IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
UP-0757810
(2007-06-04)
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등록번호 |
US-7836676
(2011-01-22)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Futa, Jr., Paul W.
- Lafferty, Gregory A.
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출원인 / 주소 |
- Honeywell International Inc.
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대리인 / 주소 |
Ingrassia Fisher & Lorenz P.C.
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
9 인용 특허 :
22 |
초록
▼
A system allows a user to manually manipulate fuel flow to a gas turbine engine during a loss of power to the fuel supply system fuel metering unit. The fuel metering unit includes a fuel metering valve, a metering valve actuator, a fail-fixed valve, a flow increase valve, and a flow decrease valve.
A system allows a user to manually manipulate fuel flow to a gas turbine engine during a loss of power to the fuel supply system fuel metering unit. The fuel metering unit includes a fuel metering valve, a metering valve actuator, a fail-fixed valve, a flow increase valve, and a flow decrease valve. The fuel metering unit is configured such that, upon electrical power interruption to the metering valve actuator, the fail-fixed valve shifts and provides a hydraulic lock on the fuel metering valve, to thereby maintain its position. The flow increase and flow decrease valves are powered from a power source that is independent of that used to power the fuel metering unit and, when appropriately energized will allow movement of the fuel metering valve.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A fuel metering unit, comprising: a fuel metering valve coupled to receive a flow of fuel from a fuel source and having a variable area flow orifice through which fuel from the fuel source flows, the fuel metering valve coupled to receive hydraulic fluid and operable, upon re
What is claimed is: 1. A fuel metering unit, comprising: a fuel metering valve coupled to receive a flow of fuel from a fuel source and having a variable area flow orifice through which fuel from the fuel source flows, the fuel metering valve coupled to receive hydraulic fluid and operable, upon receipt of the hydraulic fluid, to adjust the area of the variable area flow orifice based in part on the pressure of the hydraulic fluid; a metering valve actuator coupled to receive fuel flow command signals and hydraulic fluid from one or more hydraulic fluid sources, the metering valve actuator operable, upon receipt of the fuel flow command signals and the hydraulic fluid, to supply variable pressure hydraulic fluid to the fuel metering valve; a fail-fixed valve disposed in fluid communication between the metering valve actuator and the fuel metering valve, the fail-fixed valve movable between a first position, in which the fuel metering valve receives the variable pressure hydraulic fluid from the metering valve actuator, and a second position, in which fuel metering valve does not receive the variable pressure hydraulic fluid from the metering valve actuator; a flow increase valve in fluid communication with the fuel metering valve, the flow increase valve adapted to (i) receive hydraulic fluid at a first pressure from a first hydraulic fluid source and (ii) selectively couple the fuel metering valve to the first hydraulic fluid source to thereby increase the area of the variable area flow orifice; and a flow decrease valve in fluid communication with the fuel metering valve, the flow decrease valve adapted to (i) receive hydraulic fluid at a second pressure from a second hydraulic fluid source and (ii) selectively couple the fuel metering valve to the second hydraulic fluid source to thereby decrease the area of the variable area flow orifice. 2. The fuel metering unit of claim 1, wherein the fuel metering valve comprises: a sleeve having an inlet port, an outlet port, a first control port, and a second control port, the inlet port adapted to receive the flow of fuel from the fuel source, the first control port in fluid communication with the fail-fixed valve, the second control port adapted to receive the hydraulic fluid at the first pressure from the first hydraulic fluid source; and a valve element disposed within the sleeve and movable therein, in response to a differential fluid pressure between the first control port and the second control port, to thereby adjust the variable area flow orifice. 3. The fuel metering unit of claim 2, wherein: the flow increase valve comprises: a first flow port adapted to receive the hydraulic fluid at the first pressure from the first hydraulic fluid source, a second flow port in fluid communication with the fuel metering valve first control port, a flow increase valve element disposed between the flow increase valve first and second flow ports and movable between a closed position, in which the flow increase valve first flow port is not in fluid communication with the flow increase valve second flow port, and an open position, in which the flow increase valve first flow port is in fluid communication with the flow increase valve second flow port, and a flow increase valve actuator coupled to the flow increase valve element and adapted to receive flow increase valve command signals, the flow increase valve actuator operable, in response to the flow increase valve command signals, to selectively move the flow increase valve element to the closed position or an open position; and the flow decrease valve comprises: a first flow port adapted to receive the hydraulic fluid at the second pressure from the second hydraulic fluid source, a second flow port in fluid communication with the fuel metering valve first control port, a flow decrease valve element disposed between the flow decrease valve first and second flow ports and movable between a closed position, in which the flow decrease valve first flow port is not in fluid communication with the flow decrease valve second flow port, and an open position, in which the flow decrease valve first flow port is in fluid communication with the flow decrease valve second flow port, and a flow decrease valve actuator coupled to the flow decrease valve element and adapted to receive flow decrease valve command signals, the flow decrease valve actuator operable, in response to the flow decrease valve command signals, to selectively move the flow decrease valve element to the closed position or an open position. 