Lubrication systems

Abstract

A gearbox assembly with emergency lubrication system includes a housing with an interior including a lubricant sump. The housing includes a breather port and a visual inspection port. The breather port is sized for at least one of relieving internal pressure or admitting air. The visual inspection port is located to allow visual inspection of a component in an interior of the housing. A transmission is disposed within the interior of the housing in fluid communication with the lubricant sump. An emergency lubricant reservoir is in fluid communication with the transmission through the breather port and/or the visual inspection port. A method of retrofitting a gear box assembly with an emergency lubrication system includes removing plugs from visual inspection ports of a gearbox housing, removing a breather from a breather port of the gearbox housing, and installing jet plugs into the respective visual inspection ports and breather port.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gearbox assembly with emergency lubrication system, comprising:
 a housing with an interior including a lubricant sump, wherein the housing includes a breather port and a visual inspection port, wherein the breather port is sized for at least one of relieving internal pressure or admitting air, and wherein the visual inspection port is located to allow visual inspection of a component in an interior of the housing;   a transmission disposed within the interior of the housing in fluid communication with the lubricant sump; and   an emergency lubricant reservoir in fluid communication with the transmission through at least one of the breather port or the visual inspection port.   
     
     
         2 . The gearbox assembly as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising lubrication lines, wherein each lubrication line connects the emergency lubrication reservoir to at least one of the breather port or the visual inspection port. 
     
     
         3 . The gearbox assembly as recited in  claim 1 , further including a lubricant pump operatively connected to the emergency lubricant reservoir. 
     
     
         4 . The gearbox assembly as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the breather port and visual inspection port include respective jet tubes to direct lubricant to a desired transmission component. 
     
     
         5 . The gearbox assembly as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the breather port includes a breather disposed therein, and wherein the breather includes annular filter surrounding the jet tube. 
     
     
         6 . The gearbox assembly as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the transmission includes a main bevel gear mesh and a tail take-off gear mesh, wherein the housing includes a second visual inspection port having a further respective jet tube, wherein the emergency lubricant reservoir is in fluid communication with the transmission through the second visual inspection port and the further respective jet tube, and wherein outlets of the two jet tubes of the visual inspection ports are oriented toward the main bevel gear mesh and an outlet of the jet tube of the breather port is oriented toward the tail take-off gear mesh. 
     
     
         7 . A method of retrofitting a gear box assembly with an emergency lubrication system, comprising:
 removing plugs from visual inspection ports of a gearbox housing;   removing a breather from a breather port of the gearbox housing; and   installing jet plugs into the respective visual inspection ports and breather port, wherein each jet plug includes a respective jet tube.   
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 7 , further comprising:
 removing nuts and washers from screws of an accessory module of a gear box assembly;   installing a first emergency lubrication reservoir by mating the screws on the accessory module with holes on a first reservoir mount;   installing a second emergency lubrication reservoir, wherein the second emergency lubrication reservoir includes a pump, by mating the screws on the accessory module with holes on a second reservoir mount;   securing the first and second emergency lubrication reservoirs onto the accessory module; and   installing lubrication lines between the jet tubes of the breather port and inspection ports to at least one of the first and second emergency lubrication reservoirs.   
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising wiring an AC power source to the pump. 
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising installing a switch operatively connected to the pump, and wiring an AC power source to the switch. 
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising securing the lubrication lines to the gearbox housing. 
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 7 , further comprising orienting the jet tubes to point at desired transmission components. 
     
     
         13 . An emergency lubrication system for use with a gearbox assembly having a housing with an interior including a lubricant sump, wherein the housing includes a breather port and two visual inspection ports, the breather port being sized for at least one of relieving internal pressure or admitting air, and the visual inspection port being located to allow visual inspection of a transmission in an interior of the housing, the emergency lubrication system comprising:
 a plug having a jet tube extending therethrough, wherein the plug is sized to seal either the breather or the visual inspection port;   a lubrication line connected to the jet tube;   a pump; and   an emergency lubrication reservoir in fluid communication with the jet tube through the lubrication line such that, when the pump is activated, lubrication flows from the emergency lubrication reservoir through the lubrication line and the jet tube.   
     
     
         14 . An emergency lubrication system as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising a reservoir mount connected to the emergency lubrication reservoir, wherein the reservoir mount operatively connects the emergency lubrication reservoir an accessory module of the gearbox assembly.