Centralized oil distribution system

An oil distribution system including a shaft assembly, bearing assembly and mounting assembly is disclosed. The shaft assembly includes a shaft with an inner shaft. A pocket is defined between the shaft and the inner shaft. A ringed lattice containing oil is secured within the pocket, melting of the ringed lattice releases the oil. The shaft includes shaft slots to usher oil from the pocket towards the bearing assembly. The bearing assembly includes an inner and outer race. The inner and outer race each include axial slots and radial slots. The axial slots of the inner race align with the shaft slots to allow oil to flood the inner race. The mounting assembly includes a bearing support having bearing support slots to receive a stringed lattice. Oil from the bearing support flows into the outer race when the axial slots of the outer race align with the bearing support slots.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a centralized oil distribution system, more particularly, to an oil distribution system that selectively delivers and disperses oil to the engine of vehicles, such as aircrafts, for proper function of the engine, eliminating the need to maintain oil circulating through the engine.

2. Description of the Related Art

Several designs for oil distribution systems have been designed in the past. None of them, however, include a shaft and a bearing support which receives a lattice within. The lattice includes pods containing oil to be delivered to the engine of machinery or vehicles. The lattice and each individual pod disintegrate or burst at a predetermined temperature to selectively deliver and disperse oil within the engine for proper function thereof. Supported between the shaft and the bearing support is a bearing with bearing races. The shaft, bearing races and the bearing support include slots that allow for the oil to maneuver through the engine for lubrication of the necessary components within. Thereby resulting in reduced engine costs, weight and complexity as there are less components necessary to deliver oil to the engine as the need for oil to be constantly circulating through the engine is eliminated.

Applicant believes that a related reference corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 2,742,332 for bearings and lubrication therefor. Applicant believes that another related reference refers to U.S. Pat. No. 9,371,498 for a lubricant system and method of forming the same. None of these references, however, teach of a lattice secured within an engine, more particularly at a shaft and bearing support of the engine, which disintegrates at a predetermined temperature to deliver oil to the engine for lubrication to permit proper functioning thereof. The oil is distributed through the shaft, bearing races and bearing support of the engine through slots that allow the oil to flow freely through the shaft, bearing races and bearing support for lubrication.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide an oil distribution system that selectively delivers and distributes oil within an engine of a machinery or vehicle, when a predetermined temperature is achieved within the engine for proper function thereof.

It is another object of this invention to provide an oil distribution system that eliminates the need to have constant flowing oil through an engine of a vehicle or machinery.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an oil distribution system that reduces the weight, complexity and cost of an engine for a vehicle or machinery.

It is also another object of the present invention to provide an oil distribution system that permits for vehicles and machinery with engines to be easily disposable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, where the present invention is generally referred to with numeral10, it can be observed that it basically includes a shaft assembly20, a bearing assembly40and a mounting assembly60.

Oil distribution system10may help to deliver lubricants such as oils to a motor of a vehicle or other machinery to allow the motor to function properly and as needed. Oil distribution system10eliminates the need for the lubricants or oils to be constantly circulating through the motor. Instead, the lubricants or oils are selectively dispersed into the motor to allow proper functioning thereof. This helps to reduce the complexity, cost and weight of the motors as the need for components that permit the oils to be constantly flowing through the motor are eliminated. Additionally, the machinery or vehicles which have oil distribution system10incorporated within may be easily disposed of. Oil distribution system10may be implemented into drones used for warfare which may not so easily survive, for example.

Oil distribution system10includes shaft assembly20having a shaft22and can include a concentric inner shaft24within. It may be suitable for concentric inner shaft24to extend a partial length of shaft22. A ringed lattice member26can be wrapped around concentric inner shaft24thereby holding ringed lattice member26in place within shaft22. Shaft22and concentric inner shaft24may each have a cylindrical configuration in the preferred embodiment. The distance between shaft22and concentric inner shaft24defines a pocket28within shaft22that may serve as a reservoir for oil82resulting from the heating of ringed lattice member26. It is to be understood that oil82may escape from pocket28through shaft slots32located about the perimeter of shaft22. Shaft slots32may be in fluid communication with pocket28. It is to be understood that ringed lattice member26may melt at a temperature of at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit.

