(19)

&
(11) EP 1 544 417 B1
(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Date of publication and mention (51) Int Cl.:

of the grant of the patent: F01D 25/18 (2006.01)
12.10.2011 Bulletin 2011/41

(21) Application number: 04257723.9

(22) Date of filing: 13.12.2004

(54) Oil scavenge system for a gas turbine engine and method of oil scavenging
Schmiermittelabfuhrsystem eines Gasturbinentriebwerks und Verfahren zur Schmiermittelabfuhr
Système de refoulement d’huile d’un moteur à turbine à gaz et procédé de refoulement d’huile

(84) Designated Contracting States: • Jen, Hsianmin F.

DE FR GB Woodbridge, Connecticut 06525 (US)
• Spires, Larry W.
(30) Priority: 17.12.2003 US 738354 Unionville, Connecticut 06085 (US)
• Barnsby, Roger M.
(43) Date of publication of application: Manchester, Connecticut 06050 (US)
22.06.2005 Bulletin 2005/25
(74) Representative: Leckey, David Herbert
(73) Proprietor: United Technologies Corporation Dehns
Hartford, CT 06101 (US) St Bride’s House
10 Salisbury Square
(72) Inventors: London
• Peters, Robert E. EC4Y 8JD (GB)
Portland,
Connecticut 06480 (US) (56) References cited:
• Messerschmidt, Dwayne DE-A1- 3 542 316 DE-A1- 4 041 389
Columbia, Connecticut 06237 (US) GB-A- 947 789 US-A- 2 848 284
• Glahn, Axel J. US-A- 4 453 784 US-A- 4 576 001
Manchester, Connecticut 06040 (US) US-A- 5 489 190 US-A1- 2003 039 421
• Allard, Kenneth L. US-B1- 6 409 464
Wilbraham, Massachusetts 01095 (US)
EP 1 544 417 B1

Note: Within nine months of the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent in the European Patent
Bulletin, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to that patent, in accordance with the
Implementing Regulations. Notice of opposition shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been
paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).

Printed by Jouve, 75001 PARIS (FR)

