Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses a mechanism that supplies oil mist to a bearing in a gas turbine engine of a flying object. According to this oil mist supply mechanism, while the flying object is flying, compressed air is introduced from a compressor of the engine to an oil mist generating means. The oil mist generating means generates the oil mist from oil by the introduced compressed air. The generated oil mist is supplied to the bearing.

<CIT> discloses a gas turbine with a heat exchanger through which air compressed by a compressor of the gas turbine is supplied as air for generating oil mist which cools a bearing of the gas turbine. <CIT> discloses an emergency oil mist system for a main lubrication system for a bearing of a gas turbine engine. Upon failure of a pressurized lubricant source, a valve is actuated to connect the auxiliary reservoir to the atmosphere and simultaneously connect the pressurized air source to the nozzle. The pressurized air passing through the nozzle draws oil from the emergency reservoir to provide a mist.

According to the above-described oil mist supply mechanism, the compressed air from the compressor is necessary to supply the oil mist to the bearing. However, there is a possibility that since the pressure of the air of the compressor is low before the engine is started or immediately after the engine is started, the supply of the oil mist to the bearing becomes unstable. As a method of securing the lubricity of the bearing until the pressure of the air of the compressor becomes high to some extent, there may be a method of filling the bearing with grease before the engine is started, but such work extremely requires time and labor.

To solve the above problems, a gas turbine engine according to the present invention comprises the features of claim <NUM>. A gas turbine engine in which a compressor, a combustor, and a turbine are arranged so as to be lined up along a rotating shaft. The gas turbine engine includes: a casing accommodating the compressor, the combustor, and the turbine; bearings arranged in the casing; a main lubricator including an oil mist generator that generates oil mist by mixing oil with compressed air extracted from the compressor and a first supply passage through which the oil mist is guided to the bearings; and a starting lubricator including a second supply passage that is connected to a portion of the first supply passage and through which a gas flowing out from a gas source is guided to a connection portion of the first supply passage, the connection portion being the portion of the first supply passage, and an opener that starts supply of the gas from the gas source through the second supply passage to the connection portion. The main lubricator supplies the oil mist through the first supply passage to the bearings by pressure of the compressed air extracted from the compressor. When the opener starts the supply of the gas, the starting lubricator supplies the oil mist to the bearings through the second supply passage and a portion of the first supply passage which portion is located downstream of the connection portion, by the pressure of the gas supplied from the gas source.

There is a possibility that since the pressure of the air of the compressor is low, for example, before or immediately after the engine is started, the supply of the oil mist from the main lubricator to the bearings becomes unstable. Even in this case, according to the above configuration, when the opener starts the supply of the gas from the gas source, the oil mist can be supplied to the bearings by the pressure of the gas flowing out from the gas source. Therefore, the lubrication of the bearings when starting the engine can be easily performed.

In a gas turbine engine including a lubricator that supplies oil mist to a bearing by air extracted from a compressor, lubrication of the bearing when starting the engine can be easily performed.

In the following description, a "front side" denotes an upstream side in a direction in which air flows in an engine, and a "rear side" denotes a downstream side in the direction in which the air flows in the engine. A "radial direction" denotes a direction orthogonal to a rotation axis of a rotating shaft of the engine. A "circumferential direction" denotes a direction around the rotation axis of the rotating shaft of the engine.

<FIG> is a sectional view of a gas turbine engine <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM>. The gas turbine engine <NUM> is an aircraft turbo fan engine and includes a rotating shaft <NUM>, a fan <NUM>, a compressor <NUM>, a combustor <NUM>, a turbine <NUM>, and a casing <NUM>. In the present embodiment and Embodiments <NUM> and <NUM> described below, an aircraft gas turbine engine is described as the gas turbine engine. However, the gas turbine engine is not especially limited to the aircraft gas turbine engine. The rotating shaft <NUM> extends in a front-rear direction of the gas turbine engine <NUM>. The fan <NUM> is connected to a front portion of the rotating shaft <NUM> and rotates together with the rotating shaft <NUM>. The compressor <NUM>, the combustor <NUM>, and the turbine <NUM> are lined up in this order from the front side toward the rear side along the rotating shaft <NUM>. The casing <NUM> is a tubular object having an axis that coincides with a rotation axis of the rotating shaft <NUM>. The casing <NUM> accommodates the rotating shaft <NUM>, the fan <NUM>, the compressor <NUM>, the combustor <NUM>, and the turbine <NUM>.

