Valve and valve system responsive to fluid temperature

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10642291-B2
Application number	US-201313973493-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 22, 2013
Priority date	Aug 24, 2012
Publication date	May 5, 2020
Grant date	May 5, 2020

Abstract

A valve is provided and includes a bypass block defining a bypass flowpath fluidly communicable with main flowpaths, a member disposable within the bypass block to occupy and move between first and second positions, the member being configured to permit fluid flow through the bypass flowpath when occupying the first position and to block a portion of the bypass flowpath to thereby prevent fluid flow through the bypass flowpath when occupying the second position and an elastic element. The elastic element is coupled to the member and configured to bias the member in a biasing direction toward the second position responsive to a temperature of fluid flowing along the main flowpaths.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A valve, comprising:
a bypass block defining a bypass flowpath fluidly communicable with main flowpaths, the bypass flowpath comprising a first bypass flowpath extending longitudinally at a first side of the bypass block from one of the main flowpaths, a second bypass flowpath extending longitudinally at a second side of the bypass block toward another of the main flowpaths, a third bypass flowpath extending longitudinally from the first to the second side of the bypass block to be fluidly interposed between the first and second bypass flowpaths and first and second obtuse bends defined at intersections of the first and third and the third and second bypass flowpaths, respectively;
a member configured to be disposed within the bypass block to occupy and move between first and second positions, the member comprising an elongate block having a first surface facing the first side and a second surface facing a second side and defining an aperture extending from the first surface to the second surface, the member being disposed and configured such that the aperture aligns with the third bypass flowpath to permit fluid flow through the bypass flowpath when the member occupies the first position and such that the aperture becomes misaligned with the third bypass flowpath to block a portion of the third bypass flowpath to thereby prevent fluid flow through the bypass flowpath when the member occupies the second position; and
an elastic element coupled to the member and configured to bias the member in a biasing direction toward the second position responsive to a temperature of fluid flowing along the main flowpaths,
wherein the member is elongate in the biasing direction and the biasing direction is parallel with predominant directions of fluid flows through both respective longitudinal extents of the first and second bypass flowpaths.

2. The valve according to claim 1 , wherein a predominant direction of fluid flow through the portion of the third bypass flowpath is transversely oriented relative to the biasing direction.

3. The valve according to claim 1 , wherein the main flowpaths are directed into and out of a heat exchanger.

4. The valve according to claim 3 , wherein the fluid flowing along the main flowpaths comprises oil.

5. The valve according to claim 1 , wherein the elastic element comprises a memory metal alloy (MMA) spring.

6. The valve according to claim 5 , wherein the elastic element further comprises a bias spring configured to apply a restorative bias to the member.

7. A valve disposed in a housing defining main flowpaths, the valve comprising:
a structure defining a first flowpath extending longitudinally at a first side of the structure from and fluidly communicating with one of the main flowpaths, a second flowpath extending longitudinally at a second side of the structure toward and fluidly communicating with another one of the main flowpaths, a third bypass flowpath extending longitudinally from the first to the second side of the structure to be fluidly interposed between the first and second flowpaths and first and second obtuse bends defined at intersections of the first and third and the third and second flowpaths, respectively;
a member disposable within the structure to occupy and move between first and second positions, the member comprising an elongate block having a first surface facing the first side and a second surface facing a second side and defining an aperture extending from the first surface to the second surface, the member being disposed and configured such that the aperture aligns with the third bypass flowpath to permit fluid flow through the third bypass flowpath when the member occupies the first position and such that the aperture becomes misaligned with the third bypass flowpath to prevent fluid flow through the third bypass flowpath when the member occupies the second position; and
an elastic element including memory metal alloy (MMA) coupled to the member and configured to bias the member in a biasing direction oriented transversely relative to the third bypass flowpath such that the member moves toward the second position, the elastic element being responsive to a temperature of fluid flowing along the main flowpaths,
wherein the member is elongate in the biasing direction and the biasing direction is parallel with predominant directions of fluid flows through both respective longitudinal extents of the first and second flowpaths.

8. The valve according to claim 7 , wherein the main flowpaths are directed into and out of a heat exchanger.

9. The valve according to claim 8 , wherein the fluid flowing along the main flowpaths comprises oil.

10. The valve according to claim 7 , wherein the elastic element comprises a memory metal alloy (MMA) spring.

11. The valve according to claim 10 , wherein the elastic element further comprises a bias spring configured to apply a restorative bias to the member.

12. The valve according to claim 7 , wherein the structure comprises:
multiple axial parts; and
anti-rotation features to align one or more of the axial parts with the housing and/or another one of the axial parts.

13. The valve according to claim 12 , wherein the multiple axial parts of the structure comprise:
first and second frames defining apertures through which the main flowpaths extend; and
a bypass block disposed between the first and second frames, the bypass block being formed to define the first, second and third flowpaths.

14. The valve according to claim 13 , wherein the anti-rotation features comprise keyed components coupled to the bypass block and complementary sections of the first and second frames.

15. The valve according to claim 13 , wherein the member comprises:
a shaft portion including a retaining element configured to retain the elastic element;
a sliding door, which is disposable to block the third bypass flowpath when the member occupies the second position and to clear the third bypass flowpath when the member occupies the first position; and
a mechanical stop configured to abut the bypass block when the member occupies the second position.

16. A valve system, comprising:
a heat exchanger;
a housing configured to deliver and remove fluid to and from the heat exchanger along main flowpaths; and
a valve disposed within the housing, the valve comprising:
a bypass block defining a bypass flowpath fluidly communicable with the main flowpaths, the bypass flowpath comprising a first bypass flowpath extending longitudinally at a first side of the bypass block from one of the main flowpaths, a second bypass flowpath extending longitudinally at a second side of the bypass block toward another of the main flowpaths, a third bypass flowpath extending longitudinally from the first to the second side of the bypass block to be fluidly interposed between the first and second bypass flowpaths and first and second obtuse bends defined at intersections of the first and third and the third and second bypass flowpaths, respectively;
a member disposable within the bypass block to occupy and move between first and second positions, the member comprising an elongate block having a first surface facing the first side and a second surface facing a second side and defining an aperture extending from the first surface to the second surface, the member being disposed and configured such that the aperture aligns with the third bypass flowpath to permit fluid flow through the bypass flowpath when the member occupies the first position and such that the aperture becomes misaligned with the third bypass flowpath to block a po

Assignees

• Hs Marston Aerospace Ltd

Inventors

• Cameron Sean L
• Scott David Russell
• Astley Stuart Anthony
• Clark Nigel Philip
• Jones Patrick James

Classifications

• G05D23/02 Primary

  with sensing element expanding and contracting in response to changes of temperature (G05D23/13 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G05D23/1852 Primary

  with sensing element expanding and contracting in response to change of temperature · CPC title

• G05D7/03

  with auxiliary non-electric power {(G05D7/005 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F16K31/002 Primary

  actuated by temperature variation (thermo-electric F16K31/025) · CPC title