US 12,134,468 B2
Hover-capable aircraft and lubrication method for a module of a transmission unit of said aircraft
Paolo Pisani, Samarate (IT); Federico Montagna, Samarate (IT); Roberto Regonini, Samarate (IT); and Daniele Podda, Samarate (IT)
Assigned to LEONARDO S.P.A., Rome (IT)
Appl. No. 17/789,325
Filed by LEONARDO S.P.A., Rome (IT)
PCT Filed Dec. 24, 2020, PCT No. PCT/IB2020/062437
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 27, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/130719, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 1, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 19219920 (EP), filed on Dec. 27, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0033330 A1, Feb. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. B64C 27/14 (2006.01); B64C 27/00 (2006.01); B64C 27/12 (2006.01); B64C 27/22 (2006.01); F16H 57/04 (2010.01); F16K 11/07 (2006.01); F16K 31/122 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 27/14 (2013.01) [B64C 27/006 (2013.01); B64C 27/12 (2013.01); B64C 27/22 (2013.01); F16H 57/0421 (2013.01); F16H 57/0435 (2013.01); F16H 57/0456 (2013.01); F16K 11/07 (2013.01); F16K 31/1223 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A hover-capable aircraft, comprising:
a motion transmission unit formed by at least a first module; and
a lubrication system designed to lubricate said transmission unit;
said first module, in turn, comprising:
a casing; and
one or more movable members housed inside said casing;
said lubrication system comprising:
a feed header of said lubricating fluid;
at least one nozzle fluidically feedable with said lubricating fluid from said feed header and designed to feed the lubricating fluid inside said casing of said first module so as to enable the lubrication of the relative said movable members;
a collection tank for said lubricating fluid injected by said nozzle; and
recirculation means designed to cause the recirculation of said lubricating fluid of said collection tank to said feed header;
characterized in that at least said first module comprises a valve available in a first configuration, wherein the outflow of said lubricating fluid from said module to said recirculation means is enabled when the pressure of said lubricating fluid inside said feed header is greater than a threshold value;
said valve being available in a second configuration, wherein said valve fluidically isolates said module from said recirculation means and enables keeping said lubricating fluid inside said casing when the pressure of said lubricating fluid inside said feed header is less than said threshold value.