 1 EP 1 544 417 B1
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to oil systems for
gas turbine engines, and more particularly to an oil scav-
enge system.
[0002] Gas turbine engines employ high-speed bear-
ings that require a continuous supply of oil for lubrication
and cooling. For optimum performance, the oil flow must
be properly directed into and away from the bearings.
Failing to remove or scavenge oil from the bearing may
be as detrimental to the bearing as insufficient oil flow
because the churning of unscavenged oil within the bear-
ing can rapidly lead to overheating.
[0003] In a conventional lubrication system, oil is sup-
plied to the rolling elements of the bearings under pres-
sure and then relies on gravity or its dynamics to drain
back to a reservoir. One effective way to accomplish the
return flow is to maintain an open, straight, and unre-
stricted passageway from the bearing back to the sump.
This often requires that the air/oil mixture be redirected
from a circumferential path within the bearing to an exit
pipe, which is arranged axially or radially thereto.
[0004] To redirect the swirling bearing compartment
two-phase air/oil mixture from the circumferential path
direction to the axial or radial exit pipe flow direction, cur-
rent oil scavenge systems use tangential scoops that
transition into an integrated 90 deg bend that connects
to the exit pipe. Due to minimum length requirements for
the 90 deg bend, conventional scavenge ports may have
an inlet plane located several degrees upstream of bot-
tom dead center (BDC). Oil provided to the bearing com-
partment cavity downstream of the inlet plane needs to
be carried by interfacial shear forces around the com-
partment to reach the inlet plane. Otherwise the oil may
begin to collect in the cavity. The former typically occurs
at high power settings while the latter typically occurs at
low power settings such as motoring, windmilling, or idle.
To permit drainage of collected oil that has not been cap-
tured by the tangential scoop, a drain is typically integrat-
ed into the tangential scoop/bend arrangement at BDC.
[0005] Although effective for particular compartment
sump dimensions and moderate rotational speeds, as
engine core size constraints become more aggressive
and speeds increase, disadvantages of conventional
scavenge port arrangements may begin to occur. In par-
ticular, as the size of the sump region decreases, the
distance between the compartment seals and the free
surface of the collected oil pool decreases. The re duced
separation may increase the potential for oil leakage. Fur-
thermore, interfacial shear acting on the gas/liquid inter-
face may drive oil away from the drain at BDC. The oil
may then form a recirculation zone downstream at BDC.
Oil recirculation zones tend to contaminate seals, which
may ultimately result in oil leakage from the compart-
ment.
[0006] Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an oil
2
scavenge system which efficiently directs a two-phase
air/oil mixture with high circumferential flow velocity and
significant velocity differences between both media into
an axial or radial flow direction within compact high speed
5 bearing compartments without oil leakage and at all op-
erating conditions.
[0007] A prior art system, having the features of the
preamble of claims 1, is shown in US-5489190.
10 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] According to the present invention, there is pro-
vided an oil scavenge system as claimed in claim 1 and
a method of scavenging oil as claimed in claim 7.
15 [0009] An oil scavenge system disclosed herein pro-
vides 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. The settling area is downstream of the scav-
20 enge scoop relative to a rotational direction defined about
the axis of rotation of the engine.
[0010] A shield is mounted over the settling area to
shield the collecting liquid oil from interfacial shear. A
multiple of apertures are located through the shield to
25 permit oil flow through the shield and into the duct.
[0011] The scavenge scoop forms a partition which
separates the duct into a first portion and a second por-
tion. The duct is located at bottom dead center of the
housing and the partition generally bisects the duct but
30 may alternatively be biased in a particular direction. The
first portion is sufficient to process the upstream air/oil
mixture that is captured by the tangential scoop while the
second portion receives the oil collected in the settling
area.
35 [0012] The present invention therefore provides an oil
scavenge system which efficiently directs a two-phase
air/oil mixture with high circumferential flow velocity and
significant velocity differences between both media into
an axial or radial flow direction within compact high speed
40 bearing compartments without oil leakage and at all op-
erating conditions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
45 [0013] The various features and advantages of this in-
vention will become apparent to those skilled in the art
