Gas Turbine Patents (Class 184/6.11)
  • Publication number: 20080264726
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a turbomachine comprising an air compressor (3) and a lubrication circuit with an oil tank (1), said oil tank (1) being possibly isolated from the rest of the lubrication circuit (4,4A; 6,6A) by means of an isolation valve (7), wherein the isolation valve (7) is configured so as to: operate, i.e. to close and open respectively as the engine (2) stops and starts; remain open when the engine (2) is running; remain closed when the engine (2) is stopped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: Techspace Aero S.A.
    Inventors: Albert Cornet, Marc Mon Fort
  • Patent number: 7430850
    Abstract: An oil scavenge system includes a tangential scavenge scoop and a settling area adjacent thereto which separately communicate with a duct which feeds oil into an oil flow path and back to an oil sump. A shield is mounted over the settling area to at least partially shield the collecting liquid oil from interfacial shear. A multiple of apertures are located through the shield to permit oil flow through the shield and into the duct. The scavenge scoop forms a partition which separates the duct into a first portion and a second portion. The first portion processes upstream air/oil mixture that is captured by the tangential scoop while the second portion receives the oil collected in the settling area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Robert E. Peters, Dwayne Messerschmidt, J. Axel Glahn, Kenneth L. Allard, Hslanmin F. Jen, Larry W. Spires, Roger M. Barnsby
  • Publication number: 20080236951
    Abstract: An oil scavenge system of a gas turbine engine in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, comprises a housing defined about an axis of rotation, the housing confining an air/oil mixture in motion within the housing and defining an oil scavenge area below the axis of rotation. The housing further includes an outlet at a low location of the housing. A churning damper is supported within the housing and is located in the oil scavenge area. The churning damper includes at least one plate, allowing the air/oil mixture in motion to pass over or through the plate only in a peripheral area of the at least one plate to cause flow energy dissipation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Daniel T. ALECU, Kenneth PARKMAN
  • Patent number: 7426834
    Abstract: A method facilitates assembling a gas turbine engine that includes an oil supply and scavenge system, wherein the oil supply and scavenge system includes at least one sump cavity that includes a first scavenge port and a second scavenge port, a first oil pump and a second oil pump such that the first oil pump is in flow communication with and receives scavenge oil from the first scavenge port and the second oil pump is in flow communication with and receives scavenge oil from the second scavenge port. In addition, an oil supply source is coupled in flow communication with the first and second oil pumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Charles Robert Granitz, Mark Eden Zentgraf
  • Publication number: 20080190700
    Abstract: A lubrication scavenge system. The lubrication scavenge system includes a structure disposed for high-speed rotation about an axis. The lubrication scavenge system also includes a sump housing with an inwardly-facing surface substantially encircling the structure for receiving and directing lubricant expelled from the structure. A volume is defined between the structure and the inwardly-facing surface. The lubrication scavenge system also includes an open cell metal foam body disposed in the volume and tightly encircling the structure to substantially reduce windage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventor: JOHN H. MUNSON
  • Patent number: 7387189
    Abstract: An emergency lubrication system for a turbine engine includes a reservoir 50 containing a reserve quantity of lubricant 52 and having a lubricant inlet 54 and a lubricant outlet 56. A lubricant supply line 62 and a lubricant outlet line 66 each have a respective valves 64, 68 for regulating lubricant flow into and out of the reservoir. A fluid supply line 70 includes a valve 72 for selectively establishing communication between the reserve quantity of lubricant and a source of pressurized fluid. During normal operation the lubricant outlet valve continuously releases lubricant at a normal rate to the component requiring lubrication while the lubricant inlet valve concurrently admits fresh lubricant into the reservoir. During abnormal operation, the lubricant inlet valve closes in response to abnormally low lubricant pressure outside the reservoir thereby preventing backflow of reserve lubricant out of the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: United Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Denman H. James, J. Axel Glahn
  • Publication number: 20080135336
