US008235176B2

(12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 8,235,176 B2

Hannaford et al. (45) Date of Patent: Aug. 7, 2012

(54) LUBRICATION ANDSCAVENGESYSTEM 4,858,427 A 8, 1989 Provenzano .................... 60/39.08

7,811,001 B2 * 10/2010 Swainson .......... 384,462
2009/025O296 A1* 10, 2009 Hannaford et al. ............ 1846.2
(75) Inventors: Mark Hannaford, Clevedon (GB); John
L. Gibbons, Gloucester (GB); John FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
Astley, Bristol (GB); Hamish EP 1724. 445 A2 11/2006
Constable, Bristol (GB) GB 677490 A 8, 1952
GB 774 197 5, 1957
(73) Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC, London (GB) GB 2043 799 A 10, 1980
GB 2440 544. A 2, 2008
JP A-61-181641 8, 1986
(*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this JP 2004-332928 11, 2004
patent is extended or adjusted under 35 JP A-2006-2837.91 10, 2006
U.S.C. 154(b) by 652 days. OTHER PUBLICATIONS
(21) Appl. No.: 12/379,227 European Search Report dated Feb. 16, 2011 in corresponding Euro
pean Patent Application No. 0925 0384.6.
(22) Filed: Feb. 17, 2009
* cited by examiner
(65) Prior Publication Data
Primary Examiner — Michael Mansen
US 2009/O25O296A1 Oct. 8, 2009 Assistant Examiner — Mark KBuse
(30) Foreign Application Priority Data (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Oliff & Berridge, PLC
(57) ABSTRACT
Apr. 4, 2008 (GB) ................................... O806O53.5
A lubrication and scavenge system for a gas turbine, capable
(51) Int. Cl. continued operation in nose-down or nose-up orientations,
FOM II/03 (2006.01) has a number of oil drainage passages to return oil to one or
(52) U.S. Cl. ........................................................ 184/6.2 more collection chambers adjacent a rolling element bearing.
A rotary impellor in the chamber forces the oil into a scavenge
(58) Field of Classification Search ................... 184/6.2, off-take passageway in the chamber wall leading to a scav
1847 6.11 enge pump. However, in some orientations windage effects in
See application file for complete search history. the chamber can return the oil to the drainage passage rather
(56) References Cited
than permitting the impellor to centrifuge it into the off-take
passageway. As a result oil starvation may occur. To avoid this
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS and improve Scavenging a shield is located between the drain
age path and the off-take passageway adjacent to a face of the
2,604,188 A * 7/1952 Marchant ..................... 184f6.11 impellor. The shield may comprise an additional member, but
4,137,997 A * 2/1979 Ando ........................... 184,622 preferably is formed integrally with a bearing race so as to
4,281,942 A * 8/1981 Gaeckle et al. ... 403.38
4,344,506 A * 8/1982 Smith .......... 184f6.11 ease assembly.
4,732.236 A * 3/1988 Jacques ... ... 184/6.2
4,756,664 A * 7/1988 Cohen et al. .................. 415, 175 10 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
U.S. Patent Aug. 7, 2012 Sheet 1 of 3 US 8,235,176 B2

