Gear Lubrication Baffle Channel for Bevel Gear Windage
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Solution Overview
Problem
In turbine engine transmission systems, surplus lubricant can impinge on bevel gears, increasing windage and reducing efficiency, while baffles intended to prevent this can capture and churn lubricant, further increasing windage.
Innovation Solution
A baffle design with a channel and slot configuration that directs lubricant away from unmeshed gear teeth, preventing surplus lubricant from impinging and reducing windage by allowing lubricant to be directed towards a baffle outlet, thereby reducing windage on the bevel gear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a baffle is used to prevent surplus lubricant from impinging on bevel gears, then windage is reduced, but the baffle captures and churning lubricant which increases windage
Solution Approach 1:
The baffle is segmented into multiple functional zones: a first baffle portion that allows lubricant passage, a second baffle portion that blocks surplus lubricant, and a channel system that directs lubricant flow. This segmentation enables the baffle to simultaneously achieve lubricant delivery and surplus lubricant prevention without causing churning windage
Solution Approach 2:
The channel acts as an intermediary structure between the lubricant source and the gear meshing zone. It provides a controlled pathway for lubricant to reach the gears while preventing uncontrolled churning, thereby mediating between the need for lubrication and the need to minimize windage
2Reliability
If lubricant is directed onto gear teeth, then lubrication is improved, but surplus lubricant impinges on unmeshed teeth increasing windage
Solution Approach 1:
The baffle structure provides different local qualities at different positions: the first baffle portion has an open structure that allows lubricant passage to reach meshing teeth, while the second baffle portion has a blocking structure that prevents surplus lubricant from reaching unmeshed teeth. This local differentiation enables selective lubricant delivery
Solution Approach 2:
The channel is positioned and configured to preliminarily direct lubricant onto the meshing gear teeth before surplus lubricant can spread to unmeshed teeth. This preliminary action ensures proper lubrication is established first, preventing subsequent windage-causing impingement
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
The baffle design effectively reduces windage on the bevel gear by directing surplus lubricant away from unmeshed gear teeth, enhancing the efficiency of the transmission system and turbine engine.
Implementation Method 1
The channel may be configured to direct the lubricant in a direction of rotation of the subset of gear teeth towards the baffle outlet
Data Source
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AI summary
A baffle (64) for a gear (62) may comprise a baffle wall (86) and a baffle outlet (88), the baffle wall (86) having a peripheral portion (92) at least partially defining a channel (510), the channel (510) extending circumferentially around an axial centerline (72), the channel (510) configured to receive lubricant through a slot (520), the slot (520) extending circumferentially around the axial centerline (72). The baffle wall (86) may be configured to prevent a subset (84) of gear teeth (76) from receiving lubricant. A width (W) of the slot (520) may vary along a circumferential direction. A cross-section area of the channel (510) may vary along the circumferential direction. The cross-section area of the channel (510) may increase along a direction of rotation of the subset (84) of gear teeth (76).