Fluid pressure regulating system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9448566-B2
Application number	US-201313932431-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 1, 2013
Priority date	Jul 1, 2013
Publication date	Sep 20, 2016
Grant date	Sep 20, 2016

Abstract

A fluid pressure regulating system includes an auxiliary fluid circuit having a high pressure region and a low pressure region, a pump connected to the auxiliary fluid circuit and configured to discharge fluid into the high pressure region of the auxiliary fluid circuit, and a check valve connecting the high pressure region of the auxiliary fluid circuit to a main fluid interface line. The fluid pressure regulating system also includes a pressure regulating valve connecting the high pressure region of the auxiliary fluid circuit and the low pressure region of the auxiliary fluid circuit. The pressure regulating valve includes an aperture defining a fluid path from the high pressure region of the auxiliary fluid circuit to the low pressure region of the auxiliary fluid circuit. The aperture has a variable area as a function of fluid pressure within the main fluid interface line.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fluid pressure regulating system comprising:
an auxiliary fluid circuit having a high pressure region and a low pressure region;
a pump connected to the auxiliary fluid circuit and configured to discharge fluid into the high pressure region of the auxiliary fluid circuit;
a check valve connecting the high pressure region of the auxiliary fluid circuit to a main fluid interface line; and
a pressure regulating valve connecting the high pressure region of the auxiliary fluid circuit and the low pressure region of the auxiliary fluid circuit, the pressure regulating valve having an aperture defining a fluid path from the high pressure region of the auxiliary fluid circuit to the low pressure region of the auxiliary fluid circuit, the aperture having a variable area as a function of fluid pressure within the main fluid interface line,
wherein the pressure regulating valve further comprises:
a first inlet port connected to the high pressure region of the auxiliary fluid circuit;
a second inlet port connected to the main fluid interface line;
an outlet port connected to the low pressure region of the auxiliary fluid circuit; and
a valve spool assembly comprising a valve spool and a valve sleeve arranged to circumscribe the valve spool, wherein the valve spool is configured to be slidably moveable within the valve sleeve between a first position corresponding to a minimum pressure within the main fluid interface line and a second position corresponding to a maximum pressure within the main fluid interface line,
wherein the valve spool assembly further comprises an annular gap disposed between the valve spool and the valve sleeve,
wherein the annular gap is configured to be in fluid connection with the second inlet port connected to the main fluid interface line,
wherein the valve spool is configured to slide in a first direction from the first position corresponding to the minimum pressure within the main fluid interface line to the second position corresponding to the maximum pressure within the main fluid interface line responsive to an increase in pressure of fluid within the annular gap, and
wherein the valve spool is configured to slide in a second direction from the second position corresponding to the maximum pressure within the main fluid interface line to the first position corresponding to the minimum pressure within the main fluid interface line responsive to a decrease in pressure of fluid within the annular gap.

2. The fluid pressure regulating system of claim 1 , wherein the position of the valve spool within the valve sleeve defines the area of the aperture of the pressure regulating valve.

3. The fluid pressure regulating system of claim 1 ,
wherein the first position of the valve spool corresponding to the minimum pressure within the main fluid interface line defines a minimum area of the aperture of the pressure regulating valve, and
wherein the second position of the valve spool corresponding to the maximum pressure within the main fluid interface line defines a maximum area of the aperture of the pressure regulating valve.

4. The fluid pressure regulating system of claim 1 , wherein the check valve is configured to open a fluid connection from the high pressure region of the auxiliary fluid circuit to the main fluid interface line when fluid pressure within the high pressure region of the auxiliary fluid circuit is greater than fluid pressure within the main fluid interface line and to close the fluid connection when fluid pressure within the high pressure region of the auxiliary fluid circuit is less than fluid pressure within the main fluid interface line.

5. The fluid pressure regulating system of claim 1 , wherein the main fluid interface line is connected to a propeller control module that controls the pitch of an aircraft propeller.

6. The fluid pressure regulating system of claim 1 , further comprising a main pump connected to a main fluid circuit, wherein the main fluid circuit comprises the main fluid interface line.

7. The fluid pressure regulating system of claim 1 , wherein the pump connected to the auxiliary fluid circuit comprises a fixed speed positive displacement pump.

8. The fluid pressure regulating system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid pressure regulating system comprises an oil pressure regulating system.

9. A pressure regulating valve comprising:
a first inlet port configured to connect to a high pressure region of an auxiliary fluid circuit;
a second inlet port configured to connect to a main fluid interface line of a main fluid circuit;
an outlet port configured to connect to a low pressure region of the auxiliary fluid circuit;
an aperture connecting the first inlet port and the outlet port and defining a fluid path from the high pressure region of the auxiliary fluid circuit to the low pressure region of the auxiliary fluid circuit; and
a valve spool assembly comprising a valve spool and a valve sleeve arranged to circumscribe the valve spool, wherein the valve spool is configured to be slidably moveable within the valve sleeve to change an area of the aperture as a function of fluid pressure within the main fluid interface line,
wherein the valve spool is configured to be slidably moveable within the valve sleeve between a first position corresponding to a minimum pressure within the main fluid interface line and a second position corresponding to a maximum pressure within the main fluid interface line,
wherein the valve spool assembly further comprises an annular gap disposed between the valve spool and the valve sleeve,
wherein the annular gap is configured to be in fluid connection with the second inlet port connected to the main fluid interface line,
wherein the valve spool is configured to slide in a first direction from the first position corresponding to the minimum pressure within the main fluid interface line to the second position corresponding to the maximum pressure within the main fluid interface line responsive to an increase in pressure of fluid within the annular gap, and
wherein the valve spool is configured to slide in a second direction from the second position corresponding to the maximum pressure within the main fluid interface line to the first position corresponding to the minimum pressure within the main fluid interface line responsive to a decrease in pressure of fluid within the annular gap.

10. The pressure regulating valve of claim 9 ,
wherein the first position of the valve spool corresponding to the minimum pressure within the main fluid interface line defines a minimum area of the aperture of the pressure regulating valve, and
wherein the second position of the valve spool corresponding to the maximum pressure within the main fluid interface line defines a maximum area of the aperture of the pressure regulating valve.

11. The pressure regulating valve of claim 9 , wherein the pressure regulating valve comprises an oil pressure regulating valve.

12. A method of regulating fluid pressure within an auxiliary fluid circuit having a pressure regulating valve connecting a high pressure region of the auxiliary fluid circuit and a low pressure region of the auxiliary fluid circuit, the pressure regulating valve having an aperture defining a fluid path from the high pressure region of the auxiliary fluid circuit to the low pressure region of the auxiliary fluid circuit, the method comprising:
sliding a valve spool circumscribed by a valve sleeve of the pressure regulating valve within the valve sleeve as a function of fluid pressure within a main fluid interface line to change an area of the aperture, wherein sliding the valve spool within the valve sleeve as a

Assignees

• Hamilton Sundstrand Corp

Inventors

• Matlack Floyd K
• Carvalho Paul A

Classifications

• F15B11/17

  using two or more pumps · CPC title

• G05D16/10 Primary

  the sensing element being a piston or plunger · CPC title

• F15B2211/20592

  Combinations of pumps for supplying high and low pressure · CPC title

• B64C11/38

  fluid, e.g. hydraulic · CPC title

• Y10T137/86019

  Direct response valve · CPC title