Aircraft fluid system including an electric regulation valve equipped with an integrated actuator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024271715-A1
Application number	US-202318211247-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 17, 2023
Priority date	Jun 17, 2022
Publication date	Aug 15, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

The invention relates to a fluid system of an aircraft comprising at least one flow conduit for a fluid, at least one electric valve ( 30, 40, 50 ) for regulating the flow of fluid in said fluid conduit by movement of a regulating member in said fluid conduit, a central computer ( 20 ) configured to be able to issue control instructions to each electric regulating valve ( 30, 40, 50 ) depending on the in-flight conditions of said aircraft, and an electric circuit ( 60 ) for powering said computer and each electric regulating valve, characterized in that at least one electric regulating valve, referred to as smart valve, is equipped with an integrated actuator connected to the central computer and/or to another smart valve of the fluid system by at least one multiplexed data communications bus ( 22, 24, 42, 44 ).

First claim

1 . A fluid system of an aircraft comprising at least one flow conduit for a fluid, at least one electric valve for regulating the flow of fluid in said fluid conduit by movement of a regulating member in said fluid conduit, a central computer configured to be able to issue control instructions to each electric regulating valve depending on the in-flight conditions of said aircraft, and an electric circuit for powering said computer and each electric regulating valve, characterized in that at least one electric regulating valve, referred to as smart valve, is equipped with an integrated actuator connected to the central computer and/or to another smart valve of the fluid system by at least one multiplexed data communications bus, referred to as digital bus, said integrated actuator comprising:
an electronic control board equipped with at least one input port connected to said digital bus, an electric motor controlled by said electronic control board and configured to be able to move said regulating member in said fluid conduit, software loaded on said electronic control board and configured to be able to determine control instructions of the electric motor from data received on at least one input port of said board, referred to as control data.

2 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one smart valve is connected to at least one analogue sensor for measurement of a fluid quantity carried by the associated fluid conduit. and in that said electronic board of this smart valve comprises at least one input port connected to this analogue sensor so that the measurements supplied by this analogue sensor can form control data.

3 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said electric motor of said integrated actuator of at least one smart valve is a synchronous motor comprising means for indicating its position.

4 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said integrated actuator of at least one smart valve comprises a reducing gear mechanically connecting said electric motor and said regulating member.

5 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the fluid system comprises at least two smart valves connected to each other by the digital bus, said first smart valve, referred to as master valve, being configured to be able to determine and transmit control data to said second smart valve, referred to as slave valve.

6 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the fluid system comprises two digital buses connecting the controller to the smart valves, each digital bus being a unidirectional data bus, opposite in direction to the other bus, or a bidirectional bus.

7 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said fluid is air so as to form an air system of an aircraft.

8 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said fluid is a two-phase fluid so as to form a vapor cycle system.

Assignees

• Liebherr Aerospace Toulouse Sas

Inventors

• L’Emeillat Laurent
• Lafond Eric
• Vilamot Raphael

Classifications

• F16K37/0041

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

• B64D13/00

  Arrangements or adaptations of air-treatment apparatus for aircraft crew or passengers, or freight space · CPC title

• F16K31/046 Primary

  with electric means, e.g. electric switches, to control the motor or to control a clutch between the valve and the motor (F16K31/041 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B64D13/06 Primary

  the air being conditioned (pressurising B64D13/02) · CPC title