초록 ▼

A control system 30 for measuring the clearance “x”between the tip 26 of a blade 24 and wall 28 in a turbine engine8. A series of probes 32, 32′and 32N located in the wall 28 each have a reference orifice 52 and a sensing orifice 54. Fluid from a source flows through the reference orifices 52 into t

A control system 30 for measuring the clearance “x”between the tip 26 of a blade 24 and wall 28 in a turbine engine8. A series of probes 32, 32′and 32N located in the wall 28 each have a reference orifice 52 and a sensing orifice 54. Fluid from a source flows through the reference orifices 52 into the turbine engine. This fluid flow is substantially unrestricted and as a result a fluid pressure P2 is established in a reference chamber 44. Fluid flow from the sensing orifice 54 is restricted by the relationship of the tip 26 of each blade 24 and as a result fluid pressure P2′is created in chamber 48. A multiplexer 62 sequentially provides transducer 92 and 94 with fluid pressure P2 from the reference chamber 44 and P2′from sensing chamber 48. The transducers 92 and 94 convert the pneumatic signals into electrical signals which are supplied to a computer 116. The computer 116 supplies a control member 118 with a operational signal to allow cooling air to flow to housing 10 to maintain a desired tip clearance “x”for the blades of the turbine.

대표청구항 ▼

In a turbine engine having an engine housing with an operational chamber therein, a shaft located in said engine housing and extending into said operational chamber, a plurality of blades attached to said shaft and rotatable within said operational chamber, each of said blades having a tip that exte

In a turbine engine having an engine housing with an operational chamber therein, a shaft located in said engine housing and extending into said operational chamber, a plurality of blades attached to said shaft and rotatable within said operational chamber, each of said blades having a tip that extends to a position adjacent the engine housing to define a desired clearance therebetween, said clearance being affected by operating engine parameters comprising temperature, pressure, engine speed, the improvement comprising: probe means having a housing with a first chamber and a second chamber, said first chamber having a first orifice connected to said operational chamber and a first inlet port connected to a source of fluid having a fluid pressure P1, said source of fluid flowing through said first orifice into said operational chamber to produce fluid pressure P2 in said first chamber, said second chamber having a second orifice connected to said operational chamber and a second inlet port connected to said source of fluid having a fluid pressure P1, said source of fluid flowing through said second orifice into said operational chamber, said tip of each blade restricting the flow of fluid through said second orifice to produce a fluid pressure P2′in said second chamber; multiplexer means having a control valve connected to said first chamber, a first valve connected to said first chamber and a second valve connected to said second chamber; pressure transducer means having a wall for separating a reference pressure chamber from a sensing pressure chamber, said reference pressure chamber being connected to said first valve, said sensing pressure chamber being connected to said control valve and said second valve; and operational computer means responsive to an operational input to define a cycle of operation corresponding to rotation of said shaft within said chamber, said computer means sequentially activating said control valve to allow fluid pressure P2 to flow to the sensing pressure chamber and to create a base signal from a pressure differential established across said wall and thereafter deactivating said control valve and activating said first and second valves to allow fluid pressure P2 to be communicated to said reference pressure chamber and fluid pressure P2′to be communicated to said sensing pressure chamber to create an operational signal from a pressure differential established across said wall, said operational signal being modified by said base signal to define an absolute operational signal representative of the then current clearance between said tip and engine housing.