Monolithic Damper Check Valve for Reverse Oil Flow Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas turbine engines face issues with oil backflow into the lubrication system due to vibration-induced pressure changes, leading to reduced effectiveness of oil film dampers and potential damage to lubrication components, which traditional mechanical check valves cannot adequately address due to wear and limited lifespan.
Innovation Solution
A monolithic, unitary damper check valve with a converging-diverging fluid channel design, featuring a Venturi shape and an annular gap, inhibits reverse oil flow without moving parts, ensuring easier mass flow in the standard direction and causing high pressure losses during reverse flow, thus preventing oil backflow effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical check valve is used to prevent oil backflow, then oil backflow is reduced, but the valve contains moving parts that are subject to wear and have limited lifespan
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the moving parts from the check valve design. Instead of using a mechanical valve with moving components, the patent employs a fixed geometry converging-diverging channel that uses fluid dynamic effects to achieve check valve functionality without any moving parts, thereby resolving the contradiction between backflow prevention and component lifespan
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical system (moving parts) with a fluid dynamic system. The converging-diverging channel utilizes the Venturi effect and pressure differential mechanisms to prevent backflow, substituting mechanical action with fluid dynamic principles, which eliminates wear and extends operational life
2Reliability
If traditional mechanical check valves are used, then oil backflow is prevented, but the moving parts are subject to wear and require maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes moving parts entirely from the check valve design, replacing them with a fixed geometry converging-diverging channel. This extraction of moving components eliminates wear and the associated maintenance requirements while preserving the backflow prevention function
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a simple, fixed-geometry channel structure that has no moving parts to wear out. The design is inherently maintenance-free and can be easily replaced if needed, effectively treating the valve as a disposable or long-life component that eliminates ongoing maintenance burden
3Reliability
If a monolithic passive check valve with converging-divergent channel is used, then backflow is reduced without moving parts, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the check valve function into a single monolithic passive structure with a converging-diverging channel. By combining all necessary geometric features into one integrated component with no moving parts, the design achieves backflow prevention while actually simplifying the overall device complexity compared to mechanical valve assemblies
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 significantly reduces reverse oil flow rates, maintaining the effectiveness of the oil film damper and preventing damage to lubrication components, while eliminating the need for movable parts, thus enhancing the operational stability and longevity of the gas turbine engine.
Implementation Method 1
A monolithic, unitary damper check valve with a converging-diverging fluid channel design, featuring a Venturi shape... causes high pressure losses during reverse flow
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a gas turbine engine (10) including a bearing compartment assembly (58). The bearing compartment assembly (58) includes a fluid pump (62), a compartment, a fluid line (63) between the fluid pump (62) and the compartment, and a damper check valve (60) located in the fluid line (63). The damper check valve (60) is a unitary, monolithic component that is configured to restrict a reverse flow from the compartment to the fluid pump (62) more than the damper check valve (60) restricts a standard flow from the fluid pump (62) to the compartment. For this purpose, the damper check valve (60) comprises a converging portion (68), a diverging portion (70) and a constriction (82) arranged between the converging and diverging portions (68, 70). Due to this specific shape, the check valve does not need any moving elements reducing the risk of wear, thus, increasing life-span.