It is to be understood that at least one of ringed lattice member26may be inserted within shaft22. It is to be understood that each of ringed lattice member26may include ringed lattice pods26A which are attached together with ringed lattice connectors26B. Ringed lattice connectors26B may extend between each of ringed lattice pods26A. Preferably, ringed lattice connectors26B may extend perpendicularly from each of ringed lattice pods26A. Notably, within each of ringed lattice pods26A may be encapsulated oil82. Oil82may be injected into ringed lattice pods26A in one embodiment. Oil82may suitably be a lubricant such as motor oil. In an alternate embodiment, ringed lattice pods26A may be free from one another.

Importantly, ringed lattice member26may disintegrate with heat. Ringed lattice member26may disintegrate when a predetermined temperature is reached within shaft22to release oil82held within. Thereby allowing for oil82to be dispersed within the engine to lubricate bearing assembly40for proper functioning thereof. When ringed lattice member26melts, more specifically ringed lattice pods26A, oil82may be momentarily stored within pocket28. Oil82may escape from pocket28through shaft slots32. Shaft slots32may extend about an entire perimeter of shaft22. It may be suitable for shaft slots32to be skewed relative to shaft22at a predetermined angle. Shaft slots32may usher oil82within pocket28out of shaft22and towards bearing assembly40. In a preferred embodiment, shaft slots32extend from pocket28to bearing assembly40. Multiple shaft slots32can be located around shaft22that cooperate with various receiving locations of bearing assembly40. It may be suitable to access pocket28from front or rear of shaft22. Pocket28may have a depth that extends partially along the length of shaft22.

The engine of machinery or vehicles is powered by combustion. A turbine within the engine is actuated as a result of that combustion, the turbine then drives shaft22. Shaft22rotates within bearing assembly40. It is to be understood that bearing assembly40extends about the entire perimeter of shaft22. Bearing assembly40includes inner race42that extends along the inner circumference of bearing assembly40. Bearing assembly40also includes an outer race46that extends along the outer circumference of bearing assembly40. It is to be understood that a spacing48exists between inner race42and outer race46. Spacing48is formed by the separation between inner race42and outer race46. Inner race42is connected to shaft22using a press fit and both spin simultaneously at the same rate. The axial and radial forces from shaft22are therefore transmitted to inner race42. Bearing elements44extend along the circumference of bearing assembly40and are rotating with inner race42that rotates around the shaft22. Bearing elements44may be ball bearings or rollers, for example. Bearing elements44are also spinning about their own axis. Bearing elements44absorb radial and axial forces transmitted on inner race44thereby also absorbing radial and axial forces from shaft22. This absorption of those two forces by bearing elements44keeps shaft22aligned in place when the engine is in operation. Inner race42rotates while outer race46is static during engine operation. In one embodiment, outer race46is mounted to mounting assembly60using press fit or any other method of mounting bearing assembly40to the engine casing. In another embodiment, outer race46can be mounted to a location on the engine casing using an intermediary member such as a bearing support member. Bearing elements44are within a bearing cage and both move together at the same rate. The bearing cage ensures appropriate spacing between the bearing elements44within bearing assembly40.

Each of inner race42and outer race46may include axial slots52and radial slots54. Axial slots52of inner race42may extend evenly spaced apart about the inner circumference of inner race42. Axial slots52of outer race46may extend evenly spaced apart about the outer circumference of outer race46. Axial slots52may be recessed in each of inner race42and outer race46. Axial slots52on inner race42may be parallel to axial slots52on outer race46when inner race42and outer race46align. Axial slots52may extend a thickness of each of inner race42and outer race46. Extending perpendicularly from each of axial slots52towards spacing48may be radial slots54. Radial slots54may extend internally within each of inner race42and outer race46. Radial slots54may be on opposite lateral sides of each of axial slots52and be perpendicular to axial slots52. It is to be understood that shaft slots32may align with axial slots52on inner race42. Thereby allowing for oil82within pocket28to flow from shaft22through shaft slots52and into inner race42through axial slots52. Oil82may then continue to flow from inner race42towards spacing48and eventually towards outer race46. Additionally, bearing elements44are also lubricated when bearing assembly is flooded with oil82. Axial slots52and radial slots54assist oil82in flowing though through bearing assembly40for lubrication thereof. Axial slots52and radial slots54may be best illustrated inFIG. 9. It is to be understood that axial slots52on both of inner race42and outer race46can be open on one or both sides to allow more of oil82to be distributed through the system. Alternatively, axial slots52on inner race52and outer race54can be closed on both sides to direct the flow of oil82.