Specifically, the gas turbine engine <NUM> is a two-shaft gas turbine engine. The compressor <NUM> includes a low-pressure compressor <NUM> and a high-pressure compressor <NUM> arranged behind the low-pressure compressor <NUM>. For example, both the low-pressure compressor <NUM> and the high-pressure compressor <NUM> are axial flow compressors. However, the types of the low-pressure compressor <NUM> and the high-pressure compressor <NUM> are not limited to this. For example, the high-pressure compressor <NUM> may be a centrifugal compressor. The turbine <NUM> includes a low-pressure turbine <NUM> and a high-pressure turbine <NUM> arranged in front of the low-pressure turbine <NUM>. The rotating shaft <NUM> includes a low-pressure shaft <NUM> and a high-pressure shaft <NUM>. The low-pressure shaft <NUM> couples the low-pressure compressor <NUM> to the low-pressure turbine <NUM>. The high-pressure shaft <NUM> couples the high-pressure compressor <NUM> to the high-pressure turbine <NUM>. The high-pressure shaft <NUM> is a tubular shaft including a hollow space therein. The low-pressure shaft <NUM> is inserted into the hollow space of the high-pressure shaft <NUM>. The low-pressure turbine <NUM> is coupled to the fan <NUM> through the low-pressure shaft <NUM>.

The casing <NUM> includes an inner shell <NUM>, an outer shell <NUM>, and struts <NUM>. The inner shell <NUM> has a substantially cylindrical shape and accommodates the compressor <NUM>, the combustor <NUM>, and the turbine <NUM>. The outer shell <NUM> has a substantially cylindrical shape and is arranged concentrically with the inner shell <NUM> so as to be spaced apart from the inner shell <NUM> outward in the radial direction. The struts <NUM> are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction. Each strut <NUM> couples the inner shell <NUM> to the outer shell <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the strut <NUM> extends inward in the radial direction from the outer shell <NUM>, penetrates the inner shell <NUM> in the radial direction, and extends to a passage of air compressed by the compressor <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the struts <NUM> are arranged at positions between the low-pressure compressor <NUM> and the high-pressure compressor <NUM> in the axial direction of the rotating shaft <NUM>. However, the positions of the struts <NUM> are not limited to this. The casing <NUM> may include a strut or struts other than the struts <NUM>. For example, the casing <NUM> may include a strut or struts in front of the low-pressure compressor <NUM> in the axial direction of the rotating shaft <NUM> or behind the high-pressure compressor <NUM> in the axial direction of the rotating shaft <NUM>. A cylindrical bypass passage B is formed between the inner shell <NUM> and the outer shell <NUM>. Part of the air sucked by the fan <NUM> is supplied to the low-pressure compressor <NUM>, and the rest of the air flows through the bypass passage B and is discharged to the rear side.

An outer peripheral surface of the outer shell <NUM> of the casing <NUM> includes a first region 18a, a second region 18b, and a third region 18c. The second region 18b is located behind the first region 18a, and the third region 18c connects the first region 18a and the second region 18b. The first region 18a is smaller in diameter than the second region 18b. The first region 18a is located at a position corresponding to at least the low-pressure compressor <NUM> in the front-rear direction (rotation axis direction). The second region 18b is located at a position corresponding to at least the combustor <NUM> in the front-rear direction (rotation axis direction). The third region 18c is an inclined region that gradually increases in diameter toward the rear side. A below-described cartridge <NUM> is arranged in the first region 18a.