from the following detailed description of the currently
preferred embodiment. The drawings that accompany
the detailed description can be briefly described as fol-
50 lows:
Figure 1 is a general schematic sectional view of an
exemplary gas turbine engine embodiment for use
with the present invention;
55 Figure 2 is a general schematic sectional view of a
mid bearing compartment illustrated in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a rear expanded perspective view of a
housing portion with an oil scavenge system of the
2
 3 EP 1 544 417 B1
present invention taken generally along the line 3-3
in Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a rear expanded perspective view of the
housing portion without a shield component illustrat-
ed in Figure 3; and
Figure 5 is a front expanded perspective view of a
housing portion with an oil scavenge system of the
present invention;
Figure 6 is a sectional view of an oil duct from the oil
scavenges system taken along line 6-6 in Figure 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EM-
BODIMENT
[0014] Figure 1 illustrates a general schematic section-
al view of a gas turbine engine 10. The gas turbine engine
10 is defined about an engine centerline A about which
the various engine sections rotate. Generally, the engine
10 includes a fan section 12, a low pressure compressor
section 14, a high pressure compressor section 16, a
combustor section 18, a high pressure turbine section 20
and a low pressure turbine section 22. It should be un-
derstood that although a particular arrangement is dis-
closed in the illustrated embodiment, other arrangements
will benefit from the instant invention.
[0015] The sections are mounted about a main shaft
24 supported by various high speed bearings. One bear-
ing 27 is located within a mid bearing compartment 28.
The bearing 27 and compartment 28 receives lubrication
and cooling from oil which is provided through jets and
is then collected through an oil scavenge system which
returns the oil to an oil sump through a flow path 29 (Fig-
ure 2). It should be understood that various bearing sys-
tems will benefit from the present invention.
[0016] Referring to Figure 2, the mid bearing compart-
ment 28 seals 30, 32 prevent oil leakage from a compart-
ment front 34 and a compartment rear 36. Air and oil
flows mix inside the bearing compartment 28 and gen-
erate a flow pattern about the engine axis of rotation A.
The oil flow pattern generally operates as follows: Oil
particles coalesce along the internal bearing compart-
ment partitions and form a liquid partition film which con-
tains air bubbles. In the radial space between the rotating
main shaft 24 and the liquid oil film, a mixture of air and
dispersed oil particles swirl in a circumferential direction
at a velocity greater than the liquid oil film flow along the
compartment partitions. As a result, the oil film flow is
exposed to high shear stresses at the air/oil film interface.
Film thickness and velocity distributions inside the bear-
ing compartment 28 are driven by the magnitude of that
interfacial shear and superimposed effects of gravitation-
al forces.
[0017] To achieve compartment functionality, i.e. low
temperatures and low heat generation without risk of oil
leakage, air and oil flows are discharged to an oil scav-
enge system 38 which communicates with the oil sump
through the flow path 29. It should be understood that
various conventional oil injection jets and breather
4
sytems may be utilized with the present invention.
[0018] Referring to Figure 3, the oil scavenge system
38 is formed within a housing 40 which forms a portion
of the mid bearing compartment 28 (Figure 2). It should
5 be understood that although a cylindrical housing is dis-
closed in the illustrated embodiment, various housing
configurations which utilize oil scavenge system will ben-
efit from the present invention.
[0019] The oil scavenge system 38 generally includes
10 a scavenge scoop 42 and a settling area 44 adjacent
thereto. The scavenge scoop 42 and the settling area 44
separately communicate with a duct 46 (also illustrated
in Figure 4) which feeds oil into the flow path 29. Prefer-
ably, the settling area 44 is downstream of the scavenge
15 scoop 42 relative a rotational direction R defined about
the axis or rotation A. That is, the settling area 44 is op-
posite the scavenge scoop 42 (Figure 4) to collect oil that
is in more of a liquid form. Various baffles 43 or the like
may additionally extend from the scoop 42 to assist in
20 direction of the oil mixture.
[0020] Preferably, a shield 48 is mounted over the set-
tling area 44 to at least partially shield the collecting liquid
oil from interfacial shear. A multiple of apertures 50 are
located through the shield 48 to permit oil flow through
25 the shield 48 and into the duct 46. It should be understood
that the shield 48 alternatively be cast directly into the
housing.
[0021] Referring to Figure 5, the scavenge scoop 42
forms a partition 51 which separates the duct 46 into a
