US 12,078,239 B2
Gearbox lubrication system for an aircraft
Michael F. Mullen, Cheshire, CT (US); Thomas L. Tully, Box Elder, SD (US); and William Wolcott, Burleson, TX (US)
Assigned to Lockheed Martin Corporation, Bethesda, MD (US)
Filed by Lockheed Martin Corporation, Bethesda, MD (US)
Filed on Oct. 25, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/973,134.
Prior Publication US 2024/0133461 A1, Apr. 25, 2024
Prior Publication US 2024/0229922 A9, Jul. 11, 2024
Int. Cl. F16H 57/04 (2010.01)
CPC F16H 57/0435 (2013.01) [F16H 57/0415 (2013.01); F16H 57/042 (2013.01); F16H 57/045 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A lubricant system comprising:
a first gearbox defining a first internal cavity;
a second gearbox defining a second internal cavity;
a first lubricant cooler positioned external the first and second internal cavities, the first lubricant cooler configured to hold lubricant;
a second lubricant cooler positioned external the first and second internal cavities, the second lubricant cooler configured to hold lubricant; and
a plurality of fluid passages fluidly connecting the first lubricant cooler and second lubricant coolers to each of the first gearbox and the second gearbox, the fluid passages including
a first main fluid passage fluidly connecting the first lubricant cooler to the first gearbox;
a second main fluid passage fluidly connecting the second lubricant cooler to the second gearbox;
a first auxiliary passage fluidly connecting the first lubricant cooler to the second gearbox;
a second auxiliary passage fluidly connecting the second lubricant cooler to the first gearbox; and
a first valve fluidly connecting the first main fluid passage and the first auxiliary passage, the first valve configured to selectively control the flow path of lubricant from the first lubricant cooler to the first main fluid passage and the first auxiliary passage,
wherein the first main fluid passage splits into a first return passage fluidly connecting the first main fluid passage to the first lubricant cooler and a second return passage fluidly connecting the first main fluid passage to the second lubricant cooler.