Combined Sump Structure for Turbine Engine Weight Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Turbine engines face challenges in reducing weight and improving manufacturability due to the complexity and weight of separate oil sump systems, which also increase the length of the engine and the number of parts.
Innovation Solution
The integration of two sumps into a single frame with shared oil supply and drain lines, allowing for a common pressurization circuit and simplified routing of oil supply and scavenge lines, reduces the number of parts and weight while maintaining effective lubrication and cooling of bearing assemblies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate oil sump systems are used for each bearing assembly, then reliable lubrication and cooling are provided, but the engine weight increases and the number of parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate oil sump systems into a single integrated sump assembly that services multiple bearing assemblies. This merging reduces the total number of sump components, eliminates duplicate structures, and decreases overall engine weight while maintaining the ability to provide lubrication and cooling to all required bearing locations through a unified oil distribution system
2Reliability
If separate oil sump systems are used for each bearing assembly, then adequate lubrication coverage is provided, but the number of parts increases and manufacturability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate sump systems into one integrated sump assembly with a unified structure that includes oil supply lines, scavenge lines, and filtration components. This consolidation reduces the total part count, simplifies the bill of materials, and improves manufacturability while maintaining comprehensive lubrication coverage through strategically positioned oil distribution points
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated sump assembly is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously serves multiple bearing assemblies, provides oil storage, filtration, and temperature regulation. This universal design eliminates the need for duplicate specialized components for each bearing location, reducing overall system complexity
3Ease of manufacture
If two sumps are mounted far apart, then each sump can be serviced independently, but the engine length increases and weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sump functions into a single compact assembly that can be mounted in a space-efficient location within the engine. This integrated design reduces the axial length requirement compared to spaced-apart sumps while maintaining serviceability through design features such as accessible filler ports, drain plugs, and filtration components that can be serviced without disassembling the entire engine
4Reliability
If separate oil supply and drain lines are used for each sump, then independent oil circulation is maintained, but the number of tubing components increases and weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple oil supply lines and drain lines into a unified tubing system within the integrated sump assembly. This merging reduces the total length and number of tubing components required compared to separate sump systems, thereby decreasing weight while maintaining independent oil circulation paths through internal baffles and strategically routed channels that prevent cross-contamination between bearing assembly oil circuits
Data Source
AI summary
A combined sump structure in an engine, the combined sump structure comprises a sump area comprising one or more sumps, a single oil supply provided for all sumps, and a combined sump drain.