Patent Application
20230212989
This disclosure relates generally to turbine engines and, more particularly, to various bleed valve assemblies.
Turbine engines are some of the most widely-used power generating technologies, often being utilized in aircraft and power-generation applications. A turbine engine generally includes a fan and a core arranged in flow communication with one another. The core of the turbine engine generally includes, in serial flow order, a compressor section, a combustion section, a turbine section on the same shaft as the compressor section, and an exhaust section. Typically, a casing or housing surrounds the core of the turbine engine.
The figures are not to scale. Instead, the thickness of the layers or regions may be enlarged in the drawings. Although the figures show layers and regions with clean lines and boundaries, some or all of these lines and/or boundaries may be idealized. In reality, the boundaries and/or lines may be unobservable, blended, and/or irregular. In general, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawing(s) and accompanying written description to refer to the same or like parts. As used in this patent, stating that any part (e.g., a layer, film, area, region, or plate) is in any way on (e.g., positioned on, located on, disposed on, or formed on, etc.) another part, indicates that the referenced part is either in contact with the other part, or that the referenced part is above the other part with one or more intermediate part(s) located therebetween. As used herein, connection references (e.g., attached, coupled, connected, and joined) may include intermediate members between the elements referenced by the connection reference and/or relative movement between those elements unless otherwise indicated. As such, connection references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected and/or in fixed relation to each other. As used herein, stating that any part is in “contact” with another part is defined to mean that there is no intermediate part between the two parts.
Unless specifically stated otherwise, descriptors such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., are used herein without imputing or otherwise indicating any meaning of priority, physical order, arrangement in a list, and/or ordering in any way, but are merely used as labels and/or arbitrary names to distinguish elements for ease of understanding the disclosed examples. In some examples, the descriptor “first” may be used to refer to an element in the detailed description, while the same element may be referred to in a claim with a different descriptor such as “second” or “third.” In such instances, it should be understood that such descriptors are used merely for identifying those elements distinctly that might, for example, otherwise share a same name.
Approximating language, as used herein throughout the specification and claims, is applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. Accordingly, a value modified by a term or terms, such as “about”, “approximately”, and “substantially”, are not to be limited to the precise value specified. In some examples used herein, the term “substantially” is used to describe a relationship between two parts that is within three degrees of the stated relationship (e.g., a substantially colinear relationship is within three degrees of being linear, a substantially perpendicular relationship is within three degrees of being perpendicular, a substantially parallel relationship is within three degrees of being parallel, a substantially flush relationship is within three degrees of being flush, etc.).
The terms “upstream” and “downstream” refer to the relative direction with respect to fluid flow in a fluid pathway. For example, “upstream” refers to the direction from which the fluid flows, and “downstream” refers to the direction to which the fluid flows. Various terms are used herein to describe the orientation of features. In general, the attached figures are annotated with reference to the axial direction, radial direction, and circumferential direction of the vehicle associated with the features, forces and moments. In general, the attached figures are annotated with a set of axes including the axial axis A, the radial axis R, and the circumferential axis C.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific examples that may be practiced. These examples are described in sufficient detail to enable one skilled in the art to practice the subject matter, and it is to be understood that other examples may be utilized. The following detailed description is therefore, provided to describe an exemplary implementation and not to be taken limiting on the scope of the subject matter described in this disclosure. Certain features from different aspects of the following description may be combined to form yet new aspects of the subject matter discussed below.
A turbine engine, also referred to herein as a gas turbine engine, is a type of internal combustion engine that uses atmospheric air as a moving fluid. In operation, atmospheric air enters the turbine engine via a fan and flows through a compressor section where one or more compressors progressively compresses (e.g., pressurizes) the air until it reaches the combustion section. The pressurized air is combined with fuel in the combustion section and ignited to produce a high-temperature, high-pressure gas stream (e.g., hot combustion gas). The hot combustion gases expand as they flow a through a turbine section, causing rotating blades of one or more turbines to spin. The rotating blades of the turbine produce a spool work output that powers a corresponding compressor. The spool is a combination of the compressor, a shaft, and the turbine. Many turbine engines include multiple spools, such as a high pressure spool (e.g., HP compressor, shaft, and turbine) and a low pressure spool (e.g., LP compressor, shaft, and turbine). However, a turbine engine can include one spool or more than two spools in additional or alternative examples.