The rotating shaft <NUM> is supported by bearings <NUM>. The bearings <NUM> are arranged in an internal space of the casing <NUM> (more specifically, at a radially inner side of the inner shell <NUM>) along the rotating shaft <NUM>. In <FIG>, among the bearings <NUM>, only bearings 8a and 8b that support the low-pressure shaft <NUM> are shown, and bearings that support the high-pressure shaft <NUM> are not shown. The gas turbine engine <NUM> includes an oil mist supply system 20A that supplies oil mist to the bearings <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic configuration diagram of the oil mist supply system 20A. The oil mist supply system 20A includes a main lubricator <NUM>, a starting lubricator <NUM>, and a controller <NUM>.

The main lubricator <NUM> is a lubricator that supplies the oil mist to the bearings <NUM> while the gas turbine engine <NUM> is operating. The main lubricator <NUM> supplies the oil mist to the bearings <NUM> by the pressure of the compressed air extracted from the compressor <NUM>. The main lubricator <NUM> includes a first supply passage <NUM>, an oil mist generator <NUM>, and a first backflow preventer <NUM>.

The first supply passage <NUM> guides the compressed air, extracted from the compressor <NUM>, to the bearings <NUM>. A side of the first supply passage <NUM> which side is close to the compressor <NUM> is referred to as an "upstream side," and a side of the first supply passage <NUM> which side is close to the bearings <NUM> is referred to as a "downstream side. " The first supply passage <NUM> may be comprised of a pipe, a casing, a housing, or the like.

The oil mist generator <NUM> generates the oil mist by mixing oil with the compressed air extracted from the compressor <NUM>. The oil mist generator <NUM> is located at a portion of the first supply passage <NUM> so as to be able to supply the generated oil mist to the portion of the first supply passage <NUM>. For example, the oil mist generator <NUM> includes an electrically-operated lubricating oil pump that discharges a small amount of oil from a lubricating oil tank (not shown) to the portion (oil mixing portion 31a) of the first supply passage <NUM>. The electrically-operated lubricating oil pump is disposed on, for example, an outer peripheral surface of the first region 18a. The oil mist generated at the oil mixing portion 31a is supplied through the first supply passage <NUM> to the bearings <NUM> by the pressure of the compressed air extracted from the compressor <NUM>. The oil mist having cooled the bearings <NUM> is guided through a discharge passage (not shown) toward the bypass passage B (see <FIG>) and is discharged to the bypass passage B. For example, the discharge passage may be disposed in the struts <NUM> and the strut(s) arranged at a different position(s).

The first backflow preventer <NUM> prevents a fluid from flowing through the first supply passage <NUM> from the downstream side to the upstream side. The first backflow preventer <NUM> is, for example, a check valve. The first backflow preventer <NUM> is disposed at a portion of the first supply passage <NUM> which portion is located upstream of a connection portion 31b of the first supply passage <NUM>, the connection portion 31b being connected to a below-described second supply passage <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the first backflow preventer <NUM> is disposed at a portion of the first supply passage <NUM> which portion is located downstream of the oil mist generator <NUM> (more specifically, the oil mixing portion 31a). The first backflow preventer <NUM> may be disposed at a portion of the first supply passage <NUM> which portion is located upstream of the oil mist generator <NUM> (more specifically, the oil mixing portion 31a).

The starting lubricator <NUM> is a lubricator that supplies the oil mist to the bearings <NUM> before or immediately after the gas turbine engine <NUM> is started. The starting lubricator <NUM> includes the second supply passage <NUM>, the cartridge <NUM>, an oil storing chamber <NUM>, and a second backflow preventer <NUM>.

