MONITORING THE OIL OF A LUBRICATION DEVICE

Abstract

A device for detecting particles in a lubricating oil of a machine, comprising a particle separator; at least one particle detector; a bypass conduit for the particle-concentrating oil, fluidly connected to an oil outlet of the particle separator, concentrating the particles; and wherein the at least one particle detector is operatively mounted on the bypass conduit so as to be able to detect particles in the bypass conduit.

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. A device for detecting particles in a lubricating oil of a turbomachine, said device comprising: a particle separator; a bypass conduit for the oil concentrating the particles, separate from the particle separator and fluidly connected to an oil outlet of the particle separator so as to be able to form a reduced oil flow parallel to a main oil flow, concentrating the particles; and at least one particle detector operatively mounted on the bypass conduit so as to be able to detect particles in the bypass conduit; wherein the particle separator comprises an oil settling tank, the oil outlet being a fluid outlet of the oil settling tank.

18. The detection device according to claim 17, wherein the particle separator comprises a runoff wall for the oil towards the oil settling tank.

19. The detection device according to claim 18, wherein the runoff wall is circular and forms a cyclone for mixing oil with air.

20. The detection device according to claim 17, wherein the particle separator is formed in an air/oil separator.

21. The detection device according to claim 20, wherein the air/oil separator is of the cyclonic type with an inlet for air-laden oil, an air outlet and an outlet for air-discharged oil, the oil settling tank being located fluidically between the inlet for air-laden oil and the outlet for air-discharged oil.

22. The detection device according to claim 17, wherein the at least one particle detector comprises an optical detector capable of detecting non-ferromagnetic particles.

23. The detection device according to claim 17, wherein the at least one particle detector comprises at least one magnetic detector capable of detecting ferromagnetic particles.

24. The detection device according to claim 17, wherein the bypass conduit is a first bypass conduit and the oil outlet of the particle separator is a first outlet of oil, the detection device comprising at least a second bypass conduit connected in a fluid manner to a second oil outlet of the particle separator, concentrating the particles, and at least one of the at least one particle detector is operatively mounted on the second bypass conduit so as to be able to detect particles in the bypass conduit.

25. The detection device according to claim 24, in which the oil settling tank is a first oil settling tank, the particle separator comprising a second oil settling tank, the second oil outlet being a fluid outlet of the second oil settling tank.

26. A lubricating oil reservoir for a turbomachine lubrication system, said lubricating oil reservoir comprising: an enclosure for lubricating oil; a device for detecting particles in the lubricating oil, arranged upstream of the enclosure for the lubricating oil; wherein the detection device comprises: a particle separator; a bypass conduit for the oil concentrating the particles, separate from the particle separator and fluidly connected to an oil outlet of the particle separator so as to be able to form a reduced oil flow parallel to a main oil flow, concentrating the particles; and at least one particle detector operatively mounted on the bypass conduit so as to be able to detect particles in the bypass conduit; wherein the particle separator comprises an oil settling tank, the oil outlet being a fluid outlet of the oil settling tank.

27. The lubricating oil reservoir according to claim 26, wherein the particle separator is remote from the enclosure, a conduit fluidly connecting the particles to the enclosure.

28. The lubricating oil reservoir according to claim 27, wherein the detection device is rigidly attached to the enclosure by a bracket.

29. The lubricating oil reservoir according to claim 26, wherein the particle separator is integrated into the enclosure.

30. The lubricating oil reservoir according to claim 26, wherein the bypass conduit joins the main oil flow from the particle separator to the enclosure, or directly to the enclosure.

31. A turbomachine lubrication system, said turbomachine comprising: conduits for supplying and returning lubricating oil; at least one circulation pump for lubricating oil in the conduits; a lubricating oil reservoir fluidly connected to the conduits and to the at least one circulation pump; wherein the lubricating oil reservoir comprises: an enclosure for the lubricating oil; a device for detecting particles in the lubricating oil, arranged upstream of the enclosure for the lubricating oil; wherein the detection device comprises: a particle separator; a bypass conduit for the oil concentrating the particles, separate from the particle separator and fluidly connected to an oil outlet of the particle separator so as to be able to form a reduced oil flow parallel to a main oil flow, concentrating the particles; and at least one particle detector operatively mounted on the bypass conduit so as to be able to detect particles in the bypass conduit; wherein the particle separator comprises an oil settling tank, the oil outlet being a fluid outlet of the oil settling tank.