During low speed operation of the turbine engine (e.g., during start-up and/or stopping), equilibrium of the engine is adjusted. In many scenarios, a delay is needed for the spool(s) to adapt (e.g., a time for a rotational speed to adjust for a new equilibrium). However, the compressor cannot stop producing pressurized air for the fuel combustion during operation. Such a result may cause the turbine to stop producing the power to turn the compressor, causing the compressor itself to stop compressing air. Accordingly, throttling changes may lead to compressor instabilities, such as compressor stall and/or compressor surge. Compressor stall is a circumstance of abnormal airflow resulting from the aerodynamic stall of rotor blades within the compressor. Compressor stall causes the air flowing through the compressor to slow down or stagnate. $In some cases, the disruption of air flow as the air passes through various stages of the compressor can lead to compressor surge. Compressor surge refers to a stall that results in disruption (e.g., complete disruption, majority disruption, other partial disruption, etc.) of the airflow through the compressor.
A variable bleed valve (VBV) is often integrated into a compressor to increase efficiency and limit possible stalls. The VBV enables the turbine engine to bleed air from a compressor section of the turbine engine during operation. An example VBV assembly includes a VBV port (e.g., opening, air bleed slot, etc.) in a compressor casing that opens via actuation of a VBV door. In other words, the VBV is configured as a door that opens to provide a bleed flowpath to bleed off compressed air between a booster (e.g., a low pressure compressor) and a core engine compressor of a gas turbine. For example, the VBV door may be actuated during a speed-speed mismatch between the LP spool and the HP spool. During start-up or stopping, the HP spool may spin at a lower speed than the LP spool. Opening the VBV port allows the LP spool to maintain its speed while reducing the amount of air that is flowing through the axial compressor by directing some of the air flow to the turbine exhaust area. Thus, the VBV door enables the LP spool (e.g., booster) to operate on a lower operating line and further away from a potential instability or stall condition.
When a VBV is in a closed position, the VBV door may not be flush with the compressor casing, resulting in a bleed cavity that is open to a main flow path within the compressor. This results in aerodynamic performance losses in the main flow path and/or flow induced cavity oscillations. Accordingly, a new VBV assembly is needed that addresses the issues described above.
Examples disclosed herein enable manufacture of a VBV assembly that improves aerodynamic performance and/or efficiency of a turbine engine. Certain examples enable a VBV assembly in which a surface of a VBV door is flush with a casing wall when the VBV door is in a closed position. Accordingly, certain examples reduce and/or minimize a volume of the bleed cavity. Certain examples disclosed herein may eliminate the bleed cavity. Certain example VBV assemblies may be heavier than current VBV doors. Certain examples thus improve aerodynamic efficiency and minimize or otherwise reduce aero-acoustic excitations in the bleed cavity.
Examples disclosed herein enable manufacture of a variety of VBV assemblies. In some examples, a sliding door is used to move a VBV between a closed and open position. In some examples, the VBV doors are actuated individually. In some examples, a unison ring is utilized to actuate a plurality of VBV doors concurrently. In some examples, a plurality of unison rings are utilized, enabling a sub-set of VBV doors to actuate concurrently. Certain examples enable partial actuation of a VBV door (e.g., the VBV door opens and/or closes partially). In some examples, a hinged VBV door is used to move a VBV between the closed and opened positions.
