Fluid flow control valve equipped with an electric actuator and system including such a valve

Abstract

A fluid flow control valve includes a valve body, a closing member arranged in the valve body and configured so that it can have at least one first position, called the open position, in which it allows the flow of fluid to flow freely in the valve body, and at least one second position, called the closed position, in which it prevents the fluid flow from flowing in the valve body between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, an electric actuator of the closing member that is suitable for being able to control the position of the closing member in the valve body, characterized in that the electric actuator is arranged in the valve body so that it can be cooled by the flow of fluid flowing in the valve body.

Claims

1. A fluid flow control comprising: a valve body comprising a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a fluid flow duct extending in a longitudinal direction between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, a closing member arranged in said fluid flow duct and configured so as to be able to have an open position, in which it allows the fluid flow to flow freely in said flow duct, and a closed position, in which it prevents, at least partially, the flow of fluid in said flow duct between said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet, an electric actuator of said closing member that is suitable for being able to control the position of said closing member in said fluid flow duct, characterized in that said electric actuator is arranged at least partially in said fluid flow duct such that it can be cooled by said fluid flowing between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet of said valve body and in that said closing member comprises two conjugate concentric elements: a fixed element relative to said valve body and a valve core comprising a rotary element relative to said fixed element and which is controlled by said electric actuator.

2. The valve according to claim 1, wherein said conjugate concentric elements each comprises a wall provided with at least one fluid passage aperture arranged such that the flow of fluid is constrained to flow through said apertures when said electric actuator controls the rotation of said rotary element such that said apertures in the conjugate elements are opposite each other and correspond to said open position of said closing member, and that said flow is blocked or constrained when said electric actuator controls the rotation of said rotary element such that the fluid passage apertures in the conjugate elements are respectively opposite the wall of the conjugate element, and correspond to said closed position of said closing member.

3. The valve according to claim 1, wherein each concentric element comprises an odd number of fluid passage apertures evenly distributed on its wall.

4. The valve according to claim 1, wherein said conjugate concentric elements forming said closing member are cylindrical.

5. The valve according to claim 1, wherein said valve core of said closing member defines a central duct comprising a sealed transverse wall.

6. The valve according to claim 1, wherein said fluid flow duct has at least one axis of symmetry extending along the longitudinal direction and said electric actuator is arranged on this at least one axis of symmetry.

7. The valve according to claim 1, wherein said electric actuator is arranged upstream of the closing member.

8. The valve according to claim 1, wherein said flow of fluid flowing in said valve body is an air flow.

9. A ventilation system for an aircraft engine comprising: one or more air control valves, each of said valves comprising: a valve body comprising a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a fluid flow duct extending in a longitudinal direction between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, a closing member arranged in said fluid flow duct and configured so as to be able to have an open position, in which it allows the fluid flow to flow freely in said flow duct, and a closed position, in which it prevents, at least partially, the flow of fluid in said flow duct between said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet, an electric actuator of said closing member that is suitable for being able to control the position of said closing member in said fluid flow duct, characterized in that said electric actuator is arranged at least partially in said fluid flow duct such that it can be cooled by said fluid flowing between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet of said valve body and in that said closing member comprises two conjugate concentric elements: a fixed element relative to said valve body and a valve core comprising a rotary element relative to said fixed element and which is controlled by said electric actuator.

10. An air or rail transport vehicle comprising: at least one propulsion engine, a cabin and at least one air-conditioning system for said cabin, wherein the air-conditioning system for the cabin is the air-conditioning system comprising at least one valve, said valve comprising a valve body comprising: a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a fluid flow duct extending in a longitudinal direction between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, a closing member arranged in said fluid flow duct and configured so as to be able to have an open position, in which it allows the fluid flow to flow freely in said flow duct, and a closed position, in which it prevents, at least partially, the flow of fluid in said flow duct between said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet, an electric actuator of said closing member that is suitable for being able to control the position of said closing member in said fluid flow duct, characterized in that said electric actuator is arranged at least partially in said fluid flow duct such that it can be cooled by said fluid flowing between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet of said valve body and in that said closing member comprises two conjugate concentric elements: a fixed element relative to said valve body and a valve core comprising a rotary element relative to said fixed element and which is controlled by said electric actuator.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein said air control valve of said cabin air-conditioning system is housed in the engine environment of said at least one propulsion engine of said vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The embodiments illustrated herein are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a valve according to one embodiment of the invention,

