Reduction Gear Oil Distributor With Separate Supply and Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mechanical reduction gears in turbomachines, particularly in aircraft turbomachines, face inefficiencies in lubricating oil supply and recovery, leading to potential overheating and reduced performance due to the mixing of hot and cold oil, which can cause stirring or churning, especially in planetary type operations.
Innovation Solution
A lubricating oil distributor with independent oil circuits for supply and recovery, featuring annular chambers and strategically located inlets and outlets, prevents oil mixing by separating oil supply and recovery functions, allowing for efficient discharge of heated oil and maintaining lower operating temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single oil circuit is used for both supply and recovery in reduction gears, then the device complexity is reduced, but the temperature control deteriorates due to mixing of hot and cold oil causing stirring or churning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the oil circuit into two independent circuits: a supply circuit and a recovery circuit. The supply circuit delivers cold oil to the reduction gear, while the recovery circuit collects hot oil from the reduction gear. This segmentation prevents mixing of hot and cold oil, eliminating stirring or churning effects and improving temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the recovery function from the supply circuit by providing a separate recovery circuit. The recovery circuit includes recovery outlets positioned to collect oil after it has performed its lubrication function, separating the oil recovery process from the oil supply process to prevent thermal mixing.
2Temperature
If independent oil supply and recovery circuits are implemented, then temperature control is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The distributor body serves multiple functions: it acts as both a supply distributor and a recovery collector. The same distributor structure provides both supply outlets for cold oil and recovery outlets for hot oil, reducing the need for separate components and minimizing overall device complexity despite the dual-circuit requirement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the supply and recovery circuits within a single distributor body structure. Both circuits share common components such as the distributor body, seals, and mounting arrangements, which reduces the overall complexity compared to having completely separate systems.
3Device complexity
If oil recovery outlets are positioned near supply outlets, then the distributor structure is simplified, but oil mixing occurs reducing lubrication efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The distributor is designed with different local characteristics for supply and recovery functions. Supply outlets are positioned in regions where cold oil should be delivered, while recovery outlets are positioned in regions where hot oil naturally accumulates after lubrication. This local differentiation prevents mixing while maintaining structural integration.
Data Source
AI summary
A lubricating oil distributor for a mechanical reduction gear of a turbomachine, in particular of an aircraft, includes a body of generally annular shape around an axis X and includes first and second independent oil circuits. The first oil circuit has a first oil inlet connected by a first chamber to several oil outlets distributed on the body around the axis X. The second oil circuit has a second oil inlet connected by a second chamber to several oil outlets distributed on the body around the axis X. The first and second chambers extend circumferentially around the axis X at different diameters, wherein the first and second oil circuits are formed in the body and are respectively a recovery circuit and an oil supply circuit for toothing of the reduction gear.