Patents Assigned to Control Systems Limited
  • Patent number: 7497083
    Abstract: A fuel supply system for a gas turbine engine comprises a first positive displacement pump (16), a second positive displacement pump (27), said first and second positive displacement pumps (16, 27) being operable simultaneously for the supply of fuel from a low pressure source, and switching valve means (14) downstream of said first positive displacement pump (16) for changing a connection mode between said first and second positive displacement pumps (16, 27) between a series mode and a parallel mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Goodrich Control Systems Limited
    Inventors: Martin Kenneth Yates, Daniel James Bickley, Michael Griffiths
  • Patent number: 7482787
    Abstract: A generator controller for controlling a permanent magnet generator where each phase of the generator is connectable to a DC link via electrically controllable switches, the controller characterized by a data processor adapted to receive a measurement of generator current output and a demand current, and to form a current error between the demanded value and the measured generator current; derive a target voltage as a function of the current error; and form control signals for the electrically controllable switches as a function of the target voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Goodrich Control Systems Limited
    Inventors: Philip Henry Mellor, Stephen George Burrow, Philip Michael Churn
  • Patent number: 7481102
    Abstract: A method of operating a fuel system to determine the extent of internal wear of a fuel pump thereof comprises driving the fuel pump, moving a metering valve member to a closed position in which the metering valve bears against a resilient stop, increasing the operating speed of the fuel pump to increase the pressure applied to the metering valve member urging the valve member towards the resilient stop to a point beyond which further movement of the metering valve member occurs, sensing when the further movement of the metering valve member occurs, and sensing the operating speed of the pump at the time when the further movement occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Goodrich Control Systems Limited
    Inventor: Daniel James Bickley
  • Publication number: 20080294311
    Abstract: A fault diagnostics technique for use with an engine controller and a hydromechanical device including a memory device comprises the steps of using diagnostics characteristics data stored in the memory device to modify a fault diagnostics algorithm of the engine controller, and using the modified fault diagnostics algorithm in conjunction with real time operating data from the hydromechanical device to determine whether the hydromechanical device is operating correctly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: Goodrich Control Systems Limited
    Inventor: Nigel Herbert Henson
  • Publication number: 20080291964
    Abstract: A TGT measurement system comprises a plurality of thermocouples connected in parallel to a distributor, and a data storage device carrying calibration data relating to at least one of the thermocouples.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: Goodrich Control Systems Limited
    Inventors: Peter Shrimpling, David Frederick Brookes
  • Patent number: 7431569
    Abstract: A method of monitoring the health of a positive displacement hydraulic pump comprising the steps of: establishing a flow path having a known flow number between a high pressure outlet line of the pump (and a low pressure line of the system; progressively changing the speed of operation of the pump; and, noting the speed of operation of the pump at a parameter responsive to the output pressure of the pump changes in response to said change in rotational speed of the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Goodrich Control Systems Limited
    Inventor: Michael Griffiths
  • Publication number: 20080236549
    Abstract: A fuel system comprises a first, variable displacement fuel pump operable to supply fuel through a metering valve to an engine, a control servo operable to control the operation of the first pump, a pressure drop control valve (PDCV) responsive to a pressure drop across the metering valve, a second fuel pump, and a spill valve movable between an open position in which substantially all of the fuel supplied by the second fuel pump is returned to an inlet side thereof, and a closed position, or partially closed position, wherein a proportion of the fuel supplied by the second pump is delivered to the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Goodrich Control Systems Limited
    Inventor: Daniel James Bickley
  • Publication number: 20080218036
    Abstract: A rotatable rectifier arrangement comprises a rectifier component 14a, 14b electrically connected to a bus bar 16, 18 the bus bar 16, 18 being provided with at least one fan blade formation 30.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicant: Goodrich Control Systems Limited
    Inventors: Joseph Paul Fakult, Raymond Richard Bomford
  • Patent number: 7413141
    Abstract: A fuel control system for reheat burners of a gas turbine engine has a plurality of metering valves for respective burners, and throttle valves in series with the respective metering valves. A pressure regulating valve is provided for introducing pressurized fuel into fuel manifolds downstream of the respective throttle valves when the metering and throttle valves are shut. The pressure regulating valve also acts to relieve pressure in low pressure parts of the system when the latter is closed down and to prevent excessive temperature rise at the inlet of a fuel supply pump. The metering valves include pressure return ports which communicate with the metering valve outlets when those valves are shut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Goodrich Control Systems Limited
    Inventor: Trevor S Smith
  • Publication number: 20080169143
    Abstract: A system comprises a pressure raising valve having a valve member movable within a bore between a closed position and an open position in which fuel supplied to the pressure raising valve from a metering valve, in use, is delivered to an engine manifold, the valve member being urged towards its closed position by the fuel pressure within a control chamber, the pressure raising valve including a low pressure port which communicates with the control chamber when the valve member is in its closed position, the valve member closing the low pressure port upon movement thereof away from its closed position beyond a predetermined distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Applicant: Goodrich Control Systems Limited
    Inventor: Denis Martin O'Shea
  • Publication number: 20080115481
    Abstract: A fuel system comprises a pressure raising valve operable to control communication between a fuel delivery line and an engine manifold line, and an ecology valve comprising a piston movable within a bore, the piston and bore together defining a control chamber and an ecology chamber, the ecology chamber communicating with the engine manifold line, the pressure within the control chamber being controllable to control the position occupied by the piston, the ecology valve further comprising seal means whereby, when the piston occupies a first position in which it engages the seal means, only a first, relatively small, effective area of the piston is exposed to a fuel pressure within the engine manifold line, a second, larger, effective area being exposed to the fuel pressure within the engine manifold line when the piston occupies a position in which it does not engage the seal. An ecology valve for use in the fuel system is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicant: Goodrich Control Systems Limited