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a valve according to one embodiment of the invention, illustrating the closing member in the closed position,

(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a valve according to one embodiment of the invention, illustrating the closing member in the open position,

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a valve according to one embodiment of the invention, illustrating the closing member in an intermediate position between the open position and the closed position,

(6) FIG. 5 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of a valve body according to one embodiment of the invention, illustrating the closing member in the open position,

(7) FIG. 6 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the valve body in FIG. 5 according to one embodiment of the invention, illustrating the closing member in the closed position, and

(8) FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an aircraft according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(9) For the sake of illustration and clarity, the scales and proportions are not strictly adhered to in the figures. Throughout the following detailed description with reference to the figures, unless otherwise indicated, each valve element is described as it is arranged when the electric actuator of the valve is arranged in the valve body and in particular when the actuator is arranged upstream of the closing element. This configuration is shown in particular in FIG. 1.

(10) The terms “longitudinal” and “radial” are used with reference to the longitudinal direction, defined by the direction of the fluid flow duct extending between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet of the valve body.

(11) In addition, identical, similar or analogous elements are denoted using the same reference signs in all the figures.

(12) In all of the following, the control valve described is a valve for an air-conditioning system in an aircraft. However, in other embodiments, the valve may be a control valve for a fluid other than air and may be provided in other systems than air-conditioning systems.

(13) As shown in FIG. 1, a valve 10 according to the invention includes a valve body including a housing 11, an air inlet 12, an air outlet 13, an air flow duct 14 which extends between the air inlet and the air outlet in a longitudinal direction 9, a closing member 20 housed in the air flow duct and an electric actuator 30 of the closing member that is arranged in the flow duct 14.

(14) As illustrated in FIG. 1, the electric actuator 30 extends in the longitudinal direction 9 and is integrally arranged in the air flow duct 14.

(15) The electric actuator 30 can be of any type. For example, it is formed of an electric step motor or DC motor and a reduction gear with epicyclic gear train or other.

(16) For example, this actuator 30 is attached to the housing 11 of the valve by fixing lugs 32 which extend radially between the actuator and the valve housing.

(17) According to the embodiment in the figures, this actuator 30 is integrally housed in the air flow duct, i.e. it is housed between the air inlet 12 and the air outlet 13.

(18) According to other embodiments of the invention, not shown in the figures, the actuator is only partially housed in the fluid flow duct. Where appropriate, it extends at least partly inside a duct which is connected to the valve body and intended to supply air to a piece of equipment in the air-conditioning system or supplying the valve with bleed air.

(19) According to the embodiment in the figures, the actuator 30 is arranged upstream of the closing member 20, i.e. between the air inlet and the closing member. This particular arrangement allows the actuator to be cooled by the air supplying the valve, including when the closing member 20 is in the closed position.

(20) A control unit, not shown in the figures, allows the actuator 30, and therefore the position of the closing member, to be controlled. This control unit can be of any type and is for example the control unit of the air-conditioning system.

(21) As illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4, the closing member 20 consists, according to a preferred embodiment, of two conjugate concentric cylindrical elements: a fixed cylindrical element 20a relative to the valve housing and a cylindrical valve core which forms a rotary cylindrical element 20b relative to the fixed cylindrical element.

(22) Each cylindrical element 20a, 20b includes a wall 21a, 21b in which the air passage apertures 22a, 22b are provided. The air passage apertures 22a, 22b can be of any type. They form radial cross-sections for the passage of air, which make it possible to establish fluid communication between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet of the valve when they are arranged opposite each other by rotation of the valve core relative to the fixed element.

(23) FIGS. 5 and 6 schematically illustrate the operating principle of a closing member of a valve according to one embodiment of the invention. The closing member includes conjugate concentric cylindrical elements 20a, 20b which extend along the longitudinal direction 9.