    Abstract: A bearing lubrication system for a gas turbine engine that has bearings supporting a rotor shaft comprises a housing for the engine that serves as a primary static structural support; a rotor shaft for mounting rotational components of the engine; at least two bearings for supporting the rotor shaft within the housing, each bearing comprising an inner race that couples to the rotor shaft comprising a plurality of inner race lubricant apertures that extend radially through the inner race that supply pressurised lubricant to selected regions within the bearing, an outer race that couples to a primary static structural support, a plurality of ball elements between the inner race and the outer race and a ball cage to maintain the relative radial spacing of the ball elements between each other within the inner race and the outer race; and a lubricant distribution system for delivering pressurised lubricant to the inner race apertures in each of the bearings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Gordon F. Jewess, Mark N. Shatz, Anthony C. Jones, Eric J. Alexander, Jeffrey V. Stenberg
  • Publication number: 20080134657
    Abstract: An oil scavenge system includes a scavenge pipe which extends forward into a relatively long and narrow compartment area of a rear bearing compartment of a gas turbine engine with aggressive core size constraints. The scavenger pipe communicates collected oil to a scavenger pump to return oil to the oil sump and evacuate the oil before flooding of the seals may occur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Enzo DiBenedetto, Todd A. Davis
  • Publication number: 20080127627
    Abstract: A recirculating bearing lubrication system for a gas turbine engine that comprises a housing for the engine that serves as a primary static structural support, a rotor shaft for mounting rotational components of the engine, at least two bearings for supporting the rotor shaft within the housing and an air intake for supplying engine air comprises a generally annular lubricant source mounted about the engine intake to cool lubricant for the bearings; a solenoid that seals the lubricant from air contamination during storage of the engine and unseals it upon starting the engine; a lubricant pump that circulates the lubricant; at least one lubricant spray jet that receives circulating lubricant and sprays lubricant onto the bearings; and a sump for collecting excess lubricant sprayed on the bearings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: Gordon F. Jewess, Anthony C. Jones, Robert O. Barkley
  • Patent number: 7377098
    Abstract: Disclosed is a structural frame for a gas turbine engine comprising an integral fluid reservoir and air/fluid heat exchanger. A central hub includes a reservoir for storing a fluid and an outer rim circumscribes the hub. A heat exchanger is fluidly coupled to the reservoir and is in simultaneous communication with the fluid and an air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Herbert L. Walker, Stevan W. Akerley
  • Patent number: 7373780
    Abstract: An oil scavenge system includes a tangential scavenge scoop and a settling area adjacent thereto which separately communicate with a duct which feeds oil into an oil flow path and back to an oil sump. A shield is mounted over the settling area to at least partially shield the collecting liquid oil from interfacial shear. A multiple of apertures are located through the shield to permit oil flow through the shield and into the duct. The scavenge scoop forms a partition which separates the duct into a first portion and a second portion. The first portion processes upstream air/oil mixture that is captured by the tangential scoop while the second portion receives the oil collected in the settling area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Robert E. Peters, Dwayne Messerschmidt, J. Axel Glahn, Kenneth L. Allard, Hsianmin F. Jen, Larry W. Spires, Roger M. Barnsby
  • Patent number: 7373771
    Abstract: The accessory gearbox (AGB) has at least one coolant passage between the AGB and the accessory for externally cooling the accessory without coolant flow inside the accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: David Brouillet
  • Publication number: 20080110699
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for scavenging lubricant is disclosed herein. In the invention, a rotating structure is encircled within a sump housing and subjected to lubrication. The sump housing collects high-momentum lubricant flow and low-momentum lubricant flow. The interior of the sump housing is separated into a plurality of chambers with at least one dynamic seal. The at least one dynamic seal extends between the sump housing and the rotating structure to isolate the high-momentum lubricant flow from the low-momentum lubricant flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventor: John Munson
  • Publication number: 20080105493
