Planetary Gear Spray Bar With Integrated Oil Scavenge Windows
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Solution Overview
Problem
Supplying lubricant to the interface between a rotating carrier and a fixed ring gear in a planet gear system of a gas turbine engine is challenging, as the lubricant supply device must rotate with the carrier while ensuring efficient lubrication and scavenging of oil for other uses.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a spray bar with jet openings communicating with an inlet plenum to directly supply lubricant onto the sun gear and scavenging windows that capture and redirect oil into a discharge plenum, allowing for efficient lubrication and cooling of the planet gear system, while the carrier drives the fan rotor at a slower speed than the turbine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spray bar is mounted on a rotating carrier to supply lubricant to gear interfaces, then lubrication can be provided to moving components, but the device complexity increases and the scavenge function becomes more difficult to implement
Solution Approach 1:
The spray bar and scavenge component are merged into a single integrated structure. The spray bar includes both lubricant supply function (through radially inner face with jet openings) and oil scavenge function (through side faces with windows), eliminating the need for separate scavenge components and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining effective lubrication
Solution Approach 2:
The spray bar is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously performs lubrication delivery and oil scavenge operations. By incorporating both functions into one component mounted on the rotating carrier, the design simplifies the overall system while ensuring reliable lubrication and oil recovery
2Reliability
If spray bars are positioned to supply lubricant to the sun gear, then effective lubrication is achieved, but the ability to scavenge oil efficiently is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The spray bar structure is segmented into distinct functional zones: the radially inner face contains jet openings for lubricant supply to the sun gear, while the side faces contain windows for oil scavenge. This segmentation allows both functions to operate independently and efficiently without interfering with each other
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the spray bar are designed with different properties for different functions. The radially inner face is configured for lubricant delivery with appropriate jet openings, while the side faces are configured for oil collection with windows, ensuring each function operates at optimal efficiency
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 solution ensures effective lubrication and cooling of the gear reduction system, allowing the fan rotor to operate at a slower speed than the turbine, while efficiently scavenging and reusing heated oil for less demanding functions, thus enhancing the operational efficiency of the gas turbine engine.
Implementation Method 1
A radially inner face of the spray bars have jet openings communicating with an inlet plenum, such that lubricant can be passed outwardly of the jet openings from the inlet plenum and directly onto the teeth on the sun gear
Implementation Method 2
A pair of side faces on sides of the radially inner face and one of the side faces have a plurality of windows extending from the one of the side faces into a discharge plenum within the spray bar such that oil can be scavenged through the windows into the discharge plenum
Data Source
AI summary
A gear reduction includes a sun gear that engages a plurality of planet gears mounted on a carrier. The planet gears are engaged with a ring gear. The ring gear is fixed against rotation such that rotation of the sun gear causes rotation of the planet gears to cause rotation of the carrier. There are spray bars positioned circumferentially between adjacent ones of the planet gears. The spray bars have jet openings, such that lubricant can be passed directly onto teeth on the sun gear. One of the side faces has a plurality of windows such that oil can be scavenged. There are side surfaces between plurality of windows that do not have an opening. A gas turbine engine and a spray bar are also disclosed.