Oil system and a generator including such an oil system

Abstract

An oil system is provided having a first inlet ( 20 ) for receiving oil from a fist source, such as a generator, and a second inlet ( 32 ) for receiving oil from other oil systems. A scavenge pump ( 14 ) has a manifold ( 26 ) arranged such that oil is preferentially pumped from the first inlet.

1 . An oil system comprising a first fluid inlet for receiving fluid from a firs source, a second fluid inlet for receiving fluid from a second source, and a pump, wherein a pump inlet is configured to preferentially accept fluid from the fist inlet.  
     
     
         2 . An oil system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein returns of oil from various components within a machine serviced by the oil system are pumped according to respective priorities.  
     
     
         3 . An oil system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second fluid inlet is associated with a reservoir region such that fluid can temporarily reside in the reservoir region.  
     
     
         4 . An oil system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the oil system is associated with an aeronautical generator, and oil is preferentially pumped from the vicinity of the generator.  
     
     
         5 . An oil system as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein oil removed from the generator passes along a first duct which is in direct or in substantially direct fluid flow communication with the pump inlet.  
     
     
         6 . An oil system claimed in  claim 5 , in which the pump is provided with an inlet manifold which terminates in a pipe which extends within the fist duct or closely faces the first duct.  
     
     
         7 . An oil system as claimed in  claim 5 , in which the pump is provided with an inlet manifold which has a region substantially the same size or integrally formed with the first duct, and at least one aperture is provided in one of the first duct and the inlet manifold in order to form the second inlet.  
     
     
         8 . An oil system as claimed in  claim 7 , in which flow deflectors are provided such that fluid does not exit from the at least one aperture under normal operating conditions.  
     
     
         9 . An oil system as claimed in  claim 4 , in which the second input receives oil returned from systems which have a low drainage priority.  
     
     
         10 . An oil system as claimed in  claim 4 , in which a third input is provided to receive fluid from a further device or system.  
     
     
         11 . An oil system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the further device is a control valve of a hydraulic control system, and wherein greater pumping priority is given to the third inlet than is given to the second inlet.  
     
     
         12 . An oil system as claimed in  claim 11 , in which an air inlet valve is in fluid flow communication with an outlet of the control valve, and wherein the air inlet valve operates to admit air in the event that the pressure at the outlet of the control valve drops to below a predetermined pressure.  
     
     
         13 . An oil system as claimed in  claim 12 , in which the air inlet valve opens to prevent negative pressure of sufficient magnitude occurring at the outlet of the control valve whereby operation of the valve may be perturbed.  
     
     
         14 . An oil system as claimed in  claim 12 , whereby the air inlet valve admits air from the exterior of the generator.  
     
     
         15 . A generator system having an oil system, wherein the oil system comprises a first fluid inlet for receiving oil from the generator, and a second fluid inlet for receiving the oil from an oil return path, and a pump, wherein the pump is configured to preferentially accept oil from the generator.