4. The fuel metering unit of claim 3, wherein: the flow increase valve command signals and the flow decrease command signals are each pulse width modulation (PWM) signals; and the flow increase valve actuator and the flow decrease valve actuator each comprise a solenoid responsive to PWM signals to move the flow increase valve element and the flow decrease valve element, respectively. 5. The fuel metering unit of claim 2, wherein the metering valve actuator comprises: a main body having first and second inlet ports and first and second outlet ports, the first inlet port adapted to receive hydraulic fluid from the first hydraulic fluid source, the second inlet port adapted to receive hydraulic fluid from the second hydraulic fluid source, the first outlet port and the second outlet port in fluid communication with the fail-fixed valve; a spool disposed within the main body and movable, in response to input stimuli, to selectively fluidly communicate the first fluid outlet port with either the first fluid inlet port or the second fluid inlet port; a torque motor coupled to receive the fuel flow command signals and operable, in response thereto, to supply the input stimuli to the spool. 6. The fuel metering unit of claim 5, wherein: the torque motor is further operable, upon being de-energized, to supply a power-loss input stimuli to the spool; and the spool, in response to the power-loss input stimuli, moves to a position in which (i) the first fluid inlet port is in fluid communication with the second fluid outlet port and (ii) the second fluid inlet port is in fluid communication with the first fluid outlet port. 7. The fuel metering unit of claim 6, wherein the fail-fixed valve comprises: a sleeve including an inlet port, an outlet port, a first control port, and a second control port, the fail-fixed valve sleeve inlet port in fluid communication with the metering valve actuator main body first fluid outlet port, the fail-fixed valve sleeve outlet port in fluid communication with the fuel metering valve first control port, the fail-fixed valve sleeve first control port in fluid communication with the metering valve actuator main body first fluid inlet port, the fail-fixed valve sleeve second control port in fluid communication with the metering valve actuator main body second fluid outlet port; and a fail-fixed valve element disposed within the fail-fixed valve sleeve and movable, partially in response to a differential fluid pressure between the fail-fixed valve sleeve first control port and the fail-fixed valve sleeve second control port, between a closed position, in which the fail-fixed valve sleeve inlet port is not in fluid communication with the fail-fixed valve sleeve outlet port, and an open position, in which the fail-fixed valve sleeve inlet port is in fluid communication with the fail-fixed valve sleeve outlet port. 8. The fuel metering unit of claim 7, further comprising: a spring disposed within the sleeve and configured to supply a spring bias force that urges the fail-fixed valve element toward the closed position. 9. The fuel metering unit of claim 7, further comprising: a pressure regulator adapted to receive hydraulic fluid from the second hydraulic fluid source and supply the hydraulic fluid, at a regulated pressure, to the metering valve actuator main body second fluid inlet port and the fail-fixed valve sleeve first control port. 10. A gas turbine engine fuel supply system, comprising: an engine control operable to supply fuel flow command signals; a fuel supply line having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet adapted to receive fuel from a fuel source, the outlet adapted to supply the fuel to a gas turbine engine combustor; and a fuel metering unit disposed in flow series in the fuel supply line, the fuel metering coupled to receive the fuel flow command signals and operable, in response thereto, to control fuel flow from the fuel source to the gas turbine engine combustor, the fuel metering unit comprising: a fuel metering valve coupled to receive the flow of fuel from the fuel source and having a variable area flow orifice through which fuel from the fuel source flows, the fuel metering valve coupled to receive hydraulic fluid and operable, upon receipt of the hydraulic fluid, to adjust the area of the variable area flow orifice based in part on the pressure of the hydraulic fluid, an actuator coupled to receive the fuel flow command signals and hydraulic fluid from one or more hydraulic fluid sources, the actuator operable, upon receipt of the fuel flow command signals and the hydraulic fluid, to supply variable pressure hydraulic fluid to the fuel metering valve, a fail-fixed valve disposed in fluid communication between the actuator and the fuel metering valve, the fail-fixed valve movable between a first position, in which the fuel metering valve receives the variable pressure hydraulic fluid from the actuator, and a second position, in which fuel metering valve does not receive the variable pressure hydraulic fluid from the actuator, a flow increase valve in fluid communication with the fuel metering valve, the flow increase valve adapted to (i) receive hydraulic fluid at a first pressure from a first hydraulic fluid source and (ii) selectively couple the fuel metering valve to the first hydraulic fluid source to thereby increase the area of the variable area flow orifice, and a flow decrease valve in fluid communication with the fuel metering valve, the flow decrease valve adapted to (i) receive hydraulic fluid at a second pressure from a second hydraulic fluid source and (ii) selectively couple the fuel metering valve to the second hydraulic fluid source to thereby decrease the area of the variable area flow orifice. 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the flow increase valve and the flow decrease valve are responsive to flow increase valve commands and flow decrease valve command signals, respectively, and wherein the system further comprises: a back-up valve control in operable communication with the flow increase valve and the flow decrease valve, the back-up control unit adapted to receive input stimuli from a user and operable, in response thereto, to selectively supply the flow increase valve command signals and the flow decrease valve command signals. 