Crankpin Lubrication Manifold for Clean Flow Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In epicyclic gear trains, particularly in rotary-wing aircraft gearboxes, the mixing of separate lubricating liquid flows leads to contamination and inefficiency, as the lubricating liquid intended for different components can become polluted and less effective due to its circulation through multiple rotational guide devices.
Innovation Solution
A lubricating liquid manifold for crankpins, featuring a hollow body with an inlet and outlet port, a barrier with a shoulder and deflector, and a diversion space, which separates and diverts the second flow of lubricating liquid, preventing it from entering the manifold and ensuring only clean, unpolluted liquid reaches the guide devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If lubricating liquid is conveyed to multiple guide devices through a single manifold, then the lubrication system is simplified, but the lubricating liquid becomes polluted and loses effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The manifold is divided into multiple separate inlet ports, each dedicated to a specific guide device. This segmentation prevents lubricating liquid from circulating through multiple guide devices and becoming polluted, while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. Each inlet port receives clean lubricating liquid directly from the lubrication system without mixing with liquid from other circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
The manifold acts as an intermediary device that distributes lubricating liquid from multiple separate sources to multiple guide devices. By providing separate inlet ports for each guide device, the manifold ensures that each circuit receives clean lubricating liquid independently, preventing contamination while maintaining system efficiency.
2Use of energy by moving object
If lubricating liquid flows through guide devices by gravity and centrifugal force, then the lubrication system requires less pumping power, but the liquid flow paths cannot be controlled and mixing occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The manifold provides separate inlet ports for each guide device, segmenting the lubrication circuits. This allows independent control of each flow path while still utilizing gravity and centrifugal force for liquid circulation, reducing the need for active pumping while preventing unwanted mixing between circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
Each inlet port of the manifold is positioned and oriented to receive lubricating liquid from its dedicated source with appropriate flow characteristics. The local geometry of each inlet port is optimized for its specific circuit requirements, enabling controlled flow distribution while maintaining passive operation.
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
Prevents the mixing of clean and polluted lubricating liquid flows, maintaining the effectiveness of the lubricating liquid and ensuring that only clean, unpolluted liquid is used for lubrication, thereby extending the service life and efficiency of the gear train components.
Implementation Method 1
The barrier is configured to divert a second flow of the lubricating liquid... a flow of lubricating liquid may flow through it by force of gravity
Implementation Method 2
The lubricating liquid may, for example, be conveyed into each crankpin supporting a planet gear, and is then pressurized by centrifugal force to flow through the inner ring in order to lubricate the rolling elements of the guide device
Implementation Method 3
when a guide device is situated higher than the planet gears, for example a guide device guiding the planet carrier, a flow of lubricating liquid may flow through it by force of gravity
Data Source
AI summary
A lubricating liquid manifold for a crankpin of an epicyclic gear train. The epicyclic gear train is lubricated by a lubrication system conveying a first flow of a lubricating liquid towards the manifold and a second flow of the lubricating liquid towards a member to be lubricated. The manifold comprises a hollow body provided with an inlet port intended to receive the first flow and an outlet port designed such that the first flow is conveyed towards a guide device connected to the crankpin. The manifold comprises a barrier comprising a shoulder connected to the body and a deflector protruding radially outwards from the body so as to form, with the shoulder, a diversion space for diverting the second flow and preventing it from penetrating into the manifold.