Aircraft Reduction Gearbox Lubricant Strainer Access Layout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft engines with reduction gearboxes face challenges related to weight, cost, and size, as well as oil flow requirements for lubrication and cooling, which impact the oil system components.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an epicyclic gear train with compound planet gears and a lubrication system that includes a lubricant strainer and supply conduit, allowing for efficient lubrication and maintenance access within the aircraft engine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple epicyclic gear systems are used to achieve speed reduction and torque increase, then the reliability and performance of the reduction gearbox are improved, but the weight, cost, and size of the engine increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple gear functions into a single integrated epicyclic gear system. The sun gear, planet gears, and ring gear work together as one unified mechanism to achieve both speed reduction and torque multiplication, eliminating the need for multiple separate gear systems and thereby reducing overall weight while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The epicyclic gear system is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously - speed reduction, torque increase, and compact power transmission. This multi-functional design allows a single gear system to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate systems, reducing weight and complexity while improving reliability through integrated operation.
2Power
If multiple epicyclic gear systems are used to achieve speed reduction and torque increase, then the performance of the reduction gearbox is improved, but the size of the engine increases
Solution Approach 1:
The epicyclic gear system employs a nested configuration where planet gears are positioned around the sun gear, and the ring gear encloses the entire planet gear assembly. This nested arrangement allows multiple gear stages to be compacted into a single concentrated volume, achieving high torque multiplication without proportionally increasing the overall size of the reduction gearbox.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple gear functions are merged into a single epicyclic system that achieves both speed reduction and torque multiplication in one integrated mechanism. This consolidation eliminates the need for multiple separate gear trains that would occupy more space, thereby reducing the overall volume while maintaining power transmission capability.
3Reliability
If a lubrication system with strainer and supply conduit is implemented, then the reliability and maintenance accessibility of the planet gear bearings are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lubrication system introduces a strainer as an intermediary component that filters contaminants from the lubricant before it reaches the planet gear bearings. This mediator protects the bearings from wear and failure caused by particulate contamination, significantly improving reliability. The strainer is integrated into the lubrication circuit in a way that adds minimal complexity while providing substantial protective function.
4Ease of repair
If the lubricant strainer is positioned at the carrier-output engagement location, then the ease of maintenance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lubricant strainer is extracted from the internal gear train and repositioned at the carrier-output engagement location, which is more accessible for maintenance. This extraction allows the strainer to be serviced independently without requiring disassembly of the entire gear system, significantly improving ease of repair while adding minimal complexity to the overall device.
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
This configuration reduces the need for multiple epicyclic gear systems, minimizing weight and space while ensuring effective lubrication and maintenance accessibility, thereby optimizing the engine's performance and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a bearing lubrication system including a lubricant supply conduit extending between a conduit inlet at the carrier-output engagement location and conduit outlets at the lubrication interfaces of the plurality of planet gear bearings, the bearing lubrication system including a lubricant strainer mounted about the conduit inlet at the carrier-output engagement location
Implementation Method 2
a lubrication interface defined between each planet gear bearing and the one of the plurality of planet gears
Data Source
AI summary
A method of performing maintenance on an aircraft engine includes removing a propeller shaft of the aircraft engine to form an access volume at a center of the aircraft engine. The access volume extends axially and radially relative to a center axis of the aircraft engine. The method includes performing maintenance on a lubricant strainer positioned at a location of the access volume where a carrier of the aircraft engine engages an output of the aircraft engine.