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A gas turbine engine is configured to use relatively cool, low pressure air discharged from a low pressure compressor to supply buffer air to lubrication sump seals. The engine is further configured such that the lubrication sump is thermally layered by isolating relatively hot, high pressure compre

A gas turbine engine is configured to use relatively cool, low pressure air discharged from a low pressure compressor to supply buffer air to lubrication sump seals. The engine is further configured such that the lubrication sump is thermally layered by isolating relatively hot, high pressure compressor air from the sump by utilizing a warm vent mixing cavity, which is located radially between of the hot high pressure compressor air and the cool buffer air, which is located in a buffer cavity between the vent cavity and the sump.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A gas turbine engine, comprising: a compressor section and a turbine section mounted in flow series, the compressor section including at least a low pressure compressor and a high pressure compressor, each compressor having an air inlet and an air outlet; a housing that at least partia

We claim: 1. A gas turbine engine, comprising: a compressor section and a turbine section mounted in flow series, the compressor section including at least a low pressure compressor and a high pressure compressor, each compressor having an air inlet and an air outlet; a housing that at least partially surrounds the compressor section and the turbine section, the housing configured to define a lubrication sump, a buffer cavity, a vent cavity, and a high pressure air cavity in fluid communication with the high pressure compressor air outlet and the turbine section; a lubrication sump disposed between the compressor section and the turbine section, the lubrication sump adapted to receive a flow of lubricant; one or more sump seals coupled to the lubrication sump and at least partially exposed to the buffer cavity; one or more vent seals disposed between the buffer cavity and the vent cavity, the vent seals configured to allow fluid flow at least from the buffer cavity to the vent cavity, the vent seals configured to allow fluid flow at least from the buffer cavity to the vent cavity; one or more throttle seals disposed between the vent cavity and the high pressure cavity, the throttle seals configured to allow fluid flow at least from the high pressure cavity to the vent cavity; and a buffer air supply passage having an inlet in fluid communication with the low pressure compressor air outlet and an outlet in fluid communication with the sump seals, whereby air from the low pressure compressor is used to buffer the sump seals to thereby substantially prevent lubricant from leaking from the lubrication sump. 2. The engine of claim 1, wherein: the sump seals comprise ring seals; and the vent seals comprise labyrinth seals. 3. The engine of claim 1, wherein: the sump seals comprise ring seals; and the vent seals comprise labyrinth seals; and the throttle seals comprise labyrinth seals in series with either brush seals or finger seals. 4. The engine of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to define the buffer air supply passage. 5. The engine of claim 1, wherein the buffer air supply passage comprises a tube that extends through at least a portion of the housing. 6. The engine of claim 1, wherein the sump seals comprise ring seals. 7. A gas turbine engine, comprising: a low pressure compressor having an air inlet and an air outlet, the low pressure compressor coupled to receive a rotational drive force and operable, upon receipt thereof, to supply a flow of low pressure compressed air; a high pressure compressor having an air inlet and an air outlet, the high pressure compressed air inlet in fluid communication with the low pressure compressor air outlet, to thereby receive at least a portion of the flow of low pressure compressed air therefrom, the high pressure compressor coupled to receive a rotational drive force and operable, upon receipt thereof, to supply a flow of high pressure compressed air; a combustor coupled to receive at least a portion of the flow of high pressure compressed air and a flow of fuel and operable to supply a flow of combusted gas; a high pressure turbine coupled to receive the flow of combusted gas and operable, upon receipt thereof, to supply the drive force to the high pressure compressor and to supply high pressure turbine exhaust; a low pressure turbine coupled to receive the high pressure turbine exhaust and operable, upon receipt thereof, to supply the drive force to the low pressure compressor; a lubrication sump disposed between the high pressure compressor and the high pressure turbine, the lubrication sump adapted to receive a flow of lubricant; a housing that at least partially surrounds the high and low pressure compressors, the high and low pressure turbines, and the combustor, the housing configured to define the lubrication sump, a buffer cavity, a vent cavity, and a high pressure air cavity in fluid communication with the high pressure compressor air outlet and the low pressure turbine; one or more sump seals coupled to the lubrication sump and at least partially exposed to the buffer cavity; one or more vent seals disposed between the buffer cavity and the vent cavity, the vent seals configured to allow fluid flow at least from the buffer cavity to the vent cavity; one or more throttle seals disposed between the vent cavity and the high pressure cavity, the throttle seals configured to allow fluid flow at least from the high pressure cavity to the vent cavity; and a buffer air supply conduit having an inlet in fluid communication with the low pressure compressor air outlet and an outlet in fluid communication with the sump seals and the buffer cavity, whereby a portion of the flow of low pressure compressed air is used to buffer the sump seals to thereby substantially prevent lubricant from leaking from the lubrication sump. 8. The engine of claim 7, wherein: the sump seals comprise ring seals; and the vent seals comprise labyrinth seals. 9. The engine of claim 7, wherein: the sump seals comprise ring seals; and the vent seals comprise labyrinth seals; and the throttle seals comprise labyrinth seals and either finger seals or brush seals. 10. The engine of claim 7, wherein the housing is configured to define the buffer air supply conduit. 11. The engine of claim 7, wherein the buffer air supply conduit comprises a tube that extends through at least a portion of the housing. 12. The engine of claim 7, wherein the sump seals comprise ring seals.