32. A turbomachine comprising a device for detecting particles in a lubricating oil, wherein the detection device comprises: a particle separator; a bypass conduit for the oil concentrating the particles, separate from the particle separator and fluidly connected to an oil outlet of the particle separator so as to be able to form a reduced oil flow parallel to a main oil flow, concentrating the particles; and at least one particle detector operatively mounted on the bypass conduit so as to be able to detect particles in the bypass conduit; wherein the particle separator comprises an oil settling tank, the oil outlet being a fluid outlet of the oil settling tank.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0038] FIG. 1 is an exemplary schematic view in longitudinal couple of a turbine engine, illustrating the lubrication system of the turbine engine, in accordance with various embodiment of the invention.

[0039] FIG. 2 is an exemplary hydraulic representation of the reservoir part of the lubrication system of FIG. 1, detailing a device for detecting particles in a lubricating oil according to various embodiments of the invention.

[0040] FIG. 3 is an exemplary perspective view of an air/oil separator with a particle detection device, as shown schematically in FIG. 2, in accordance with various embodiment of the invention.

[0041] FIG. 4 is an exemplary sectional view of an air/oil separator with a particle detection device, as shown schematically in FIG. 2, integrated into a turbomachine lubricating oil reservoir, in accordance with various embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] In FIG. 1 is illustrated a lubrication system of an aircraft engine 4. The lubrication system 2 essentially comprises an oil reservoir 6, an outlet conduit 8 connected to a supply pump 10. Conduits 12 convey the oil displaced by the lubricating pump to various enclosures of bearings to be lubricated 14 and 16 at the front and rear parts of the engine 4. The oil is then recovered at the bottom of these enclosures by recovery conduits 18 as well as by a or recovery pumps 20. This air-laden oil is then rerouted via the conduit 22 to reservoir 6. The latter comprises an enclosure 26 with an air/oil separator 24 disposed at an upper part of enclosure 26 and connected to the oil return pipe 22. The reservoir 6 can also include a window 28 for visual inspection of the normal level, a level detector 30 as well as an additional level detector 31. The upper part of the enclosure 26 of the reservoir 6 is also connected via a pipe 32 to one or more enclosures 14 and 16 of the engine, and this, in order to allow the evacuation of the air from the recovery pumps, this air then being separated from the oil.

[0043] The supply and recovery pumps 10 and 20 are in various instances of the volumetric type and driven by the main shaft of the motor. When the engine is stopped, the oil present in the lubrication enclosures and the supply and recovery lines returns to reservoir 6.

[0044] The air/oil separator 24 is coupled to a device 25 for detecting particles in the oil.

[0045] FIG. 2 exemplarily details the reservoir part of the lubrication circuit of FIG. 1, in particular the device 25 for detecting particles in the oil.

[0046] The air/oil separator 24 is in this case of the cyclonic type, namely configured to form a cyclone with the flow of air-laden oil in order to project the oil particles against a circular wall and to guide and separate the air thus discharged of oil particles. More particularly to the air/oil separator 24 of FIG. 2, the latter comprises a closed circular wall 24.1, in this case generally cylindrical, with a side inlet 24.2 for the flow of air-laden oil conveyed by the pipe 22, an outlet, in this case central, for air separated from the oil 24.3 and an outlet, in this case central, for oil separated from the air 24.4. The air 24.3 and oil 24.4 outlets are opposed along the longitudinal axis of the circular wall 24.1. The oil outlet 24.4 is located at a low level in order to be able to collect the oil separated from the air by gravity, the latter flowing along the circular wall 24.1. The air outlet 24.3 is located at an opposite high level.

[0047] The circular wall 24.1 advantageously has a conical profile at a lower part adjacent to the central oil outlet 24.4. The air/oil separator 24 comprises an internal wall 24.5 forming with the circular wall 24.1 an oil settling tank 24.6 for the oil separated from the air and flowing along the circular wall 24.1. This tank is particularly interesting in that it allows the particles contained in the oil to accumulate in the oil settling tank 24.6 while allowing the oil to flow, by overflow, towards the enclosure 26 of the reservoir, via the central oil outlet 24.4.

[0048] The device 25 for detecting particles in the lubricating oil comprises a bypass conduit 25.1 fluidly connected to an outlet 24.7 of the oil settling tank 24.6 so as to form a reduced oil flow parallel to the main oil flow from the air/oil separator 24 towards the enclosure 26 of the reservoir. The bypass conduit 25.1 joins the main oil flow or directly the enclosure 26. The device 25 for detecting particles in the lubricating oil also comprises one or more particle detectors 25.2 and 25.3. Each of these detectors is coupled operationally to the bypass conduit 25.1 so as to detect any particles contained in the oil circulating in the bypass conduit 25.1.

