Patent Description:
Turbine engines, and particularly gas or combustion turbine engines, are rotary engines that extract energy from a flow of combusted gases passing through the engine onto a multitude of rotating turbine blades. Turbine engines can include valves to control the supply of bleed air to various systems including anti-ice systems and environmental control systems. Various types of valves can be used such as butterfly valves, ball valves, check valves, and others. Configurations of the valves can either partially or completely restrict the flow of bleed air.

<CIT> relates to an apparatus for locking rotation of a valve stem for opening and closing valves. The reader is also referred to <CIT> and <CIT>.

Aspects and advantages of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the disclosure herein.

In one aspect, the disclosure relates to an assembly as claimed in claim <NUM>.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate the disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure herein.

A full and enabling disclosure, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which refers to the appended figures in which:.

Aspects of the disclosure described herein are broadly directed to an apparatus for controlling air flow by a valve and the locking of said valve into a position. For example, a valve can be included to control the supply of bleed air from a turbine engine to one or more system of an aircraft such as an environmental control system or anti-ice system. Some types of valves can have a locking feature which locks the valve in static positions such as open, closed, or intermediate positions. Manual locking features can have a removable fastener that is stowed or secured in near proximity to the valve assembly. These locking fasteners can loosen or be liberated from a stowed position due to vibration. Further, the locking fasteners can be attached to the valve assembly by means of flexible lines which can become loosened due to vibration, and damaged or freed, impairing their utility in locking the valve.

For the purposes of illustration, one exemplary environment within which the valve can be utilized will be described in the form of a turbine engine. Such a turbine engine can be in the form of a gas turbine engine, a turboprop, turboshaft or a turbofan engine, in non-limiting examples. It will be understood, however, that aspects of the disclosure described herein are not so limited and can have general applicability within other valves. For example, the disclosure can have applicability for a valve in other engines or vehicles, and may be used to provide benefits in industrial, commercial, and residential applications.

As used herein, the term "upstream" refers to a direction that is opposite the fluid flow direction, and the term "downstream" refers to a direction that is in the same direction as the fluid flow. The term "fore" or "forward" means in front of something and "aft" or "rearward" means behind something. For example, when used in terms of fluid flow, fore/forward can mean upstream and aft/rearward can mean downstream.

Additionally, as used herein, the terms "radial" or "radially" refer to a direction away from a common center. For example, in the overall context of a turbine engine, radial refers to a direction along a ray extending between a center longitudinal axis of the engine and an outer engine circumference. Furthermore, as used herein, the term "set" or a "set" of elements can be any number of elements, including only one.

All directional references (e.g., radial, axial, proximal, distal, upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, lateral, front, back, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, clockwise, counterclockwise, upstream, downstream, forward, aft, etc.) are used only for identification purposes to aid the reader's understanding of the present disclosure, and should not be construed as limiting on an embodiment, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of aspects of the disclosure described herein. Connection references (e.g., attached, coupled, connected, and joined) are to be construed broadly and can include intermediate members between a collection of elements and relative movement between elements unless otherwise indicated. As such, connection references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected and in fixed relation to one another. The exemplary drawings are for purposes of illustration only and the dimensions, positions, order and relative sizes reflected in the drawings attached hereto can vary.

<FIG> is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of a gas turbine engine <NUM> for an aircraft. The engine <NUM> has a generally longitudinally extending axis or centerline <NUM> extending forward <NUM> to aft <NUM>. The engine <NUM> includes, in downstream serial flow relationship, a fan section <NUM> including a fan <NUM>, a compressor section <NUM> including a booster or low pressure (LP) compressor <NUM> and a high pressure (HP) compressor <NUM>, a combustion section <NUM> including a combustor <NUM>, a turbine section <NUM> including a HP turbine <NUM>, and a LP turbine <NUM>, and an exhaust section <NUM>.

The fan section <NUM> includes a fan casing <NUM> surrounding the fan <NUM>. The fan <NUM> includes a plurality of fan blades <NUM> disposed radially about the centerline <NUM>. The HP compressor <NUM>, the combustor <NUM>, and the HP turbine <NUM> form a core <NUM> of the engine <NUM>, which generates combustion gases. The core <NUM> is surrounded by core casing <NUM>, which can be coupled with the fan casing <NUM>.

