Wave guide with fluid passages

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10411756-B2
Application number	US-201715480794-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 6, 2017
Priority date	Apr 6, 2017
Publication date	Sep 10, 2019
Grant date	Sep 10, 2019

Abstract

A wave guide assembly for a control and diagnostic system for a machine, the wave guide assembly includes a housing defining an exterior surface and an internal cavity extending between distal ends. A wave guide is defined within the internal cavity. At least one open conduit is defined within the internal cavity providing a space for routing conductors through the housing. A fluid passage is defined within the internal cavity separate from the wave guide. A control and diagnostic system for a machine and a gas turbine engine are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wave guide assembly for a control and diagnostic system for a machine, the wave guide assembly comprising:
a metal tube defining an exterior surface and an internal cavity extending between distal ends, the internal cavity of the metal tube including a cross-section defining a wave guide centered within the cross-section for providing a pathway for wave form signal communication between distal ends of the metal tube, at least one open conduit separate from the wave guide providing a space for routing conductors through the metal tube between distal end, and a fluid passage separate from the wave guide.

2. The wave guide assembly as recited in claim 1 , including an end fitting attached to each end of the metal tube, the end fitting including a flared tube tapering outward to an attachment flange.

3. The wave guide assembly as recited in claim 2 , including a coupling for branching the wave guide and fluid passage into two separate paths extending in different directions, the coupling including three ends with a wave guide passage and a fluid coupling passage extending to each of the three ends.

4. The wave guide assembly as recited in claim 3 , including a seal plate attached between the end fitting and the coupling, the seal plate including a wave guide opening corresponding to the wave guide, a fluid opening corresponding to the fluid passage and seals surrounding the fluid opening.

5. The wave guide assembly as recited in claim 4 , including an alignment pin corresponding with an alignment opening for aligning the wave guide, at least one open conduit and fluid passage between the metal tube, seal plate, end fitting and coupling.

6. The wave guide assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the wave guide comprises a rectangular passage in cross-section centered within the internal cavity, wherein the rectangular passage defines a size corresponding with a desired frequency range of a wave form signal.

7. The wave guide assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the metal tube comprises a tube with a circular cross-section and the wave guide is centered within the cross-section.

8. The wave guide assembly as recited in claim 3 , wherein the fluid passage comprises a first fluid passage and a second fluid passage disposed on opposite sides of the wave guide.

9. The wave guide assembly as recited in claim 8 , wherein the coupling includes a first fluid coupling passage aligning with the first fluid passage and a second fluid coupling passage aligning with the second fluid passage and each of the first fluid coupling passage and the second fluid coupling passage extends to each of the three ends of the coupling.

10. The wave guide assembly as recited in claim 9 , wherein the coupling includes a conductor assembly branching a conductor between each of the three ends.

11. A control and diagnostic system for a machine comprising:
a main transceiver mounted proximate the machine, the transceiver generating and receiving radio frequency waves corresponding to information for control and monitoring of engine operation;
a wave guide assembly in communication with the main transceiver, the wave guide assembly including a metal tube including an interior surface, an internal cavity and an end fitting attached to each end of the metal tube, the internal cavity of the metal tube including in cross section a wave guide defining a transmission path for a wave form signal communicated with the main transceiver and a fluid passage separate from the wave guide defining a flow path for fluid;
a fluid source in communication with the fluid passage of the wave guide assembly; and
at least one remote transceiver attached to an end of the wave guide assembly and in communication with the main transceiver through a wave form signal communicated through the wave guide; and
at least one fluid device in fluid communication with the fluid passage defined within the wave guide assembly.

12. The control and diagnostic system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the wave guide is a rectangular passage centered within the circular cross-section of the metal tube and the at least one fluid passage comprises a first fluid passage and a second fluid passage defined by the metal tube on opposite sides of the wave guide.

13. The control and diagnostic system as recited in claim 12 , including a coupling for branching the wave guide and fluid passages into two separate paths extending in different directions, the coupling including three ends with a wave guide passage and a fluid coupling passage extending to each of the three ends.

14. The control and diagnostic system as recited in claim 13 , including a seal plate attached between the end fitting and the coupling, the seal plate including a wave guide opening corresponding to the wave guide, a fluid opening corresponding to the fluid passage and seals surrounding the fluid opening.

15. The control and diagnostic system as recited in claim 14 wherein wave guide comprises a rectangular cross-section that defines a size corresponding with a desired frequency range of a wave form signal.

16. A gas turbine engine comprising:
a control and diagnostic system including:
a main transceiver mounted proximate the gas turbine engine, the transceiver generating and receiving radio frequency waves corresponding to information for control and monitoring of engine operation;
a wave guide assembly in communication with the main transceiver, the wave guide assembly comprising a metal tube including a cross-section defining an internal cavity and an end fitting attached to each end of the metal tube, the cross-section of the metal tube including a wave guide defining a transmission path for a wave form signal communicated with the main transceiver and a fluid passage separate from the wave guide that defines a flow path for fluid;
a fluid source in communication with the fluid passage of the wave guide assembly; and
at least one remote transceiver attached to an end of the wave guide assembly and in communication with the main transceiver through a wave form signal communicated through the wave guide; and
at least one fluid device in fluid communication with the fluid passage defined within the wave guide assembly.

17. The gas turbine engine as recited in claim 16 , wherein the wave guide assembly comprises a circular cross-section and the wave guide is a rectangular passage centered within the circular cross-section and the at least one fluid passage comprises a first fluid passage and a second fluid passage defined on opposite sides of the wave guide.

18. The gas turbine engine as recited in claim 17 , including a coupling for branching the wave guide and fluid passages into two separate paths extending in different directions, the coupling including three ends with a wave guide passage and a fluid coupling passage extending to each of the three ends.

19. The gas turbine engine as recited in claim 18 , including a seal plate attached between the end fitting and the coupling, the seal plate including a wave guide opening corresponding to the wave guide, a fluid opening corresponding to the fluid passage and seals surrounding the fluid opening.

20. The gas turbine engine as recited in claim 19 wherein wave guide comprises a rectangular cross-section that defines a size corresponding with a desired frequency range of a wave form signal.

Assignees

• United Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Snyder Ryan K
• Heims Eric J

Classifications

• H01P5/04

  with variable factor of coupling · CPC title

• F05D2260/80

  Diagnostics · CPC title

• F16L9/19

  Multi-channel pipes or pipe assemblies · CPC title

• F16L41/021

  T- or cross-pieces (F16L41/025, F16L41/026, F16L41/028 take precedence) · CPC title

• F05D2220/32

  in gas turbines · CPC title