An end portion of the second supply passage <NUM> is connected to a portion of the first supply passage <NUM>. More specifically, the end portion of the second supply passage <NUM> is connected to a portion of the first supply passage <NUM> which portion is located downstream of the first backflow preventer <NUM>. A portion where the first supply passage <NUM> and the second supply passage <NUM> are connected to each other is referred to as the "connection portion 31b. " The cartridge <NUM> is connected to an end portion 41a of the second supply passage <NUM>, the end portion 41a being opposite to the end portion connected to the connection portion 31b of the first supply passage <NUM>. A side 6of the second supply passage <NUM> which side is close to the cartridge <NUM> is referred to as the "upstream side," and a side of the second supply passage <NUM> which side is close to the connection portion 31b is referred to as the "downstream side. " The second supply passage <NUM> is comprised of a pipe, a casing, a housing, or the like.

The cartridge <NUM> is attachable to and detachable from the upstream end portion 41a of the second supply passage <NUM>. The cartridge <NUM> includes a gas filled chamber <NUM> as a gas source, and an opener <NUM>. The gas filled chamber <NUM> is filled with a high-pressure gas.

The opener <NUM> is a device that starts the supply of the gas from the gas filled chamber <NUM> as the gas source through the second supply passage <NUM> to the connection portion 31b. The opener <NUM> is disposed at a gas passage 52a located in the cartridge <NUM>. The gas passage 52a connects a gas outlet 51a of the gas filled chamber <NUM> and the upstream end portion 41a of the second supply passage <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the opener <NUM> is an electrically-driven on-off valve. The opener <NUM> changes a state between the gas filled chamber <NUM> and the first supply passage <NUM> from a blocked state to a communicating state or from the communicating state to the blocked state. Specifically, upon reception of a gas supply command from the controller <NUM>, the opener <NUM> changes the state between the gas filled chamber <NUM> and the first supply passage <NUM> from the blocked state to the communicating state. With this, the gas is guided from the gas filled chamber <NUM> through the second supply passage <NUM> to the connection portion 31b.

The oil storing chamber <NUM> is disposed at the second supply passage <NUM>. The oil storing chamber <NUM> stores a predetermined amount of oil. When the supply of the gas by the opener <NUM> starts, the high-pressure gas flows into the oil storing chamber <NUM> from the gas filled chamber <NUM>. With this, in the oil storing chamber <NUM>, the stored oil and the high-pressure gas are mixed with each other, and this generates the oil mist. By the pressure of the gas flowing out from the gas filled chamber <NUM>, the generated oil mist is supplied to the bearings <NUM> through a portion of the second supply passage <NUM> which portion is located downstream of the oil storing chamber <NUM> and a portion of the first supply passage <NUM> which portion is located downstream of the connection portion 31b.

As above, when the opener <NUM> starts the supply of the gas, the starting lubricator <NUM> supplies the oil mist to the bearings <NUM> by the pressure of the gas flowing out from the gas filled chamber <NUM> as the gas source. The oil storing chamber <NUM> may be formed such that the stored oil and the gas flowing from the upstream side through the second supply passage <NUM> into the oil storing chamber <NUM> are mixed with each other. The oil storing chamber <NUM> may be, for example, a part of a pipe.

The second backflow preventer <NUM> prevents a fluid from flowing through the second supply passage <NUM> from the downstream side to the upstream side. The second backflow preventer <NUM> is, for example, a check valve. The second backflow preventer <NUM> is disposed at a portion of the second supply passage <NUM> which portion is located downstream of the oil storing chamber <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> controls the supply of the oil mist to the bearings <NUM> from the main lubricator <NUM> and the starting lubricator <NUM>. The controller <NUM> is a so-called computer and includes a calculation processing portion (such as a CPU) and a storage portion (such as a ROM and a RAM). The controller <NUM> is electrically connected to the oil mist generator <NUM> and the opener <NUM>.