A HP shaft or spool <NUM> disposed coaxially about the centerline <NUM> of the engine <NUM> drivingly connects the HP turbine <NUM> to the HP compressor <NUM>. A LP shaft or spool <NUM>, which is disposed coaxially about the centerline <NUM> of the engine <NUM> within the larger diameter annular HP spool <NUM>, drivingly connects the LP turbine <NUM> to the LP compressor <NUM> and fan <NUM>. The spools <NUM>, <NUM> are rotatable about the engine centerline and couple to a plurality of rotatable elements, which can collectively define a rotor <NUM>.

The LP compressor <NUM> and the HP compressor <NUM> respectively include a plurality of compressor stages <NUM>, <NUM>, in which a set of compressor blades <NUM>, <NUM> rotate relative to a corresponding set of static compressor vanes <NUM>, <NUM> to compress or pressurize the stream of fluid passing through the stage. In a single compressor stage <NUM>, <NUM>, multiple compressor blades <NUM>, <NUM> can be provided in a ring and can extend radially outwardly relative to the centerline <NUM>, from a blade platform to a blade tip, while the corresponding static compressor vanes <NUM>, <NUM> are positioned upstream of and adjacent to the rotating blades <NUM>, <NUM>. It is noted that the number of blades, vanes, and compressor stages shown in <FIG> were selected for illustrative purposes only, and that other numbers are possible.

The blades <NUM>, <NUM> for a stage of the compressor can be mounted to (or integral to) a disk <NUM>, which is mounted to the corresponding one of the HP and LP spools <NUM>, <NUM>. The static compressor vanes <NUM>, <NUM> for a stage of the compressor can be mounted to the core casing <NUM> in a circumferential arrangement.

The HP turbine <NUM> and the LP turbine <NUM> respectively include a plurality of turbine stages <NUM>, <NUM>, in which a set of turbine blades <NUM>, <NUM> are rotated relative to a corresponding set of static turbine vanes <NUM>, <NUM>, also referred to as a nozzle, to extract energy from the stream of fluid passing through the stage. In a single turbine stage <NUM>, <NUM>, multiple turbine blades <NUM>, <NUM> can be provided in a ring and can extend radially outwardly relative to the centerline <NUM> while the corresponding static turbine vanes <NUM>, <NUM> are positioned upstream of and adjacent to the rotating blades <NUM>, <NUM>. It is noted that the number of blades, vanes, and turbine stages shown in <FIG> were selected for illustrative purposes only, and that other numbers are possible.

The blades <NUM>, <NUM> for a stage of the turbine can be mounted to a disk <NUM>, which is mounted to the corresponding one of the HP and LP spools <NUM>, <NUM>. The vanes <NUM>, <NUM> for a stage of the compressor can be mounted to the core casing <NUM> in a circumferential arrangement.

Complementary to the rotor portion, the stationary portions of the engine <NUM>, such as the static vanes <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> among the compressor and turbine sections <NUM>, <NUM> are also referred to individually or collectively as a stator <NUM>. As such, the stator <NUM> can refer to the combination of non-rotating elements throughout the engine <NUM>.

In operation, the airflow exiting the fan section <NUM> is split such that a portion of the airflow is channeled into the LP compressor <NUM>, which then supplies pressurized airflow <NUM> to the HP compressor <NUM>, which further pressurizes the air. The pressurized airflow <NUM> from the HP compressor <NUM> is mixed with fuel in the combustor <NUM> and ignited, thereby generating combustion gases. Some work is extracted from these gases by the HP turbine <NUM>, which drives the HP compressor <NUM>. The combustion gases are discharged into the LP turbine <NUM>, which extracts additional work to drive the LP compressor <NUM>, and the exhaust gas is ultimately discharged from the engine <NUM> via the exhaust section <NUM>. The driving of the LP turbine <NUM> drives the LP spool <NUM> to rotate the fan <NUM> and the LP compressor <NUM>.

A portion of the pressurized airflow <NUM> can be drawn from the compressor section <NUM> as bleed air <NUM>. The bleed air <NUM> can be drawn from the pressurized airflow <NUM> and provided to engine components requiring cooling. The temperature of pressurized airflow <NUM> entering the combustor <NUM> is significantly increased above the bleed air temperature. The bleed air <NUM> may be used to reduce the temperature of the core components downstream of the combustor. The bleed air <NUM> can also be utilized by other systems and at least one valve assembly <NUM> (<FIG>) can be utilized to control the flow of bleed air <NUM>.

