US 12,441,466 B2
System for testing aircraft emergency lubrication system
Douglas Robert Mueller, Coppell, TX (US); Jason DeWitt McPeak, Weatherford, TX (US); and Mark Alan Przybyla, Keller, TX (US)
Assigned to Textron Innovations Inc., Providence, RI (US)
Filed by Textron Innovations Inc., Providence, RI (US)
Filed on Oct. 24, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/049,181.
Prior Publication US 2024/0132206 A1, Apr. 25, 2024
Prior Publication US 2024/0228030 A9, Jul. 11, 2024
Int. Cl. F16H 57/04 (2010.01); B64C 29/00 (2006.01); B64F 5/60 (2017.01); B64D 35/00 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 29/0033 (2013.01) [B64F 5/60 (2017.01); F16H 57/0442 (2013.01); B64D 35/00 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A rotorcraft, comprising:
a body;
a rotor blade;
a drive system operable to rotate the rotor blade, the drive system comprising:
a first gearbox assembly;
a second gearbox assembly;
a lubrication assembly comprising:
a first lubrication system configured to deliver lubricant to the first gearbox assembly;
a second lubrication system configured to deliver lubricant to the second gearbox assembly;
a valve connected between the first and second lubrication systems, wherein when the valve is in a first position, a test mode of operation of the lubrication assembly is enabled and when the valve is in a second position, a normal mode of operation of the lubrication assembly is enabled, wherein the valve comprises a unitary four-position valve; and
a valve control unit configured to instruct the valve to selectively move between the first position and the second position;
wherein in the test mode of operation, lubrication is pumped from the first lubrication system through the valve via a first valve passageway and back to the first lubrication system and from the second lubrication system through the valve via a second valve passageway and back to the second lubrication system, the lubrication assembly further comprising sensors for generating pressure data indicative of pressure in the first and second lubrication systems when the lubrication assembly is in the test mode of operation, wherein the valve control unit is further configured to process the pressure data to detect a condition of the first and second lubrication systems and to indicate the detected condition to an operator thereby to enable functional checks to be performed on the lubrication assembly without transfer of lubricant between the first and second lubrication systems;
wherein the valve control unit is further configured to instruct the valve to move to a third position in which lubricant is permitted to flow from the first lubrication system to the second lubrication system and prevented from flowing from the second lubrication system to the first lubrication system after a loss of lubricant (LOL) event is detected in connection with the second lubrication system; and
wherein the valve control unit is further configured to instruct the valve to move to a fourth position in which lubricant is permitted to flow from the second lubrication system to the first lubrication system and prevented from flowing from the first lubrication system to the second lubrication system after a loss of lubricant (LOL) event is detected in connection with the first lubrication system.