30 first portion 52 and a second portion 54 (also illustrated
Figure 6). Preferably, the duct 46 is located at bottom
dead center (BDC) of the housing 40 and the partition 51
generally bisects the duct 46. The partition 51 may alter-
natively be biased in a particular direction so in response
35 to flow conditions of the expected two-phase air/oil mix-
ture to provide efficient operation with low residence time
and without recirculation zones and hot spots.
[0022] It should be understood that relative positional
terms such as "forward," "aft," "upper," "lower," "above,"
40 "below," and the like are with reference to the normal
operational attitude of the vehicle and should not be con-
sidered otherwise limiting.
[0023] Although particular step sequences are shown,
described, and claimed, it shou ld be understood that
45 steps may be performed in any order, separated or com-
bined unless otherwise indicated and will still benefit from
the present invention.
[0024] The foregoing description is exemplary rather
than defined by the limitations within. Many modifications
50 and variations of the present invention are possible in
light of the above teachings. The preferred embodiments
of this invention have been disclosed, however, one of
ordinary skill in the art would recognize that certain mod-
ifications would come within the scope of this invention.
55 It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of
the appended claims, the invention may be practiced oth-
erwise than as specifically described. For that reason the
following claims should be studied to determine the true
3
 5 EP 1 544 417 B1
scope and content of this invention.
Claims
1. An oil scavenge system for a gas turbine engine com-
prising:
a housing (40) defined about an axis of rotation
(A), said housing (40) comprising a duct (46);
characterised in that said system further com-
prises:
a scavenge scoop (42) within said housing
(40), said scavenge scoop (42) in commu-
nication with a first portion (52) of said duct
(46), said scavenge scoop (42) comprising
a partition (51) which forms said first portion
(52) of said duct (46);
a settling area (44) within said housing (40)
adjacent said scavenge scoop (42), said
setting area (44) in communication with a
second portion (54) of said duct (46) oppo-
site said partition (51); and
a shield (48) at least partially covering said
settling area (44).
2. The oil scavenge system as recited in claim 1, where-
in said housing (40) is located in a mounted state
within a mid bearing compartment (28) of said gas
turbine engine.
3. The oil scavenge system as recited in claim 1 or 2,
wherein said settling area (44) is downstream of said
scavenge scoop (42) relative to a rotational direction
defined about said axis of rotation (A).
4. The oil scavenge system as recited in any of claims
1 to 3, wherein said duct (46) is generally parallel to
said axis of rotation (A).
5. The oil scavenge system as recited in any of claims
1 to 4, wherein said duct (46) is located at bottom
dead center of said housing (40).
6. The oil scavenge system as recited in any of claims
1 to 5, wherein said axis of rotation (A) comprises in
a mounted state a centerline of said gas turbine en-
gine (10).
7. A method of scavenging oil within a gas turbine en-
gine (10) characterised in that said method com-
prises the steps of:
(1) collecting an air-oil mixture within a scavenge
scoop (42);
(2) communicating the air-oil mixture from the
scavenge scoop (42) to a first portion (52) of a
6
duct (46);
(3) collecting settled air-oil mixture in a settling
area (44) adjacent the scavenge scoop (42) the
settling area (44) downstream of the scavenge
5 scoop (42) relative to a rotational direction de-
fined about an engine centerline (A); and
(4) communicating the air-oil mixture from the
settling area (44) to a second portion (54) of the
duct (46); and
10 (5) shielding the settling area (44) from interfa-
cial shear.
8. A method as recited in claim 7 further comprising the
steps of:
15
providing flow apertures (50) to the settling area
(44).
20 Patentansprüche
1. Ölspülsystem für eine Gasturbinenmaschine umfas-
send:
25 ein Gehäuse (40), das um eine Rotationsachse
(A) gebildet ist, wobei das Gehäuse (40) ein
Rohr (46) umfasst;
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das System
des Weiteren umfasst:
30
eine Spülschaufel (42) innerhalb des Ge-
häuses (40), wobei die Spülschaufel (42) in
Verbindung mit einem ersten Bereich (52)
des Rohrs (46) ist, wobei die Spülschaufel
35 (42) eine Abtrennung (51) umfasst, die den
ersten Bereich (52) des Rohrs (46) ausbil-
det;
einen Absetzungsbereich (44) innerhalb
des Gehäuses (40) benachbart der Spül-
40 schaufel (42), wobei der Absetzungsbe-
reich (44) in Verbindung mit einem zweiten
Bereich (54) des Rohrs (46) gegenüber der
Abtrennung (51) ist; und
eine Abschirmung (48), die zumindest teil-
45 weise den Absetzungsbereich (44) be-
deckt.
2. Ölspülsystem nach Anspruch 1, wobei das Gehäuse
(40) in einem montierten Zustand innerhalb eines