Before the gas turbine engine <NUM> is started, the controller <NUM> performs the supply of the oil mist by the starting lubricator <NUM>. Specifically, the controller <NUM> transmits a gas supply command to the opener <NUM>. With this, the on-off valve as the opener <NUM> opens, and the high-pressure gas flows into the oil storing chamber <NUM> from the gas filled chamber <NUM>. Then, in the oil storing chamber <NUM>, the oil mist is generated. By the pressure of the gas flowing out from the gas filled chamber <NUM>, the generated oil mist is supplied to the bearings <NUM> through a portion of the second supply passage <NUM> which portion is located downstream of the oil storing chamber <NUM> and a portion of the first supply passage <NUM> which portion is located downstream of the connection portion 31b. The gas and the oil mist having flowed into the first supply passage <NUM> from the second supply passage <NUM> are prevented by the first backflow preventer <NUM> from flowing toward the compressor <NUM>.

The starting lubricator <NUM> is only required to secure the lubricity of the bearings <NUM> in a short period of time until the supply of the oil mist by the main lubricator <NUM> can be stably executed. In other words, the amount of gas (i.e., the pressure of the gas) filled in the gas filled chamber <NUM> and the amount of oil stored in the oil storing chamber <NUM> are suitably adjusted such that the lubricity of the bearings <NUM> can be secured in the above-described period of time.

After the supply of the oil mist by the starting lubricator <NUM> is executed, the gas turbine engine <NUM> is started. However, the gas turbine engine <NUM> may be started before or simultaneously with the execution of the supply of the oil mist by the starting lubricator <NUM>. Then, immediately after the gas turbine engine <NUM> is started, the supply of the oil mist by the starting lubricator <NUM> is executed.

After the pressure of the compressor <NUM> is adequately increased by the start of the gas turbine engine <NUM>, the controller <NUM> performs the supply of the oil mist by the main lubricator <NUM>. Specifically, the controller <NUM> transmits an oil mist generating command to (the electrically-operated lubricating oil pump of) the oil mist generator <NUM>. With this, the oil mist generator <NUM> generates the oil mist by mixing the oil with the compressed air extracted from the compressor <NUM>. The generated oil mist is supplied to the bearings <NUM> through the first supply passage <NUM> by the pressure of the compressed air extracted from the compressor <NUM>. The gas and the oil mist having flowed into the second supply passage <NUM> from the first supply passage <NUM> are prevented by the second backflow preventer <NUM> from flowing toward the cartridge <NUM>.

According to the above-described configuration, even when the pressure of the air of the compressor <NUM> is low, such as before or immediately after the gas turbine engine <NUM> is started, the oil mist can be supplied to the bearings <NUM> by using the starting lubricator <NUM> by the pressure of the gas flowing out from the gas filled chamber <NUM>. Therefore, the lubrication of the bearings <NUM> when starting the gas turbine engine <NUM> can be easily performed.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, the cartridge <NUM> includes the gas filled chamber <NUM> as the gas source. Therefore, the used cartridge <NUM> can be easily replaced with the new cartridge <NUM> that can be utilized as the gas source. On this account, the starting lubricator <NUM> can be easily set to a usable state.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, the backflow of the high-pressure fluid toward the oil mist generator <NUM> and the compressor <NUM> can be prevented by the first backflow preventer <NUM>. Furthermore, the backflow of the high-pressure fluid toward the oil storing chamber <NUM> can be prevented by the second backflow preventer <NUM>. Since the first backflow preventer <NUM> and the second backflow preventer <NUM> are the check valves, the backflow of the high-pressure fluid can be prevented by mechanical structure.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, since the opener <NUM> is the on-off valve, the state between the gas filled chamber <NUM> and the first supply passage <NUM> can be switched from the communicating state to the blocked state. Furthermore, the gas filled chamber <NUM> of the used cartridge <NUM> can be filled with the high-pressure gas again. Thus, the cartridge <NUM> can be repeatedly used.

For example, there is a possibility that if the starting lubricator <NUM> stores the oil and the high-pressure gas in the same space, only the high-pressure gas is guided to the bearings <NUM> by the start of the supply of the gas by the opener <NUM> with the oil staying in the space. However, in the present embodiment, the gas having flowed out from the gas filled chamber <NUM> as the gas source reaches the oil storing chamber <NUM> before reaching the bearings <NUM>. Therefore, the gas having flowed out from the gas source and the oil can be surely mixed with each other, and the oil mist can be surely supplied to the bearings <NUM>.