Referring now to the drawings, wherein identical numerals indicate the same elements throughout the figures,
In general, the turbofan engine 110 includes a core turbine or gas turbine engine 114 disposed downstream from a fan section 116. The core turbine 114 includes a substantially tubular outer casing 118 that defines an annular inlet 120. The outer casing 118 can be formed from a single casing or multiple casings. The outer casing 118 encloses, in serial flow relationship, a compressor section having a booster or low pressure compressor 122 (“LP compressor 122”) and a high pressure compressor 124 (“HP compressor 124”), a combustion section 126, a turbine section having a high pressure turbine 128 (“HP turbine 128”) and a low pressure turbine 130 (“LP turbine 130”), and an exhaust section 132. A high pressure shaft or spool 134 (“HP shaft 134”) drivingly couples the HP turbine 128 and the HP compressor 124. A low pressure shaft or spool 136 (“LP shaft 136”) drivingly couples the LP turbine 130 and the LP compressor 122. The LP shaft 136 can also couple to a fan spool or shaft 138 of the fan section 116. In some examples, the LP shaft 136 is coupled directly to the fan shaft 138 (e.g., a direct-drive configuration). In alternative configurations, the LP shaft 136 can couple to the fan shaft 138 via a reduction gear 139 (e.g., an indirect-drive or geared-drive configuration).
As shown in
As illustrated in
The combustion gases 160 flow through the HP turbine 128 where one or more sequential stages of HP turbine stator vanes 166 and HP turbine rotor blades 168 coupled to the HP shaft 134 extract a first portion of kinetic and/or thermal energy therefrom. This energy extraction supports operation of the HP compressor 124. The combustion gases 160 then flow through the LP turbine 130 where one or more sequential stages of LP turbine stator vanes 162 and LP turbine rotor blades 164 coupled to the LP shaft 136 extract a second portion of thermal and/or kinetic energy therefrom. This energy extraction causes the LP shaft 136 to rotate, thereby supporting operation of the LP compressor 122 and/or rotation of the fan shaft 138. The combustion gases 160 then exit the core turbine 114 through the exhaust section 132 thereof. A turbine frame 161 with a fairing assembly is located between the HP turbine 128 and the LP turbine 130. The turbine frame 161 acts as a supporting structure, connecting a high-pressure shaft’s rear bearing with the turbine housing and forming an aerodynamic transition duct between the HP turbine 128 and the LP turbine 130. Fairings form a flow path between the high-pressure and low-pressure turbines and can be formed using metallic castings (e.g., nickel-based cast metallic alloys, etc.).
Along with the turbofan engine 110, the core turbine 114 serves a similar purpose and is exposed to a similar environment in land-based gas turbines, turbojet engines in which the ratio of the first portion 154 of the air 150 to the second portion 156 of the air 150 is less than that of a turbofan, and unducted fan engines in which the fan section 116 is devoid of the nacelle 142. In each of the turbofan, turbojet, and unducted engines, a speed reduction device (e.g., the reduction gear 139) can be included between any shafts and spools. For example, the reduction gear 139 is disposed between the LP shaft 136 and the fan shaft 138 of the fan section 116.
As described above with respect to
The VBV ports 214 extend from the inner surface of the casing 208 to the outer surface of the casing 208. The casing 208 may include one or more VBV ports 214. For example, the casing 208 may include between 8 and 18 VBV ports 214. In some examples, the number of VBV ports 214 integrated into the casing 208 may correspond to a strut count of the turbofan engine 110. In some examples, the VBV port 214 is machined into the casing 208. In some examples, the VBV port 214 is integrated into the casing 208 by an additive manufacturing process. Typically, a VBV assembly is integrated onto the casing 208, which defines a variable bleed valve. Various example VBV assemblies in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure are described in further detail below.