    Inventor: Paul Manwaring Maker
  • Patent number: 7349446
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided in which control data for a generator system is multiplexed onto a synchronization signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Goodrich Control Systems Limited
    Inventor: Peter Charles Gudgeon
  • Patent number: 7337761
    Abstract: A fuel system comprises a spill valve 38 operable to relieve the fuel pressure differential across at least one positive displacement pump 16, 18, a shut-off valve 32 operable to control the supply of fuel to an engine 84, and a two stage servo-valve 62 operable to control the operation of the shut-off valve 32, the spill valve 38 having a control chamber 40 the fluid pressure within which is controlled so as to be held at an intermediate level during engine shut-down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Goodrich Control Systems Limited
    Inventor: Daniel James Bickley
  • Patent number: 7307404
    Abstract: A generator controller for controlling a permanent magnet generator where each phase of the generator is connectable to a DC link via electrically controllable switches, the controller characterised by a data processor adapted to receive a measurement of generator current output and a demand current, and to form a current error between the demanded value and the measured generator current; derive a target voltage as a function of the current error; and form control signals for the electrically controllable switches as a function of the target voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Goodrich Control Systems Limited
    Inventors: Philip Henry Mellor, Stephen George Burrow, Philip Michael Churn
  • Patent number: 7296670
    Abstract: A disconnect mechanism is provided which, upon a suitable trigger event, such as excess temperature causes a camming element 40 having a tapered head 52 to move under the urging of a compression spring 60 such that the tapered head 52 becomes trapped between a rotating element 32 and a support 42. This gives rise to frictional inter-engagement which prevents further rotation of the rotating element 32 and thereby locks the rotating machine against further rotation. This is turn causes the shear region to fail thereby drivingly disconnecting the machine from its prime mover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Goodrich Control Systems Limited
    Inventors: Darren Christopher Howard, Dennis Richard Hayward, Rodney Stuart Howard
  • Patent number: 7234293
    Abstract: A fuel supply system for a gas turbine engine including first and second positive displacement pumps operated simultaneously to supply fuel under pressure from a low pressure source, a combining spill valve controlling the output flows from the first and second pumps to combine the outputs of the first and second pumps for supply to a metering valve of the system, or to spill some or all of the output of one or both pumps back to the low pressure supply, a pressure raising and shut off valve arrangement downstream of the metering valve for isolating the fuel system from an associated engine until the fuel pressure upstream of the pressure raising and shut off valve arrangement exceeds a predetermined pressure, and, a control system dependent upon the position of the combining spill valve for reducing said predetermined pressure at which said pressure raising and shut off valve arrangement opens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Goodrich Control Systems Limited
    Inventors: Martin Kenneth Yates, Philip Laurence Elliott
  • Patent number: 7182193
    Abstract: A drive disconnect device is provided in which a drive transfer element (12) is axially movable with respect to input and output shafts (2, 14) so as to selectively disconnect them. A collar (50) is disposed in spaced apart configuration around the drive transfer element so that they do not touch except when the disconnect device is operated to disconnect the drive. When the disconnect operation is initiated, force is provided from a resilient element (56) to move the drive transfer element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Goodrich Control Systems Limited
    Inventor: Rodney Stuart Howard
  • Patent number: 7178335
    Abstract: A pressure regulator includes a housing, a metering spool, a first pressure chamber at a reference pressure to which one end of the metering spool is exposed, a spring within the first pressure chamber acting against the one end of the metering spool, a second pressure chamber containing hydraulic fluid at the regulated pressure acting against the opposite end of the metering spool, wherein the position of the metering spool relative to the housing is a position of equilibrium that changes to maintain a predetermined pressure difference between the reference pressure and the regulated pressure. An abutment against which the opposite end of the spring reacts is provided and a third pressure chamber at a control pressure acts on the abutment, such that the control pressure can be changed to adjust the position of the abutment to change the pre-load of the spring to adjust the value the predetermined pressure difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Goodrich Control Systems Limited
    Inventor: Daniel James Bickley
  • Patent number: 7148661
    Abstract: An AC to DC converter with harmonic suppression is provided. The harmonic suppression is provided by forcing an instantaneous current conflict between series connected rectifier bridges 54, 80, such that a voltage waveform at 6 times the AC supply frequency of the AC supply is automatically generated. This waveform is then injected via a injection circuit to give harmonic cancellation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Goodrich Control Systems Limited
    Inventors: David Trainer, Andrew J. Forsyth, Francisco J. Chivite-Zabalza
  • Patent number: 7137242
    Abstract: A fuel control system for a staged combustion engine comprising, a fuel metering unit including a fuel metering valve having a fuel metering orifice the opening of which is varied to meter the flow of fuel through the metering valve in use, a fuel staging unit receiving fuel from the metering valve of the fuel metering unit and incorporating a staging valve for dividing the flow of fuel from the fuel metering unit to pilot burner and main burner output lines, a connection between a fuel pressure region of said fuel metering unit and a port of said staging valve, and, overthrust detection means causing said staging valve, in response to overthrust detection, to connect said port of said staging valve to low pressure, whereby to drain fuel under pressure from said pressure zone of said fuel metering unit to low pressure to limit or reduce the fuel supplied from the fuel metering unit to the fuel staging unit and thus to the engine in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Goodrich Control Systems Limited
    Inventor: Michael Griffiths