대표
청구항
▼
1. A turbofan jet engine, comprising:a turbine case including at least a high pressure turbine section and a low pressure turbine section; a fan case disposed around at least a portion of the turbine case and spaced apart therefrom to form a bypass flow passage; and a valve assembly mounted in the engine, the valve assembly including: a valve body having at least a fluid inlet port in fluid communication with the bypass flow passage, a first fluid outlet port in fluid communication with the low pressure turbine case section, and a second fluid outlet por...
1. A turbofan jet engine, comprising:a turbine case including at least a high pressure turbine section and a low pressure turbine section; a fan case disposed around at least a portion of the turbine case and spaced apart therefrom to form a bypass flow passage; and a valve assembly mounted in the engine, the valve assembly including: a valve body having at least a fluid inlet port in fluid communication with the bypass flow passage, a first fluid outlet port in fluid communication with the low pressure turbine case section, and a second fluid outlet port in fluid communication with the high pressure turbine case section, and a valve disposed in the valve body and selectively moveable between (i) a closed position, in which only the first fluid outlet port is in substantial fluid communication with the fluid inlet port to thereby supply cooling air to the low pressure turbine case section, and (ii) an open position, in which the first fluid outlet port and the second fluid outlet port are both in substantial fluid communication with the fluid inlet port to thereby supply cooling air to the low pressure turbine case section and the high pressure turbine case section. 2. The engine of claim 1, wherein:the turbine case further includes an intermediate pressure turbine section; the valve body further includes a third fluid outlet port in fluid communication with the intermediate pressure turbine section; and the first, second, and third fluid outlet ports are in substantial flow communication with the fluid inlet port when the valve is in the open position. 3. The engine of claim 1, wherein the valve assembly further comprises:a flow control wall disposed within the valve body between the fluid inlet port and the first and second fluid outlet ports; a valve seat surface formed on the flow control wall against which the valve seats when in the closed position, the valve seat surface defining a main flow passage through the flow control wall that is in fluid communication with the first and second outlet ports; and one or more flow orifices extending through the flow control wall and disposed to substantially fluidly communicate the fluid inlet and the first fluid outlet with one another. 4. The engine of claim 3, wherein the valve assembly further comprises:a flow isolation baffle disposed within the valve body between the first fluid outlet port and the second fluid outlet port, the flow isolation baffle including a valve restriction surface, wherein the valve moves at least proximate the valve restriction surface when in the closed position, thereby substantially isolating the first fluid outlet port from the second fluid outlet port. 5. The engine of claim 1, wherein the valve assembly further comprises:an actuator mounted within the valve body and coupled to the valve, the actuator operable to selectively move the valve between the open and closed positions. 6. The engine of claim 5, wherein the actuator comprises:a main body having an inner surface that defines an inner volume; a piston movably mounted within the main body inner volume and coupled to the valve. 7. The engine of claim 1, wherein the valve assembly further comprises:a first fluid actuator port extending through the actuator main body at a location on one side of the piston, the first fluid actuator port adapted to couple to a pressurized fluid source; and a second fluid actuator port extending through the actuator main body at a location on another side of the piston. 8. The engine of claim 1, further comprising:a control valve having at least an inlet and an outlet, the inlet coupled to a source of pressurized air and the outlet coupled to the first fluid actuator port. 9. The engine of claim 1, further comprising:a controller circuit coupled to receive one or more signals representative of engine operating conditions and operable, in response thereto, to supply one or more command signals to the control valve, wherein the control valve is coupled to receive the command signals from the controller circuit and, in response thereto, move to the open or closed position. 10. The engine of claim 9, wherein the pressurized air source is coupled to the first fluid actuator port when the control valve is open.11. The engine of claim 1, wherein the valve assembly further comprises:a spring configured to bias the valve to the closed position. 12. A valve assembly for selectively distributing cooling air flow to multiple sections of a turbofan jet engine turbine case, the valve assembly comprising:a valve body adapted to mount in a bypass section of the turbofan jet engine, the body having at least a fluid inlet port, a first fluid outlet port, and a second fluid outlet port; a flow control wall disposed within the valve body between the fluid inlet port and the first and second fluid outlet ports; a valve seat surface formed on the flow control wall, the valve seat surface defining a main flow passage through the flow control wall that is in fluid communication with the first and second fluid outlet ports; one or more flow orifices extending through the flow control wall and disposed to substantially fluidly communicate the fluid inlet and the first fluid outlet with one another; and a valve disposed in the valve body and selectively moveable between (i) a closed position, in which only the first fluid outlet port is in substantial fluid communication with the fluid inlet port, and (ii) an open position, in which the first fluid outlet port and the second fluid outlet port are both in substantial fluid communication with the fluid inlet port. 13. The valve assembly of claim 12, wherein:the valve body further includes a third fluid outlet port; and the first, second, and third fluid outlet ports are in substantial fluid communication with the fluid inlet port when the valve is in the open position. 