaft channel, one or more hydraulic ports defined through the shaft, and one or more lubrication holes defined through the shaft. A porting manifold can be disposed at least partially within the shaft channel. The porting manifold can include a control pressure path in fluid communication with the one or more hydraulic ports and a lubrication flow path in fluid communication with the one or more lubrication holes. The control pressure path and the lubrication path can be fluidly isolated in the porting manifold.