    Abstract: In a fluid system for a gas turbine engine, oil is supplied from an oil tank (10) by a constant displacement pump (12) to lubricate engine components (18). The oil is supplied to the components (18) via a heat exchanger (16) in which oil and fuel are placed in direct heat exchange relationship. The flow of oil to the components (18) is controlled by recirculating a proportion of the oil flow through a bypass (20). The bypass (20) regulates the flow of oil to the components (18) so that the amount of heat transferred to the fuel in the heat exchanger (16) is controlled. At low engine powers a greater proportion of the oil flows through the bypass (20) to reduce the oil flow to the components (18). This reduces the heat transferred to the fuel in the heat exchanger (16) and so prevents overheating of the fuel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Inventors: Mark J. Tumelty, Christopher J. Ellans
  • Publication number: 20080107522
    Abstract: A turbine engine utilizes an oil director to direct any leakage oil from a rear bearing compartment of the turbine engine toward a drain opening for an oil drain. The oil drain is formed in a heat shield located between the low pressure turbine and the exhaust nozzle. The oil drain directs the leakage oil to a benign area of the turbine engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Inventor: Enzo DiBenedetto
  • Patent number: 7367427
    Abstract: A lubrication system for supplying lubricants between two environments is provided. The first environment is disposed within a first housing and the second environment is disposed within a second housing having a supply opening and an exhaust opening. The system includes a lubricant supply tube disposed within the supply opening and configured to supply lubricant from the first environment to the second environment. The system also includes a receptacle disposed within the second housing and configured to receive lubricant supplied from the supply tube and to hold a predetermined volume of the lubricant. A check valve is disposed within the second housing and is in fluid communication with the exhaust opening. The check valve is configured to receive overflow lubricant from the receptacle, if the lubricant exceeds the predetermined volume and to provide a seal between the first and second environments in response to a pressure differential therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Louie T. Gaines, Kellan P. Geck, Todd A. Langston, David M. Mathis, Jennifer L. Zonneveld
  • Publication number: 20080093173
    Abstract: A method for determining volumes of working fluids used in fluid operated systems that would be present at selected temperatures in working fluid reservoirs provided in those fluid operated systems based on measured volumes of the working fluids present in the reservoirs at measured temperatures, systems volumes and densities of the working fluids at the selected and measured temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Denman H. James, Francis J. Parnin
  • Patent number: 7360361
    Abstract: An electrically controlled turbocharger having a substantially vertically oriented shaft interconnecting a turbine and a compressor. The vertical orientation serves to eliminate the effects of gravity on the rotating components. Placing the turbine vertically above the motor and compressor and provides additional cooling through convection of heat produced by hot exhaust gas flowing through the turbine. A lubricating system utilizes scavenged air from the compressor to draw lubricating oil through internal passages of the motor housing to maintain a desirable oil sump level, ventilate the auxiliary induction motor, and provide pressure to the oil seals of the motor cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Advanced Propulsion Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Prusinski, Peter Hofbauer, Jason Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7287368
    Abstract: In a fluid system for a gas turbine engine, oil is supplied from an oil tank (10) by a constant displacement pump (12) to lubricate engine components (18). The oil is supplied to the components (18) via a heat exchanger (16) in which oil and fuel are placed in direct heat exchange relationship. The flow of oil to the components (18) is controlled by recirculating a proportion of the oil flow through a bypass (20). The bypass (20) regulates the flow of oil to the components (18) so that the amount of heat transferred to the fuel in the heat exchanger (16) is controlled. At low engine powers a greater proportion of the oil flows through the bypass (20) to reduce the oil flow to the components (18). This reduces the heat transferred to the fuel in the heat exchanger (16) and so prevents overheating of the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Mark J Tumelty, Christopher J Ellans
  • Publication number: 20070245706
    Abstract: An electric motor thermally associated with a liquid reservoir of an aircraft engine is selectively operated to generate heat for pre-heating a liquid in a reservoir prior to engine start.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: Joshua David BELL, Kevin Allan DOOLEY, William J. K. SAVAGE
  • Patent number: 7278516
