Hydraulic fuse

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12455014-B2
Application number	US-202318538259-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 13, 2023
Priority date	Jan 10, 2023
Publication date	Oct 28, 2025
Grant date	Oct 28, 2025

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a hydraulic fuse comprising: a fuse body defining a plenum, the plenum comprising: an inlet configured to couple to a first fluid location; and an outlet configured to couple to a second fluid location. The hydraulic fuse further comprises a first fuse element arranged to close the inlet, the first fuse element configured to open the inlet when a pressure differential between the first fluid location and the plenum reaches a first threshold; and a second fuse element arranged to close the outlet, the second fuse element configured to open the outlet when a pressure differential between the plenum and the second fluid location reaches a second threshold, wherein the first threshold is higher than the second threshold.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A hydraulic fuse comprising:
a fuse body defining a plenum, the plenum comprising:
an inlet configured to couple to a first fluid location; and
an outlet configured to couple to a second fluid location;
a first fuse element arranged to close the inlet, the first fuse element configured to open the inlet when a pressure differential between the first fluid location and the plenum reaches a first threshold; a second fuse element arranged to close the outlet, the second fuse element configured to open the outlet when a pressure differential between the plenum and the second fluid location reaches a second threshold, wherein the first threshold is higher than the second threshold; an extraction hole opening into the plenum; a sealing element configured to close the extraction hole; wherein in an inactive state, the inlet is closed by the first fuse element and the outlet is closed by the second fuse element to prevent fluid flow through the plenum; and wherein in an active state, the pressure differential between the first fluid location and the plenum reaches the first threshold to cause the first fuse element to open and permit fluid flow through the inlet, and the pressure differential between the plenum and the second fluid location reaches the second threshold to cause the second fuse element to open and permit fluid flow through the outlet.

2 . The hydraulic fuse as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first fuse element is frangible, such that the first fuse element is configured to fracture and open the inlet when the pressure differential between the first fluid location and the plenum reaches the first threshold, and/or the second fuse element is frangible, such that the second fuse element is configured to fracture and open the outlet when the pressure differential between the plenum and the second fluid location reaches the second threshold.

3 . The hydraulic fuse as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the first fuse element and/or the second fuse element are configured to fracture at a respective predetermined fracture location.

4 . The hydraulic fuse as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first fuse element and the second fuse element are integrally formed with the fuse body.

5 . The hydraulic fuse as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first fuse element and the second fuse element each comprise a respective retention feature configured to retain the first fuse element and the second fuse element within the plenum in the active state.

6 . The hydraulic fuse as claimed in claim 5 , wherein a width of the retention feature is larger than a width of the inlet and outlet.

7 . The hydraulic fuse as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the first fuse element and/or the second fuse element are flexibly attached to the fuse body, such that in the active state, the first fuse element and/or the second fuse element are configured to bend and remain attached to the fuse body to provide the retention feature.

8 . The hydraulic fuse as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the first fuse element and/or the second fuse element comprises a plurality of ridges formed on a surface facing into the plenum.

9 . The hydraulic fuse as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first fuse element and the second fuse element are contained within a volume circumscribed by the fuse body.

10 . The hydraulic fuse as claimed in claim 1 , wherein in the inactive state, the first fuse element and the fuse body form a substantially continuous fluid-washed surface facing the first fluid location, and the second fuse element and the fuse body form a substantially continuous fluid-washed surface facing the second fluid location.

11 . A hydraulic manifold comprising:
a first fluid conduit and a second fluid conduit separated by a manifold wall; and a hydraulic fuse according to claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic fuse is disposed in the manifold wall between the first fluid conduit and the second fluid conduit, such that the first fluid location is in the first fluid conduit and the second fluid location is in the second fluid conduit.

12 . The hydraulic manifold as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the hydraulic fuse is integrally formed with the manifold wall.

13 . A hydraulic manifold comprising:
a fluid conduit defined by a manifold wall; and a hydraulic fuse according to claim 1 ; wherein the hydraulic fuse is attached to the manifold wall, such that the first fluid location is in the fluid conduit and the second fluid location is an environment surrounding the hydraulic manifold.

14 . The hydraulic manifold as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the hydraulic fuse is integrally formed with the manifold wall.

15 . A hydraulic fuse comprising:
a fuse body defining a plenum, the plenum comprising:
an inlet configured to couple to a first fluid location; and
an outlet configured to couple to a second fluid location;
a first fuse element arranged to close the inlet, the first fuse element configured to open the inlet when a pressure differential between the first fluid location and the plenum reaches a first threshold; a second fuse element arranged to close the outlet, the second fuse element configured to open the outlet when a pressure differential between the plenum and the second fluid location reaches a second threshold, wherein the first threshold is higher than the second threshold; wherein in an inactive state, the inlet is closed by the first fuse element and the outlet is closed by the second fuse element to prevent fluid flow through the plenum; and wherein in an active state, the pressure differential between the first fluid location and the plenum reaches the first threshold to cause the first fuse element to open and permit fluid flow through the inlet, and the pressure differential between the plenum and the second fluid location reaches the second threshold to cause the second fuse element to open and permit fluid flow through the outlet; wherein the first fuse element and the second fuse element each comprise a respective retention feature configured to retain the first fuse element and the second fuse element within the plenum in the active state; wherein the first fuse element and/or the second fuse element are flexibly attached to the fuse body, such that in the active state, the first fuse element and/or the second fuse element are configured to bend and remain attached to the fuse body to provide the retention feature; and wherein the first fuse element and/or the second fuse element comprises a plurality of ridges formed on a surface facing into the plenum.

16 . A hydraulic fuse comprising:
a fuse body defining a plenum, the plenum comprising:
an inlet configured to couple to a first fluid location; and
an outlet configured to couple to a second fluid location;
a first fuse element arranged to close the inlet, the first fuse element configured to open the inlet when a pressure differential between the first fluid location and the plenum reaches a first threshold; a second fuse element arranged to close the outlet, the second fuse element configured to open the outlet when a pressure differential between the plenum and the second fluid location reaches a second threshold, wherein the first threshold is higher than the second threshold; wherein in an inactive state, the inlet is closed by the first fuse element and the outlet is closed by the second fuse element to prevent fluid flow through the plenum; and wherein in an active state, the pressure differential between the first fluid location and the plenum reaches the first threshold to cause the first fuse element

Assignees

• Rolls Royce Plc

Inventors

• Carreno Del Pino Jorge
• Daginawalla Hassan S
• Lawrence Samuel J
• Nichols Harry A
• Yeandel Michael
• Jones Gareth L

Classifications

• F16K17/16

  with fracturing diaphragm {; Rupture discs} · CPC title

• Y10T137/1714

  Direct pressure causes disc to burst · CPC title

• B33Y80/00

  Products made by additive manufacturing · CPC title

• F01D21/14

  responsive to other specific conditions · CPC title

• F16K2200/204

  in series · CPC title