Examples disclosed below are applied to the example compressor 200 of the example turbofan engine 110 as described in
The example unison ring 404 and the actuator 406 are positioned radially outward from the casing 208. In the illustrated example of
In some examples disclosed herein, the example unison ring 404 is utilized to actuate a plurality of VBV doors 402 concurrently. For example, the unison ring 404 may be operatively coupled to the example actuator 406 (e.g., via an example actuator rod 408) and to one or more VBV doors 402 (e.g., via example connection arm(s) 410). As the actuator 406 moves between a first position and a second position, the actuator 406 causes the unison ring 404 to move between the first position and the second position, which in turn causes the VBV doors 402 to move between the first position and the second position. In some examples, the unison ring 404 is operatively coupled to more than one actuator 406. For example, the unison ring 404 may be operatively coupled to a first actuator 406 and a second actuator 406, wherein the second actuator 406 is an additional and/or alternative actuator 406 that may act as a back-up actuator 406. In some examples, an actuator 406 is operatively coupled to more than one unison ring 404.
In some examples, the unison ring 404 may be operatively coupled to the actuator 406 (e.g., via the actuator rod 408) and to an intermediary device(s) (e.g., bell crank, pin-and-slot, etc.) 412 via the example connection arm(s) (e.g., handle, bar, lever, etc.) 410. In such examples, the intermediary device(s) is operatively coupled to the VBV doors 402 (e.g., via example connection arm 410). In other words, the unison ring 404 may be operatively coupled to the intermediary device 412, which is operatively coupled to the VBV door 402. As the actuator 406 moves between the first position and the second position, the unison ring 404 moves between the first position and the second position. The movement of the unison ring 404 between the first position and the second position causes the intermediary device 412 to move between the first position and the second position. The movement of the intermediary device 412 causes the VBV door 402 to move between the first position and the second position. Such an arrangement may enable optimal or otherwise improved placement of components (e.g., VBV doors 402, unison ring 404, actuator 406, intermediary devices 412, etc.) of the VBV assembly 400. Turbine engines are complex pieces of machinery having numerous components working together. Accordingly, examples disclosed herein enable manufacture of a VBV assembly that can be modified to fix a specific turbine engine configuration.
Additional and/or alternative example VBV assemblies are disclosed below. The example VBV assemblies disclosed below are similar to the VBV assembly 400 of
The example bell crank 502 includes three example connection points: an example fixed pivot point 504, an example VBV door point 506, and an example actuation point 508. The example fixed pivot point 504 is connected to the turbofan engine 110 such that the bell crank 502 can pivot about the fixed pivot point 504. The fixed pivot point 504 connects the bell crank 502 to the turbofan engine 110 (
In operation, the actuator 406 moves between a first position (e.g., a closed position of
To move the VBV assembly 500 to the first position, the actuator 406 moves from the second position to the first position, which causes the unison ring 404 to move from the second position to the first position. The movement of the unison ring 404 from the second position to the first position pushes the connection arm 410, which causes the bell crank 502 to pivot about the fixed pivot point 504 causing a pushing force on the VBV door 402. The force on the VBV door 402 causes the VBV door 402 to slide through the VBV door gap 222 towards the first (closed) position. While moving towards the closed position, the VBV door 402 moves in a radially-inward/axially-downstream direction. In operation, the VBV assembly 500 may be moved towards a partially-open position and/or a partially-closed position. That is, the VBV doors 402 may be actuated to be partially open and/or partially closed.
The VBV assembly 500 of
In some examples, the VBV assembly 500 does not include a unison ring 404. In such examples, each bell and crank 502 is operatively coupled to a corresponding actuator 406, which pushes and/or pulls the bell crank 502 to cause the bell crank 502 to pivot about the fixed pivot point 504. In some examples, the bell cranks 502 are operatively coupled to the actuators 406 via corresponding connection arms 410.