    Abstract: A lubrication system includes an inlet conduit having an inboard end attached to a bearing support and an outboard end for receiving lubricant. A lubricant inlet assembly is attached to the inlet conduit outboard end and has an inlet cap with a receptacle, an inlet cap body, and a cap base. The inlet receptacle is configured to mate with a lubricant supply line, where the inlet cap body has an outer cap enclosing an inner cap, the outer cap having a convoluted wall. An inlet conduit termination fitting has an outboard fitting section, with an o-ring in a circumferential groove, disposed inside the inlet cap, and an inboard fitting section attached to the inlet conduit outboard end. A cap heat shield encloses the inlet cap and a conduit heat shield is attached to the inlet conduit. The lubricant inlet assembly is mounted to an engine casing with a low-conductivity insulating gasket between the cap base and the engine casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: George J. Zalewski, Daniel J. Robinson, Mark Kyler, Donn Loper
  • Patent number: 7225626
    Abstract: A multiple path fluid circuit comprising a fluid reservoir and a fluid pump having an inlet in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir. The fluid pump may have an outlet in fluid communication with an inlet of a fluid cooling circuit. The fluid cooling circuit may then have an outlet in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir. The outlet of the fluid pump may also be in fluid communication with an inlet of a lubrication circuit, which may be in fluid communication with a delivery system capable of supplying a fluid to a moving component or to a component in contact with the moving component. A gas turbine engine comprising a multiple path fluid circuit is also disclosed as well as a method of utilizing a multiple path fluid circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Robinson, Walter B. Smith, Richard Gockel
  • Patent number: 7216473
    Abstract: A lubrication system for an expendable gas turbine engine (20) having a rotatable shaft (26) is provided. Bearings (28) journal the shaft (26) for rotation about an axis. The system includes a vessel (46) for containing lubricating oil, a conduit (58) extending from the vessel (46) to the bearings (28), and a solenoid operated valve (70,76) in the conduit (58) and operable to only either fully open or fully closed. A control circuit (16) is provided for pulsing the solenoid (70) at a controlled rate to alternatingly (a) allow oil flow and (b) halt oil flow to the bearings (28) for a time insufficient to cause oil starvation of the bearings (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Malcolm J. McArthur, Anthony C. Jones
  • Patent number: 7163086
    Abstract: A lubrication system comprises a reservoir for lubricant, lubricant delivery means to deliver lubricant to at least one component to be lubricated, an injector associated with each component, a control system to control the opening and closing of each injector and scavenge means to remove surplus lubricant from around each component and return it to the reservoir. Each injector comprises a pulsative injector, controlled by the control system to deliver lubricant to its associated component in a series of discrete pulses. In a preferred embodiment both the delivery of oil to each component and the scavenging of oil from each component are controlled in response to sensed conditions of that component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: Ian C D Care, James E Forfar
  • Patent number: 7134282
    Abstract: A turbocharger system for a combustion engine and method of installing a turbocharger system includes a turbocharger having an oil inlet and an oil outlet configured for being coupled to an oiling system. An oil pump is connected to the oil outlet of the turbocharger and is further connected to the oiling system. The turbocharger system also includes mounting hardware for mounting the turbocharger to an exhaust pipe away from the engine at or below the oil level of the oiling system. In one embodiment, the method of installing the turbocharger system includes removing an existing muffler from the vehicle and mounting the turbocharger at or near the location of the existing muffler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Squires Turbo Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard K. Squires
  • Patent number: 7093418
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine is configured to use relatively cool, low pressure air discharged from a low pressure compressor to supply buffer air to lubrication sump seals. The engine is further configured such that the lubrication sump is thermally layered by isolating relatively hot, high pressure compressor air from the sump by utilizing a warm vent mixing cavity, which is located radially between of the hot high pressure compressor air and the cool buffer air, which is located in a buffer cavity between the vent cavity and the sump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark C. Morris, Alan G. Tiltman, Kin Poon, Bradley A. Volkmann
  • Patent number: 7086842
