Multi-Temperature Shared Oil System for Generator and Engine Gearbox Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing heat exchanger systems in aircraft applications add complexity, expense, and weight, making them undesirable for cost-sensitive, weight-sensitive, and space-limited environments.

Innovation Solution

A shared oil system with a heat exchanger system that provides oil at different temperatures to a generator and an engine gearbox, reducing complexity and weight by integrating a hydraulic pump, reservoir, and multiple heat exchangers to meet specific temperature criteria.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional separate heat exchanger systems are used for generator and engine gearbox, then each component can maintain its required temperature, but the system adds complexity, expense, and weight

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature controlVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple heat exchanger functions into a single integrated heat exchanger system that serves both the generator and engine gearbox. This unified system uses one coolant flow to cool both components, eliminating the need for separate heat exchangers and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining temperature control for both components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated heat exchanger system performs multiple cooling functions simultaneously - it cools both the generator and engine gearbox using a single coolant circuit. This multi-functional approach allows one system to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate systems, reducing complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If traditional separate heat exchanger systems are used for generator and engine gearbox, then each component can maintain its required temperature, but the system adds expense and weight

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature controlVSAvoidsystem weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple heat exchanger functions into a single integrated heat exchanger system that serves both the generator and engine gearbox. This unified system uses one coolant flow to cool both components, eliminating the need for separate heat exchangers and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining temperature control for both components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If traditional separate heat exchanger systems are used for generator and engine gearbox, then each component can maintain its required temperature, but the system adds expense and weight

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature controlVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple heat exchanger functions into a single integrated heat exchanger system that serves both the generator and engine gearbox. This unified system uses one coolant flow to cool both components, eliminating the need for separate heat exchangers and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining temperature control for both components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated heat exchanger system performs multiple cooling functions simultaneously - it cools both the generator and engine gearbox using a single coolant circuit. This multi-functional approach allows one system to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate systems, reducing complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 system achieves reduced weight, cost, and complexity while maintaining optimal oil temperatures for both the generator and engine gearbox, extending the generator's life and minimizing redundant components.

Implementation Method 1

a heat exchanger system in fluid communication with the hydraulic pump, a generator, and an engine gearbox

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchanger: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP4585794A1Multi temperature generator and engine shared oil
Publication Date: 2025.07.16 HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORP
  • EP4585794A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4585794A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4585794A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A fluid delivery system is provided including a reservoir (105) including oil, a hydraulic pump (110) in fluid communication with the reservoir (105), and a heat exchanger system (123). The heat exchanger system (123) is in fluid communication with the hydraulic pump (110), a generator (135), and an engine gearbox (137). The hydraulic pump (110) is configured to deliver the oil to the heat exchanger system (123). The heat exchanger system (123) is configured to provide the oil according to first temperature criteria to the generator (135) and provide the oil according to second temperature criteria to the engine gearbox (137).