Gas turbine fuel metering unit

• US 8,127,524 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2007
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2007
• 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: Falke, Charles H., Veilleux, Leo J., Parsons, Douglas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gartenberg, Ehud
• Assistant Examiner(s): Choi, Young
• Application Number:
  US11/621,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20100031658A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,882 Days
• Field of Search: 607/34, 60/390.91, 60/390.94, 607/39, 60/394.8, 417/213, 417/217, 417/278, 417/308, 417/326, 417/302
• US Class Current: 60/39.091
• 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: F02C 9/30 characterised by variable fuel pump output
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 9/36 characterised by returning of fuel to sump F02C9/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/602 Drainage

Abstract

A fuel system for a turbine engine is provided. The fuel system includes a positive displacement pump driven by an electric motor. The pump is rotated in a first direction to deliver fuel to the turbine engine, and a second direction for evacuating fuel from the turbine engine. A shut-off check valve is open in a first direction in response to a first differential pressure created by the pump in the first direction. The shut-off check valve is biased to a closed position when the pump is rotating in the second direction. An ecology check valve is biased to a closed position in the first direction and open in the second direction in response to a second differential pressure created by the pump. The check valves open and close automatically in response to the pressures generated by the positive displacement pump in each of the first and second rotational directions. In this manner, simple, reliable valves are utilized to regulate the flow of fuel in the fuel system.

Claims

1. A fuel system for a turbine engine comprising:

a pump with a motor rotating the pump in first and second directions opposite from one another, the first direction for delivering fuel to a turbine engine and the second direction for evacuating fuel from the turbine engine fuel manifold;

a shut-off check valve open in the first direction in response to a first differential pressure created by the pump and biased to a closed position in the second direction;

an ecology check valve biased to a closed position in the first direction and open in the second direction in response to a second differential pressure created by the pump;

wherein the pump includes first and second ports respectively providing first and second pressures, the first and second ports respectively providing an inlet and an outlet in the first direction, and the first and second ports respectively providing the outlet and the inlet in the second direction; and

wherein the first differential pressure is provided by exposing the shut-off check valve to the first and second pressures, the second pressure greater than the first pressure in the first direction.

2. The fuel system according to claim 1, wherein the pump is a positive displacement pump for metering fuel to the turbine engine.

3. The fuel system according to claim 1, wherein the second pressure acts on one side of the ecology check valve and a third pressure acts on another side of the ecology check valve, the third pressure less than the second pressure and a biasing force within the ecology check valve in the first direction.

11. The fuel system according to claim 1, comprising a turbine engine including an manifold having nozzles, the first direction delivering fuel to the nozzles, and the second direction evacuating fuel from the nozzles.

12. The fuel system according to claim 1, wherein the shut-off and ecology check valves each include a housing providing a seat, and a ball biased against the seat with a spring when in the closed position.

13. The fuel system according to claim 1, wherein the shut-off and ecology check valves open and close automatically in response to their respective differential pressures without the need of actuators to move the check valves between their respective open and closed positions.

4. A fuel system for a turbine engine comprising:

a pump with a motor rotating the pump in first and second directions opposite from one another, the first direction for delivering fuel to a turbine engine and the second direction for evacuating fuel from the turbine engine fuel manifold;

a shut-off check valve open in the first direction in response to a first differential pressure created by the pump and biased to a closed position in the second direction; and

a ecology check valve biased to a closed position in the first direction and open in the second direction in response to a second differential pressure created by the pump;

wherein the pump includes first and second ports respectively providing first and second pressures, the first and second ports respectively providing an inlet and an outlet in the first direction, and the first and second ports respectively providing the outlet and the inlet in the second direction;

wherein the first differential pressure is provided by exposing the shut-off check valve to the first and second pressures the second pressure greater than the first pressure in the first direction; and

wherein the second differential pressure is provided by the second pressure acting on one side of the ecology check valve and a third pressure acting on another side of the ecology check valve, the second pressure and a biasing force within the ecology check valve less than the third pressure in the second direction.

5. The fuel system according to claim 4, wherein the first pressure is greater than the second pressure to close the shut-off check valve in the second direction.

6. A fuel system for a turbine engine comprising:

a pump with a motor rotating the pump in first and second directions opposite from one another, the first direction for delivering fuel to a turbine engine and the second direction for evacuating fuel from the turbine engine fuel manifold;

a shut-off check valve open in the first direction in response to a first differential pressure created by the pump and biased to a closed position in the second direction;

an ecology check valve biased to a closed position in the first direction and open in the second direction in response to a second differential pressure created by the pump;

wherein the pump includes first and second ports respectively providing first and second pressures, the first and second ports respectively providing an inlet and an outlet in the first direction, and the first and second ports respectively providing the outlet and the inlet in the second direction; and

comprising a fuel source fluidly connected to the first port by a supply line, the first port fluidly connected to one side of the shut-off check valve by a bypass line.

7. The fuel system according to claim 6, comprising a fuel circuit fluidly connecting the second port to another side of the shut-off check valve.

8. The fuel system according to claim 7, wherein the other side of the shut-off check valve is fluidly connected to a delivery line for supplying fuel to the turbine engine.

9. The fuel system according to claim 8, wherein the fuel circuit fluidly connects the second port to one side of the ecology check valve.

10. The fuel system according to claim 9, wherein another side of the ecology check valve is fluidly connected to the delivery line.