Gravity Controlled Valve Disc for Turbine Lubrication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engine lubrication systems face disruptions during negative gravity conditions, where the lubricating liquid rises and exposes the reservoir outlet to air, interrupting the supply to engine components due to the aircraft's maneuvers.
Innovation Solution
A fluid system with a reservoir and a supply assembly that includes a pivotable valve disc with an offset center of gravity, ensuring the valve remains closed under negative gravity conditions to maintain lubricant supply by switching to an alternate passage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a reservoir outlet is used to supply lubricating liquid during normal operation, then lubrication is provided under positive gravity conditions, but the outlet becomes exposed to air and supply is interrupted under negative gravity conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The valve disc is made pivotable about an axis rather than being fixed, allowing it to dynamically respond to changes in gravity conditions. The offset center of gravity ensures the valve automatically pivots to the appropriate position (open or closed) based on the orientation of the aircraft, maintaining reliable lubricant supply across varying operational conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve disc's center of gravity is deliberately offset from the pivot axis, creating an asymmetric weight distribution. This parameter change allows gravity itself to become the actuating force that opens or closes the valve depending on the aircraft's orientation, enabling the system to adapt to both positive and negative gravity conditions without additional actuators.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the valve disc is weighted with offset center of gravity, then the valve can respond to negative gravity conditions, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve disc uses its own offset weight and the aircraft's gravity conditions to automatically open or close the passage. The system is self-actuating and requires no external power source, sensors, or control mechanisms. The offset center of gravity creates a self-balancing mechanism that responds autonomously to changes in aircraft orientation.
Solution Approach 2:
The offset center of gravity of the valve disc acts as a counterweight that balances the valve in different positions depending on gravity direction. During positive gravity, the weight keeps the valve closed; during negative gravity, the same weight causes the valve to open, providing automatic adaptation without complex control systems.
3Device complexity
If a single passage is used for lubricant supply, then the system is simple, but the supply is interrupted when the outlet is exposed to air
Solution Approach 1:
The lubricant supply system is segmented into multiple passages (first passage with the pivotable valve and second passage as alternate route). This segmentation allows the system to isolate the affected passage during negative gravity conditions while maintaining supply through the alternate passage, ensuring continuous lubrication without requiring complete system redesign.
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
Ensures continuous lubricant supply to engine components across various operating conditions, including negative gravity scenarios, by effectively managing fluid flow through the system.
Implementation Method 1
The valve disc is weighted to have a center of gravity offset from the axis... The valve disc is pivotable about an axis and is weighted to have a center of gravity offset from the axis... configured to be open under positive gravity conditions and to be closed under negative gravity conditions
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid system for use with a gas turbine engine includes a reservoir having a reservoir inlet and a reservoir outlet and includes a supply assembly positioned in the reservoir. The supply assembly includes a first passage, a second passage, and a valve disc. The first and second passages are fluidically connected to the reservoir outlet. The valve disc is positioned in the first passage. The valve disc is pivotable about an axis and is weighted to have a center of gravity offset from the axis.