A remaining portion of the airflow <NUM> bypasses the LP compressor <NUM> and engine core <NUM> and exits the engine <NUM> through a stationary vane row, and more particularly an outlet guide vane assembly <NUM>, comprising a plurality of airfoil guide vanes <NUM>, at the fan exhaust side <NUM>. More specifically, a circumferential row of radially extending airfoil guide vanes <NUM> are utilized adjacent the fan section <NUM> to exert some directional control of the airflow <NUM>.

Some of the air supplied by the fan <NUM> can bypass the engine core <NUM> and be used for cooling of portions, especially hot portions, of the engine <NUM>, and/or used to cool or power other aspects of the aircraft. In the context of a turbine engine, the hot portions of the engine are normally downstream of the combustor <NUM>, especially the turbine section <NUM>, with the HP turbine <NUM> being the hottest portion as it is directly downstream of the combustion section <NUM>. Other sources of cooling fluid can be, but are not limited to, fluid discharged from the LP compressor <NUM> or the HP compressor <NUM>.

Turning to <FIG>, a valve housing or valve body <NUM> is illustrated as being included in the valve assembly <NUM>, the valve body <NUM> includes an inlet port <NUM> and an outlet port <NUM>. A flow passage <NUM> is defined within the valve body <NUM> between the inlet port <NUM> and outlet port <NUM>. While the inlet port <NUM> and the outlet port <NUM> are illustrated in <FIG> as an inline configuration it will be understood that any valve body having any suitable configuration can be utilized.

A valve element <NUM>, an actuator <NUM>, a cover plate <NUM> and a lockout mechanism <NUM> are also included in the valve assembly <NUM>. The valve element <NUM> is movably disposed within the valve body <NUM>. More specifically, the valve element <NUM> is located within the flow passage <NUM> and moveable between a closed position where the valve element <NUM> closes the flow passage <NUM> and an opened position (<FIG>) wherein bleed air <NUM> can flow through the flow passage <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, the valve element <NUM> can be any suitable valve element and by way of non-limiting example has been illustrated as a butterfly valve element having a disk <NUM> having an axis across the diameter of the flow passage <NUM>. It is contemplated that the disk <NUM> has an area substantially the same as the cross-sectional area of the flow passage <NUM> and the valve disk <NUM> can include a circumferential sealing ring (not shown) of various configurations to effectively seal the flow of air through the flow passage <NUM>. The valve disk <NUM> can seal or close off the flow passage <NUM> when the valve element <NUM> is in the closed position. It will be understood that the when the valve element <NUM> is in a closed position, it seals the flow passage and completely prevents bleed air from moving through the flow passage <NUM>. The opened position can be any position which allows at least partial air flow through the flow passage <NUM>. A shaft or stem <NUM> extends from the disk <NUM> and operably couples to an actuator <NUM>. A biasing element (not shown) such as a spring that provides a spring force or biasing force can be included to maintain the valve element <NUM> in an opened or closed position. The stem <NUM> is at least partially enclosed within a housing <NUM>.

The actuator <NUM> includes a central portion <NUM> with a hole <NUM>, which receives the stem <NUM>, and an override arm or moveable protrusion <NUM> having an opening <NUM> that extends therefrom. The actuator <NUM> engages the stem <NUM> such that the valve element <NUM> is operably coupled to the actuator <NUM>. The actuator <NUM> can be in a first position or a second position, which corresponds to the valve element <NUM> being in an opened position or a closed position, respectively. When the actuator <NUM> is in a first position (<FIG>), the valve element <NUM> is in an open position (shown in phantom in <FIG>), which allows bleed air <NUM> to move through the flow passage <NUM>. When the actuator <NUM> is in a second position (<FIG>), the valve element <NUM> is in a closed position, and bleed air <NUM> cannot move through the flow passage <NUM>.

