# US 8,464,761 B2 · Flow control arrangement

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 8,464,761 B2
- Document ID: US8464761B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/458,829
- Filed: 2009-07-23
- Published: 2010-02-04
- Granted: 2013-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2008-08-04
- Assignees: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
- Applicants: Colin Young; Paul Wilson; Lou Peng
- Inventors: Colin Young; Paul Wilson; Lou Peng
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8464761B2

## CPC

- F15D 1/02: in pipes or conduits
- F15D: FLUID DYNAMICS, i.e. METHODS OR MEANS FOR INFLUENCING THE FLOW OF GASES OR LIQUIDS

## Abstract

Flow restrictors (4), (14) are widely utilized with regard to providing flow control in such situations as with respect to sealing and pressurization of bearing chambers in gas turbine engines. The restrictor (4), (14) restricts a flow (5), (15) but with prior arrangements may be susceptible to deposition upon flank surfaces of the restrictor (4). These depositions may fragment and block an aperture (7), (17) of the restrictor (4), (14) reducing operational effectiveness. By provision of a deflector (18) having a deflector surface (19) flows (15) can be presented such that a greater proportion of the flow including droplets or other matter which may result in surface deposition or erosion will pass directly through an aperture (7, 17) rather than impinge upon the flank surfaces of the restrictor (14). Furthermore, the deflector (18) is dimensioned such that surfaces which may be susceptible to deposition have dimensions smaller than the aperture (17).

## Claims

### Claim 1

A flow control arrangement comprising:
a flow path,
a flow restrictor in the flow path of reduced area relative to the flow path,
a deflector provided upstream of the flow restrictor in the flow path at a displaced position and orientated towards the restrictor, and
a sealing arrangement upstream of the deflector and configured to provide a fluid flow comprising solid or fluid particles entrained in a gas, wherein
the deflector comprises at least one deposition surface having a width less than a width of the reduced area of the flow restrictor,
the deflector is displaced upstream of the restrictor between four and six times the width of the reduced area of the flow restrictor,
the deflection surface includes a sacrificial deposition area for deposits taken from the flow, and
the deposition area is arranged to limit deposition particle sizes upon fragmentation from the deposition area.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the deflector has a deflector surface at a deflection angle towards a position upstream of the restrictor.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

An arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein the position is along a vent axis central to the flow path and/or the restrictor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

An arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein the deflection angle is dependent upon an expected flow rate for the flow in use.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

An arrangement as claimed in claim 2 wherein the deflection angle can be adjusted.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the deflection surface has a width sufficient to deflect the flow in use.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the deflection surface is smooth.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the deflection surface is undulated or grooved.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the deposition area has a width less than the restrictor size.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the deflection surface includes a coating to inhibit deposition.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the deflector is variably deployable into the flow path.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flow in use is air with entrained oil droplets.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flow in use is air with entrained particulate matter, where deposition and build is possible.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flow deflection feature is hardened or otherwise treated to sacrificially resist erosion.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the restrictor is an orifice.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

A gas turbine engine incorporating a flow control arrangement as claimed in claim 1.