28

36

211,
12 a 2.
All

32 O
O
2O
FG. 2
U.S. Patent Aug. 7, 2012 Sheet 2 of 3 US 8,235,176 B2

FIG. 4b.
U.S. Patent Aug. 7, 2012 Sheet 3 of 3 US 8,235,176 B2

28

28
2O

30
52 54 38

F.G. 5b.
 US 8,235,176 B2
1. 2
LUBRICATION AND SCAVENGE SYSTEM controlled by a pressure relief valve 6. The pressurised oil
passes through a filter 8 and then a heat exchanger 10 before
BACKGROUND being distributed to oil Supply jets, generally indicated at 12,
located in a plurality of bearing chambers, the engine gear
The invention relates to a lubrication and Scavenge system. 5 box, etc. The oil feed pump 4 is a positive displacement pump
In particularit concerns a lubrication and Scavenge system for that delivers a known flow, proportional to pump speed. Oil
a rolling element bearing arrangement in a gasturbine engine. pressure is generated by resistance to oil flow in the oil Supply
An oil system provides lubrication, cooling and corrosion pipes backed by the bearing chamber pressures. The desired
protection for numerous internal components. In general, gas flow of oil to a component can beachieved by use of a suitably
10
turbine engines employ a self-contained recirculatory oil sys sized restriction known as an oiljet 12 at the end of the oil line.
tem that distributes oil from an oil tank under pressure to The design of the jet can provide either a ray or a targeted,
bearing chambers and other components throughout the coherent stream of oil, directed to a component or to a catch
engine. Once the oil has performed its immediate function it ing feature that will then feed the component.
falls into a collection volume and is returned to the oil tank by 15 Lubrication oil Supplied to the bearings etc. is evacuated
Scavenge pumps. Gravity plays some part in the collection from bearing chambers and the like and returned to the oil
process and engine designs must ensure avoid, irrespective of tank 2 by a scavenge system. In the first step of this return
engine orientation, spaces which prevent oil being picked-up cycle oil is drained from bearing chambers, or wherever it has
by the scavenge pumps. In extreme circumstances this can been utilised, to one or more collection chambers where it is
interrupt recirculation of the oil and lead to oil starvation. The directed into a scavenge-offtake 14 where the oil is picked-up
present invention has for an objection to maintain an oil
recirculation path in all circumstances. by a scavenge pump 16 and returned to the oil tank 2 through
The use of lubricant Scavenge systems in gas turbine a scavenge filter 18. The return path includes a de-aerator to
engines in which lubricating oil is collected and pumped back remove entrained air from the oil. Oil tank 2 provides a
to an oil reservoir has been long established practice. GB reservoir of oil to supply the oil system. The de-aerating
Patent No 774,197 issued to power jets (Research and Devel 25 device may be incorporated within the oil tank 2 or the return
opment) Limited published in 1957 described a gas turbine passageway for example adjacent the scavenge filter to
lubrication system including an oil scavenge pump having a remove air from the returning Scavenged oil.
rOtOr Scavenge pumps 16 generally follow the same construc
tion as the oil feed pump 4. Each bearing chamber is serviced
SUMMARY 30 by a dedicated Scavenge pump 16 except where bearing
chamber pressure or gravity can be used to drive the oil to a
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided shared sump. The capacity of a scavenge pump 16 is usually
a lubricant Scavenge system comprising a scavenge pump, a much greater than the oil flow it is required to return to the
collection chamber, at least one drainage path leading into the tank 2, in order to accommodate non-linear flow/speed rela
collection chamber, a rotary impellor located in the chamber, 35 tionships and aeration of the oil. Engines designed to operate
at least one off-take passageway in a chamber wall leading for extended periods in Zero or negative gravity flight condi
from the collection chamber to the Scavenge pump, and a tions will have oil tanks that incorporate features ensuring a
shield located between the drainage path and the off-take continuous Supply of oil.
passageway adjacent a face of the impellor and acting in FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a bearing chamber
operation to shield the face of the impellor. 40 and its associated Scavenge offtake arrangement. A Supported
shaft 20 is journaled in a rolling element bearing indicated
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS generally at 22, the inner race 24 of the bearing is fixed to the
shaft 20 and the outer race 26 of the bearing is fixed in a
The invention and how it may be carried into practice will bearing housing. A Small Sump region or collection chamber
now be described in more detail with reference to the accom 45 30 surrounding the shaft 20 is formed between the bearing 22.
panying drawings in which: a shaft seal 32 and bounded by the bearing chamber wall 28
FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an oil lubrication and on its radially outer surface. Set into the chamber wall 28 is a
