Valve system

A valve system includes a heat exchanger disposed within a heat exchanger manifold. The heat exchanger manifold has a first face defining a first flow inlet and an exhaust outlet, a second face disposed opposite the first face and defining a second flow inlet, a third face extending between the first face and the second face, and a first side and a second side disposed opposite the first side. The first side and the second side each extend between the first face, the second face, and the third face. A first torque motor assembly is mounted to the first side. A second torque motor assembly is mounted to the second side.

BACKGROUND

Exemplary embodiments pertain to the art of fluid control valve systems.

A control mechanism may be provided with a fluid control valve system that controls the supply of pressure or flow from a pressure source to a downstream component. The downstream component may be a valve or other system component. The control mechanism may be subject to a harsh environment such as a high temperature environment or a high vibratory environment that may reduce the service life of the control mechanism. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a more robust control mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Disclosed is a valve system that includes a heat exchanger manifold. The heat exchanger manifold has a first face disposed opposite a second face, a third face extending between distal ends of the first face and the second face, and a first side and a second side disposed opposite the first side. The first side and the second side each extend between the first face, the second face, and the third face. The first face defines an exhaust outlet and a first flow inlet. The second face defines a second flow inlet.

Also disclosed is a valve system provided with an environmental control system. The valve system includes a heat exchanger disposed within a heat exchanger manifold, a first torque motor assembly, and a second torque motor assembly. The heat exchanger manifold has a first face defining a first flow inlet and an exhaust outlet, a second face disposed opposite the first face and defining a second flow inlet, a third face extending between the first face and the second face, and a first side and a second side disposed opposite the first side. The first side and the second side each extend between the first face, the second face, and the third face. The first torque motor assembly is mounted to the first side. The second torque motor assembly is mounted to the second side.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, a valve system10is shown. The valve system10may be provided with an environmental control system that receives bleed air or bypass air from a gas turbine engine and provides conditioned air to various components or compartments of an aircraft. The valve system10may be mounted on or within the gas turbine engine, for example, on a fan case, a compressor case, or other static engine structure. The valve system10includes a heat exchanger manifold20, a first torque motor assembly22, and a second torque motor assembly24.

The heat exchanger manifold20may be mounted to a static structure of the gas turbine engine. The heat exchanger manifold20includes a first face30, a second face32, a third face34, a fourth face36, a first side38, and a second side40.

The first face30may define an exhaust outlet50and a first flow inlet52. The exhaust outlet50may be configured as an elongated opening having a grill, baffles, louvers, or the like disposed within or defining the elongated opening.

The first flow inlet52is spaced apart from the exhaust outlet50. The first flow inlet52may be arranged as a fitting or other flow connection device that is disposed on or extends through the first face30or the second face32. The first flow inlet52is arranged to receive a first fluid flow54from a first flow source at a first temperature. The first fluid flow54may be a hot air flow from a compressor stage from the gas turbine engine. A conduit may be directly attached to the first flow inlet52to provide the first fluid flow54to the heat exchanger manifold20.

In at least one embodiment, mounting support56may be operatively connected to the first face30and disposed proximate a proximal end of the first face30. The mounting support56are configured to receive a fastener to operatively couple the heat exchanger manifold20to a portion of the gas turbine engine.

The second face32is disposed opposite the first face30. The second face32may define a second flow inlet60. In some embodiments, the second face32may define both the second flow inlet60and the first flow inlet52, as shown inFIG. 3. The second flow inlet60may be arranged as a fitting or other flow connection device that is disposed on or extend through the second face32. The second flow inlet60is arranged to receive a second fluid flow62from a second flow source at a second temperature that is less than the first temperature. The second fluid flow62may be a cool air flow from a fan, a compressor stage, or other location from the gas turbine engine. A conduit or a conduit provided with insulation may be directly attached to the second flow inlet60to provide the second fluid flow62to the heat exchanger manifold20. The direct attachment improves the cooling flow efficiency of the second fluid flow62.

The second face32may be a projected face that extends from an end wall64that is disposed opposite and disposed parallel to the first face30. A pair of sidewalls66may extend between the second face32and the end wall64. The pair of sidewalls66may be disposed substantially perpendicular to the second face32and the end wall64.

In at least one embodiment, additional mounting supports56may be provided and are operatively connected to at least one of the end wall64and/or the sidewalls66. The mounting support56are configured to receive a fastener to operatively couple the heat exchanger manifold20to a portion of the gas turbine engine.