A set of lockout screws <NUM> is included in the lockout mechanism <NUM> and is self-stored or contained within the housing <NUM> of the valve assembly <NUM>. In the illustrated example, the set of lockout screws <NUM> includes at least two lockout screws <NUM> with each lockout screw <NUM> having a first set of threads <NUM>. Each of the set of lockout screws <NUM> is relatively spaced and fixedly located in-line with the first position and the second position of the moveable protrusion <NUM> of the actuator <NUM>. Each of the set of lockout screws <NUM> is retained within a receiver <NUM>. A cover plate <NUM> can be utilized to enclose portions of the valve body <NUM> and portions of the receivers <NUM>. Apertures <NUM> within the cover plate <NUM> still allow for access to the receivers <NUM> and the set of lockout screws <NUM> contained therein. The receivers <NUM> and the apertures <NUM> are aligned with the opening <NUM> when the actuator <NUM> is moved to the first position and the second position.

Each of the set of lockout screws <NUM> has the first set of threads <NUM> along a portion of its length and a socket head <NUM> located at a distal end, where the lockout screw <NUM> is tapered at a neck <NUM> between the socket head <NUM> and the first set of threads <NUM>. The neck <NUM> tapers towards the first set of threads <NUM>. The set of lockout screws <NUM> can further exemplified by set-screws having a socket head <NUM> and a neck <NUM> adjacent to the socket head <NUM>.

It will be understood that when assembled, the valve element <NUM> is received within the flow passage <NUM>, the set of lockout screws <NUM> are each received within a corresponding receiver <NUM>, the cover plate <NUM> is fastened to a portion of the valve body <NUM> via any suitable mechanism. The stem <NUM> extends through a hole <NUM> in the cover plate <NUM> to engage with the actuator <NUM>, which is positioned over the cover plate <NUM> and retained by a cap.

Referring now to <FIG>, the lockout mechanism <NUM> of the valve assembly <NUM> engages the actuator <NUM>. As can be better seen in <FIG>, a second set of threads <NUM> is located in each of the receivers <NUM>. The second set of threads <NUM> is configured to mate with the first set of threads <NUM> on one of the set of lockout screws <NUM>. The threaded engagement allows the set of lockout screws <NUM> to be moveable with the respect to a depth of a corresponding one of the set of receivers <NUM>. The second set of threads <NUM> can be included within all of a portion of the depth of the receiver <NUM>. Threading the lockout screw <NUM> therein raises and lowers the lockout screw <NUM> into and partially out of the receiver <NUM>. The movement of the lockout screw <NUM> is limited by the cover plate <NUM> and thus regardless of position, the lockout screw <NUM> is retained within the receiver <NUM> and thus is self-stored within the housing <NUM>.

It should be understood that the arm or moveable protrusion <NUM> of the actuator <NUM> confronts the cover plate <NUM> and can be arranged such that the opening <NUM> overlies one of the set of receivers <NUM> containing one of the set of lockout screws <NUM>. The lockout screw <NUM> can be raised within the receivers <NUM> such that it partially extends past the cover plate and engages with the opening <NUM>. Because the aperture <NUM> is larger than the socket head <NUM> but smaller than the portion having the first set of threads <NUM> the lockout screw <NUM> remains housed within the receiver <NUM>.

As seen more clearly in <FIG>, the cover plate <NUM> is arranged on the valve body <NUM> such that apertures <NUM> correspond to and overlie the set of receivers <NUM>. The socket head <NUM> has a width <NUM> smaller than the width <NUM> of the aperture <NUM>. In one aspect, the top of the first set of threads <NUM> forms a collar such that the width <NUM> of the first set of threads <NUM> of the lockout screw <NUM> is greater than the width <NUM> of the apertures <NUM>. Because the width <NUM> of the first set of threads <NUM> is greater than the width of the apertures <NUM>, only the socket head <NUM> of the lockout screw <NUM> can move through the aperture <NUM> and therefore the lockout screw <NUM> can be retained within the receiver <NUM> underneath the cover plate <NUM>. In this manner the lockout screw <NUM> is confined to the receiver <NUM> of the lockout mechanism <NUM> within valve body <NUM>.

The set of lockout screws <NUM> are moveable between a stowed position A and a locked position B. In the stowed position A, one of the set of lockout screws <NUM> is in threaded engagement with the receiver <NUM> and is threaded past the threads in the receiver <NUM>. The socket head <NUM> is positioned at least below the top surface of the cover plate <NUM>, and is within or below the aperture <NUM> of the cover plate <NUM>. Furthermore, when the set of lockout screws <NUM> is in the stowed position, the socket head <NUM> is out of engagement with the actuator <NUM>.