Scavenge System; Scavenge off take port 34 and passageway 36 leading to a
FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a rolling element bear Scavenge pump (not shown). Although only one scavenge
ing showing the oil scavenge arrangement; 50 port 34 is shown there may be a plurality of such orifices
FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the Scavenge arrange spaced apart around the chamber wall 28 leading into the
ment of FIG. 2 in nose-down attitude; Scavenge passageway 36. Similarly, there may be more thana
FIGS. 4a and 4b show a modified arrangement incorporat single passageway. Facing scavenge port 34 is a scavenge
ing the invention in orientations corresponding to FIGS. 2 and pumping element 38 in the form of a disc carried on the shaft
3, and 55 20. The periphery of element 38 is aligned with the scavenge
FIGS. 5a and 5b show a further embodiment of the inven port or ports 34 so that centrifugal force arising from rotation
tion in different orientations. of the shaft 20 and element 38 forces oil contacting the disc
into the Scavenge port(s) 34.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Oil may drain into the collection chamber 30 from the
60 bearing 22 and through at least one drainage port 40 in bear
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a simplified sche ing chamber wall 28 at the exit of drainage passages 42 that
matic of a typical oil lubrication and scavenge system for a communicate with spaces (not shown) within a structure Sur
gas turbine engine is illustrated. The system comprises an oil rounding bearing housing in which lubricating oil may accu
tank or reservoir 2 from which lubrication oil is drawn by a mulate in Some or all orientations of the engine. The passage
pump indicated at 4. The particular system on which the 65 or passages 42 are formed to drain the contents of such spaces
illustration is based is of the pressure relief type in which the into a convenient space, such as collection chamber 30 from
pressure of the oil flow to bearing chambers (not shown) is which the oil may be scavenged.
 US 8,235,176 B2
3 4
In FIG.2 the illustrated arrangement has the axis of shaft 20 or the housing wall could be at least partly recessed to receive
oriented in a horizontal direction, i.e., across the page in a the portion, providing bearing loads can be satisfactorily
left-right direction. This is considered to be a normal orien transferred to the housing wall. A number of apertures or slots
tation for an aircraft propulsion engine in cruise operation. A 50 are formed in the cylindrical portion 46 of the shield
civil aircraft propulsion engine normally spends the majority 5 member corresponding to the size and spacing of the Scav
if not all of its operating life in this orientation with the axis of enge intake ports 40 in the bearing chamber wall.
its main shaft, such as shaft 20, within a few degrees of However, Such an arrangement involving an additional
horizontal. The greatest excursion from a Substantially hori component, i.e., shield 46 that has to be manufactured accu
Zontal orientation occurs during a climb phase when an rately and positioned correctly during assembly suffers inher
engine has a nose-up attitude at a greater angle. The capacity 10 ent disadvantages. A solution is illustrated in FIG. 5 in which
of the oil system, in particular the oil tank ensures a sufficient the outer race 26 of the bearing 22 is extended laterally at 52
supply of oil. However, certain types of aircraft may be to provide a portion functionally equivalent to the shield 44.
expected to operate at completely different attitudes of nose The extension portion 52 of outer bearing race 26 is provided
up, nose-down or inverted for relatively long periods. In these with a number of machined slots 54 spaced apart around the
cases attention is paid to identify potential oil trap spaces and 15 circumference of the bearing race that extend fully through
to provide drainage passages through which the spaces may the extended race wall 52 in a substantially radial direction.
drain into a convenient collection chamber whatever the ori There are as many Such slots 54 as the number of Scavenge
entation of the engine axis. However, it has been found in ports 40 in the bearing chamber wall. Each slot permits scav
practice that the efficiency of the scavenge collection system enged oil from a drainage passage 42 to enter the collection
is not constant and in some instances scavenge oil is not chamber 30 through ports 40. The thickness of the extended
picked up and can be prevented from draining into the col race portion 52, i.e., the dimension in a radial direction, is
lection chambers. sufficient to act as an effective shield over the element 38.
FIG. 3 illustrates the arrangement of FIG. 2 rotated Scavenged oil is thus passed into collection chamber 30 and
counter-clockwise through 90 degrees to a nose-up position. towards a more advantageous, radially inner position on the
In the situation of FIG. 3 the normal draining of oil into the 25 element 38.
scavenge collection chamber 30 may be interrupted unless The arrangement illustrated shows a collection chamber 30
