METERING PLATE FOR REDUCTION IN DISCHARGE COEFFICIENT VARIATION BETWEEN GASEOUS FUEL INJECTORS

• US 20190024541A1
• Filed: 07/20/2017
• Published: 01/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Woodward Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Woodward Incorporated
• Inventors: Farrow, Timothy J., Pedley, Jerrod C., Kifer, Roger M., DeHerrera, Steven A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,458,293 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 2009/2103 comprising one coil
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 3/20 Shapes or constructions of valve members, not provided for in preceding subgroups of this group
• CPC Class Codes: F01L 9/20 by electric means
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0269 Outwardly opening valves, e.g. poppet valves
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0272 Ball valves; Plate valves; Valves having deformable or flexible parts, e.g. membranes; Rotatable valves
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 51/0639 the armature acting as a valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels

Abstract

Provided is a metering plate for a poppet-style valve in which the metering plate includes a peripheral edge structure that reduces the impact of edge variation as a result of typical manufacturing tolerances. The peripheral edge structure is located at the sealing surface and extends from the peripheral surface of the metering plate so as to avoid a sharp edge at the outer diameter of the metering plate. In embodiments, the peripheral edge structure is a chamfered surface or a curved surface. Small dimensional deviations from these surfaces resulting from typical manufacturing tolerances do not have a significant effect on the discharge coefficient of the metering plate. In this way, the discharge coefficients of poppet-style valves across a fluid admission system are contained in a much tighter range, thereby enhancing the efficiency of and control over the fluid admission system.

Claims

1. A metering plate for a poppet-style valve, the metering plate comprising:

a fluid-directing body, the fluid-directing body defining a first surface and at least one peripheral surface substantially perpendicular to the first surface; and

at least one peripheral edge structure located proximal to the first surface, the at least one peripheral edge structure extending between the first surface and the at least one peripheral surface;

wherein each of the at least one peripheral edge structure includes a transition surface, the transition surface extending at least a portion of the at least one peripheral edge structure between the first surface and the at least one peripheral surface.

2. The metering plate of claim 1, wherein the at least one peripheral edge structure further comprises an edge face, the edge face defining a furthest peripheral extent of the metering plate, and wherein the transition surface extends between the first surface and the edge face.

3. The metering plate of claim 2, wherein the fluid directing body is a generally cylindrical disc such that the first surface has a first diameter, wherein the peripheral edge structure defines a second diameter at the furthest peripheral extent, and wherein the second diameter is from 0.1% to 5% larger than the first diameter.

4. The metering plate of claim 2, wherein the at least one peripheral surface spans a first vertical distance, wherein the at least one peripheral edge structure spans a second vertical distance, and wherein the second vertical distance is at least 10% of the first vertical distance.

5. The metering plate of claim 2, wherein the transition surface is a chamfer.

6. The metering plate of claim 5, wherein the chamfer extends a peripheral distance and a vertical distance between the first surface and the edge face and wherein the ratio of the peripheral distance to the vertical distance is from 1:

10 to 10;

1.

7. The metering plate of claim 5, wherein the edge face and the first surface are perpendicular.

8. The metering plate of claim 5, wherein the edge face and the first surface form an angle of from 60°

to 120°

.

9. The metering plate of claim 2, wherein the transition surface is a curved surface.

10. The metering plate of claim 9, wherein the first surface and the edge face are disposed from each other by a peripheral distance and wherein the curved surface has a radius of curvature greater than or equal to the peripheral distance.

11. The metering plate of claim 10, wherein the radius of curvature is less than ten times the peripheral distance.

12. The metering plate of claim 9, wherein the edge face and the first surface are perpendicular.

13. The metering plate of claim 9, wherein the curved surface defines an arc having a central angle of between 8°

and 90°

.

14. The metering plate of claim 1, wherein the first surface defines a first plurality of lands, each land of the first plurality of lands being separated from its neighboring land by a groove formed through the first surface and each land including a peripheral edge structure of the at least one peripheral edge structure between a peripheral surface of the at least one peripheral surface and the first surface.

