US 12,258,904 B2
Passive auxiliary lubrication system
Norman A. Turnquist, Sloansville, NY (US); and Bugra H. Ertas, Niskayuna, NY (US)
Assigned to GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, Evendale, OH (US)
Filed by General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed on Apr. 29, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/661,416.
Prior Publication US 2023/0349326 A1, Nov. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. F02C 7/06 (2006.01); F01D 25/20 (2006.01); F02C 6/08 (2006.01); F02C 7/36 (2006.01); F16H 57/04 (2010.01)
CPC F02C 7/06 (2013.01) [F01D 25/20 (2013.01); F02C 6/08 (2013.01); F02C 7/36 (2013.01); F16H 57/0442 (2013.01); F05D 2260/40311 (2013.01); F05D 2260/60 (2013.01); F05D 2260/84 (2013.01); F05D 2260/98 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A passive auxiliary lubrication system comprising:
a gearbox assembly of an engine, the gearbox assembly comprising a sun gear, a plurality of planet gears, and a ring gear;
a pin disposed in a planet gear of the plurality of planet gears, the pin having an axially extending passage;
a plurality of radially extending passages disposed radially through the pin and through the sun gear, the plurality of planet gears, and the ring gear, the plurality of radially extending passages in fluid communication with the axially extending passage of the pin;
an auxiliary tank for storing lubricant, the auxiliary tank being passively pressurized to passively pressurize the lubricant;
an auxiliary tank feed line fluidly coupled with the auxiliary tank and a primary lubrication system, wherein the lubricant is supplied to the auxiliary tank from the primary lubrication system through the auxiliary tank feed line; and
an auxiliary supply line fluidly coupled with the auxiliary tank and the pin, the auxiliary supply line being coaxial with the axially extending passage of the pin and providing a flow of lubricant through the axially extending passage of the pin,
wherein the plurality of planet gears are entirely downstream of the auxiliary supply line with respect to the flow of lubricant through the axially extending passage of the pin, and
wherein the lubricant in the auxiliary tank flows from the axially extending passage radially through the plurality of radially extending passages to the sun gear, the plurality of planet gears, and the ring gear to lubricate the sun gear, the plurality of planet gears, and the ring gear.