In the locked position B, at least one of the set of lockout screws <NUM> engages the moveable protrusion <NUM> and is thus in engagement with the actuator <NUM>. In the locked position B, at least one of the set of lockout screws <NUM> is partially received within the receiver <NUM> such that the socket head <NUM> emerges through the aperture <NUM> and is positioned within the opening <NUM> of the moveable protrusion <NUM>. The opening <NUM> can have a taper that is complementary to the neck <NUM>. In this configuration, the moveable protrusion <NUM> cannot move due to the engagement with the socket head <NUM> and neck <NUM> of the set of lockout screws <NUM>. Furthermore, the set of lockout screws <NUM> is anchored by engagement with the receiver <NUM> and is maintained under the cover plate <NUM>.

During operation, bleed air <NUM> can be introduced into the inlet port <NUM> of the valve body <NUM>. The flow of bleed air <NUM> through the flow passage <NUM> is indicated by an arrow (<FIG>) and may be accomplished when the valve assembly is in an opened position. During operation, the actuator <NUM> can be maintained in a desired position, including the first position or the second position, by the lockout screw <NUM> engaging the moveable protrusion <NUM> via the opening <NUM>. More specifically, as illustrated in <FIG>, when the actuator <NUM> is in the first position, the opening <NUM> of the protrusion overlies a first of the set of receivers <NUM> containing a first of the lockout screws <NUM>. The lockout screw <NUM> can be raised such that it engages the opening <NUM> and holds the actuator <NUM> in the first position and thereby holds the valve element <NUM> in the corresponding opened position. If the actuator <NUM> is in the second position, the opening <NUM> of the moveable protrusion <NUM> overlies a second of the set of receivers <NUM> containing a second of the lockout screws <NUM>, which can engage the opening <NUM> when the actuator is in the second position and holding the actuator <NUM> in the second position and thereby hold the valve element <NUM> in the corresponding closed position.

<FIG> illustrates an alternative valve assembly <NUM>. The valve assembly <NUM> is similar to the valve assembly <NUM> previously described. Therefore, like parts will be identified with like numerals increased by <NUM>, and it is understood that the description of like parts of the valve assembly <NUM> applies to the valve assembly <NUM> and lockout mechanism <NUM>, unless otherwise noted. Similar to the assembly and mechanism previously described, an actuator <NUM>, an outer housing <NUM>, a cover <NUM> and a lockout mechanism <NUM> are included in the valve assembly <NUM>. The actuator <NUM> includes a central portion or shaft <NUM>, which can be operably coupled to a valve element <NUM> (not illustrated herein) such that when the actuator <NUM> can be in a first position or a second position the valve element <NUM> (not shown) can be in an opened position or a closed position, respectively. Further, the actuator <NUM> can be in a third position corresponding to the valve element <NUM> being in an intermediate position, wherein the disk (not shown) is not in-line with the air flow in the flow passage (not shown), yet allows partial air flow through the flow passage (not shown).

While the outer housing <NUM> and the cover <NUM> are fastened together as in the earlier assembly, one difference is that a plurality of openings <NUM> and a shaft opening <NUM> are included in the cover <NUM>. The cover <NUM> has a lower surface <NUM>. Both the outer housing <NUM> and the cover <NUM> have been illustrated in phantom so the mechanism interior thereof can be more easily seen. The majority of the shaft <NUM> of the actuator <NUM> is located underneath the cover <NUM> and within the outer housing <NUM>. A moveable arm <NUM> having a cavity <NUM> extends from the <NUM> and is mounted thereto such that the moveable arm <NUM> is fixedly coupled to the shaft <NUM>.

An end portion <NUM> of the shaft <NUM> protrudes through the shaft opening <NUM> in the cover <NUM>. The end portion <NUM> can have a hexagonal shape for engaging with a tool. It will be understood that any suitable shape, profile, or design can be utilized.

As part of the lockout mechanism <NUM>, a receiver <NUM> is included in the moveable arm <NUM> of the actuator <NUM>. More specifically the receiver <NUM> can be defined at least partially by a cavity <NUM> formed within the moveable arm <NUM>. A second set of threads <NUM> is defined in at least a portion of the cavity <NUM> and therefore located within the receiver <NUM>. It will be understood that the second set of threads <NUM> need not extend the length of the cavity <NUM>. The cover <NUM> can be utilized to enclose portions of the moveable arm <NUM> and the receiver <NUM>.