15. The metering plate of claim 14, wherein the transition surface of each peripheral edge structure of the at least one peripheral edge structure extends the entire distance between the peripheral surface of the at least one peripheral surface and the first surface.

16. The metering plate of claim 14, wherein the at least one peripheral edge structure includes a transition surface that is a chamfer.

17. The metering plate of claim 14, wherein the at least one peripheral edge structure includes a transition surface that is a curved surface.

18. A poppet-style valve, comprising:

a movable metering plate having;

a first plurality of lands and a first plurality of grooves formed into a first surface;

at least one peripheral surface substantially perpendicular to the first surface; and

at least one peripheral edge structure located proximal to the first surface, the at least one peripheral edge structure extending between the first surface and the at least one peripheral surface;

wherein each of the at least one peripheral edge structure includes a transition surface, the transition surface extending at least a portion of the at least one peripheral edge structure between the first surface and the at least one peripheral surface;

a fixed metering plate, having a second plurality of lands and a second plurality of grooves; and

a solenoid configured to electromagnetically move the movable metering plate between an open position and a closed position;

wherein, in the closed position, the first plurality of lands and the second plurality of lands are in physical contact such that the first plurality of lands blocks fluid flow through the second plurality of grooves and the second plurality of lands blocks fluid flow through the first plurality of grooves.

19. The poppet-style valve of claim 18, wherein the transition surface is a chamfer and wherein the chamfer extends a peripheral distance and a vertical distance between the first surface and the edge face and wherein the ratio of the peripheral distance to the vertical distance is from 1:

10 to 10;

1.

20. The poppet-style valve of claim 18, wherein the transition surface is a curved surface and wherein the curved surface defines an arc having a central angle of between 8°

and 90°

.

21. The poppet-style valve of claim 18, wherein the movable metering plate is a generally cylindrical disc such that the first surface has a first diameter, wherein a peripheral edge structure of the at least one peripheral edge structure defines a second diameter at a furthest peripheral extent, and wherein the second diameter is from 0.1% to 5% larger than the first diameter.

22. The poppet-style valve of claim 18, wherein a peripheral surface of the at least one peripheral surface spans a first vertical distance, wherein a peripheral edge structure of the at least one peripheral edge structure spans a second vertical distance, and wherein the second vertical distance is at least 10% of the first vertical distance.

23. The poppet-style valve of claim 18, wherein, in the open position, a gap of 1 mm or less exists between the movable metering plate and the fixed metering plate.

24. The poppet-style valve of claim 18, wherein one or more of the first plurality of lands includes a peripheral edge structure of the at least one edge structure.

25. A fluid admission system, comprising:

a gaseous intake manifold;

a fluid supply manifold; and

at least two poppet-style valves, each poppet-style valve configured to allow fluid flow from the fluid supply manifold into the gaseous intake manifold in an open configuration and to prevent fluid flow from the fluid supply manifold into the gaseous intake manifold in a closed configuration;

wherein each poppet-style valve includes;

a fixed metering plate;

a movable metering plate; and

a solenoid configured to electromagnetically actuate the poppet-style valve between the open configuration in which the fixed metering plate and the movable metering plate are separated by a gap and the closed configuration in which the fixed metering plate and the movable metering plate are in direct, physical contact;

wherein the movable metering plate is defined by;

a first surface,

at least one peripheral surface substantially perpendicular to the first surface; and

at least one peripheral edge structure located proximal to the first surface, the at least one peripheral edge structure extending between the first surface and the at least one peripheral surface;

wherein each of the at least one peripheral edge structure includes a transition surface, the transition surface extending at least a portion of the at least one peripheral edge structure between the first surface and the at least one peripheral surface.

26. The fluid admission system of claim 25, wherein each poppet-style valve has a discharge coefficient and wherein all of the discharge coefficients of each poppet-style valve are within 5% of each other.