SELF MODULATING VALVE

• US 20200131991A1
• Filed: 12/18/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Pickard, Andrew C., Wilson, Danielle J.
• Granted Patent: US 11,365,678 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 15/04 Hot gas application
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 15/22 Automatic initiation by icing detector
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 17/145 by means of valves, e.g. for steam turbines valves in general F16K
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 17/162 for axial flow, i.e. the vanes turning around axes which are essentially perpendicular to the rotor centre line F01D17/167 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/02 De-icing means for engines having icing phenomena
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/047 Heating to prevent icing
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/232 Fuel valves control of fuel supply by means of fuel metering valves F02C9/263; Draining valves or systems valves in general F16K
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 9/263 by means of fuel metering valves
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2240/12 Fluid guiding means, e.g. vanes
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/265 with a sleeve sliding in the direction of the flow line
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/002 actuated by temperature variation thermo-electric F16K31/025
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/025 the sensing element being placed within a regulating fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/123 the sensing element being placed within a regulating fluid flow

Abstract

A fluid valve is provided including an inner shell and an outer shell. The inner shell includes a sidewall having a first opening and an interior surface defining an inner chamber. The outer shell includes a sidewall having a second opening and an exterior surface defining an outer chamber. The inner shell is positioned within the outer shell and the inner shell is movable relative to the outer chamber between a first position and a second position by a change in fluid conditions of a fluid supplied to the fluid valve. The first opening and the second opening overlap to define a passageway extending from the interior surface of the inner shell to the exterior surface of the outer shell. Relative movement of the inner shell from the first position toward the second position reduces a cross-sectional area of the passageway.

Claims

1. A fluid valve comprising:

an inner shell comprising a sidewall having a first opening and an interior surface defining an inner chamber;

an outer shell comprising a sidewall having a second opening and an exterior surface defining an outer chamber, wherein the inner shell is positioned within the outer shell and the inner shell is movable relative to the outer chamber between a first position and a second position by a change in fluid conditions of a fluid supplied to the fluid valve, and

wherein the first opening and the second opening overlap to defined define a passageway extending from the interior surface of the inner shell to the exterior surface of the outer shell, and relative movement of the inner shell from the first position toward the second position reduces a cross-sectional area of the passageway.

2. The fluid valve of claim 1, wherein one of the inner shell and the outer shell are biased toward the first position by a biasing mechanism which is responsive to a change in pressure of the fluid supplied to the fluid valve.

3. The fluid valve of claim 2, wherein the biasing mechanism is positioned outside the inner chamber and is configured to exert an expanding force on one of the inner shell and the outer shell.

4. The fluid valve of claim 2, wherein the biasing mechanism is positioned inside the inner chamber and is configured to exert a retracting force on one of the inner shell and the outer shell.

5. The fluid valve of claim 1, wherein the fluid valve further comprises a metallic expansion mechanism extending between the inner shell and the outer shell, wherein the metallic expansion mechanism is configured to move the inner shell relative to the outer shell responsive to a change in a temperature of the fluid supplied to the fluid valve.

6. The fluid valve of claim 5, wherein the inner shell and the outer shell are made of a first metal having a first coefficient of thermal expansion, and the metallic expansion mechanism comprises a second metal having a second coefficient of thermal expansion which is greater than the first coefficient of thermal expansion.

7. The fluid valve of claim 5, wherein the metallic expansion mechanism comprises:

a first element having a first end coupled to the inner shell and a second end extended into the inner chamber, wherein the first element comprises a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion;

a second element having a first end coupled to the outer shell and a second end extended into the inner chamber, wherein the second element is spaced apart from the first element and comprises the first material; and

a third element coupled to the second end of the first element and the second end of the second element, wherein the second element comprises a second material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion which is greater than the first coefficient of thermal expansion.

8. The fluid valve of claim 5, wherein the metallic expansion mechanism comprises a plurality of concentric sleeves positioned within the inner chamber, wherein an outermost sleeve is coupled to one of the inner shell or the outer shell, and an innermost sleeve is coupled to the other of the inner shell or the outer shell, wherein the plurality of concentric sleeves alternatingly comprise a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion and a second material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion which is greater than the first coefficient of thermal expansion.

9. The fluid valve of claim 8, wherein the innermost sleeve and the outermost sleeve comprise the first material.

10. An anti-icing system for use in a gas turbine engine, comprising:

an inlet configured to receive a fluid;

a self-modulating valve comprising an inner shell comprising a sidewall having a first opening and an interior surface defining an inner chamber, and an outer shell comprising a sidewall having a second opening and an exterior surface defining an outer chamber, wherein the inner shell is positioned within the outer shell and the relative positions of the inner shell and the outer shell are movable between a first position and a second position by a change in fluid conditions of the fluid supplied to the inlet, wherein the first opening and the second opening overlap to defined define a passageway extending from the interior surface of the inner shell to the exterior surface of the outer shell, and relative movement of the inner shell from the first position toward the second position reduces a cross-sectional area of the passageway; and

an outlet configured to deliver the fluid to a location.

11. The anti-icing system of claim 10, wherein the first opening and the second opening are circular.

12. The anti-icing system of claim 10, wherein one of the first opening and the second opening has a width which varies along an axis defined by the relative movement between the inner shell and the outer shell.

13. The anti-icing system of claim 10, wherein one of the inner shell or the outer shell has a plurality of openings spaced circumferentially apart from one another, wherein in the first position, the plurality of openings form a plurality of passageways, and wherein in the second position, a portion of the plurality of openings are covered by the other of the outer shell or the inner shell.

14. The anti-icing system of claim 10, further comprising a shut-off valve arranged between the inlet and the self-modulating valve, wherein the shut-off valve is moveable between a first position allowing fluid to flow to the self-modulating valve, and a second position preventing fluid from flowing to the self-modulating valve.

15. The anti-icing system of claim 14, wherein the shut-off valve is movable to a third position, preventing fluid from flowing to the self-modulating valve and allowing fluid to flow to a vent.

16. A method of operating an anti-icing system, comprising:

supplying a fluid to a self-modulating valve, the self-modulating valve comprising an inner shell comprising a sidewall having a first opening and an interior surface defining an inner chamber, and an outer shell comprising a sidewall having a second opening and an exterior surface defining an outer chamber, wherein the inner shell is positioned within the outer shell in a first position such that the first opening and the second opening overlap to define a passageway extending from the interior surface of the inner shell to the exterior surface of the outer shell, the passageway having a first cross-sectional area; and

moving the inner shell and the outer shell relative to one another to a second position such that the first opening and the second opening overlap to define the passageway having a second cross-sectional area which is less than the first cross-sectional area, wherein moving the inner shell and the outer shell is caused by a change in fluid conditions of the fluid supplied to the self-modulating valve.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising operating a shut-off valve to allow fluid to flow from an inlet to the self-modulating valve, wherein the shut-off valve is positioned upstream from the self-modulating valve.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising operating the shut-off valve to direct the flow of fluid from the inlet to a vent before operating the shut-off valve to allow fluid flow to the self-modulating valve.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the change in fluid conditions is an increase in a pressure of the fluid supplied to the self-modulating valve.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the change in fluid conditions is an increase in a temperature of the fluid supplied to the self-modulating valve.