    Abstract: A turbocharger having a turbine wheel mounted to a seal boss at one end of a shaft and a compressor wheel mounted to the other end of the shaft. The seal boss includes an annular face angled relative to a radial plane extending through the shaft so that as the shaft rotates oil present on the annular face is projected into an oil collecting groove in a direction radially away from the shaft and axially away from an annular passage in a housing wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Holset Engineering Company Limited
    Inventor: Philip Mark Wild
  • Patent number: 7065954
    Abstract: A turbine includes a combustion chamber with deflectors generating vortices in a secondary gas flow into the combustion chamber, thereby confining the flame front from penetrating into the cold region of the chamber under variable operating conditions, simplifying cooling of the chamber walls. The turbine further includes devices for decoupling vibrations between the high- and low-speed shafts, including a loosely mounted spline coupling the high-speed shaft to the step-down system and disk dampening means coupling the step-down system to the low-speed output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Inventor: Gustavo Francisco Labala
  • Patent number: 7055303
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine having an oil cavity architecture and bearing placement which reduce heat rejection and oil system complexity by enclosing the reduction gearbox bearings and at least the shaft bearings supporting the high pressure shaft in the same oil cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventors: Ian Macfarlane, Zenon Szlanta, Lazar Mitrovic, Keith Morgan
  • Patent number: 6915634
    Abstract: A supercharger arrangement for an engine assembly 10 is disclosed, the arrangement including first and second superchargers 22A, 22B that are mounted on the engine assembly by means of separate first and second mounting members 46, 48 respectively. Each mounting member defines an integrated supercharger lubrication conduit 62A, 62B, 64A, 64B and the present invention is characterized in that the superchargers 22A, 22B are of substantially identical construction and are separable from the first and second mounting members 46, 48. The integrated lubrication conduits 62A, 62B, 64A, 64B are routed through their respective said mounting members in such a manner as to enable the first and second superchargers to be mounted on the engine assembly 10 in substantially mirror image orientations thereabout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Renault S.A.S.
    Inventors: Eric Dumas, Pierre Gonzalez, Pascal Hottebart, Benjamin Lheriau
  • Patent number: 6886665
    Abstract: A fluid scavenging system is provided for a lubrication system including a gas turbine engine having bearing compartments. A valve includes a housing with an outlet and a plurality of fluid inlets respectively in fluid communication with the bearing compartments. The valve includes a rotationally driven member arranged within the housing with the member having a plurality of ports arranged thereon each defining an arcuate slot. Each of the ports are selectively in fluid communication with one of the fluid inlets through the arcuate slot during rotation of the member for selectively permitting fluid flow between the opening of one of the fluid inlets through one of the corresponding ports in the member. A fluid pump is fluidly connected to the outlet for drawing fluid from each of the plurality of fluid compartments during fluid rotation of the member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand
    Inventors: Douglas A. Parsons, Kenneth Marks
  • Publication number: 20040237522
    Abstract: A turbocharger system for a combustion engine and method of installing a turbocharger system includes a turbocharger having an oil inlet configured for being coupled to a pressure side of an oiling system and an oil outlet, an exhaust inlet and outlet and an air charge inlet and outlet. An oil pump is connected to the oil outlet of the turbocharger and is further connected to the oiling system. A pressure driven check valve is coupled to the oil inlet of the turbocharger to prevent oil from flowing into the turbocharger when the pressure on the pressure side of the oiling system drops below a predetermined level. The turbocharger system also includes mounting hardware for mounting the turbocharger to an exhaust pipe and away from the engine and at or below the oil level of the oiling system. In one embodiment, the method of installing the turbocharger system includes removing an existing muffler from the vehicle and mounting the turbocharger in the location of the existing muffler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventor: Richard K. Squires
  • Patent number: 6799112
    Abstract: A method is provided for detecting airflow reversal in a sump system of a gas turbine engine. The method includes positioning a first pressure sensor at a sump vent to sense a discharge flow pressure from a sump within the sump system, positioning a second pressure sensor in the sump to sense a pressure in the sump, comparing the sensed pressures obtained from the first and second pressure sensors to determine a pressure difference, and comparing the pressure difference to a predetermined maximum allowable pressure difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bruce Alan Carter, Mark Anil Patel, Louis Charles Stokley