14. The valve assembly of claim 13, further comprising:a flow isolation baffle disposed within the valve body between the first fluid outlet port and the second fluid outlet port, the flow isolation baffle including a valve restriction surface, wherein the valve is at least proximate the valve restriction surface when in the closed position, thereby substantially isolating the first fluid outlet port from the second fluid outlet port. 15. The valve assembly of claim 12, further comprising:an actuator mounted within the valve body and coupled to the valve, the actuator operable to selectively move the valve between the open and closed positions. 16. The valve assembly of claim 12, wherein the actuator comprises:a main body having an inner bearing surface that defines an inner volume; a piston movably mounted within the main body inner volume against the inner bearing surface, the piston coupled to the valve. 17. The valve assembly of claim 16, further comprising:a first fluid actuator port extending through the actuator main body at a location on one side of the piston, the first fluid actuator port adapted to couple to a pressurized fluid source; and a second fluid actuator port extending through the actuator main body at a location on another side of the piston. 18. The valve assembly of claim 16, further comprising:a valve operator shaft coupled between the piston and the valve, whereby movement of the piston causes like movement of the shaft and valve. 19. The valve assembly of claim 17, further comprising:a shaft opening extending through the actuator main body through which the valve operator shaft extends; and a seal disposed in the actuator main body proximate the shaft opening, the seal in contact with the valve operator shaft to thereby wipe portions of the shaft as it enter and exits the actuator main body. 20. The valve assembly of claim 15, further comprising:a spring coupled between the actuator and the valve and configured to bias the valve to the closed position. 21. A valve assembly for selectively distributing cooling air flow to multiple sections of a turbofan jet engine turbine case, the valve assembly comprising:a valve body adapted to mount in a bypass section of the turbofan jet engine, the body having at least a fluid inlet port, a first fluid outlet port, a second fluid outlet port, and a third fluid outlet port; a valve disposed in the valve body and selectively moveable between (i) a closed position, in which only the first fluid outlet port is in substantial fluid communication with the fluid inlet port, and (ii) an open position, in which the first, second, and third fluid outlet ports are in substantial fluid communication with the fluid inlet port; and an actuator mounted within the valve body and coupled to the valve, the actuator operable to selectively move the valve between the open and closed positions. 22. The valve assembly of claim 21, further comprising:a flow control wall disposed within the valve body between the fluid inlet port and the first fluid outlet port and the second and third fluid outlet ports; a valve seat surface formed on the flow control wall against which the valve seats when in the closed position, the valve seat surface defining a main flow passage through the flow control wall that is in fluid communication with the first, second, and third fluid outlet ports; and one or more flow orifices extending through the flow control wall and disposed to substantially fluidly communicate the fluid inlet and the first fluid outlet with one another. 23. The valve assembly of claim 22, further comprising:a flow isolation baffle disposed within the valve body between the first fluid outlet port and the second and third fluid outlet ports, the flow isolation baffle including a valve restriction surface, wherein the valve is at least proximate the valve restriction surface when in the closed position, thereby substantially isolating the first fluid outlet port from the second and third fluid outlet ports. 24. The valve assembly of claim 22, wherein the actuator comprises:a main body having an inner bearing surface that defines an inner volume; a piston movably mounted within the main body inner volume against the inner bearing surface, the piston coupled to the valve. 25. The valve assembly of claim 24, further comprising:a first fluid actuator port extending through the actuator main body at a location on one side of the piston, the first fluid actuator port adapted to couple to a pressurized fluid source; and a second fluid actuator port extending through the actuator main body at a location on another side of the piston. 26. The valve assembly of claim 24, further comprising:a valve operator shaft coupled between the piston and the valve, whereby movement of the piston causes like movement of the shaft and valve. 27. The valve assembly of claim 26, further comprising:a shaft opening extending through the actuator main body through which the valve operator shaft extends; and a seal disposed in the actuator main body proximate the shaft opening, the seal in contact with the valve operator shaft to thereby wipe portions of the shaft as it enter and exits the actuator main body. 28. The valve assembly of claim 21, further comprising:a spring coupled between the actuator and the valve and configured to bias the valve to the closed position. 29. A valve actuator for moving a turbine case cooling valve between an open and a closed position, the actuator comprising:a main body adapted to mount within the turbine case cooling valve, the main body including an inner bearing surface that defines an inner volume; a piston movably mounted within the main body inner volume against the inner bearing surface, the piston adapted to couple to the turbine case cooling valves; a first fluid actuator port extending through the main body at a location on one side of the piston, the first fluid actuator port adapted to couple to a pressurized fluid source; and a second fluid actuator port extending through the main body at a location on another side of the piston. 30. The valve actuator of claim 29, further comprising:a valve operator shaft having at least a first section coupled to the piston and a second section adapted to couple to the turbine case cooling valve. 31. The valve actuator of claim 30, further comprising:a shaft opening extending through the main body through which the valve operator shaft extends; and a seal disposed in the resin body proximate the shaft opening, the seal in contact with the valve operator shaft to thereby wipe portions of the shaft as it enter and exits the main body.