12. The system of claim 11, further comprising: a flow increase user interface adapted to be responsive to the input stimuli; and a flow decrease user interface adapted to be responsive to the input stimuli, wherein the back-up control unit supplies (i) the flow increase valve commands when the input stimuli is supplied to the flow increase user interface and (ii) the flow decrease valve commands when the input stimuli is supplied to the flow decrease user interface. 13. The system of claim 11, wherein the back-up valve control is electrically independent of the engine control. 14. The system of claim 11, wherein the fuel metering valve comprises: a sleeve having an inlet port, an outlet port, a first control port, and a second control port, the inlet port adapted to receive the flow of fuel from the fuel source, the first control port in fluid communication with the fail-fixed valve, the second control port adapted to receive the hydraulic fluid at the first pressure from the first hydraulic fluid source; and a valve element disposed within the sleeve and movable therein, in response to a differential fluid pressure between the first control port and the second control port, to thereby adjust the variable area flow orifice. 15. The system of claim 14, wherein: the flow increase valve comprises: a first flow port adapted to receive the hydraulic fluid at the first pressure from the first hydraulic fluid source, a second flow port in fluid communication with the fuel metering valve first control port, a flow increase valve element disposed between the flow increase valve first and second flow ports and movable between a closed position, in which the flow increase valve first flow port is not in fluid communication with the flow increase valve second flow port, and an open position, in which the flow increase valve first flow port is in fluid communication with the flow increase valve second flow port, and a flow increase valve actuator coupled to the flow increase valve element and further coupled to receive the flow increase valve command signals, the flow increase valve actuator operable, in response to the flow increase valve command signals, to selectively move the flow increase valve element to the closed position or an open position; and the flow decrease valve comprises: a first flow port adapted to receive the hydraulic fluid at the second pressure from the second hydraulic fluid source, a second flow port in fluid communication with the fuel metering valve first control port, a flow decrease valve element disposed between the flow decrease valve first and second flow ports and movable between a closed position, in which the flow decrease valve first flow port is not in fluid communication with the flow decrease valve second flow port, and an open position, in which the flow decrease valve first flow port is in fluid communication with the flow decrease valve second flow port, and a flow decrease valve actuator coupled to the flow decrease valve element and further coupled to receive the flow decrease valve command signals, the flow decrease valve actuator operable, in response to the flow decrease valve command signals, to selectively move the flow decrease valve element to the closed position or an open position. 16. The system of claim 15, wherein: the flow increase valve command signals and the flow decrease command signals are each pulse width modulation (PWM) signals; and the flow increase valve actuator and the flow decrease valve actuator each comprise a solenoid responsive to PWM signals to move the flow increase valve element and the flow decrease valve element, respectively. 17. The system of claim 14, wherein the metering valve actuator comprises: a main body having first and second inlet ports and first and second outlet ports, the first inlet port adapted to receive hydraulic fluid from the first hydraulic fluid source, the second inlet port adapted to receive hydraulic fluid from the second hydraulic fluid source, the first outlet port and the second outlet port in fluid communication with the fail-fixed valve; a spool disposed within the main body and movable, in response to input stimuli, to selectively fluidly communicate the first fluid outlet port with either the first fluid inlet port or the second fluid inlet port; a torque motor coupled to receive the fuel flow command signals and operable, in response thereto, to supply the input stimuli to the spool. 18. The system of claim 17, wherein: the torque motor is further operable, upon being de-energized, to supply a power-loss input stimuli to the spool; and the spool, in response to the power-loss input stimuli, moves to a position in which (i) the first fluid inlet port is in fluid communication with the second fluid outlet port and (ii) the second fluid inlet port is in fluid communication with the first fluid outlet port. 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the fail-fixed valve comprises: a sleeve including an inlet port, an outlet port, a first control port, and a second control port, the fail-fixed valve sleeve inlet port in fluid communication with the metering valve actuator main body first fluid outlet port, the fail-fixed valve sleeve outlet port in fluid communication with the fuel metering valve first control port, the fail-fixed valve sleeve first control port in fluid communication with the metering valve actuator main body first fluid inlet port, the fail-fixed valve sleeve second control port in fluid communication with the metering valve actuator main body second fluid outlet port; a fail-fixed valve element disposed within the fail-fixed valve sleeve and movable, partially in response to a differential fluid pressure between the fail-fixed valve sleeve first control port and the fail-fixed valve sleeve second control port, between a closed position, in which the fail-fixed valve sleeve inlet port is not in fluid communication with the fail-fixed valve sleeve outlet port, and an open position, in which the fail-fixed valve sleeve inlet port is in fluid communication with the fail-fixed valve sleeve outlet port; and a spring disposed within the sleeve and configured to supply a spring bias force that urges the fail-fixed valve element toward the closed position. 20. The system of claim 18, further comprising: a pressure regulator adapted to receive hydraulic fluid from the second hydraulic fluid source and supply the hydraulic fluid, at a regulated pressure, to the metering valve actuator main body second fluid inlet port and the fail-fixed valve sleeve first control port.
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