  • Patent number: 6793042
    Abstract: A lubrication system for lubricating gas turbine engine components and accessory components separately comprises first and second lubricant circulating circuits for separately feeding lubricant to the engine components and the accessory components. The system further includes a supply tank with first and second separate chambers respectively connected in fluid flow communication with the first and second lubricant circulating circuits. A filler port is defined in the tank for allowing the first chamber to be filled with lubricant. A filling and level maintaining circuit is connected to the first lubricant circulating circuit for directing a portion of the lubricant fluid pumped from the first chamber into the second chamber, thereby obviating the need for a second filler port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: Sylvain Brouillet
  • Patent number: 6745568
    Abstract: A turbocharger system for a combustion engine and method of installing a turbocharger system includes a turbocharger having an oil inlet configured for being coupled to a pressure side of an oiling system and an oil outlet. An oil pump is connected to the oil outlet of the turbocharger and is further connected to the oiling system. The turbocharger system also includes mounting hardware for mounting the turbocharger to an exhaust pipe away from the engine at or below the oil level of the oiling system. In one embodiment, the method of installing the turbocharger system includes removing an existing muffler from the vehicle and mounting the turbocharger in the location of the existing muffler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Inventor: Richard K. Squires
  • Patent number: 6679045
    Abstract: A bearing housing includes inner and outer shells through which a rotor shaft may extend. A service tube is fixedly joined to the inner shell and extends through a service aperture in the outer shell. A flexible coupling sealingly joins the service tube to the outer shell at the service aperture for permitting differential thermal movement between the inner and outer shells at the service tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Apostolos Pavlos Karafillis, Peter Walter Mueller, John Robert Ramsey
  • Publication number: 20040005231
    Abstract: Enclosure for liquid lubricated rotating elements (12, 16, 17). A first rotating element (16) with at least one bearing (13, 14, 15) lubrication fluid drainage point that cooperates with a second rotating element (17). A partition wall (21) is mounted between the drainage point and the second element (16, 17), in such a manner that lubrication fluid is substantially prevented from migrating from the drainage point to the second element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Publication date: January 8, 2004
    Applicant: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Per Larsson, Kent Giselmo
  • Publication number: 20040003968
    Abstract: A bearing lubrication system for a turbomachine having a lubrication chamber which defines a lubrication space surrounding the bearings has lubricant feeding devices for supplying lubricant to the lubrication space, a lubricant removing device for removing lubricant from the lubrication space, and a buffer case surrounding the lubrication chamber, that is located in the fluid space of the turbomachine, and defines a buffer space communicating with the atmosphere. Shaft contact seals are provided between the buffer case and the fluid space, and shaft seals are provided between the buffer space and the lubrication space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Publication date: January 8, 2004
    Applicant: ALM Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Anatoly Rakhmailov
  • Patent number: 6651929
    Abstract: A passive cooling system for an auxiliary power unit (APU) installation on an aircraft is provided. The system is for an auxiliary power unit having at least a compressor portion of a gas turbine engine and an oil cooler contained separately within a nacelle. The system includes the auxiliary power unit housed within the nacelle of the aircraft, an engine exhaust opening defined in the aft portion of the nacelle and communicating with the gas turbine engine, at least a first air inlet duct communicating with a second opening defined in said nacelle and with said compressor portion and the oil cooler is located within a second duct communicating with an opening other than the engine exhaust opening of said nacelle and with the engine exhaust opening. Exterior cooling air and engine exhaust ejected through said engine exhaust opening entrain cooling air through said second duct to said oil cooler, and thus provide engine oil cooling. An exhaust eductor is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp.