An upstream end of the VBV door 402 is operatively coupled to the pin-and-slot 602 via the slider pin 604. The example pin-and-slot 602 is connected to an example actuator 406 such that the pin-and-slot 602 can move back-and-forth in an axial direction (e.g., upstream and downstream). In the illustrated example of
In operation, the actuator 406 moves between a first position (e.g., a closed position of
To move the VBV assembly 600 to the first position, the actuator 406 moves from the second position to the first position, which causes the unison ring 404 to move from the second position to the first position. The movement of the unison ring 404 from the second position to the first position causes the slot 606 to move from the second position to the first position causing the slider pin 604 to slide down the slot 606. A resultant pushing force on the VBV door 402 causes the VBV door 402 to slide into the VBV door gap 222 towards the first (closed) position. While moving towards the closed position, the VBV door 402 moves in a radially-inward/axially-downstream component direction.
The VBV assembly 600 of
In some examples, the VBV assembly 600 does not include a unison ring 404. In such examples, each pin-and-slot 602 is operatively coupled to a corresponding actuator 406, which pushes and/or pulls the slot 606 to cause the slider pin 604 to slide up and/or down the slot 606.
The example power screw 802 includes an example motor 804, an example screw shaft 806 having a thread, and an example nut 808. The motor 804 is coupled to the turbofan engine 110. In the illustrated example of
In operation, the motor 804 provides a rotating motion which causes the screw shaft 806 to rotate. The rotation of the screw shaft 806 causes the nut 808 to move along the screw shaft 806. The direction that the nut 808 moves depends on the direction of rotation of the screw shaft 806. Because the nut 808 is coupled to the VBV door 402, the movement of the nut 808 causes movement of the VBV door 402.
The motor 804 spins a first direction, causing the screw shaft 806 to rotate a first direction, causing the nut 808 to move from a first position (e.g., a closed position of
To move the VBV assembly 800 to the first position, the motor spins a second direction, causing the screw shaft 806 to rotate the second direction, causing the nut 808 to move from the second position to the first position. The movement of the nut 808 from the second position to the first position causes the VBV door 402 to move from the second position to the first position. As the VBV door 402 moves from the second position and the first position, the screw shaft 806 moves into the VBV door 402.
The VBV assembly 800 of
Similar to the differences of VBV assembly 1000 of
The unison ring 404 is coupled to an example connection arm 410, which is operatively coupled to the example actuator 406 via example actuator rod 408. In operation, the actuator 406 moves between a first position (e.g., a closed position of
To move the VBV assembly 1100 to the first position, the actuator 406 moves from the second position to the first position, which causes the unison ring 404 to move from the second position to the first position. The movement of the unison ring 404 from the second position to the first position causes the VBV wall 1102 to move towards the first (closed) position. While moving towards a closed position, the VBV wall 1102 moves in a downstream/axial direction.
The VBV assembly 1100 of
In some examples, the VBV wall 1102 is defined by a circumferential substrate that acts as a VBV door for a plurality of VBV ports 214. In such examples, the VBV wall 1102 may be integrally formed with the unison ring 404. In some examples, a unison ring 404 may not be included. In such examples, the VBV wall 1102 may be operatively coupled to the actuator 406.
In the illustrated example of
In operation, the actuator 406 moves between a first position (e.g., a closed position of
The movement of the actuator 406 from the first position to the second position causes the unison ring 404 to move from the first position to the second position (e.g., via an actuator rod 408, etc.). The movement of the unison ring 404 from the first position to the second position causes the VBV door(s) 402 to move from the first (closed) position to the second (open) position. To move towards the open position, the VBV door 402 slides in an axial-upstream direction from the VBV door gap 222.
To move the VBV assembly 1300 to the first position, the actuator 406 moves from the second position to the first position, which causes the unison ring 404 to move from the second position to the first position. The movement of the unison ring 404 from the second position to the first position causes the VBV door(s) 402 to move towards the first (closed) position. While moving towards a closed position, the VBV door(s) 402 moves in a downstream/axial direction.