Next, the gas turbine engine <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>. In the present embodiment and Embodiment <NUM> described below, the same reference signs are used for the same components as in Embodiment <NUM>, and the repetition of the same explanation is avoided.

<FIG> is a schematic configuration diagram of an oil mist supply system 20B of the gas turbine engine <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM>. In Embodiment <NUM>, the gas source and the opener in the starting lubricator <NUM> are different in configuration.

Specifically, instead of the gas filled chamber <NUM> and the opener <NUM> in Embodiment <NUM>, the cartridge <NUM> includes a gas generating chamber <NUM> and an opener <NUM>. The gas generating chamber <NUM> stores a known gas generating agent 61a. The gas generating agent 61a is gunpowder that is ignited to generate a combustion gas.

The opener <NUM> starts the supply of the gas from the gas generating chamber <NUM> as the gas source through the second supply passage <NUM> to the connection portion 31b. In the present embodiment, the opener <NUM> includes a stopper <NUM> and a destroyer <NUM>. The stopper <NUM> closes a gas outlet 61b of the gas generating chamber <NUM>, and the destroyer <NUM> destroys the stopper <NUM>.

The stopper <NUM> is a metal plate made of stainless steel, for example. The destroyer <NUM> is, for example, an igniter that ignites the gas generating agent 61a. To be specific, the igniter as the destroyer <NUM> ignites the gas generating agent 61a by an ignition command from the controller <NUM>, and with this, the combustion gas is generated. The stopper <NUM> is destroyed by a shock wave generated by the generation of the combustion gas or by the pressure of the gas in the gas generating chamber <NUM> increased by the generation of the combustion gas. Thus, the opener <NUM> changes the state between the gas generating chamber <NUM> and the first supply passage <NUM> from the blocked state to the communicating state. The destroyer <NUM> may mechanically destroy the stopper <NUM> by using, for example, a pin without using a chemical reaction.

When the supply of the gas is started by the opener <NUM> as above, the high-pressure gas flows into the oil storing chamber <NUM> from the gas generating chamber <NUM>. With this, in the oil storing chamber <NUM>, the stored oil and the high-pressure gas are mixed with each other, and this generates the oil mist. By the pressure of the gas flowing out from the gas generating chamber <NUM>, the generated oil mist is supplied to the bearings <NUM> through a portion of the second supply passage <NUM> which portion is located downstream of the oil storing chamber <NUM> and a portion of the first supply passage <NUM> which portion is located downstream of the connection portion 31b.

In the present embodiment, the same effects as in Embodiment <NUM> are obtained. Moreover, in the present embodiment, since the opener <NUM> includes the stopper <NUM> that closes the gas outlet 61b of the gas generating chamber <NUM> and the destroyer <NUM> that destroys the stopper <NUM>, the opener <NUM> can be made smaller than the opener <NUM> that is an electrically driven valve. As a result, the cartridge <NUM> can be downsized.

Next, the gas turbine engine <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG> is a schematic configuration diagram of an oil mist supply system 20C of the gas turbine engine <NUM> according to Embodiment <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, instead of respectively disposing the first backflow preventer <NUM> and the second backflow preventer <NUM> at the first supply passage <NUM> and the second supply passage <NUM>, a three-way valve <NUM> is disposed at the connection portion 31b of the first supply passage <NUM>, the connection portion 31b being connected to the second supply passage <NUM>. To be specific, the three-way valve <NUM> serves as the "first backflow preventer" and the "second backflow preventer.

