Valve assembly for use in a gas fuel nozzle
AssigneeUnited Technologies Corporation
InventorsTorger J. Anderson, William Proscia, Jayant S. Sabnis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve assembly that is useful for controlling fuel delivery utilizes turbine power available from the steady state fuel flow within the valve assembly. A turbine element, which is moved by the steady state fuel flow, provides a motive force to a valve element that controls fuel delivery through selected outlet members of the valve arrangement. A rotating cage valve member preferably is coupled with the turbine element so that the valve member rotates responsive to movement of the turbine element. A controller determines the rate of rotation of the valve member and selectively controls a braking actuator to control the movement of the turbine element and the valve member.
Claims17
A fuel control assembly for use in a gas turbine engine, comprising:
- a valve housing;
- a main fuel flow path through at least a portion of the housing, the main fuel flow path terminating in a plurality of outlet members that permit fuel to exit the main fuel flow path;
- an actuated fuel path through at least a portion of the housing, the actuated fuel path terminating in a second plurality of outlet members that permit fuel to exit the actuated fuel path;
- a turbine element supported by the valve housing such that the turbine element moves responsive to fuel flowing through at least a portion of the valve housing;
- and
- a valve member supported in the actuated fuel path to move with the turbine element, the valve member having a plurality of openings that move into communication with the second plurality of outlet members as the valve member moves relative to the housing to control an amount of fuel exiting the second plurality of outlet members.
A fuel control assembly for use in a gas turbine engine, comprising:
- a nozzle adapted to deliver fuel to a combustor;
- a valve housing supported by the nozzle such that at least a portion of the valve housing extends into an interior of the nozzle;
- a main fuel flow path through at least a portion of the valve housing, the main fuel flow path terminating in a plurality of outlet members positioned within the nozzle to permit fuel to enter the interior of the nozzle from the main fuel flow path;
- an actuated fuel path through at least a portion of the housing, the actuated fuel path terminating in a second plurality of outlet members positioned within the nozzle to permit fuel to enter the interior of the nozzle from the actuated fuel path;
- a turbine element supported by the valve housing such that the turbine element rotates responsive to fuel flowing through at least a portion of the valve housing;
- and
- a valve member supported in the actuated fuel path to rotate with the turbine element, the valve member having a plurality of openings that move into communication with the second plurality of outlet members as the valve member rotates relative to the housing to control an amount of fuel exiting the second plurality of outlet members.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.