Emergency lubrication supply system

Claim 2

An emergency lubrication supply system providing lubricant to a lubricated part for a limited duration after failure of a main lubrication supply system comprises: an emergency oil reservoir in substantial proximity to the lubricated part for receiving lubricant from the main supply system; a first conduit means having an inlet communicating for receipt of lubricant from the reservoir, and extending from the reservoir to an outlet for discharge of lubricant to the lubricated part a second conduit and passageway means having an inlet communicating to a point substantially below the first conduit inlet for receipt of lubricant from the reservoir and extending from the reservoir to an outlet for discharge of lubricant to the lubricated part, and air flow means for continuously supplying a flow of pressurized air over the second conduit outlet creating a suction therein for drawing lubricant through the second conduit during both normal operation and emergency operation when the main oil source has been disabled.

Claim 3

The emergency lubrication supply system of claim 1 wherein the lubricated part rotatably maintains a shaft with respect to a stationary frame member and there is further included a seal spaced axially apart from the lubricated part, wherein the seal comprises: a rotor element secured for rotation with respect to the shaft and a stator element concentric to the rotor element and stationary with respect to the frame member wherein the air flow means pressurizes the space between the stator and rotor elements and flows over the second conduit outlet.

Claim 4

The emergency lubrication supply system of claim 2 wherein: the seal is of the labyrinth type having a plurality of axially spaced circumferential teeth extending radially outward from the outer surface of the rotor element, and the stator element includes an opening therethrough for directing the flow of pressurIzed air between the rotor and stator elements; and the second conduit outlet is aligned closely adjacent the outside edge of one of the labyrinth teeth to provide a constricted area adjacent the second conduit outlet such that the pressurized air incurs an increased velocity and a decreased pressure in the constricted area.

Claim 5

The emergency lubrication supply system of claim 3 wherein the seal stator element includes at least one generally axially aligned groove extending from the second conduit outlet over at least one labyrinth seal tooth to locally increase the velocity of seal air over the second conduit outlet.

Claim 6

In a gas turbine engine of the type having a compressor, combustor, and turbine in serial flow relation, an emergency lubrication supply system providing lubricant to a lubricated part for a limited duration after failure of a main lubrication supply system comprises: at least one emergency oil reservoir in substantial proximity to the lubricated part for receiving lubricant from the main supply system; a first conduit means having an inlet communicating for receipt of lubricant from the reservoir, and extending from the reservoir to an outlet for discharge of lubricant to the lubricated part; a second conduit and passageway means having an inlet communicating at a point substantially below the first conduit inlet for receipt of lubricant from the reservoir and extending from the reservoir to an outlet for discharge of lubricant to the lubricated part, and air flow means for continuously supplying a flow of pressurized air over the second conduit outlet creating a suction therein for drawing lubricant through the second conduit during both normal operation and emergency operation when the main oil source has been disabled.

Claim 7

In a gas turbine engine of the type having a compressor, combustor, and turbine in serial flow relation, an emergency lubrication supply system providing lubricant to a lubricated part for a limited duration after failure of a main lubrication supply system comprises: at least one emergency oil reservoir in substantial proximity to the lubricated part for receiving lubricant from the main supply system; a first conduit means having an inlet communicating for receipt of lubricant from the reservoir, and extending from the reservoir to an outlet for discharge of lubricant to the lubricated part; a second conduit and passageway means having an inlet communicating at a point substantially below the first conduit inlet for receipt of lubricant from the reservoir and extending from the reservoir to an outlet for discharge of lubricant to the lubricated part, and air flow means for continuously supplying a flow of pressurized air over the second conduit outlet creating a suction therein for drawing lubricant through the second conduit during both normal operation and emergency operation when the main oil source has been disabled.

Claim 8

The emergency lubrication supply system of claim 5 wherein the lubricated part rotatably maintains a shaft with respect to an engine frame member, and there is further included a seal spaced axially apart from the part, wherein the seal comprises: a rotor element secured for rotation with respect to the shaft, and a stator element concentric to the rotor element and stationary with respect to the frame member wherein the air flow means pressurizes the space between the stator and rotor elements and flows over the second conduit outlet.

Claim 9

The emergency lubrication supply system of claim 6 wherein: the seal is of the labyrinth type having a plurality of axially spaced circumferential teeth extending radially outward from the outer surface of the rotor element and the stator element includes an opening therethrough for directing the flow of pressurized air between the rotor and stator elements, and the second conduit ouetlet is aligned closely adjacent the outside edge of one of the labyrinth teeth to provide a constricted area adjacent the second conduit outlet such that the pressurized air incurs an increased velocity and a decreased pressure in the constricted area.

Claim 10

The emergency lubrication supply system of claim 7 wherein the seal stator element includes at least one generally axially aligned groove extending from the second conduit outlet over at least one labyrinth to locally increase the velocity of seal air over the second conduit outlet.

Claim 11

The emergency lubrication system of claim 5 wherein: the lubricated part rotatably maintains a shaft with respect to an engine frame member; the emergency oil reservoir is generally shaped as a hollow annulus; the lubricated part is situated within a sump generally defined by the annular emergency oil reservoir spaced radially outward of the rotating shaft and concentric thereto, with the upstream and downstream axial limits of the sump generally defined by upstream and downstream seals together with means for scavenging lubricant from the sump; the inlet to the first conduit is in close proximity to the top of the emergency oil reservoir so as not to convey a mainstream of lubricant to the lubricated part until tHe emergency oil reservoir becomes substantially filled; the second conduit is displaced a slight circumferential distance from the first conduit in order to provide an emergency stream of lubricant substantially parallel to the main stream, and the inlet to the second passageway communicates to a point substantially near the bottom of the emergency oil reservoir.

Claim 12

The emergency oil supply system of claim 9 wherein one of the seals comprises: a rotor element secured for rotation with respect to the shaft, and a stator element concentric to the rotor element and stationary with respect to the frame member wherein the air flow means directs compressor bleed air between the stator and rotor elements before the compressor bleed air flows over the second conduit outlet.

Claim 13

The emergency oil supply system of claim 9 wherein one of the seals is of the labyrinth type comprising: a rotor element secured for rotation with respect to the shaft and having a plurality of axially spaced circumferential teeth extending radially outward from the outer surface of the rotor element, and a stator element concentric to the rotor element and stationary with respect to the frame member wherein the air flow means includes an opening through the stator element for directing air bled from the compressor between the rotor and stator elements, and wherein the second conduit outlet is aligned closely adjacent the outside edge of one of the labyrinth teeth to provide a constricted area adjacent the second conduit outlet such that the pressurized air incurs an increased velocity and a decreased pressure in the constricted area.

Claim 14

The emergency oil supply system of claim 11 wherein the seal stator element includes at least one generally axially aligned groove extending from the second conduit outlet over at least one labyrinth tooth to locally increase the velocity of seal air over the second conduit outlet.