Abstract: A valve for the fuel system of a turbine engine works to relieve high pressure transients in the liquid fuel side of the turbine engine arising from the elevated ambient temperatures of operation of the turbine on gaseous fuel. The valve also prevents significant pressure losses during turbine start-up and sustained operation. The valve is bi-stable and has a liquid fuel driven poppet that toggles between one of two closed positions to interrupt flow through the valve when below a lower pressure limit and when above an upper pressure limit. The poppet moves to an intermediate position temporarily to permit pressure relief. A method of operating such a valve is also provided.

Abstract: A fluid proportioning valve meters flow of pressurized inlet fluid in proportion to a pressure drop between the inlet and outlet of the valve. A pressure acutated, return biased poppet valve is actuated by the fluid above threshold fluid pressure to meter fluid to the outlet against spring force. The poppet is annular and has a circular metering edge that controls flow through circumferential orifices in a valve guide. Smooth stable flow is achieved by shearing action of the metering edge over the orifices. Sliding point contact with the poppet valve by non-ferrous convex buttons to eliminate galling and reduce particle contamination within the valve.

Abstract: A fuel metering pump provides a compact and reliable fuel delivery system meeting the stringent contamination resistance, accuracy, pressure and flow requirements of jet engine combustion. The metering pump has a motor driven dual face cam drive arrangement that reciprocates a pair of double-acting spool pistons to both pump and meter fuel to the engine. The motor rotates the cam shaft mounted face cams, which have oppositely clocked ramps on which rollers ride to transfer the rotation forces from the face cam to reciprocate the pistons. The double-acting pistons each provide both compression and suction on each stroke. The tandem face cams arranged at opposite sides of the cam followers provides consistent and precise metering with minimal pulsation. Low pressure drop at the inlets allows the metering pump to operate very near true vapor pressure without risk of cavitation or the need for a boosted inlet.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for use in sampling the exhaust emissions from a turbine engine. The device has a valve array in a manifold housing coupling multiple turbine exhaust lines to an emissions analyzer, such as used in CEMS. Each valve can be actuated by pilot air pressure to open or close off flow of one or more of the exhaust lines. Exhaust from various zones of the turbine combustor section can be selectively sampled thereby allowing emissions measurements to be taken and used for compliance monitoring and performance and diagnostic analysis of turbine combustor operation.

Abstract: A multi-channel valve uses a single drive motor to translate a single actuator assembly coupling multiple pintle valves for metering the same amount of media through each channel. The actuator assembly includes a swivel base mounting two or more clevis and nut arrangements coupled to the pintles. The actuator assembly translates the pintles the same distance. The clevis and nut joints can pivot and slide with respect to the swivel base to provide four degrees of freedom between the pintles to significantly reduce binding or side loading on one or both pintles. A stop cushioning assembly is provided to prevent jamming at the interface of the actuator assembly and a motor driven drive assembly.

Abstract: A system for draining fuel from the combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine in the event of a false start includes associated passageways and a straight through flow pilot air actuated poppet valve. The valve is normally open and actuated by the pilot air to close off the combustion chamber from the drain. A return spring biases the valve to open upon release of pilot air pressure acting on the valve. The valve housing has a piston section with a pilot air chamber and a section defining the passageways for the drain. The drain passageway extends along a straight path at an oblique angle to a piston axis along which a piston actuator moves in response to the return spring and/or the pilot air pressure. The valve also includes a position feedback system for detecting the state of the valve.

Abstract: A fuel valve for use in regulating the pattern factor of a gas turbine has a highly accurate pressure balanced clevis valve assembly. The clevis valve is pivotally mounted inside the valve housing by a flexure pivot, and has a pair of legs at each side of a valve body that control flow through pairs of flow orifices. An armature mounts to the clevis valve, and when energized, an electromagnet inside the valve housing generates magnetic flux that moves the armature to pivot the clevis valve to open or closed the orifices. The clevis valve is inherently balanced and can meter fuel through multiple orifices simultaneously.

Abstract: A fuel metering valve for a gas turbine active combustion control system has a highly responsive pressure balanced valve assembly with either a flapper or clevis member. The valve member is mounted at one end to an armature of a magnetic drive assembly and a movable part of a flexure pivot otherwise fixed to the valve housing. The armature, flexure pivot and valve member are disposed along a main axis. Magnetic flux selectively pulls the armature toward opposite sides of the main axis causing it and the valve member to pivot in the flexure pivot such that an end of the valve member moves toward or away from an orifice in a nozzle passageway to control metering. The flapper is preferably balanced by a diaphragm piston biasing it in the direction of the nozzle passageway. The alternative clevis arrangement is inherently balanced and can meter fuel through multiple nozzle orifices simultaneously.