The VBV assembly 1300 of
In some examples, the VBV assembly 1300 does not include a unison ring 404. In such examples, each VBV door 402 is operatively coupled to a corresponding actuator 406, which pushes and/or pulls an example connection arm (e.g., connection arm 410) to cause the VBV door 402 move between positions. In some examples, the VBV doors 402 are operatively coupled to the actuators 406 via corresponding connection arms 410.
The hinge 1502 is structured to move the VBV door 402 about an example hinge point 1504. The hinge 1502 includes an example stationary leaf 1506 and an example mobile leaf 1508 connected at the hinge point 1504. The example stationary leaf 1506 is coupled to the turbofan engine 110 at the bleed flowpath 216. The hinge point 1504 connects the stationary leaf 1506 and the mobile leaf 1508 in such a manner that allows the mobile leaf 1508 to pivot about the hinge point 1504. A downstream end of the VBV door 402 is coupled to the mobile leaf 1508. In the illustrated example of
In operation, the actuator 406 moves between a first position (e.g., a closed position of
To move the VBV assembly 1500 to the first position, the actuator 406 moves from the second position to the first position, which causes the unison ring 404 to move from the second position to the first position. The movement of the unison ring 404 from the second position to the first position pushes the connection arm 410, which causes the mobile leaf 1508 to pivot about the hinge point 1504. The motion of the mobile leaf 1508 as it pivots about the hinge point 1504 causes the VBV door 402 to move in a circumferential motion towards the first (closed) position. That is, to move towards the closed position, the VBV door 402 moves circumferentially (e.g. rotates) about the hinge point 1504. In the closed position, the mobile leaf 1508 acts as a VBV port 214 wall.
The VBV assembly 1500 of
In some examples, the VBV assembly 1500 does not include a unison ring 404. In such examples, each hinge 1502 is operatively coupled to a corresponding actuator 406, which pushes and/or pulls the mobile leaf 1508 about the hinge point 1504. In some examples, the hinges 1502 are operatively coupled to the actuators 406 via corresponding connection arms 410.
Example VBV assemblies 400, 500, 600, 800, 1000, 1100, 1300, 1500 disclosed above have a variety of features. In some examples, a sliding door (e.g., VBV door 402) is used to open and/or close a VBV port 214. In some examples, the VBV door 402 slides through a VBV door gap 222, 1002. In some examples, the VBV door 402 is flush with a casing 208 in a closed position. Accordingly, some examples close off a bleed cavity 220 in a closed position. The VBV door 402 may move in various directions (e.g., axially, radially, circumferentially, axially-radially, etc.). In some examples, a hinge is used to move the VBV door 402 (e.g., circumferentially about a hinge point connected at a secondary flowpath). Some examples enable a VBV assembly 400, 500, 600, 800, 1000, 1100, 1300, 1500 to move a sub-set of VBV doors 402 between the open position and closed position.
Although each example VBV assembly 400, 500, 600, 800, 1000, 1100, 1300, 1500 disclosed above has certain features, it should be understood that it is not necessary for a particular feature of one example VBV assembly 400, 500, 600, 800, 1000, 1100, 1300, 1500 to be used exclusively with that example. Instead, any of the features described above and/or depicted in the drawings can be combined with any of the examples, in addition to or in substitution for any of the other features of those examples. One example’s features are not mutually exclusive to another example’s features. Instead, the scope of this disclosure encompasses any combination of any of the features. Features of the example VBV assemblies 400, 500, 600, 800, 1000, 1100, 1300, 1500 disclosed above may be combined, divided, re-arranged, omitted, eliminated, and/or implemented in any other way.