special attention is paid to the positioning and layout passages at one side of a bearing 22. It will be understood that a similar
of drainage passages 42 relative to the element 38. arrangement may be provided at the opposite side of the
The oil tank 2 is provided with internal means (not shown) bearing to function in the same manner when the bearing
to ensure oil pick-up at all engine orientation so the oil pump 30 orientation is inverted relative to the orientation illustrated in
ing system will continue to operate as normal until the con FIGS. 4b and 5b, i.e., rotated through an angle of 180 degrees.
tents of oil tank 2 have been distributed through the oil pump The invention claimed is:
4. Unless the scavenge system can continue to return oil to oil 1. A lubricant scavenge system comprising:
tank 2 the lubrication system eventually will be starved of a Scavenge pump,
Supply. Passages such as indicated at 42 must be provided and 35 a collection chamber,
located with regard to providing drainage paths from at least one drainage path leading into the collection cham
enclosed spaces into collection chamber 30 where oil may be ber,
recirculated. However, problems may arise in the orientation a scavenge pumping element located in the chamber,
of FIG.3 because returning oil draining from passage 42 may at least one off-take passageway in a chamber wall leading
be forced back through port 40 by windage effects in the 40 from the collection chamber to the scavenge pump, and
collection chamber 30. As a result oil is effectively prevented a shield located between the drainage path and the off-take
from draining into the chamber 30 and being recirculated passageway adjacent a face of the scavenge pumping
back into the Scavenge offtake port 34 and passageway 36. element, located closer to the drainage path than the
The solution provided by the present invention is shown in Scavenge pumping element, and acting in operation to
FIGS. 4a and 4b comprises a weir, or shield generally indi 45 shield the face of the scavenge pumping element.
cated at 44, placed between the scavenge port 40 and the 2. A lubricant Scavenge system as claimed in claim 1
scavenge pumping element 38. The effect of shield 44 is to wherein the at least one off-take passageway is formed in the
help establish a flow pattern within collection chamber 30 chamber wall in close proximity with a periphery of the
which effectively guides oil droplets and oil mist onto the Scavenge pumping element.
element 38 at a radial point near to the shaft 20. This is found 50 3. A lubricant scavenge system as claimed claim 1 wherein
to be more effective at maintaining an oil film across the the shield comprises a member substantially parallel to a
surface of the element 38 which is shed from the periphery of plane of the scavenge pumping element.
the disc under centrifugal force into the scavenge offtake port 4. A lubricant Scavenge system as claimed in claim 1 in
34. which the collection chamber comprises part of a bearing
As shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b the shield 44 may comprise 55 chamber of a rolling element bearing for a rotary shaft, and
a shaped and perforated annular member of sheet metal mate there is provided an oil Supply to lubricate the bearing,
rial thickness. The component configuration illustrated has an wherein the collection chamber is provided at one side of the
“L-shaped” cross section consisting of a cylindrical portion bearing and the scavenge pumping element is driven by the
46 that extends in a substantially axial direction parallel to the shaft.
axis of shaft 20, and an annular portion 48 lying in a Substan 60 5. A lubricant Scavenge system as claimed in claim 4
tially radial plane at one end of the cylindrical portion 46. For wherein the drainage path is arranged to empty other parts of
the purpose of mounting the weir the cylindrical portion is a Surrounding structure into the collection chamber, and
formed with a radius matching the radius of the outer surface emerges into the chamber between the Scavenge pumping
of the outer race 26 of bearing 22. Exact dimensions depend element and the bearing.
upon the details of a chosen mounting arrangement. For 65 6. A lubricant Scavenge system as claimed in claim 5
example the cylindrical portion 46 could be trapped between wherein the drainage path emerges in the wall of the collec
the wall of the bearing housing and the bearing outer race 26, tion chamber between the off-take passageway and the bear
 US 8,235,176 B2
5 6
ing, and the shield member is located on the opposite side of 9. A lubricant Scavenge system as claimed in claim 6
the drainage path to the bearing. wherein the shield member is integrated with an outer race of
7. A lubricant Scavenge system as claimed in claim 6 the bearing.
wherein the drainage path emerges in the wall of the collec- 10. A lubricant Scavenge system as claimed claim 1
tion chamber adjacent an outer race of the bearing. 5 wherein the shield member carries the drainage path towards
8. A lubricant Scavenge system as claimed in claim 6 a radially inner portion of the Scavenge pumping element.
wherein the shield member comprises an additional compo
nent. k . . . .