Abstract: A combination distributor purge valve unit for a turbine engine has a pilot air section, a fuel section, a distributor section and a purge air section. A spool moves along a spool axis to control flow through six sets of radially arranged removable fill nozzles and fixed outlet orifices in the distributor section. The spool moves from its initial position in which the distributor outlets are in communication with the inlet to the purge air section and closed off from the inlet to the fuel section so that high temperature purge air can forced passed the downstream side of the spool and into the nozzles in the combustion can of the turbine engine to eliminate coking in these areas. The spool moves against a biasing spring under the force of a pilot air driven actuator piston and the force of the pressurized fuel so that fuel can flow, initially through the fill nozzles and then the outlet orifices, to the combustion can.

Abstract: A fuel metering valve for a gas turbine active combustion control system has a highly responsive pressure balanced valve assembly with either a flapper or clevis member. The valve member is mounted at one end to an armature of a magnetic drive assembly and a movable part of a flexure pivot otherwise fixed to the valve housing. The armature, flexure pivot and valve member are disposed along a main axis. Magnetic flux selectively pulls the armature toward opposite sides of the main axis causing it and the valve member to pivot in the flexure pivot such that an end of the valve member moves toward or away from an orifice in a nozzle passageway to control metering. The flapper is preferably balanced by a diaphragm piston biasing it in the direction of the nozzle passageway. The alternative clevis arrangement is inherently balanced and can meter fuel through multiple nozzle orifices simultaneously.

Abstract: A two, three or four-way valve includes two stages each with working valve components linked by a feedback spring so that a first stage servo unit is auto-nulling and the stroke of the valve member in a second stage valve unit is proportional to the input current to the first stage. An inherently balanced clevis member in the first stage controls flow of pressurized control media, which in combination with direct pressure flow, controls the position of a spool member in the second stage. The spool in turn controls pressure flow to a either one or two metering or input/output flow ports. Transient movement of the clevis due to change in input current to a magnetic servo drive assembly is opposed by bending of the feedback spring arising from the associated movement of the spool, which returns the clevis to its centered null position and stops the spool.

Abstract: A fueldraulic metering valve uses pressurized liquid fuel to control flow of gaseous fuel to a jet engine combustion chamber. The valve has a disconnectable body defining a piston chamber and a cavity for an interchangeable venturi nozzle module, both disposed about a stroke axis. A servo valve controls flow of the liquid fuel through the piston chamber and supply and return ports. The liquid fuel drives a piston and pintle assembly to open and close off the throat of the venturi passageway, and thereby control metering of the gaseous fuel, which flow through separate intake and exhaust ports. The gas and liquid fuel are separated by a high temperature seal. The liquid fuel is routed through the piston and a special baffle to dissipate heat transferred to the seal and piston from the hot gaseous fuel. A LVDT position transducer provides feedback to the controller for correcting position error.

Abstract: A device for metering pressurized fluid in proportion to a supplied input signal to a solenoid provides non-proportional magnetic flux rectified by a piece-wise non-linear spring assembly. The non-linear spring assembly includes a pair of flexure springs each with four independent spring fingers. The spring fingers supply a plurality of piece-wise forces opposing movement of the armature caused by magnetic flux generated by an electromatic coil to provide a non-proportional opposing force the non-proportional force of the magnetic flux. This allows the metering valve to be moved, and thereby fluid metered, in proportion to the input signal supplied to the coil. A position transducer can be coupled the armature to provide valve position feedback to an electronic control unit for correcting deviations in the actual position of the valve.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a fuel metering pump for delivering fuel to rocket or jet engine having a motor driven face cam and a pair of reciprocating rolling diaphragm pump mechanisms movable through opposite suction and pump strokes. The face cam has a ramping cam surface that extends radially more than 180 degrees. This permits both pump mechanisms to be simultaneously in the pump stroke for a portion of the pump stroke so that they alternately reciprocate through the suction and pump strokes at essentially a constant velocity, thereby providing an essentially non-pulsating flow of fuel to the engine.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a fuel/ignitor valve for metering liquid or gaseous fuel having a servo motor-actuated pintle providing rapid flow rate adjustment response and positive flow shut-off. The fuel flows from an inlet port through a venturi passageway having a throat through which fuel flows at sonic velocity to an outlet port. The pintle has a stem at one end and a contoured head at an opposite end containing a circumferential seal for sealing the throat of the venturi passageway. A motor driven drive nut concentric with the pintle axis is threaded to the pintle stem. As the drive nut is rotated, a pin and slot arrangement causes the pintle to translate along the pintle axis. A force distribution assembly comprising a pair of annular thrust bearings in combination with annular thrust washers is disposed around the drive nut adjacent to each side of an annular flange of the drive nut. This assembly absorbs pressure loads acting on the pintle which would otherwise be transferred to the motor.