Aircraft Turbomachine Oil Gutter Deflector for Radial Evacuation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft turbomachine sun gear reducers face challenges in efficiently evacuating and recovering lubricating oil, leading to premature wear, heat exchange issues, and increased oil consumption due to inefficient oil circulation and retention.
Innovation Solution
A lubrication oil piping gutter with a deflector-shaped annular bottom wall that facilitates radial oil flow from the inside to the outside, preventing oil accumulation and enhancing evacuation, combined with lateral edges for stiffness and improved oil recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple circular gutter is used to collect oil, then the device complexity is reduced, but oil accumulation occurs and evacuation efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The gutter is segmented into functional zones using a deflector element that divides the oil flow path. The deflector creates distinct regions for oil collection, deflection, and evacuation, allowing each zone to perform its specific function optimally without requiring complete structural redesign
Solution Approach 2:
The deflector acts as an intermediary element between the oil collection area and the evacuation opening. It mediates the oil flow by redirecting it toward the opening, ensuring efficient evacuation without requiring complex pumping or forcing mechanisms
2Volume of stationary object
If the gutter size is reduced to minimize tank size, then the volume of the stationary object is reduced, but oil recovery efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The deflector extracts and redirects the rotational oil film toward the evacuation opening, preventing oil from circulating uselessly around the gutter. This extraction of oil from the rotational flow ensures efficient recovery in a compact volume by directing oil flow purposefully toward the exit
Solution Approach 2:
The deflector performs preliminary action by intercepting and redirecting the oil film before it can complete a full circulation around the gutter. This preliminary deflection ensures that oil is directed toward evacuation early in its rotational path, maximizing recovery efficiency in limited space
3Ease of operation
If the gutter allows free oil circulation, then ease of operation is improved, but heat exchange and oil loss increase
Solution Approach 1:
The deflector causes oil to skip or rush through the evacuation opening rather than allowing it to circulate slowly around the entire gutter. This rapid passage through the opening reduces the time oil spends in contact with the gutter walls, minimizing heat exchange and energy loss while maintaining operational simplicity
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 enhances oil evacuation and recovery, reducing heat exchange and oil consumption, while minimizing the size of the oil tank and degassing circuit, thus addressing the inefficiencies in existing systems.
Implementation Method 1
The oil circulating in the reducer to lubricate the rolling elements and gear teeth is evacuated to the periphery by centrifugation
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure describes a lubrication oil piping gutter of an aircraft turbomachine. The lubrication oil piping gutter can be used for a sun gear train reducer of the turbomachine. The gutter may include two lateral annular walls connected at their outer periphery by an annular bottom wall. In some embodiments, the annular bottom wall may include at least one oil evacuation opening in which is located a deflector configured to facilitate the flow of oil radially from the inside to the outside of the gutter.