The three-way valve <NUM> switches between a first position and a second position. When the three-way valve <NUM> is set to the first position, a portion of the first supply passage <NUM> which portion is located upstream of the connection portion 31b and a portion of the first supply passage <NUM> which portion is located downstream of the connection portion 31b communicate with each other, and communication between the second supply passage <NUM> and the portion of the first supply passage <NUM> which portion is located downstream of the connection portion 31b is blocked. When the three-way valve <NUM> is set to the second position, communication between the portion of the first supply passage <NUM> which portion is located upstream of the connection portion 31b and the portion of the first supply passage <NUM> which portion is located downstream of the connection portion 31b is blocked, and the second supply passage <NUM> and the portion of the first supply passage <NUM> which portion is located downstream of the connection portion 31b communicate with each other.

The three-way valve <NUM> is an electrically driven valve and is electrically connected to the controller <NUM>. When the three-way valve <NUM> is switched from the first position to the second position by a control signal transmitted from the controller <NUM> to the three-way valve <NUM>, the supply of the oil mist by the starting lubricator <NUM> is started. When the engine <NUM> is driving, and the three-way valve <NUM> is switched from the second position to the first position by another control signal transmitted from the controller <NUM> to the three-way valve <NUM>, the supply of the oil mist by the main lubricator <NUM> is started.

In the present embodiment, the same effects as in Embodiment <NUM> are obtained. Moreover, in the present embodiment, the backflow of the high-pressure fluid toward the oil mist generator <NUM> and the compressor <NUM> and the backflow of the high-pressure fluid toward the oil storing chamber <NUM> are prevented by a single device.

Next, the gas turbine engine <NUM> according to Modified Example of Embodiment <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG> is a schematic configuration diagram of an oil mist supply system 20D of the gas turbine engine <NUM> according to Modified Example of Embodiment <NUM>.

In Modified Example, a gas filled chamber <NUM> as the gas source stores the high-pressure oil mist. In other words, the gas filled chamber <NUM> stores a predetermined amount of oil and a high-pressure gas in a mixed state. When the cartridge <NUM> is attached to the upstream end portion 41a of the second supply passage <NUM>, a gas outlet 72a of the gas filled chamber <NUM> is located at a lower portion of the gas filled chamber <NUM> (for example, a lower surface of the gas filled chamber <NUM>). Therefore, the oil (for example, condensate of a part of the oil mist) stored in the gas filled chamber <NUM> may accumulate in at least one of a lower portion of an internal space of the gas filled chamber <NUM>, the second supply passage <NUM>, or a gas passage 72b connecting the gas outlet 72a and the upstream end portion 41a of the second supply passage <NUM>.

In Modified Example, the three-way valve <NUM> serves as not only the "first backflow preventer" and the "second backflow preventer" but also the "opener. " When the three-way valve <NUM> is switched from the first position to the second position, i.e., when the second supply passage <NUM> and the portion of the first supply passage <NUM> which portion is located downstream of the connection portion 31b are made to communicate with each other, the supply of the oil mist by the starting lubricator <NUM> to the bearings <NUM> is started. Moreover, when the three-way valve <NUM> is switched from the second position to the first position after the supply of the oil mist by the starting lubricator <NUM>, the supply of the oil mist by the main lubricator <NUM> is realized.

In Modified Example, the same effects as in Embodiment <NUM> are obtained. Moreover, since the gas outlet 72a of the gas filled chamber <NUM> is located at the lower portion of the gas filled chamber <NUM>, it is possible to prevent a case where only the high-pressure gas is supplied to the bearings <NUM> when the second supply passage <NUM> and the first supply passage <NUM> communicate with each other.

Various modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

For example, Embodiments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> and Modified Example of Embodiment <NUM> may be suitably combined with each other. For example, in Embodiment <NUM>, instead of the on-off valve, the opener <NUM> may include the stopper that closes the gas outlet of the gas filled chamber <NUM> and the destroyer that destroys the stopper. Moreover, for example, in Embodiment <NUM> and Modified Example of Embodiment <NUM>, instead of the gas filled chamber <NUM>, <NUM>, the gas source may be the gas generating chamber that stores the gas generating agent.