The third face34extends between distal ends of the first face30and the second face32. The third face34also extends between distal ends of the end wall64and the sidewalls66. The third face34defines a first flow outlet70and a second flow outlet72.

The first flow outlet70is disposed proximate the first side38. The first flow outlet70may be arranged as a fitting or other flow connection device that is disposed on or extends through the third face34. The first flow outlet70is arranged to direct a reduced temperature or cooled fluid flow towards a valve or other fluid control device.

The second flow outlet72is disposed proximate the second side40. The second flow outlet72may be arranged as a fitting or other flow connection device that is disposed on or extends through the third face34. The second flow outlet72is arranged to direct a cooled fluid flow towards a valve or other fluid control device.

The fourth face36is disposed opposite the third face34. The fourth face36extends between proximal ends of the first face30and the second face32. The fourth face36may be disposed on or disposed proximate a portion of the gas turbine engine.

The first side38extends between the first face30, the second face32(in some embodiments, the end wall64), the third face34, and the fourth face36. The first side38may define a first inlet80and a first outlet82. The first inlet80and the first outlet82are in fluid communication with the interior of the heat exchanger manifold20.

The second side40is disposed opposite the first side38. The second side40extends between the first face30, the second face32(in some embodiments, the end wall64), the third face34, and the fourth face36. The second side40may define a second inlet84and a second outlet86. The second inlet84and the second outlet86are in fluid communication with the interior of the heat exchanger manifold20.

A heat exchanger90is disposed within the heat exchanger manifold20. The heat exchanger90is arranged to receive the first fluid flow54from the first flow inlet52and is arranged to receive the second fluid flow62from the second flow inlet60. The heat exchanger90is arranged to cool the first fluid flow54using the second fluid flow62that flows about or around a series of channels that receive the first fluid flow54and the second fluid flow62is directed towards the exhaust outlet50.

The heat exchanger90is arranged to split the first fluid flow54into a first portion92and a second portion94, as the heat exchanger90cools the first fluid flow54from the first temperature to a third temperature that is less than the first temperature. The first portion92of the first fluid flow54at the third temperature is directed towards the first torque motor assembly22. The second portion94of the first fluid flow54at the third temperature is directed towards the second torque motor assembly24.

The first torque motor assembly22is mounted to the first side38of the heat exchanger manifold20. The first torque motor assembly22is a flow control device that is arranged to receive the first portion92of the first fluid flow54through the first inlet80and is arranged to direct the first portion92of the first fluid flow towards the first flow outlet70through a first conduit100. The first conduit100is fluidly connected to and extends between the first outlet82and the first flow outlet70.

The first portion92of the first fluid flow54enters into the first torque motor assembly22through the first inlet80. The first torque motor assembly22may move a first valve member102, that extends into a first flow housing104coupled to the first side38of the heat exchanger manifold20, from a first position in which the first portion92is inhibited from exiting torque motor assembly22towards a second position that facilitates or enables the first portion92to exit the first torque motor assembly22through the first outlet82and into the first conduit100. The position of the first valve member102of the first torque motor assembly22may be controlled or commanded by a controller to vary or control an amount of the first portion92of the first fluid flow54that is provided to a downstream component.

The second torque motor assembly24is mounted to be second side40of the heat exchanger manifold20. The second torque motor assembly24is a flow control device that is arranged to receive the second portion94the first fluid flow54through the second inlet84is arranged to direct the second portion94of the first fluid flow54towards the second flow outlet72through a second conduit110. The second conduit110is fluidly connected to and extends between the second outlet86and the second flow outlet72.

The second portion94of the first fluid flow54enters into the second torque motor assembly24through the second inlet84. The second torque motor assembly24may move a second valve member112, that extends into a second flow housing114coupled to the second side40of the heat exchanger manifold20, from a first position in which the second portion94is inhibited from exiting the second torque motor assembly24towards a second position that facilitates or enables the second portion94to exit the second torque motor assembly24through the second outlet86and into the second conduit110. The position of the second valve member112of the second torque motor assembly24may be controlled or commanded by a controller to vary or control an amount of the second portion94of the first fluid flow54that is provided to a downstream component such as a valve or other fluid control device.

The cooling of the first fluid flow54(e.g. the first portion92and/or the second portion94) prior to entering into the torque motor assemblies, allows the torque motors to be used that have increased reliability as compared to certain previous methods. Furthermore, the use of two torque motor assemblies mounted to one heat exchanger manifold20reduces the packaging volume of the valve system10.