Squeeze Film Damper Drain Routing for Reduced Sump Volume
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Solution Overview
Problem
In rotating machines, especially in gas turbine engines, the existing oil management systems for squeeze film dampers and bearings require large sump volumes to handle the flowrate of oil, which is a concern in space-limited applications, and there is a need to minimize sump size without flooding components or reducing the scavenge capability.
Innovation Solution
The oil scavenge system directly discharges pressurized oil from the squeeze film damper into a scavenge conduit external to the sump, avoiding contact with the sump's radially inner surface, thereby reducing the volume of oil that needs to be collected and managed within the sump.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If oil is discharged from the squeeze film damper into the sump, then the sump can collect and manage the oil, but the sump volume must be large to handle the flowrate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the oil discharge path from the sump system by providing a direct discharge path from the squeeze film damper to the external environment, bypassing the sump entirely. This eliminates the need for the sump to handle the damper oil flowrate, thereby reducing the required sump volume while maintaining reliable oil collection for the bearing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the oil management system into separate pathways: one for bearing oil that goes through the sump, and another for squeeze film damper oil that discharges directly. This segmentation allows each subsystem to be optimized independently, with the sump volume determined only by bearing lubrication requirements rather than the combined total.
2Volume of stationary object
If the sump volume is reduced to save space, then space-limited applications benefit, but the scavenge capability may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By extracting the squeeze film damper oil discharge from the sump system, the patent reduces the total oil flowrate that the sump must scavenge. This allows the sump volume to be reduced without compromising scavenge capability, because the sump only needs to handle the bearing oil flow rather than the combined flow from both the bearing and damper.
3Reliability
If the discharge line directs oil into the collection orifice, then oil is properly collected, but the discharge line must be precisely positioned and aimed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs self-aligning features including a discharge line with sufficient length and flexibility, and a collection orifice positioned at the lowest point of the sump. The oil flow naturally follows gravity and the discharge line's path to reach the collection orifice, eliminating the need for precise angular positioning or complex alignment mechanisms.
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 approach reduces the volume of oil required to be collected and managed by the sump, allowing for a smaller sump design while maintaining effective oil scavenge capability, especially beneficial in applications with multiple bearings and squeeze film dampers.
Implementation Method 1
The discharge line is for discharging the pressurized oil from the annular channel. The discharge line is axially aligned with and discharges toward an inner wall of the scavenge conduit.
Implementation Method 2
The sump housing has a radially inner surface for directing the flow of oil and defining a collection orifice.
Data Source
AI summary
An oil scavenge system of a rotatable machine having an axis of rotation is disclosed. The oil scavenge system comprises a sump housing, a scavenge conduit, a bearing, and a squeeze film damper. The sump housing is arranged about the axis and at least partly defining a sump. The sump housing has a radially inner surface for directing the flow of oil and defining a collection orifice. The scavenge conduit is in fluid communication with the collection orifice and a downstream location remote from the sump. The bearing is disposed within the sump. The squeeze film damper is positioned proximate the bearing. The squeeze film damper comprises an annular channel and a supply line. The supply line supplies oil to the annular channel. The squeeze film damper further comprises a discharge line. The discharge line is axially aligned with and discharges toward an inner wall of the scavenge conduit.