Engine Emergency Lubrication Using Fuel Diversion After Oil Failure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing engine lubrication systems lack independent emergency lubrication solutions that minimize mass penalty, have service life limited by fluid availability, and are not easily adaptable to existing engines, while also failing to prevent concurrent failures of multiple engines, leading to increased safety risks.
Innovation Solution
The method involves detecting lubrication system failures and redirecting a portion of the engine's fuel fluid to lubricate critical elements, using a safety regime to limit the number of elements requiring emergency lubrication, and incorporating a dual valve system for fuel withdrawal and drainage to prevent overfilling, with control means to activate these processes in response to failure detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If an oil accumulator is added to increase oil volume for emergency lubrication, then the duration of emergency lubrication is extended, but the engine mass increases without practical use
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel system serves dual purposes: it provides both propulsion fuel and emergency lubrication fluid. The fuel already present in the engine's fuel system is repurposed for lubrication during emergencies, eliminating the need for a separate oil accumulator and reducing overall system mass while extending emergency operation duration.
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel fluid in the engine performs multiple functions: it serves as combustion fuel during normal operation and as lubrication fluid during emergency conditions. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated emergency lubrication storage, reducing mass penalty while ensuring adequate emergency lubrication duration.
2Reliability
If a backup lubrication system with oil accumulator is implemented, then emergency lubrication capability is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The emergency lubrication system is merged with the existing fuel system infrastructure. Fuel lines, storage tanks, and delivery mechanisms already present in the engine are repurposed to also serve as lubrication delivery systems during emergencies, significantly reducing the number of additional components needed compared to a completely separate backup lubrication system.
Solution Approach 2:
The fuel system acts as an intermediary resource that bridges the gap between normal operation and emergency lubrication needs. By using the existing fuel infrastructure as a mediator, the system avoids the complexity of building a completely independent backup lubrication system while still providing reliable emergency lubrication capability.
3Weight of moving object
If fuel fluid is redirected for emergency lubrication, then independent backup lubrication is provided with minimal mass penalty, but the number of elements requiring lubrication must be limited
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of attempting to lubricate all engine components during emergency conditions, the system applies lubrication locally to only the most critical elements that require it. This selective approach allows the limited fuel fluid resources to be concentrated on essential components, maintaining engine operation with minimal mass penalty while accepting that not all elements will receive lubrication.
Data Source
AI summary
The method involves detecting failure, where a portion of a fuel fluid of an engine (1) is tapped off to lubricate an engine element in response to the detection of the failure. The portion of the engine fuel fluid is directed into an enclosure (5) in the engine, where the enclosure is drained in order to prevent any overfilling. The engine is placed in a safety regime limiting a field of operation in response to the detection of the failure by a low- pressure sensor. A valve (17a) is used for tapping a pipe (8). Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a standby lubrication device (2) an engine comprising a main lubrication system (3) a vehicle comprising a lubrication device (4) an aircraft comprising an engine.