SERVOVALVE

• US 20190331256A1
• Filed: 04/11/2019
• Published: 10/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2018
• 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: ZAK, Maciej, JEDLINSKI, Marek
• Granted Patent: US 11,226,056 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 13/0438 the pilot valves being of the nozzle-flapper type
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 21/04 Special measures taken in connection with the properties of the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 21/0423 Cooling
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/62 Cooling or heating means
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/18 with pivoted discs or flaps
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/304 Shut-off valves with additional means
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/0682 with an articulated or pivot armature
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 49/00 Means in or on valves for heating or cooling heating or cooling of pipes or pipe systems F16L53/00; thermal insulation in connection with pipes or pipe systems F16L59/16
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 49/005 Circulation means for a separate heat transfer fluid
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 1/12 Stationary parts of the magnetic circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 26/00 Machines adapted to function as torque motors, i.e. to exert a torque when stalled
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/207 with openings in the casing specially adapted for ambient air
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 9/02 by ambient air flowing through the machine
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 9/12 wherein the cooling medium circulates freely within the casing

Abstract

There is provided an apparatus comprising a torque motor comprising a spring, armature, flapper assembly (“SAFA”), a body, wherein the spring, armature, flapper assembly is mounted onto the body, and a cap enclosing the spring, armature, flapper assembly. One or more cooling passages are provided within the body and are configured to receive cooling air and direct the cooling air onto the spring, armature, flapper assembly of the torque motor.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a torque motor comprising a spring, armature, flapper assembly;

a body, wherein the SAFA is mounted onto the body; and

a cap enclosing the SAFA;

wherein one or more cooling passages are provided within the body and are configured to receive a fluid and direct the fluid onto the SAFA of the torque motor.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cap comprises a base and a sidewall extending from the base to a rim,

wherein the rim is hermetically sealed against a surface of the body.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cap defines an interior volume, the SAFA is located within the interior volume of the cap, and the cooling passages are configured to direct the fluid into the interior volume so as to cool one or more components of the SAFA located within the interior volume.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more cooling passages includes at least two cooling passages located on diametrically opposed sides of a flapper of the SAFA.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body comprises a portion configured to receive a flapper of the SAFA, and the one or more cooling passages are configured to direct the fluid at least partially onto the portion configured to receive the flapper of the SAFA.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the torque motor further comprises:

a pole piece;

wherein each of the one or more cooling passages is configured to direct the fluid through an aperture formed in the centre of the pole piece.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

the pole piece is a substantially annular member comprising an outer radial surface and an inner radial surface; and

the inner radial surface defines the aperture and an outlet of each of the cooling passages is at least partially located radially inward of the inner radial surface.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein each cooling passage comprises a central axis (X), and the central axis (X) of each cooling passage extends through the aperture of the pole piece.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cooling passages are configured to direct the fluid onto a first side of the torque motor, the apparatus further comprising:

a fluid outlet located on a second side of the torque motor, wherein the second side of the torque motor is opposite the first side of the torque motor, such that the fluid enters the torque motor on the first side thereof, and exits the torque motor on a second, opposite side thereof.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the torque motor comprises a pair of electromagnetic coils, and an outlet of each of the cooling passages is at least partially located between the pair of electromagnetic coils, such that fluid exiting each of the one or more cooling passages in use is directed between the pair of electromagnetic coils.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the torque motor comprises a pair of electromagnetic coils, and a volume is defined between the pair of electromagnetic coils, and each of the one or more cooling passages is configured to direct the fluid into the volume defined between the pair of electromagnetic coils.

12. A method of cooling a torque motor comprising a spring, armature, flapper assembly (SAFA), the method comprising:

locating the SAFA on a body;

locating a cap over the body so as to at least partially enclose the SAFA; and

providing one or more cooling passages within the body, wherein each cooling passage is configured to direct a fluid at least partially onto the SAFA.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the step of providing one or more cooling passages within the body comprises machining each of the cooling passages into the body from a first side of the body to a second, opposite side of the body.

14. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the step of providing one or more cooling passages may comprise providing two cooling passages located on diametrically opposed sides of a flapper of the SAFA.

15. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the torque motor comprises a pair of electromagnetic coils, and each of the one or more cooling passages is configured to direct the fluid between the pair of electromagnetic coils.