“Including” and “comprising” (and all forms and tenses thereof) are used herein to be open ended terms. Thus, whenever a claim employs any form of “include” or “comprise” (e.g., comprises, includes, comprising, including, having, etc.) as a preamble or within a claim recitation of any kind, it is to be understood that additional elements, terms, etc., may be present without falling outside the scope of the corresponding claim or recitation. As used herein, when the phrase “at least” is used as the transition term in, for example, a preamble of a claim, it is open-ended in the same manner as the term “comprising” and “including” are open ended. The term “and/or” when used, for example, in a form such as A, B, and/or C refers to any combination or subset of A, B, C such as (1) A alone, (2) B alone, (3) C alone, (4) A with B, (5) A with C, (6) B with C, or (7) A with B and with C. As used herein in the context of describing structures, components, items, objects and/or things, the phrase “at least one of A and B” is intended to refer to implementations including any of (1) at least one A, (2) at least one B, or (3) at least one A and at least one B. Similarly, as used herein in the context of describing structures, components, items, objects and/or things, the phrase “at least one of A or B” is intended to refer to implementations including any of (1) at least one A, (2) at least one B, or (3) at least one A and at least one B. As used herein in the context of describing the performance or execution of processes, instructions, actions, activities and/or steps, the phrase “at least one of A and B” is intended to refer to implementations including any of (1) at least one A, (2) at least one B, or (3) at least one A and at least one B. Similarly, as used herein in the context of describing the performance or execution of processes, instructions, actions, activities and/or steps, the phrase “at least one of A or B” is intended to refer to implementations including any of (1) at least one A, (2) at least one B, or (3) at least one A and at least one B.
As used herein, singular references (e.g., “a”, “an”, “first”, “second”, etc.) do not exclude a plurality. The term “a” or “an” object, as used herein, refers to one or more of that object. The terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more”, and “at least one” are used interchangeably herein. Furthermore, although individually listed, a plurality of means, elements or method actions may be implemented by, e.g., the same entity or object. Additionally, although individual features may be included in different examples or claims, these may possibly be combined, and the inclusion in different examples or claims does not imply that a combination of features is not feasible and/or advantageous.
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that example systems, apparatus, and articles of manufacture have been disclosed that enable manufacture of an advantageous VBV assembly. Examples disclosed herein enable actuation of a VBV door that is flush with a casing in a closed position thereby eliminating a bleed cavity. Examples disclosed herein enable actuation of a VBV door that limits an impact of the bleed cavity on mainstream airflow. Examples disclosed herein enable manufacture of a variety of VBV assemblies that may be configured according to a specific turbine engine. Accordingly, examples disclosed herein enable improved operability and efficiency of a turbine engine, enable aerodynamic benefits, and improve stall margin.
Further aspects of the present disclosure are provided by the subject matter of the following clauses:
Example 1 includes an apparatus comprising a variable bleed valve (VBV) door corresponding to a bleed port, an intermediary device operatively coupled to the VBV door, and a first actuator operatively coupled to the intermediary device, the first actuator to move between a first position and a second position, the first actuator to cause the intermediary device to move between the first position and the second position to cause the VBV door to move between the first position and the second position.
Example 2 includes the apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the VBV door slides between the first position and the second position.
Example 3 includes the apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the first position is a closed position and the second position is an open position.
Example 4 includes the apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the VBV door is substantially flush with a flow path in the first position.
Example 5 includes the apparatus of any preceding clause, further including a plurality of VBV doors corresponding a plurality of bleed ports, the plurality of VBV doors spaced circumferentially apart.
Example 6 includes the apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein each of the plurality of VBV doors are positioned forward or aft of respective ones of the plurality of bleed ports in the second position.
Example 7 includes the apparatus of any preceding clause, further including a plurality of intermediary devices corresponding to the plurality of VBV doors, ones of the plurality of intermediary devices operatively coupled to respective ones of the VBV doors.
Example 8 includes the apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the ones of the plurality of intermediary devices is at least one of a bell crank or a pin and slot assembly.
Example 9 includes the apparatus of any preceding clause, further including a plurality of actuators corresponding to the plurality of intermediary devices, ones of the plurality of actuators operatively to the plurality of intermediary devices, the ones of the plurality of actuators to move between the first position and the second position to cause respective ones of the plurality of intermediary devices to move between the first position and the second position to cause respective ones of the plurality of VBV doors to move between the first position and the second position.