A lockout screw <NUM> is retained within the receiver <NUM>, the lockout screw <NUM> including a first set of threads <NUM>. The lockout screw <NUM> is retained within the receiver <NUM>. The plurality of openings <NUM> in the cover <NUM> allow for access to the lockout screw <NUM>. The receiver <NUM> is illustrated as aligned with one of the plurality of openings <NUM>. This can correspond to the actuator <NUM> being in the first position. As the moveable arm <NUM> and receiver <NUM> are enclosed within the outer housing <NUM> and cover <NUM>, the lockout screw <NUM> is self-stored within the outer housing <NUM>.

It will be understood that when assembled, the valve element <NUM> is received within a fluid passage, the lockout screw <NUM> is received within a corresponding receiver <NUM>, the cover <NUM> is fastened to a portion of the valve body (not shown) via any suitable mechanism. The stem <NUM> extends through a shaft opening <NUM> in the cover <NUM> and is retained by the end portion <NUM> which is positioned over the cover <NUM>.

It will be understood that the actuator <NUM> is movable between the first position and a second position via rotation of the shaft <NUM>. More specifically, a user can move the shaft <NUM> by turning the end portion <NUM>, such as with a tool having a complementary profile. The shaft <NUM> and the moveable arm <NUM> can be rotated therewith to the second position wherein the receiver <NUM> within the moveable arm <NUM> is aligned with another or second of the plurality of openings within the cover <NUM>. While not illustrated the actuator <NUM> can also be capable of aligning with an intermediate opening between the first and second position to define a third position. The plurality of openings <NUM> within the cover <NUM> allow for access to the receiver <NUM> and the lockout screws <NUM> contained therein. The receiver <NUM> and one of the plurality of openings are aligned when the actuator <NUM> is moved to the first position and the second position.

As can be better seen in <FIG>, the threaded engagement of the lockout screw <NUM> with the receiver <NUM> allows the lockout screw <NUM> to be moveable within the receiver <NUM>. The second set of threads <NUM> has only been illustrated within a portion of the receiver but can be included within the entire depth of the receiver <NUM>. Threading the lockout screw <NUM> therein raises and lowers the lockout screw <NUM> within the receiver <NUM>. The lockout screw <NUM> can be raised within the receiver <NUM> such that it partially extends into one of the plurality of openings <NUM> in the cover <NUM>. Because the plurality of openings <NUM> are each larger than the socket head <NUM> but smaller than the portion of the lockout screw <NUM> having the first set of threads <NUM> the lockout screw <NUM> remains housed within the receiver <NUM>.

As illustrated, the socket head <NUM> has a width <NUM> smaller than the width <NUM> of the opening <NUM>. The width <NUM> of the first set of threads <NUM> of the lockout screw <NUM> is greater than the width <NUM> of the openings <NUM>. Thus, the at least one lockout screw <NUM> can be retained within the receiver <NUM> by the cover <NUM>. In this manner, the movement of the lockout screw <NUM> is limited by the cover <NUM> and thus regardless of position the lockout screw <NUM>, the lockout screw <NUM> is at least partially retained within the receiver <NUM>.

The lockout screw <NUM> is moveable between a stowed position A (in phantom) and a locked position B. In the stowed position A, the lockout screw <NUM> is in threaded engagement with the receiver <NUM> and the socket head <NUM> is positioned below the lower surface <NUM> of the cover <NUM>. In this aspect, when the lockout screw <NUM> is in the stowed position, the socket head <NUM> is out of engagement with the cover <NUM>.

The lockout screw <NUM> can be in a locked position B engaging the cover <NUM>. In the locked position, the lockout screw <NUM> is threaded upwards within the receiver <NUM> such that the socket head <NUM> is at least partially located in one of the openings <NUM>. While not illustrated, it is contemplated that each of the openings <NUM> can taper such that it is complementary to the neck <NUM>. In this configuration, the actuator <NUM> is fixed due to the engagement of the socket head <NUM> and neck <NUM> of the lockout screw <NUM> with both the receiver <NUM> and the cover <NUM>. Furthermore, the lockout screw <NUM> is anchored by engagement with the receiver <NUM> and is maintained under the cover <NUM>.

