Integral Front Center Body Gutter for Zero-G Lubricant Flow

Solution Overview

Problem

Gas turbine engines face challenges in lubricant flow during momentary periods of zero or negative gravity, where the existing lubrication systems do not provide a desired lubricant flow, leading to inefficiencies and increased complexity in assembly and maintenance.

Innovation Solution

A turbofan engine design featuring a front-center unitary body with a gutter that collects lubricant from the geared architecture and an auxiliary lubricant supply in fluid communication, eliminating the need for additional fasteners and seals, and forming a single unitary case structure to simplify assembly and reduce complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a separate gutter arrangement is added to capture and redirect lubricant, then lubricant flow during zero or negative gravity is improved, but device complexity and assembly expense increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelubricant flow consistencyVSAvoidgutter arrangement complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gutter is integrated directly into the front center body as a unified structure, eliminating the need for separate gutter components. The front center body and gutter form a single unitary structure that combines the structural support function with the lubricant collection function, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable lubricant flow during zero or negative gravity conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If a separate gutter arrangement is added to capture and redirect lubricant, then lubricant flow during zero or negative gravity is improved, but assembly time and expense increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelubricant flow consistencyVSAvoidassembly time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The gutter is integrated directly into the front center body as a unified structure, eliminating the need for separate gutter components. The front center body and gutter form a single unitary structure that combines the structural support function with the lubricant collection function, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable lubricant flow during zero or negative gravity conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If additional fasteners and seals are used to attach the gutter, then connection reliability is improved, but device complexity and assembly time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidfastener and seal complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gutter is integrated directly into the front center body as a unified structure, eliminating the need for separate gutter components. The front center body and gutter form a single unitary structure that combines the structural support function with the lubricant collection function, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable lubricant flow during zero or negative gravity conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10920616B2Integral gutter and front center body

Publication Date: 2021.02.16 RTX CORP

AI summary

A fan drive gear system for a turbofan engine is disclosed and includes a gear assembly and a front center body. The front center body is an annular case that supports the gear assembly. The front center body includes a passage portion that defines a portion of a core flow path, a forward flange configured for attachment to a first case structure forward of the front center body, and gutter portion disposed on a radially inner side of the front center body for collecting lubricant exhausted from the geared assembly.