Shared Oil Heat Exchanger for Generator and Engine Gearbox Temperature Control

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing heat exchangers in aircraft applications add complexity, expense, and weight, which are undesirable in 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 single reservoir, hydraulic pump, and 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 separate heat exchanger systems into a single integrated heat exchanger that serves both the generator and engine gearbox. This merging reduces the number of components, simplifies the system architecture, and decreases weight while maintaining the ability to control temperatures for both components through a shared thermal management system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated heat exchanger is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously - cooling both the generator and engine gearbox through a single unit. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate dedicated heat exchangers for each component, reducing overall system complexity and cost

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 separate heat exchanger systems into a single integrated heat exchanger that serves both the generator and engine gearbox. This merging reduces the number of components, simplifies the system architecture, and decreases weight while maintaining the ability to control temperatures for both components through a shared thermal management system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated heat exchanger is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously - cooling both the generator and engine gearbox through a single unit. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate dedicated heat exchangers for each component, reducing overall system complexity and cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 separate heat exchanger systems into a single integrated heat exchanger that serves both the generator and engine gearbox. This merging reduces the number of components, simplifies the system architecture, and decreases weight while maintaining the ability to control temperatures for both components through a shared thermal management system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated heat exchanger is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously - cooling both the generator and engine gearbox through a single unit. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate dedicated heat exchangers for each component, reducing overall system complexity and cost

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 generator 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... the heat exchanger system is configured to provide the oil according to first temperature criteria to the generator and provide the oil according to second temperature criteria to the engine gearbox

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentUS12404808B2Multi temperature generator and engine shared oil

Publication Date: 2025.09.02 HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORP

AI summary

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