50 Mittellagerraums (28) der Gasturbinenmaschine an-
geordnet ist.
3. Ölspülsystem nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei der
Absetzungsbereich (44) stromabwärts der Spül-
55 schaufel (42) angeordnet ist, relativ zu einer Rotati-
onsrichtung, die um die Rotationsachse (A) definiert
ist.
4
 7 EP 1 544 417 B1
4. Ölspülsystem nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3,
wobei das Rohr (46) im Wesentlichen parallel zu der
Rotationsachse (A) ist.
5. Ölspülsystem nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4,
wobei das Rohr (46) an dem unteren Totpunkt des
Gehäuses (40) angeordnet ist.
6. Ölspülsystem nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5,
wobei die Rotationsachse (A) in einem montierten
Zustand eine Mittellinie der Gasturbinenmaschine
(10) umfasst.
7. Verfahren zum Spülen von Öl innerhalb einer Gas-
turbinenmaschine (10), dadurch gekennzeichnet,
dass das Verfahren die Schritte umfasst:
(1) Sammeln eines Luft-Öl-Gemisches inner-
halb einer Spülschaufel (42);
(2) Kommunizieren des Luft-Öl-Gemisches von
der Spülschaufel (42) zu einem ersten Bereich
(52) des Rohrs (46);
(3) Sammeln von abgesetztem Luft-Öl-Gemisch
in einem Absetzungsbereich (44) benachbart
der Spülschaufel (42), wobei der Absetzungs-
bereich (44) stromabwärts der Spülschaufel
(42) relativ zu einer um eine Maschinenmittelli-
nie (A) definierte Rotationsrichtung angeordnet
ist; und
(4) Kommunizieren des Luft-Öl-Gemisches von
dem Absetzungsbereich (44) zu einem zweiten
Bereich (54) des Rohrs (46); und
(5) Abschirmen des Absetzungsbereichs (44)
von Grenzflächen-Scherung.
8. Verfahren nach Anspruch 7, des Weiteren umfas-
send die Schritte:
Bereitstellen von Strömungsaussparungen (50)
an dem Absetzungsbereich (44).
Revendications
1. Système de refoulement d’huile pour moteur à tur-
bine à gaz comprenant :
un carter (40) défini autour d’un axe de rotation
(A), ledit carter (40) comprenant un conduit
(46) ;
caractérisé en ce que ledit système comprend
en outre :
une cuillère de refoulement (42) dans ledit
carter (40), ladite cuillère de refoulement
(42) étant en communication avec une pre-
mière partie (52) dudit conduit (46), ladite
cuillère de refoulement (42) comprenant
8
une cloison (51) qui forme ladite première
partie (52) dudit conduit (46) ;
une zone de décantation (44) dans ledit car-
ter (40), adjacente à ladite cuillère de refou-
5 lement (42), ladite zone de décantation (44)
étant en communication avec une deuxiè-
me partie (54) dudit conduit (46) à l’opposé
de ladite cloison (51) ; et
un bouclier (48) couvrant au moins partiel-
10 lement ladite zone de décantation (44).
2. Système de refoulement d’huile selon la revendica-
tion 1, dans lequel ledit carter (40) est situé, à l’état
monté, dans un compartiment de roulement inter-
15 médiaire (28) dudit moteur à turbine à gaz.
3. Système de refoulement d’huile selon la revendica-
tion 1 ou 2, dans lequel ladite zone de décantation
(44) est en aval de ladite cuillère de refoulement (42)
20 par rapport à une direction de rotation définie autour
dudit axe de rotation (A).
4. Système de refoulement d’huile selon l’une quelcon-
que des revendications 1 à 3, dans lequel ledit con-
25 duit (46) est généralement parallèle audit axe de ro-
tation (A).
5. Système de refoulement d’huile selon l’une quelcon-
que des revendications 1 à 4, dans lequel ledit con-
30 duit (46) est situé au point mort bas dudit carter (40).
6. Système de refoulement d’huile selon l’une quelcon-
que des revendications 1 à 5, dans lequel ledit axe
de rotation (A) comprend, à l’état monté, un axe cen-
35 tral dudit moteur à turbine à gaz.
7. Procédé de refoulement d’huile utilisable dans un
moteur à turbine à gaz (10) caractérisé en ce que
ledit procédé comprend les étapes consistant à :
40
(1) collecter un mélange d’air/d’huile dans une
cuillère de refoulement (42) ;
(2) transmettre le mélange d’air/d’huile de la
cuillère de refoulement (42) à une première par-
45 tie (52) d’un conduit (46) ;
(3) collecter le mélange d’air/d’huile décanté
dans une zone de décantation (44) adjacente à
la cuillère de refoulement (42), la zone de dé-
cantation (44) étant en aval de la cuillère de re-
50 foulement (42) par rapport à la direction de ro-
tation définie autour d’un axe central du moteur
(A) ;
(4) transmettre le mélange d’air/d’huile de la zo-
ne de décantation (44) à une deuxième partie
55 (54) du conduit (46) ; et
(5) protéger la zone de décantation (44) contre
le cisaillement interfacial.
5
 9 EP 1 544 417 B1 10

8. Procédé selon la revendication 7, comprenant en

outre les étapes consistant à :

doter la zone de décantation (44) d’ouvertures

d’écoulement (50). 5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55

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REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader’s convenience only. It does not form part of the European
patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be
excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

Patent documents cited in the description

• US 5489190 A [0007]

11