The disclosed valve assemblies include multiple means for keeping the lockout screw in position. The primary means by which the lockout mechanism maintains the lockout screw in position is the threaded engagement between the lockout screw and the receiver or the threading past of the threaded section. The secondary means is the collar formed by the screw threads; this portion of the lockout screws is wider than the apertures in the cover plate, thus containing the lockout screws underneath the cover plate. Furthermore, the lockout mechanism includes primary means, secondary means, as well as a tertiary means for maintaining the at least one lockout screw in the locked position. The tertiary means includes the angled walls of the apertures combined with the complementary angled neck of the lockout screws. The disclosed lockout mechanism can be included in the valve assembly of an aircraft to provide reliable and robust control of the bleed air.

The lockout mechanism described herein provides several advantages for a robust system. The lockout mechanism does not have ambiguous states, in other words, the lockout screws are in one of two possible positions, a locked position or a stowed position. General tools can be used to move the lockout screw between the positions and specialized tools are not needed. The lockout positions can be changed quickly, reducing wait times and minimizing delays.

In other systems, components can leave the desired position due to vibrations. Because the lockout screws are captured within the above described assembly whether they are engaged or stowed, they cannot be misplaced during operation or when a user changes their position. This self-storage of these components prevents them from becoming self-liberated and subsequently becoming foreign object debris that interferes with the operation of other components of the aircraft.

The lockout screws in this mechanism are held in place by multiple diverse means that avoid the use of lanyards or other tethers that can become damaged or frayed. The lockout screws are tightly engaged in the mechanism by the threaded receiver portion. Furthermore, the threaded portion of the lockout screws forms a collar that is wider than the access hole in the cover of the mechanism; therefore, the screws and the receivers are trapped beneath the cover, which is securely fastened. The neck of the lockout screws can have a taper complementary in shape to the opening in the cover that engages the side of the opening when biased by a spring. The angled interface created by the taper provides an additional frictional component that must be overcome in order to disengage, thus providing another means of anchoring the screws in a desired position. Furthermore, a valve stem on a typical valve has a torque bias, induced by a spring, which can cause the valve to move towards an open or closed position. In this mechanism, that torque bias translates to the actuator which applies a force to a deployed lockout screw by means of the complementary taper. The resultant force on the taper includes a force tending to draw the locking screw out of the receiver, thus limiting the possibility of the screw returning to a stowed position due to vibrationally induced rotation.

To the extent not already described, the different features and structures of the various aspects can be used in combination, or in substitution with each other as desired. That one feature is not illustrated in all of the examples is not meant to be construed that it cannot be so illustrated, but is done for brevity of description. Thus, the various features of the different aspects can be mixed and matched as desired to form new aspects, whether or not the new aspects are expressly described. All combinations or permutations of features described herein are covered by this disclosure.

Claim 1:
An assembly for use with a valve assembly (<NUM>, <NUM>) having a valve element (<NUM>, <NUM>) disposed within a valve body flow passage, the assembly comprising:
an actuator (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to be operably coupled to the valve element (<NUM>, <NUM>), the actuator (<NUM>, <NUM>) operable between a first position and a second position, to move the valve element (<NUM>, <NUM>) between an opened position and a closed position, respectively;
a receiver (<NUM>, <NUM>);
at least one lockout screw (<NUM>, <NUM>) contained in the receiver (<NUM>, <NUM>) and self-storing therein, the at least one lockout screw (<NUM>, <NUM>) adapted to maintain the actuator (<NUM>, <NUM>) in a desired position including at least one of the first position and the second position; and
a cover (<NUM>, <NUM>) disposed over the receiver (<NUM>, <NUM>), the cover (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising an aperture (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to allow tool access to the at least one lockout screw (<NUM>, <NUM>) in the receiver (<NUM>, <NUM>), wherein the aperture (<NUM>, <NUM>) has a width (<NUM>, <NUM>), wherein a width (<NUM>, <NUM>) of a head (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the at least one lockout screw (<NUM>, <NUM>) is smaller than the width (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the aperture (<NUM>, <NUM>), characterized in that:
a width (<NUM>, <NUM>) of a first set of threads (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the at least one lockout screw (<NUM>, <NUM>) is greater than the width (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the aperture (<NUM>, <NUM>) such that the at least one lockout screw (<NUM>, <NUM>) is retained within the receiver (<NUM>, <NUM>) by the cover (<NUM>, <NUM>).