FUEL INTELLIGENT CROSSFEED VALVE FOR DETECTING LEAKAGE IN AIRCRAFT FUEL TANKS

• US 20160122004A1
• Filed: 11/03/2014
• Published: 05/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Ribarov, Lubomir A., Veilleux, Leo J. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 9,592,905 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 17/10 Transferring fuel to adjust trim
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 37/005 Accessories not provided for in the groups B64D37/02 - B64D37/28
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 37/02 Tanks tanks constructed integrally with aircraft wings B64C; shape or construction of tanks per se B65D
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 37/28 Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/07 with cylindrical slides
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 37/0041 for measuring valve parameters F16K37/0033 takes precedence

Abstract

A fuel management system may include a first fuel tank and a second fuel tank. The fuel management system may also include an intelligent crossfeed valve positioned between the first fuel tank and the second fuel tank and configured to allow fuel to flow between the first fuel tank and the second fuel tank. The fuel management system may also include a sensor configured to detect an amount to which the intelligent crossfeed valve is open. The fuel management system may also include an engine controller connected to the sensor and configured to cause the intelligent crossfeed valve to close in response to the intelligent crossfeed valve being open a third predetermined amount.

Claims

1. A fuel management system comprising:

a first fuel tank;

a second fuel tank;

an intelligent crossfeed valve positioned between the first fuel tank and the second fuel tank and configured to allow fuel to flow between the first fuel tank and the second fuel tank;

a sensor configured to detect an amount to which the intelligent crossfeed valve is open; and

an engine controller connected to the sensor and configured to cause the intelligent crossfeed valve to close in response to the intelligent crossfeed valve being open a third predetermined amount.

2. The fuel management system of claim 1, wherein the intelligent crossfeed valve comprises:

a first valve window configured to receive fuel from the first fuel tank;

a second valve window in fluid communication with the first valve window and configured to provide fuel to the second fuel tank;

a third valve window configured to receive fuel from the second fuel tank;

a fourth valve window in fluid communication with the third valve window and configured to provide fuel to the first fuel tank; and

a shaft moveably positioned within the intelligent crossfeed valve and configured to allow fuel to flow from the first fuel tank through the first valve window and the second valve window to the second fuel tank and from the second fuel tank through the third valve window and the fourth valve window to the first fuel tank based on a position of the shaft.

3. The fuel management system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a position sensor.

4. The fuel management system of claim 3, wherein the position sensor is a linear variable differential transformer.

5. The fuel management system of claim 1, further comprising an alert system connected to the sensor and configured to provide a warning signal in response to the intelligent crossfeed valve being open the third predetermined amount.

6. The fuel management system of claim 5, wherein the alert system is further configured to provide a caution alert in response to the intelligent crossfeed valve being open a first predetermined amount.

7. The fuel management system of claim 6, wherein the alert system is further configured to provide a warning alert in response to the intelligent crossfeed valve being open a second predetermined amount.

8. The fuel management system of claim 1, wherein the engine controller is at least one of a full authority digital engine control or an electronic engine control.

9. The fuel management system of claim 5, wherein the alert system is at least one of an engine-indicating and crew-alerting system or an electronic centralized aircraft monitor.

10. The fuel management system of claim 1, further comprising a pipe positioned between the first fuel tank and the second fuel tank and in fluid communication with the first fuel tank and the second fuel tank, wherein the intelligent crossfeed valve is positioned along the pipe.

11. The fuel management system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first engine;

a second engine;

a first fuel pump configured to pump fuel to the first engine from the second fuel tank via the intelligent crossfeed valve; and

a second fuel pump configured to pump fuel to the second engine from the first fuel tank via the intelligent crossfeed valve.

12. An intelligent crossfeed valve for use in a fuel management system having a first fuel tank and a second fuel tank, the intelligent crossfeed valve comprising:

a first valve window configured to receive fuel from the first fuel tank;

a second valve window in fluid communication with the first valve window and configured to provide fuel to the second fuel tank;

a third valve window configured to receive fuel from the second fuel tank;

a fourth valve window in fluid communication with the third valve window and configured to provide fuel to the first fuel tank;

a shaft moveably positioned within the intelligent crossfeed valve and configured to allow fuel to flow from the first fuel tank through the first valve window and the second valve window to the second fuel tank and from the second fuel tank through the third valve window and the fourth valve window to the first fuel tank based on a position of the shaft; and

a position sensor configured to detect the position of the shaft.

13. The intelligent crossfeed valve of claim 12, wherein the position sensor is a linear variable differential transformer.

14. The intelligent crossfeed valve of claim 12, wherein the position sensor is connected to an alert system of the fuel management system and is configured to provide a displacement of the intelligent crossfeed valve to the alert system based on a position of the shaft.

15. The intelligent crossfeed valve of claim 12, wherein the position sensor is connected to the engine controller of the fuel management system and is configured to provide a displacement of the intelligent crossfeed valve to the engine controller based on the position of the shaft.