Moreover, the gas source may be the combination of the gas generating chamber and the gas filled chamber. For example, in Embodiment <NUM>, the gas generating chamber <NUM> may be separated from a gas filled chamber that stores the high-pressure gas, by a stopper different from the stopper <NUM>. Then, after the stopper between the gas generating chamber and the gas filled chamber is destroyed by the generation of the gas in the gas generating chamber <NUM>, the stopper <NUM> may be destroyed by the pressure of the gas.

Moreover, in Embodiments <NUM> and <NUM>, the first backflow preventer <NUM> and the second backflow preventer <NUM> do not have to be the check valves. For example, each of the first backflow preventer <NUM> and the second backflow preventer <NUM> may be an on-off valve that blocks not only the flow of the fluid from the downstream side to the upstream side in the first supply passage <NUM> or the second supply passage <NUM> but also the flow of the fluid from the upstream side to the downstream side in the first supply passage <NUM> or the second supply passage <NUM> at the same time. The first backflow preventer <NUM> and the second backflow preventer <NUM> may be, for example, electrically-driven on-off valves. In this case, the on-off valve disposed at a portion of the second supply passage <NUM> which portion is located downstream of the oil storing chamber <NUM> may serve as an opener instead of or in addition to the opener <NUM>, <NUM>.

Moreover, in Embodiments <NUM> and <NUM>, the cartridge <NUM> may include not only the gas source but also the oil storing chamber <NUM>. With this, the oil storing chamber <NUM> can be easily filled with the oil. Furthermore, the cartridge <NUM> does not have to include the opener <NUM>, <NUM>, and in this case, the opener <NUM>, <NUM> may be disposed at a portion of the second supply passage <NUM> which portion is located between the oil storing chamber <NUM> and the gas source.

Moreover, the cartridge <NUM> does not have to be arranged in the first region 18a. To shorten the second supply passage <NUM>, it is preferable to arrange the cartridge <NUM> in the vicinity of the first supply passage <NUM>, for example, in the vicinity of the oil mist generator <NUM>.

Moreover, the starting lubricator <NUM> does not have to include the cartridge <NUM> that is attachable to and detachable from the second supply passage <NUM>. In this case, the gas source may be different in configuration from the gas filled chamber and the gas generating chamber and is only required to be able to supply the oil mist to the bearings <NUM>. The gas source is different from the compressor <NUM> that supplies the gas by the start of the engine. The gas source can supply the gas even when the engine is in a stop state.

Claim 1:
A gas turbine engine (<NUM>) comprising,
a casing (<NUM>) accommodating a compressor (<NUM>), a combustor (<NUM>), and a turbine (<NUM>);
bearings (<NUM>) being in the casing (<NUM>); and
a main lubricator (<NUM>) including
an oil mist generator (<NUM>) that generates oil mist by mixing oil with compressed air extracted from the compressor (<NUM>) and
a first supply passage (<NUM>) through which the oil mist is guided to the bearings,
the main lubricator (<NUM>) supplying the oil mist through the first supply passage (<NUM>) to the bearings (<NUM>) by pressure of the compressed air extracted from the compressor, characterized in that:
the gas turbine engine (<NUM>) further comprises
a starting lubricator (<NUM>) including
a second supply passage (<NUM>) that is connected to a portion of the first supply passage (<NUM>) and through which a gas flowing out from a gas source (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) is guided to a connection portion of the first supply passage (<NUM>), the connection portion being the portion of the first supply passage (<NUM>) and
an opener (<NUM>, <NUM>) that starts supply of the gas from the gas source (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) through the second supply passage (<NUM>) to the connection portion, and
a controller (<NUM>) configured to perform supply of the oil mist by the starting lubricator (<NUM>) before or immediately after the gas turbine engine (<NUM>) is started; and
when the opener (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) starts the supply of the gas, the starting lubricator (<NUM>) supplies the oil mist to the bearings (<NUM>) through the second supply passage (<NUM>) and a portion of the first supply passage (<NUM>) which portion is located downstream of the connection portion, by the pressure of the gas flowing out from the gas source (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>).