Lubricant Collector Assembly for Flow Separation in Epicyclic Gearboxes
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Solution Overview
Problem
In epicyclic gear trains, particularly in rotary wing aircraft power transmission boxes, there is a challenge in preventing the mixing of distinct lubricating liquid flows, which can lead to contamination and reduced effectiveness in lubrication and cooling due to the circulation of polluted or heated lubricant through rotational guiding devices.
Innovation Solution
A lubricating liquid collector with a hollow body, inlet, and outlet orifices, a barrier with a deflector and shoulder, and an anti-backflow wall to separate and direct clean lubricant flow to the intended devices while diverting potentially polluted flow away from critical components, ensuring effective lubrication and cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lubricating liquid is directed to planet wheel guide devices from above (higher position), then the guide devices receive lubrication, but the lubricating liquid becomes polluted before reaching the devices
Solution Approach 1:
The lubrication system is segmented into separate flow paths: a first flow path delivers clean lubricating liquid directly to planet wheel guide devices, while a second flow path handles lubricating liquid that has passed through the planet carrier guide device. This segmentation prevents polluted lubricant from contaminating the planet wheel guide devices, resolving the contradiction between providing lubrication and avoiding pollution.
Solution Approach 2:
A collector assembly acts as an intermediary component between the planet carrier guide device and the planet wheel guide devices. The collector receives lubricating liquid from the planet carrier guide device through a first orifice, separates it from the main flow, and directs it through a second orifice away from the planet wheel guide devices. This intermediary structure prevents the pollution pathway while maintaining lubrication functionality.
2Reliability
If lubricating liquid flows through the planet carrier guide device first, then the guide device is lubricated, but the lubricating liquid becomes heated and polluted before reaching planet wheel guide devices
Solution Approach 1:
The lubrication system divides the lubricating liquid flow into distinct segments: a main flow that bypasses the planet carrier guide device to directly lubricate planet wheel guide devices, and a separate flow that lubricates the planet carrier guide device. This segmentation ensures that heated and polluted lubricant from the planet carrier guide device does not degrade the lubrication quality for planet wheel guide devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The collector assembly is positioned and configured to preliminarily separate and redirect lubricating liquid before it reaches the planet wheel guide devices. The first orifice receives lubricating liquid from the planet carrier guide device, and the second orifice directs it away from the planet wheel guide devices, preventing pollution before it occurs at the critical lubrication points.
3Device complexity
If a single lubrication source is used for all guide devices, then the system is simpler, but clean lubricant mixes with polluted lubricant reducing effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The lubrication system uses a single lubrication source but segments the flow paths using the collector assembly. The collector creates separate channels: a first flow path for clean lubricating liquid going directly to planet wheel guide devices, and a second flow path for lubricating liquid that has interacted with the planet carrier guide device. This segmentation maintains simplicity while preventing mixing of clean and polluted lubricant, preserving lubrication effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The collector assembly serves as an intermediary that manages the single lubrication source. It receives lubricating liquid and intelligently distributes it through different orifices to different destinations, preventing contamination while maintaining system simplicity. The intermediary structure allows one source to serve multiple purposes without compromising lubrication quality.
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 solution effectively prevents the mixing of clean and polluted lubricant flows, maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of the lubrication system by ensuring clean lubricant reaches the necessary components and diverting potentially compromised lubricant away from critical areas, thus enhancing the operational efficiency and longevity of the gear train.
Implementation Method 1
a barrier (43) configured to deflect a second flow (52) of lubricating liquid, the barrier comprising: a shoulder (42) linked to the body (41)... a deflector (47) located on a side opposite the outlet orifice (45) relative to the bearing plane, the deflector locally projecting radially from the body (41) away from the geometric axis (AX)... a space for deflecting the second flow (431) located between the deflector (47) and the bearing plane
Implementation Method 2
a hollow body (41) around a geometric axis (AX) and provided with: an inlet orifice (44) configured to receive the first flow (51) of lubricating liquid, an outlet orifice (45) adapted and configured so that the first flow (51) is directed towards a guide device (35) linked to the crank pin (22)
Implementation Method 3
a bearing face (421) bearing against an external face of said crank pin (22) or against an external face of said support carrying said crank pin, said bearing face (421) extending in a bearing plane
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The present invention relates to a lubrication fluid collector for a crankpin (40) of an epicyclic gear train (10). Said epicyclic gear train (10) is lubricated by a lubrication system (50) directing a first flow (51) of a lubricating fluid to said collector (40) and a second flow (52) of said lubricating fluid to a component to be lubricated. The collector (40) comprises a hollow body (41) having an inlet orifice (44) for receiving said first flow (51) and an outlet orifice (45) adapted so that said first flow (51) is directed to a guide device connected to said crankpin (22). The collector (40) includes a barrier (43) having a shoulder (42) linked to said body (41) and a deflector (47) extending radially outward from said body (41) so as to form with said shoulder (42) a deflection space (431) to deflect said second flow (52) and prevent it from entering said collector (40).