Aircraft Engine Oil Fill Line for Remote Tank Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional oil tank filling in gas turbine engines is inefficient and unsafe when the tank is positioned in a remote location, as it requires manual pouring and can lead to spills and residue, especially when the tank is not easily accessible.
Innovation Solution
An oil fill line extending from the engine accessory gearbox to an inlet port accessible from the core cowl allows for safe and convenient filling of the oil tank, even when it is located in an inaccessible position, with optional features including oil level sensors and pressurized oil injection for efficient filling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the oil tank is positioned in a remote location on the engine, then the oil system layout becomes more compact and integrated, but the accessibility for filling the tank deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The filling system is segmented into two separate components: the oil tank positioned in its optimal remote location, and the filling port positioned at an accessible location. They are connected by a fill line, allowing each component to be optimally positioned independently without compromising the other's function.
Solution Approach 2:
A fill line acts as an intermediary element connecting the remotely positioned oil tank to the accessible filling port. This intermediary allows oil to be transferred from a convenient filling location to the remote tank position, resolving the contradiction between compact integration and filling accessibility.
2Device complexity
If manual pouring is used to fill the oil tank, then no additional filling equipment is needed, but oil spills and residue increase
Solution Approach 1:
A pressurized air line is introduced to deliver pressurized air to the oil tank through the fill line. This pneumatic mechanism automates the oil filling process by using pressure differentials to push oil from the filling port to the tank, eliminating manual pouring and preventing spills and residue.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service filling where pressurized air automatically drives the oil through the fill line into the tank without requiring manual intervention for pouring. The pressurized air system performs the filling action autonomously once initiated, reducing human contact and potential for spills.
3Volume of moving object
If the filling port is positioned on the oil tank in a remote location, then the tank can be optimally positioned on the engine, but the risk of leaving the cap off increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fill line serves as an intermediary that separates the oil tank positioning from the filling port positioning. The filling port can be located at an accessible position with proper cap retention features, while the oil tank remains in its optimal remote position on the engine, eliminating the risk associated with remote cap management.
Solution Approach 2:
The filling system is divided into separate functional elements: the oil tank in its optimal position, the fill line for oil transfer, and the filling port at an accessible location with cap. This segmentation allows each element to be optimized independently, ensuring both proper tank positioning and reliable cap retention at the filling port.
Data Source
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AI summary
A gas turbine engine for an aircraft comprises: an engine core comprising a turbine, a compressor, and a core shaft connecting the turbine to the compressor. The gas turbine engine further comprises a core casing surrounding the engine core. The gas turbine engine further comprises a core cowl surrounding the engine core and the core casing. The gas turbine engine further comprises an engine accessory gearbox driven by a take-off from the core shaft. The gas turbine engine further comprises an oil system having one or more oil pumps powered by the engine accessory gearbox for circulating lubricating oil around components of the engine including the engine accessory gearbox, and having an oil tank for receiving and storing oil scavenged from the engine components before recirculation thereto. The gas turbine engine further comprises an oil fill line which extends from the engine accessory gearbox to an inlet port accessible from the core cowl, the oil tank being fillable from the inlet port via the fill line and the engine accessory gearbox.