Patent Application
20080000531
The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and
The following detailed description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background of the invention or the following detailed description of the invention.
The duct 12 has an inner surface 24 that defines a duct flow passage 26. The valve element 14 is disposed within the duct flow passage 26, and is movable to a closed position, a fully-open position, and a plurality of intermediate positions therebetween. In the closed position, fluid is at least restricted (and preferably prevented) from flowing through the duct flow passage 26. Conversely, in the intermediate and fully-open positions, fluid is at least partially allowed to flow through the duct flow passage 26. Generally, the closer the valve element 14 is to the fully-open position, fluid is allowed to flow more freely through the duct flow passage 26 and beyond the valve element 14, thereby increasing fluid pressure in the duct flow passage 26 downstream. Conversely, the closer the valve element 14 is to the closed position, fluid is allowed to flow less freely through the duct flow passage 26 and beyond the valve element 14, thereby decreasing fluid pressure in the duct flow passage 26.
In the depicted embodiments, the valve element 14 is a butterfly valve element, although it will be appreciated that the valve element 14 can take any one of a number of different shapes, sizes and configurations. When the butterfly valve element 14 is moved into the fully-open position substantially parallel to the duct flow passage 26, fluid is allowed to flow through the duct flow passage 26 beyond the butterfly valve element 14. Conversely, when the butterfly valve 14 is moved into a closed position substantially perpendicular to the duct flow passage 26, fluid is restricted from flowing through the duct flow passage 26 beyond the butterfly valve element 14. Similarly, in various intermediate positions, fluid is allowed to flow more freely as the butterfly valve 14 is positioned closer to parallel to the duct flow passage 26, and fluid is allowed to flow less freely as the butterfly valve 14 is positioned closer to perpendicular to the duct flow passage 26.
The regulator unit 16 is coupled to the valve element 14, and, in some embodiments, is further coupled to receive fluid at a feedback pressure magnitude. The regulator unit 16 is configured to controllably position the valve element 14 based at least in part on the feedback pressure magnitude, to thereby regulate fluid pressure downstream of the valve element 14 to a regulated pressure magnitude. In one particular embodiment, the regulator unit 16 is coupled to receive a remote supply of fluid pressure (not shown), and includes a reference pressure regulator (not shown), a torque motor (not shown), and a solenoid valve (not shown). However, it will be appreciated that the regulator unit 16 can take any one of a number of different configurations. It will further be appreciated that the regulator unit 16 can regulate the fluid pressure in any one of a number of different implementations, including, by way of example only, the preferred embodiments depicted in
The fluid pressure sensor 18 is disposed in the duct flow passage 26 downstream of the valve element 14, and is configured to supply fluid flow at the feedback pressure magnitude, with the feedback pressure magnitude being less than the static pressure magnitude. As depicted in
The actuator 20 is configured to at least facilitate movement of the valve element 14 between the closed, fully-open, and intermediate positions. As described in greater detail further below, and as mentioned above, the actuator 20 can be configured to directly receive the supply of fluid at the feedback pressure magnitude from the fluid pressure sensor 18 via the downstream sense line 22. As depicted in
Turning now to
The plurality of orifices 32 extend between the outer and inner surfaces 28, 30 of the fluid pressure sensor 18, and are located at points along the outer and inner surfaces 28, 30 which will exhibit lower pressure than the free-stream pressure of the fluid flowing through the duct flow passage 26. In a preferred embodiment, the orifices 32 in the fluid pressure sensor 18 are holes. The holes 32 are preferably disposed such that at least two of the holes 32 are disposed on opposite sides of the fluid pressure sensor 18. In a most preferred embodiment, the fluid pressure sensor 18 has an upstream end 34, a downstream end 36, and a center region 38 disposed halfway between the upstream and downstream ends 34, 36. In this most preferred embodiment, at least two of the holes 32 on opposite sides of the fluid pressure sensor 18 are disposed near, but slightly on the downstream side of, the center region 38 of the fluid pressure sensor 18. However, it will be appreciated that the orifices 32 can comprise slots, or any one of a number of different other types of orifices, or combinations thereof, instead of or in addition to holes. It will further be appreciated that the number of orifices 32 in the fluid pressure sensor 18 can differ, and that the orifices 32 can take any one of a number of different shapes, sizes, and configurations, or combinations thereof, and can be disposed in any number of different places on the fluid pressure sensor 18.
The operation of the regulator valve 10, in the preferred embodiment depicted in
As the feedback pressure supplied by the fluid pressure sensor 18 increases, a fluid pressure differential is formed between the closing chamber 50 and the opening chamber 48. The increased fluid pressure in the closing chamber 50, combined with the force of the spring 42, overcomes the constant fluid pressure in the opening chamber 48, thereby moving the piston 51 in the direction of the close stop 52 and away from the valve element 14. The piston 51 in turn moves the rod 54 in the same direction, thereby moving the valve element 14 toward the closed position. This results in decreased fluid flow through the duct flow passage 26.
Conversely, when the fluid pressure supplied by the fluid pressure sensor 18 to the actuator 20 decreases, a reverse fluid pressure differential is formed between the closing chamber 50 and the opening chamber 48. The reduced combined pressure of the closing chamber 50 and the spring 42 is overcome by the constant pressure in the opening chamber 48, thereby moving the piston 51 in the direction away from the close stop 52 and toward the valve element 14. The piston 51 in turn moves the rod 54 in the same direction, thereby moving the valve element 14 toward the fully-open position. This results in an increased fluid flow through the duct flow passage 26 and around the valve element 14.
An alternate embodiment for the regulator valve 10 is depicted in
The operation of the regulator valve 10, in the alternate embodiment depicted in
Still referring to
Conversely, when the fluid pressure supplied by the fluid pressure sensor 18 to the regulator unit 16 decreases in the embodiment of
It will be appreciated that the configuration of the fluid pressure sensor 18, the downstream sense line 22, the regulator unit 16, the actuator 20, and the valve element 14, and various other components of the regulator valve 10, can take any one of a number of different configurations. Regardless of the particular configuration, the regulator valve 10 provides regulation of the pressure of the fluid flow therethrough. Moreover, the features of the fluid pressure sensor 18 help to alleviate potential droop effects associated with many regulator valves facing one or more restrictions downstream. The regulator valve 10 can be used in any one of a number of different types of applications, including, by way of example only, use in aircraft bleed air systems as a modulating device delivering air from an engine down to the level of an environmental control system, or use as a variable regulator to control fluid flow into an air cycle machine of an environmental control system, among various other potential applications of the regulator valve 10.
While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description of the invention, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment of the invention, it being understood that various changes can be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.
