Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation

Raytheon Technologies Corporation

Myles R Kelly

James S Elder

Michael D Greenberg

Robert B Goodman

Connor Berube

Edward W Goy

John M Dehais

Jesse W Clauson

David Gelwan

Ronald D Poisson

Andrew J Thompson

Patrick Begley

Robert Mackinnon

A valve system includes a valve body defining an inlet, an outlet, and a flow path connecting the inlet in fluid communication with the outlet through one or more flow paths through the valve body. A poppet is slidingly engaged to the valve body for movement along an axis, between a first position allowing flow though the flow path, and a second position blocking flow the flow path. An electrical circuit makes a path through the valve body. A controller is operatively connected to the electrical circuit, configured to monitor electrical resistance of the electrical circuit and to output a signal indicative of open or closed state of the valve based on whether electrical resistance of the electrical circuit is at a first level or at a second level.

Two position feedback valve

In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a system includes a first wire configured to electrically connect a valve stop to a voltage source, a second wire configured to connect a valve pin to a negative terminal of the voltage source, such that the valve stop, and a valve flap operatively connected to the valve pin are configured to create a closed valve circuit when the valve flap is in a fully open position with the valve flap contacting the valve stop, and an open valve circuit when the valve flap is not in the fully open position. A meter is operatively connected to measure an electrical characteristic of the valve circuit to determine when the valve flap is in the fully open position based on an open/closed status of the valve circuit.

Systems and methods for determining valve flutter

A turbine engine for an aircraft includes a compressor with a low-pressure spool including a low-pressure tap and a high-pressure spool including a high-pressure tap and a combustor connected to the compressor. The engine includes a turbine connected to the combustor and that includes an inlet section connected to the outlet portion of the combustor and an outlet section. The engine also includes an integrated engine bleed system connected to the compressor and a plurality of aircraft sub-systems. The integrated engine bleed system connects the high/low pressure taps various aircraft sub-systems.

Integrated turbine engine bleed system

A fuel system for an aircraft includes a main fuel pump, a metering valve fluidly connected to the main fuel pump, a selector valve fluidly connected to the metering valve, a check valve fluidly connected to the metering valve, and an electric motor driven start pump fluidly connected to the check valve and the selector valve. During a start-up condition, the fuel system is configured to permit a fuel to flow through the electric motor driven start pump and through the selector valve to an engine. During a cruise condition, the fuel system is configured to permit the fuel to flow from a high-pressure fuel source and through the electric motor driven start pump start pump to drive the electric motor driven start pump to generate electrical energy.

Start pump and generator

A flapper check valve includes a valve seat body. Two flapper valve portions are each mounted on their own shaft to the valve seat body, and pivotable between open and closed positions. The flapper valve portions pivot in a common rotational direction to the open position and to the closed position. A fluid systems is also disclosed.

Flapper valve with common rotational direction

In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a system includes, a first moveable member disposed in a first chamber configured to move between a first position and a second position of the first moveable member to allow or prevent fluid from passing from an inlet of the first chamber to an outlet of the first chamber. A second moveable member is disposed in a second chamber configured to move between a first position and a second position of the second moveable member to allow or prevent fluid from entering a biasing chamber, the second chamber being fluidly connected to the first chamber.

Remote passively and actively actuated valve systems

A sleeve valve includes an inlet port and an outlet port. A sleeve is movable to close flow from the inlet port to the outlet port. The sleeve valve has a sleeve biased to an open position at which it allows flow from the inlet port to the outlet port by a spring. Pressure in a pressure chamber urges the sleeve to a closed position at which it blocks flow from the inlet port to the outlet port. A line pressure conduit communicates the fluid chamber into the pressure chamber. Pressurized air is supplied to the pressure chamber through a selectively closed valve. The selectively closed valve is opened to allow the flow of high pressure air from a pressure source into the pressure chamber to move the sleeve to a closed position. A bleed air system for a gas turbine engine is also disclosed.

Spring loaded sleeve valve with controlled closing force

A bleed valve for an air plenum includes a valve body having a poppet seat, a poppet supported by the valve body and movable relative to the poppet seat, and piston slideable relative to the poppet and movable relative to the poppet between an extended position and a retracted position. Gas turbine engines and methods of bleeding fluid from gas turbine engines are also described.

Passive active poppet-type bleed valves

A valve according to an example of the present disclosure includes a poppet head configured to move with respect to a valve outlet of the valve. A first spring is configured to be compressed with a force generated by fluid flow through the valve, and compression of the first spring allows the poppet head to move towards the valve outlet. A second spring is configured to allow the poppet head to move toward the valve outlet when compressed. A method for controlling fluid flow is also disclosed.

Three-position poppet valve

A bleed valve includes a valve housing defining an inlet and an outlet with a flow path for fluid communication from the inlet to the outlet. A poppet head is connected to the valve housing by a primary spring and a secondary spring. The poppet head is configured for movement relative to the valve housing between: a fully open position in which the poppet head is spaced apart from the inlet to allow flow through the flow path, with the primary spring and secondary spring both expanded; a partially closed position in which the poppet head is spaced apart from the inlet but is closer to the inlet than in the fully open position, with the primary spring compressed; and a fully closed position in which the poppet head seats against the valve housing blocking flow through the flow path, with the primary spring and the secondary spring both compressed.

Bleed valves

According to one embodiment, an air turbine starter is provided. The air turbine starter comprising: a turbine wheel including a hub integrally attached to a turbine rotor shaft and a plurality of turbine blades extending radially outward from the hub; an inlet housing at least partially surrounding the turbine wheel; a nozzle located upstream from the turbine wheel and contained within the inlet housing defining an inlet flowpath between the nozzle and the inlet housing, the inlet flowpath directs air flow into the turbine blades; and a plurality of turbine vanes rotatably connected to the nozzle, each turbine vane extending radially from the nozzle into the inlet flowpath towards the inlet housing; wherein the plurality of turbine vanes are operable to adjust air flow through the inlet flowpath by rotating each turbine vane.

Air turbine starter with automated variable inlet vanes

A solenoid includes a coil defining an axis, an armature disposed radially inward of the coil, and a plurality of linear guides disposed at least partially between a radially inward facing surface of the coil and a radially outward facing surface of the armature. Each of the linear guides has a frictional surface area, with a dimension of the frictional surface area aligned with the axis being larger than a dimension of the frictional surface area aligned with a circumference of the coil.

Solenoid including axially aligned guides

According to an aspect, a system includes a starter air valve in fluid communication with an air turbine starter to drive motoring of a gas turbine engine responsive to a compressed air flow from a compressed air source. The system also includes a variable-position electromechanical device operable to adjust positioning of the starter air valve and a discrete-position electromechanical device operable to adjust positioning of the starter air valve and limit a motoring speed of the gas turbine engine below a resonance speed of the gas turbine engine responsive to a pulse width modulation control based on a failure of the variable-position electromechanical device.

Starter air valve system with dual electromechanical controls

An example arrangement for cooling a gas turbine engine includes an air turbine starter, a starter air valve, and an airflow adjustment device. The air turbine starter includes a turbine section for rotationally driving a compressor of a gas turbine engine through rotation of a shaft that connects the turbine section to the compressor. The starter air valve is configured to control a flow of pressurized air along a flow path from a source to turbine blades of the turbine section. The starter air valve includes a manual override feature that allows manual opening of the starter air valve. The airflow adjustment device is configured to adjust the flow of pressurized air along the flow path when the manual override feature is engaged based on a rotational speed of one of the shaft and an additional shaft that is driven by the compressor.

Growing community of inventors

Willimantic, CT, United States of America

Myles R Kelly