Example 10 includes the apparatus of any preceding clause, further including a first unison ring, the first unison ring positioned between the plurality of intermediary devices and the first actuator, the first unison ring operatively coupled to the first actuator and to the plurality of intermediary devices, the first actuator to move between the first position and the second position to cause the first unison ring to move between the first position and the second position to cause the plurality of intermediary devices and corresponding plurality of VBV doors to move between the first position and the second position.
Example 11 includes the apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the first actuator is downstream of the first unison ring.
Example 12 includes the apparatus of any preceding clause, wherein the plurality of intermediary devices includes a first portion of the plurality of intermediary devices and a second portion of the plurality of intermediary devices, the first portion of the plurality of intermediary devices operatively coupled to the first unison ring, the variable bleed valve system further including a second unison ring, the second portion of the plurality of intermediary devices operatively coupled to the second unison ring, and a second actuator operatively coupled to the second unison ring, the second actuator to move between the first position and the second position to cause the second unison ring to move between the first position and the second position to cause the second portion of the plurality of intermediary devices and a corresponding plurality of VBV doors to move between the first position and the second position.
Example 13 includes a turbine engine comprising a casing having an inner surface and an outer surface, the casing to define a flow path for the turbine engine, the casing having a plurality of air bleed slots, and a variable bleed valve system, including a plurality of VBV doors corresponding to the plurality of air bleed slots, and a plurality of actuators corresponding to the plurality of VBV doors, ones of the plurality of actuators operatively coupled to respective ones of the VBV doors, the plurality of actuators to move between an open position and closed position to cause the plurality of VBV doors to move between the open position and the closed position.
Example 14 includes the turbine engine of any preceding clause, wherein the plurality of VBV doors are substantially flush with the flow path in the closed position.
Example 15 includes the turbine engine of any preceding clause, wherein the ones of the plurality of actuators are at least one of power screws, ball screws, or linear actuators.
Example 16 includes a turbine engine comprising a casing defining a first flow path, a variable bleed valve (VBV) port on the casing, the VBV port defining a secondary flow path, a VBV wall, the VBV wall to close off the VBV port in a first position, the VBV wall to define a VBV port wall in a second position, and a first actuator, the first actuator operatively coupled to the VBV wall, the actuator to move between the first position and a second position to cause the VBV wall to move between the first position and the second position.
Example 17 includes the turbine engine of any preceding clause, wherein the first position is a closed position and the second position is an open position.
Example 18 includes the turbine engine of any preceding clause, wherein the VBV wall at least one of (1) slides between the first position and the second position or (2) pivots about a point between the first position and the second position.
Example 19 includes the turbine engine of any preceding clause, further including a plurality of VBV ports defining a corresponding plurality of secondary flow paths, and a plurality of VBV walls corresponding the plurality of VBV ports.
Example 20 includes the turbine engine of any preceding clause, further including a plurality of actuators corresponding to the plurality of VBV walls, ones of the plurality of actuators operatively coupled to respective ones of the plurality of VBV walls.
Example 21 includes the turbine engine of any preceding clause, further including a first unison ring, the first unison ring positioned between the plurality of VBV walls and the first actuator, the first unison ring operatively coupled to the first actuator and plurality of VBV walls, the first actuator to move between the first position and the second position to cause the first unison ring to move between the first position and the second position to cause ones of a plurality VBV walls to move between the first position and the second position.
Example 22 includes an apparatus including means for bleeding air, means for covering the means for bleeding air, and means for moving the means for covering.
Example 23 includes the apparatus of any preceding clause, further including means for coupling the means for covering and the means for moving the means for covering.
Although certain example systems, apparatus, and articles of manufacture have been disclosed herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all systems, apparatus, and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the claims of this patent.
The following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description by this reference, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of the present disclosure.
