Emergency oil system

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to lubricating oil systems, and more specifically emergency lubricating oil systems. This system continuously circulates oil through and/or from a reserve tank. This system does not utilize compressed air systems during normal operation to deliver lubricating oil. The system described herein does not utilize a piston to transfer lubricating oil from a reserve tank to engine elements.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A redundant lubricating system comprising:
 a reserve lubricating oil tank coupled to distal portion of a lubricating oil main supply line;   a one way valve interposed between the reserve lubricating oil tank and the lubricating oil main supply line, wherein lubricating oil delivered to the reserve lubricating oil tank by the lubricating oil main supply line may not exit reserve tank via the lubricating oil main supply line;   a supply line coupled to the reserve lubricating oil tank, wherein the supply line couples the reserve lubricating oil tank to at least one engine system component, wherein the reserve lubricating oil tank is configured to continuously cycle lubricating oil from the lubricating oil main supply line through the reserve lubricating oil tank to the supply line based on an oil pressure of the lubricating oil main supply line; and   a check valve interposed between the reserve lubricating oil tank and a compressed air source.   
     
     
         2 . The redundant lubricating system of  claim 1 , further comprising a lubricating oil pressure sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The redundant lubricating system of  claim 2 , wherein the lubricating oil pressure sensor is configured to sense the oil pressure of the lubricating oil main supply line. 
     
     
         4 . The redundant lubricating system of  claim 3 , wherein the check valve toggles from a closed orientation to an open orientation in response to the lubricating oil pressure sensor reading. 
     
     
         5 . The redundant lubricating system of  claim 1 , wherein the redundant lubricating system is configured to deliver lubricating oil to the at least one engine system component during emergency conditions for at least 6 minutes. 
     
     
         6 . The redundant lubricating system of  claim 1 , wherein the redundant lubricating system is configured to deliver lubricating oil to the at least one engine system component during emergency conditions for at least 30 seconds. 
     
     
         7 . The redundant lubricating system of  claim 1 , wherein the redundant lubricating system is configured to deliver lubricating oil to the at least one engine bearing assembly at about 75% of normal operational power. 
     
     
         8 . The redundant lubricating system of  claim 1 , wherein the redundant lubricating system is configured to deliver lubricating oil to the at least one engine system component at between about 65% and 100% of normal operational power. 
     
     
         9 . The redundant lubricating system of  claim 1 , wherein the supply line comprises more than one supply line to more than one engine bearing assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The redundant lubricating system of  claim 1 , wherein compressed air from the compressed air source is configured to increase oil pressure of the reserve tank, wherein an increased oil pressure in the reserve tank increases a flow rate of lubricating oil from the reserve tank to the at least one engine system component. 
     
     
         11 . The redundant lubricating system of  claim 1 , wherein the redundant lubricating system is configured to increase an amount of lubricating oil in the reserve tank in response to the oil pressure in the lubricating oil main supply line being restored to an operational level. 
     
     
         12 . The redundant lubricating system of  claim 11 , wherein the system is configured to maintain operation for at least 30 minutes in response to the oil pressure in the lubricating oil main supply line being restored to the operational level. 
     
     
         13 . The redundant lubricating system of  claim 1 , wherein the system configured for use in a helicopter rotor assembly. 
     
     
         14 . A method comprising:
 increasing a volume of oil in a reserve tank delivered from a lubricating oil main supply line, wherein a one way valve is interposed between the reserve lubricating oil tank and the lubricating oil main supply line, wherein lubricating oil delivered to the reserve lubricating oil tank by the lubricating oil main supply line may not exit reserve tank via the lubricating oil main supply line;   sensing an oil pressure associated with the lubricating oil main supply line by a sensor;   toggling a position of a check valve interposed between a compressed air source and the reserve tank in response to the sensed oil pressure in a main lubricating oil supply line being below a predetermined threshold;   increasing an oil pressure in the reserve tank in response to delivering compressed air to the reserve tank; and   providing by the reserve tank lubricating oil via a supply line to at least engine system component lubricating oil based on an increased oil pressure in the reserve tank, wherein the reserve tank is configured to continuously cycle lubricating oil from the lubricating oil main supply line through the reserve lubricating oil tank to the supply line based on the oil pressure of the reserve tank.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising determining a rate of compressed air delivered by the compressed air source based on at least one of a length of the supply line, a gauge of a portion of the supply line, a nozzle of the supply line, and a volume of the reserve tank. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising determining a rate of compressed air delivered by the compressed air source based on a predetermined rate of flow to the at least one engine system component. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein lubricating oil is provided to the at least one engine system component at between about 65% and 100% of normal operational power. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein lubricating oil is provided to the at least one engine system component during emergency conditions for at least 6 minutes.