(24) These conjugate concentric closing members 20a, 20b are hollow. The cylindrical valve core 20b delimits a hollow central duct 25 into which the air can enter. The central duct 25 includes a sealed central wall 24 which extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction and thus hinders the flow of air along the longitudinal direction downstream of this wall. This sealed central wall 24 may be formed, as shown in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, by the housing of the actuator 30, which blocks the central duct 25 at one end. According to other embodiments of the invention, the sealed central wall 24 is a longitudinal end wall of the valve core.

(25) In addition, the valve body includes a housing 11 of the valve body. This valve body housing is connected to the external fixed cylindrical element 20a so as to form an annular ring 23 preventing the passage of air along the longitudinal direction 9.

(26) The annular ring 23 and the sealed central wall 24 are each arranged at one end on either side of the closing member 20. Consequently, they make it possible to constrain the fluid to pass through the closing member 20 through the air passage apertures 22 when the closing member is placed in the open position.

(27) The air flows in a duct delimited by the housing of the actuator 30 and by the valve body housing 11 before reaching the closing member 20 and radially passing through the cylindrical elements through the air apertures 22a, 22b.

(28) In FIG. 5, the closing member is in the open position and the air is passing through the air passage apertures. This air flow through the air passages is schematically represented by the dashed arrows.

(29) In FIG. 6, the closing member is in the closed position and the air is blocked from upstream to downstream of the closing member by the combined rotation of the valve core 20b, the annular wall 23 and the central wall 24. This impeded air flow is schematically represented by the dashed arrows.

(30) FIG. 2 shows the closing member 20 in a closed position in which the two conjugate concentric cylindrical elements 20a, 20b prevent the air flow. In the closed position, the respective passage apertures 22a, 22b of the conjugate concentric cylindrical elements 20a, 20b are arranged such that the fluid passage apertures of the conjugate cylindrical elements are respectively opposite the wall of the conjugate cylindrical element, which prevents the air from radially passing through the closing member 20.

(31) According to other embodiments, the closed position of the closing member corresponds to a position in which the flow rate is minimal. In addition, a duct for air leakage through the closing member may be provided in some applications such that the closed position does not prevent all air flow through the valve flow duct, but enables it to have a minimum air flow.

(32) FIG. 3 illustrates the closing member in the open position according to one embodiment of the invention. The passage apertures 22a of the fixed cylindrical element 20a are arranged opposite the passage apertures 22b of the valve core 20b such that the air flow can radially pass through the cylindrical elements through the air passages 22.

(33) The air can therefore pass through the air passage apertures 22a, 22b when they are arranged opposite each other.

(34) Intermediate positions may also be obtained by pivoting the valve core relative to the fixed cylindrical element such that only a portion of the air passage apertures are opposite each other. An intermediate position is shown schematically in FIG. 4.

(35) The intermediate positions correspond to the different positions that the closing member 20 can adopt to move from the open position to the closed position and vice versa.

(36) When the closing member is in an intermediate position, the passage apertures 22a of the fixed cylindrical element 20a partially overlap the passage apertures 22b of the valve core 20b. These intermediate positions enable the air flow rate to be varied and to be adapted to the needs of the system equipped with the valve according to the invention.

(37) In the figures, the air passage apertures of the valve core and the fixed cylindrical element have identical dimensions and/or shapes.

(38) According to another embodiment not shown in the figures, the respective air passage apertures 22a, 22b of the fixed cylindrical element 20a and the valve core 20b have distinct geometric shapes and/or dimensions. For example, the passage apertures 22a of the fixed cylindrical element may be circular and have a smaller diameter than the passage apertures 22b of the valve core.

(39) As illustrated in FIG. 7, a valve according to the invention is especially intended to equip an air-conditioning system for an aircraft cabin.

(40) A valve according to the invention can also equip a ventilation system for a propulsion engine of an aircraft or any transport vehicle, especially an air or rail transport vehicle.

(41) A valve according to the invention is especially intended to be housed in the engine environment of a propulsion engine 41 of an aircraft 40.

(42) Of note, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes”, and/or “including,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

(43) As well, the corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.