    Inventor: Luc Dionne
  • Patent number: 6481978
    Abstract: A system and associated method for protecting during a shutdown a turbine having a turbine shaft and a compressor driven by the turbine shaft. The system include a first lubrication system, a second lubrication system, and a control system. The first lubrication system is configured to provide lubrication to the compressor. The second lubrication system is configured to provide lubrication to the turbine. The control system monitors the rotation of the turbine shaft in response to a shutdown request and causes the first and second lubrication systems to provide lubrication to the turbine and compressor until and after the turbine shaft stops rotating. The control system causes the first lubrication system to provide lubrication for a first predetermined period of time after the turbine shaft stops rotating. The control system causes the second lubrication system provides lubrication for a second predetermined period of time after the turbine shaft stops rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: York International Corp.
    Inventors: Michael H. Zamalis, Russell A. Tiffany, Russell P. Wueschinski
  • Patent number: 6470666
    Abstract: A sump evacuation system for a gas turbine facilitates reducing oil leakage from bearing assembly sumps in a cost-effective and reliable manner. The engine includes at least one bearing assembly housed within a sump pressurization cavity. The sump evacuation system includes a sump pressurization cavity, a sump oil cavity, an air/oil separator, and an air pump. The bearing assembly and the sump oil cavity are coupled in flow communication with the sump pressurization cavity, and the air/oil separator is coupled in flow communication with the sump oil cavity. Furthermore, the air pump is coupled in flow communication with the air/oil separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Charles Przytulski, Charles Robert Granitz, Frederic Gardner Haaser, Awtar Singh Khera
  • Patent number: 6438938
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in the bearing compartment of a gas turbine engine includes a first conduit and a second conduit. The first conduit defines inner and outer surfaces between an inlet end and an outlet end. The second conduit defines inner and outer surfaces between an inlet end and an outlet end. At least a portion of the second conduit is substantially coaxial with and enclosed by at least a portion of the first conduit. One of the first conduit or the second conduit is a lubricant feed to the bearing compartment. The other of the first conduit and the second conduit is the air vent from the bearing compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Philip Scott Burkholder, Mark Allen Winely, Kevin Chin
  • Patent number: 6282881
    Abstract: A system for cooling the lubricant of the speed reducer of an aircraft turboshaft-engine during high-speed flight and during low-speed taxying. The cooling system includes a radiator through which the lubricant flows. An air supply duct delivers cooling air over the radiator. An air discharge duct discharges the air into the exhaust nozzle of the engine. The air supply duct is fed by an arcuate air take-off slot disposed in the air intake of the engine. The air discharge duct is provided with a flap for slowing air flow through the cooling system, and with an ejector-mixer, which is fed by compressed air, taken from the engine compressor, for creating a Venturi effect to increase air flow through the cooling system when required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Societe Nationale d'Etude et de Construction de Moteurs d'Aviation “Snecma”
    Inventors: Bruno Albert Beutin, Pascal Noël Brossier, Michel François Raymond Franchet, Jean-Loïc Hervé Lecordix, Marc Georges Loubet
  • Patent number: 6250897
    Abstract: A combination bearing supporting a shaft interconnecting the turbine and compressor wheels of a turbocharger incorporates a rotating journal bearing, a squeeze film damper with a registration and retention flange, and a ball bearing assembly. The ball bearing assembly has an outer race providing a thrust shoulder and a registration receiver for the damper flange. Ball roller elements are retained by the outer race and engaged between the thrust shoulder on the outer race and an opposing thrust shoulder on the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn F. Thompson, Robert J. McMullen