[0049] The particle detector(s) can be of different types. A first type can be for detecting metallic particles, such as for example the detectors marketed under the name Metallscan®, in particular of the MS1000 series, by the company Gastops®, or even under the name QDM® by the company Eaton®. A second type can be for detecting non-metallic particles, such as optical or vibration detectors.

[0050] The particle detectors 25.2 and 25.3 are advantageously electrically connected to a control and/or evaluation unit 28 making it possible to produce structured information as to the presence of particles in the oil, such as in particular the nature of the particles (metallic, non-metallic), their concentration and/or quantity (for example by mass).

[0051] The oil flow in the bypass conduit 25.1 is lower than the main flow from the air/oil separator 24 to the enclosure 26 of the reservoir. This flow can be produced by gravity and/or by means of a pump (not shown) arranged, for example, in a fluidic manner, in the bypass conduit 25.1. It can be a low-flow pump, such as a metering pump, for example.

[0052] The reduced flow along the bypass conduit 25.1 is particularly favorable to the detection of particles, whether metallic or non-metallic. A reduced section, compared to a main duct, of the bypass conduit 25.1 and a limited speed of movement within the conduit in question allows each of the particle detectors to be active at the detection level over all or almost all of the section of the bypass conduit 25.1 and to detect with greater reliability any particle circulating in the bypass conduit 25.1. The average passage section of the bypass conduit 25.1 is advantageously less than or equal to 700 mm.sup.2, 600 mm.sup.2 or even 500 mm.sup.2. The speed of movement of the oil in the bypass conduit 25.1 is advantageously less than or equal to 2 m/s, 1 m/s or even 0.5 m/s.

[0053] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an air/oil separator with a particle detection device, as shown schematically in FIG. 2.

[0054] It can be observed that the air/oil separator 24 is rigidly fixed to the enclosure 26 by means of a support 32. The latter comprises rods 32.1 rigidly fixed to an upper plate of the enclosure 26. At the distal ends of these rods is fixed a plate 32.2 of the support 32. The air/oil separator 24 is fixed to the plate 32.3 of the support 32.

[0055] The support 32 also comprises an arm 32.3 extending essentially radially with respect to a longitudinal axis of the reservoir 6, configured to support the bypass conduit 25.1 of the particle detection device 25. In this case the arm 32.3 extends from plate 32.2. It includes a flange for fixing a bypass conduit 25.1 connection. In this case, a single particle detector 25.2 is present. It is placed between the fixing flange of the arm 32.3 and the circular wall 24.1 of the air/oil separator 24.

[0056] One can also observe the duct 30 connecting the central oil outlet of the air/oil separator 24 and the enclosure 26. It extends essentially longitudinally in a central position with respect to the enclosure 26.

[0057] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an air/oil separator with a particle detection device, as shown schematically in FIG. 2, integrated into the enclosure of the turbomachine lubricating oil reservoir. The reference numbers of FIGS. 1 to 3 are used to designate the same elements, these numbers being however increased by 100. Reference is also made to the description of these elements in relation to FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0058] It can be observed that the circular wall 124.1 of the air/oil separator 124 is partially integrated into the wall of the enclosure 126 of the reservoir 106. The oil outlet 124.4 then opens directly into the enclosure 126 without necessarily passing through a conduit or pipe.

[0059] It can also be observed that the circular wall 124.1 is generally cylindrical without having a conical lower portion as in FIG. 2. The bottom of the settling tank 124.6 is then generally flat and annular around the internal wall 124.5 delimiting the settling tank 124.6.

[0060] The device 125 for detecting particles in the lubricating oil comprises, similarly to FIG. 2, the bypass conduit 125.1 fluidly connected to the settling tank 124.6 so as to form a reduced oil flow parallel to the main oil flow main oil from air/oil separator 124 to the enclosure 126 of the reservoir.

[0061] In general, it is conceivable to provide several bypass conduits connected fluidically to the same lubrication circuit, more particularly to the same oil reservoir or even to the same air/oil separator. The particle separator then comprises several outlets, each of which is connected to one of the bypass conduits, respectively. The multiple outlets of the particle separator can then be configured to separate different types and/or sizes of particles. Each bypass conduit can then be configured to specifically detect one of these types and/or one of these sizes of particles. In the case where the particle separator is formed by an air/oil separator of the cyclonic type with an oil runoff wall, this wall can comprise several outlets at different levels along the longitudinal direction of the wall. Different oil settling tanks can then be provided on the wall in question, at different levels so as to retain and therefore separate the particles specifically projected against the wall between this level and the upper adjacent level.