Ducting system with valve health monitor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11287154-B2
Application number	US-201916692469-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 22, 2019
Priority date	Nov 22, 2019
Publication date	Mar 29, 2022
Grant date	Mar 29, 2022

Abstract

A ducting system has a first upstream location is to be connected to a first source of air. A downstream location in the duct is to be connected to a second source of air. The upstream location has a first valve, and the downstream location has a second valve. An end location of the duct is to be connected to a sink. A control for the valves achieves a desired pressure and temperature of air at the end location. The first temperature sensor is located at a position intermediate the upstream location and the downstream location. A second temperature sensor is located at a position intermediate the downstream location and the end location. A control is programmed to determine the health of the first and second valves based upon a difference between temperatures sensed by the first and second sensors. An air use system and a method are also disclosed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A ducting system comprising:
a first upstream location in a duct to be connected to a first source of air;
a downstream location in said duct to be connected to a second source of air;
said upstream location having a first valve, and said downstream location having a second valve;
an end location of said duct to be connected to a sink;
a control configured for controlling said first and second valve to achieve a desired temperature of air at said end location; and
a first temperature sensor located at a position intermediate said upstream location and said downstream location, and a second temperature sensor located at a position intermediate said downstream location and said end location, and said control being programmed to determine the health of said first and second valves based upon a difference between temperatures sensed by said first and second sensors.

2. The ducting system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the first source of air is at a first temperature, and the second source of air is at a second temperature, and said second temperature being higher than said first temperature.

3. The ducting system as set forth in claim 2 , wherein said difference between temperatures sensed by said first and second sensors is compared to a predicted temperature difference, said predicted temperature difference being based upon an intended position of said first valve and said second valve.

4. The ducting system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second sensors communicate to a measurement system through respective pairs of wires, said measurement system for determining the difference between the temperatures sensed by first said and second sensors, and communicating the difference to said control.

5. The ducting system as set forth in claim 4 , wherein one wire from each of said pair of wires from said first and second temperature sensors is alumel, and a second wire from each of said first and second temperature sensors is chromel, and there is a connection between each of said alumel and chromel wires and an individual copper wire at a junction to said measurement system.

6. The ducting system as set forth in claim 4 , wherein said pair of wires from said second temperature sensor communicate to said first temperature sensor, said pair of wires from said first temperature sensor extend to said measurement system, such that a temperature difference between the temperatures sensed at said first and second temperature sensors are proportional to a voltage supplied by said pair of wires from said first temperature sensor to said measurement system.

7. The ducting system as set forth in claim 6 , wherein one wire of said pair of wires connecting said second temperature sensor to said first temperature sensor is chromel and a second of said wires connecting said second temperature sensor to said first temperature sensor is alumel.

8. The ducting system as set forth in claim 4 , wherein one wire of said pair of wires from each of said first and second temperature sensors communicates to a junction associated with said measurement system, and a second wire of said pair of wires of each of said first and second temperature sensors is a common wire that connects said second temperature sensor to said first temperature sensor.

9. The ducting system as set forth in claim 8 , wherein said common wire is alumel, and said one wire communicating each of said downstream and upstream sensors to said measurement system is chromel.

10. The ducting system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said first and second temperature sensors are thermocouple temperature sensors.

11. An air use system comprising:
a duct having a first upstream location connected to a first source of air;
a downstream location in said duct connected to a second source of air;
said first source communicating to said upstream location through a first valve, and said second source communicating to said downstream location through a second valve;
an end location of said duct connected to a sink of air;
said sink of air to be connected to a use for air on an aircraft;
said first source of air and said second source of air being at different temperatures;
a control configured for controlling said first and second valve to achieve a desired pressure and temperature of air at said end location; and
a first temperature sensor located at a position intermediate said upstream location and said downstream location, and a second temperature sensor located at a position intermediate said downstream location and said end location, and said control for sensing a temperature difference between said temperature sensed by said first and second temperature sensor, and said control being programmed to determine the health of said first and second valves based upon a difference between said temperatures sensed by said first and second sensors.

12. The air use system as set forth in claim 11 , wherein each of said first and second sensors communicate to a measurement system through respective pairs of wires, said measurement system for determining the difference between the temperatures sensed by said first and second sensors, and communicating the difference to said control.

13. The air use system as set forth in claim 12 , wherein one wire from each of said pair of wires from said first and second temperature sensors is alumel, and a second wire from each of said first and second temperature sensors is chromel, and there is a connection between each of said alumel and chromel wires and an individual copper wire at a junction to said measurement system.

14. The air use system as set forth in claim 12 , wherein said pair of wires from said second temperature sensor communicate to said first temperature sensor, said pair of wires from said first temperature sensor extend to said measurement system, such that a temperature difference between the temperatures sensed at said first and second temperature sensors are proportional to a voltage supplied by said pair of wires from said first temperature sensor to said measurement system.

15. The air use system as set forth in claim 14 , wherein one wire of said pair of wires connecting said second temperature sensor to said first temperature sensor is chromel and a second of said wires connecting said second temperature sensor to said first temperature sensor is alumel.

16. The air use system as set forth in claim 12 , wherein one wire of said pair of wires from each of said first and second temperature sensors communicates to a junction associated with said measurement system, and a second wire of said pair of wires of each of said first and second temperature sensors is a common wire that connects said second temperature sensor to said first temperature sensor.

17. The air use system as set forth in claim 16 , wherein said common wire is alumel, and said one wire communicating each of said downstream and upstream sensors to said measurement system is chromel.

18. The air use system as set forth in claim 17 , wherein said first and second temperature sensors are thermocouple temperature sensors.

19. The air use system as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said difference between temperatures sensed by said first and second sensors is compared to a predicted temperature difference, said predicted temperature difference being based upon an intended position of said first valve and said second valve.

20. A method of monitoring valve health comprising the steps of:
selectively connecting a first source

Assignees

• Hamilton Sundstrand Corp

Inventors

• Mcbrien Gary M
• Dorian Peter A

Classifications

• F16K37/0041

  for measuring valve parameters (F16K37/0033 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F24F11/38 Primary

  Failure diagnosis · CPC title

• G05D23/1393 Primary

  characterised by the use of electric means · CPC title

• G05D23/2039

  using mechanical means · CPC title

• G05B23/0235

  based on a comparison with predetermined threshold or range, e.g. "classical methods", carried out during normal operation; threshold adaptation or choice; when or how to compare with the threshold · CPC title