Secured about the perimeter of bearing assembly40may be mounting assembly60. Mounting assembly may assist bearing assembly40in remaining intact and functioning as needed. Mounting assembly60may include an intermediary member such as a bearing support62. Bearing support62may extend about the entire perimeter of bearing assembly40. Shaft22and inner race42may rotate while outer race46and bearing support62remain stationary during the operation of the present invention. It is to be understood that bearing support62may include bearing support slots64. Bearing support slots64may be evenly spaced apart and each extend a towards a center of bearing support62. It may be suitable for bearing support slots64to be closed on at least one end, in one embodiment. It may also be suitable for bearing support slots64to be open on both ends, in an alternate embodiment. Bearing support slots64may be parallel to each other. It is to be understood that within bearing support slots64may be received a stringed lattice member66. Each of bearing support slots64may receive at least one of string lattice member66. It is to be understood that each of stringed lattice member66may include a stringed lattice pods66A secured together with stringed lattice connectors66B similarly to ringed lattice pods26A and ringed lattice connectors26B. It is to be understood that stringed lattice member66may be similar to ringed lattice member26and hold oil82within. Stringed lattice member66may have stringed lattice pods66A arranged in a column configuration. Stringed lattice member66may melt to release oil82through bearing support slots64down into bearing assembly40. Bearing support slots64align with axial slots52located on outer race46. As outer race46and bearing support62are stationary, axial slots52on outer race46are constantly aligned with bearing support slots64. Thereby allowing for oil82from bearing support62to flow into outer race46and towards spacing48for lubrication of bearing assembly40. Bearing assembly40may be flooded by oil82from shaft22and from bearing support62for proper functioning of the engine of the machinery or vehicles. It is to be understood that stringed lattice member66may melt at a temperature of at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit.

In an alternate embodiment, as seen inFIGS. 6 and 8, secured about the entire perimeter of bearing assembly40may be a mounting assembly160. Mounting assembly160may include a bearing support162having a bearing support inner member164within. Bearing support162may include a bearing support pocket166therein. Bearing support pocket166may be defined as the distance between bearing support162and bearing support inner member164. Bearing support pocket166may extend about an inner perimeter of bearing support162. It can be seen that bearing support pocket166may be recessed within bearing support162. Secured within bearing support pocket166may be a ringed bearing support lattice member168. Ringed bearing support lattice member168may be similar to ringed lattice member26. It may be suitable for ringed bearing support lattice member168to have dimensions greater than ringed lattice member26, in one embodiment. Ringed bearing support lattice member168may melt at a temperature of at least 130 degrees Fahrenheit.

Importantly, bearing support inner member164may include bearing support slits172, as illustrated inFIG. 6, in fluid communication with bearing support pocket166. Bearing support slits172may be located along the perimeter of bearing support inner member164. Bearing support slits172may be adjacent and parallel to each other, as seen inFIG. 6. Bearing support slits172may be skewed at a predetermined angle relative to bearing support pocket166. Bearing support slits172may align with axial slots52on outer race46, allowing for oil82dispersed from ringed bearing support lattice member168to flow out of bearing support pocket166through bearing support slits172into outer race46and towards inner race42and spacing48. As outer race46and bearing support162are stationary, axial slots52of outer race46are in constant alignment with bearing support slits172. Thereby allowing for bearing assembly40to be flooded with oil82for proper lubrication and function of the present invention.

Oil distribution system10is capable of selectively distributing oil82to the engine of vehicles or machinery for the proper lubrication thereof. Thereby allowing for the vehicle or machinery including oil distribution system10to not have to have oil82constantly flowing therethrough. This helps to reduce the cost and weight of the machinery or vehicles produced and their respective motors. Advantageously, the machinery or vehicle may be made disposable due to the reduced costs.