Engine intake assembly with selector valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9879591-B2
Application number	US-201514806883-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 23, 2015
Priority date	Feb 20, 2015
Publication date	Jan 30, 2018
Grant date	Jan 30, 2018

Abstract

An intake assembly for a compressor providing compressed air to an internal combustion engine core, including an air conduit having at least one heat exchanger extending thereacross, an intake plenum for the compressor, a first intake conduit connected to the air conduit upstream of the heat exchanger(s), a second intake conduit connected to the air conduit downstream of the heat exchanger(s), and a selector valve configurable between a first configuration to allow a fluid communication between the intake plenum and the air conduit through the first intake conduit and a second configuration to prevent the fluid communication through the first intake conduit. Fluid communication between the intake plenum and the air conduit through the second intake conduit is allowed at least when the selector valve is in the second configuration. An engine assembly and method of supplying air to a compressor are also discussed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An intake assembly for a compressor providing compressed air to an internal combustion engine core, the intake assembly comprising:
an air conduit having at least one heat exchanger extending thereacross such that an airflow through the air conduit circulates through the at least one heat exchanger, each of the at least one heat exchanger configured to circulate a fluid to be cooled in heat exchange relationship with the airflow circulating therethrough;
an intake plenum configured for connection to an inlet of the compressor;
a first intake conduit providing fluid communication between the intake plenum and the air conduit and connected to the air conduit upstream of the at least one heat exchanger;
a second intake conduit providing fluid communication between the intake plenum and the air conduit and connected to the air conduit downstream of the at least one heat exchanger; and
a selector valve configurable between a first configuration where the selector valve allows the fluid communication between the intake plenum and the air conduit through the first intake conduit and a second configuration where the selector valve prevents the fluid communication between the intake plenum and the air conduit through the first intake conduit, the fluid communication between the intake plenum and the air conduit through the second intake conduit being allowed at least when the selector valve is in the second configuration.

2. The intake assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein the selector valve in the first configuration prevents the fluid communication between the intake plenum and the air conduit through the second intake conduit.

3. The intake assembly as defined in claim 2 , wherein the selector valve includes a flap located at a junction between the first and second intake conduits and pivotable between the first and second configurations, the flap in the first configuration preventing the fluid communication between the second intake conduit and the intake plenum, the flap in the second configuration preventing the fluid communication between first intake conduit and the intake plenum.

4. The intake assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat exchanger includes two heat exchangers extending in parallel across the air conduit.

5. The intake assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein the air conduit defines a diffuser upstream of the at least one heat exchanger, the first intake conduit connected to the air conduit in the diffuser.

6. The intake assembly as defined in claim 1 , further comprising an air filter between the intake plenum and the first and second intake conduits.

7. The intake assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein a junction between the first conduit and the air conduit is configured as an inertial particle separator.

8. The intake assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein the air conduit defines a common inlet for the at least one heat exchanger and the compressor, the common inlet in communication with ambient air.

Assignees

• Pratt & Whitney Canada

Inventors

• Thomassin Jean
• Bolduc Sebastien
• Villeneuve Bruno
• Berube Stephane
• Fontaine Mike
• Gagnon-Martin David
• Julien Andre
• Cunningham Mark
• Lafortune Serge
• Legare Pierre-Yves

Classifications

• F02B53/14

  Adaptations of engines for driving, or engine combinations with, other devices · CPC title

• F02M31/10

  by hot liquids, e.g. lubricants {or cooling water} · CPC title

• F02B39/04

  Mechanical drives; Variable-gear-ratio drives (non-mechanical pump drives having variable gear ratio F02B39/08) · CPC title

• F02C7/14

  of fluids in the plant {, e.g. lubricant or fuel (F02C7/185 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F02C7/047

  Heating to prevent icing · CPC title