Air-Oil Separator Pinion With Guided Airflow in Compact Gearboxes
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Solution Overview
Problem
The compactness of conventional turbomachine accessory gearboxes reduces the axial distance between the air/oil separator and pinion, limiting the air flow passage section and efficiency of the separator.
Innovation Solution
A pinion with guiding openings that have inclined surfaces to guide and straighten the air flow, allowing increased passage section and flow rate without compromising compactness, and enabling both driving and aspirating functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the axial distance between the separator and pinion is reduced to increase compactness, then the gearbox becomes more compact, but the passage section for air flow is reduced, limiting the circulation of air flow and reducing separator efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transforms the air flow passage from a conventional axial configuration to a radial configuration through the pinion structure. The guiding openings in the pinion web plate create radial flow paths that allow air to enter and exit the separator more efficiently, effectively increasing the passage section without increasing the axial distance between components.
Solution Approach 2:
The pinion is given multiple functions: it serves both as a driving element for the separator and as an air flow guide structure. The web plate of the pinion incorporates guiding openings that direct air flow into and out of the separator, combining the drive function with the air circulation function in a single component.
2Volume of moving object
If the axial distance between the separator and pinion is reduced to increase compactness, then the gearbox becomes more compact, but the efficiency of the separator is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding openings in the pinion web plate act as intermediary structures that facilitate air flow between the gearbox environment and the separator. These openings with inclined guiding surfaces properly direct the air flow, ensuring that the separator receives adequate air supply even when positioned closer to the pinion, thereby maintaining separation efficiency.
3Weight of moving object
If straight passage openings are used in the pinion, then weight is reduced, but the ability to guide and accelerate air flow is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses inclined surfaces within the guiding openings of the pinion web plate to guide and accelerate air flow. These inclined surfaces create a suction effect that increases the air flow rate into and out of the separator, while the overall pinion structure remains relatively lightweight compared to adding separate air guiding components.
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 pinion enhances the air flow circulation and flow rate through the separator, maintaining efficiency even in compact designs, by using inclined guiding surfaces to straighten and accelerate the air flow, thus optimizing the operation of the air/oil separator.
Implementation Method 1
The guiding surface makes it possible to accelerate the circulation of an air flow entering or exiting the separator by producing a suction effect
Implementation Method 2
the air/oil separator being configured to be supplied at the input by an air flow to de-oil and to supply at the output, on the one hand, a de-oiled air flow and, on the other hand, an oil flow by centrifugation
Data Source
AI summary
A drive pinion of an air/oil separator of an accessory gearbox of a turbomachine, the air/oil separator being configured to be supplied at the input by an air flow to de-oil and to supply at the output, on the one hand, a de-oiled air flow and, on the other hand, an oil flow by centrifugation, the pinion being configured to drive the separator rotationally along an axis of rotation, the pinion being mounted facing a passage opening of the separator, the pinion comprising at least one guiding opening traversing the web plate defining at least one guiding surface inclined with respect to the axis of rotation in such a way as to guide along the axis an air flow to de-oil into the separator or a de-oiled air flow out of the separator via the guiding opening of the pinion.