VALVE FOR DIVIDING A HYDRAULIC CIRCUIT AND HYDRAULIC CIRCUIT COMPRISING SAID VALVE

Abstract

A valve for a hydraulic circuit for an aircraft, the valve being configured to unite or separate multiple circuit portions in at least two configurations. More particularly, the valve allows to create one hydraulic circuit or two independent hydraulic circuits in order to circulate a coolant in two distinct manners and thus to adapt the function of the hydraulic circuit to any of two distinct phases of the functioning of an engine of the aircraft.

Claims

1. A valve comprising: a first intake port, a first exhaust port, a second intake port, a second exhaust port, a movable part configured to be displaced between at least: a first position, called a direct position, in which : the first intake port is hydraulically connected to the first exhaust port by a first passageway, and the second intake port is hydraulically connected to the second exhaust port by a second passageway, and a second position, called a bypass position, a third intake port, a third exhaust port, and wherein, with the movable part in the bypass position: the first intake port is hydraulically connected to the third exhaust port by a third passageway, and the third intake port is hydraulically connected to the second exhaust port by a fourth passageway.

2. The valve according to claim 1, further comprising, with the movable part in the bypass position, the second intake port is hydraulically connected to the first exhaust port by at least a fifth passageway.

3. The valve according to claim 1, further comprising: a fourth intake port, a fourth exhaust port, and wherein, with the movable part in bypass position: the second intake port is hydraulically connected to the fourth exhaust port by a fifth passageway, and the fourth intake port is hydraulically connected to the first exhaust port by a sixth passageway.

4. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the movable part further comprises: a first conduit configured to form at least part of the first passageway in the direct position, a second conduit configured to form at least part of the second passageway in the direct position, a third conduit configured to form at least part of the third passageway in the bypass position, a fourth conduit configured to form at least part of the fourth passageway in the bypass position.

5. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the valve is configured such that when displacing the movable part between the direct position and the bypass position, at least one passageway remains at least partially open for each intake port towards at least one exhaust port.

6. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the movable part is passively maintained in a direct position, and actively actuated towards a bypass position.

7. The valve according to claim 1, further comprising a piston chamber configured to receive a pressurized fluid to actuate the movable part.

8. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the movable part comprises a third predetermined position in which the first intake port, the second intake port, the first exhaust port and the second exhaust port may be hydraulically connected in a different manner than in the bypass position or in the direct position.

9. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the movable part comprises at least one functionalized conduit configured to modify at least one characteristic of a flow of fluid in said functionalized conduit.

10. A hydraulic circuit comprising at least one valve according to claim 1.

11. The hydraulic circuit according to claim 10, further comprising: a first hydraulic circuit portion, called a hot-side circuit: comprising at least one heat exchanger, connected to the first exhaust port and to the second intake port of the valve, a second hydraulic circuit portion, called a cold-side circuit: comprising at least one heat exchanger, connected to the first intake port and to the second exhaust port of the valve.

12. The hydraulic circuit according to claim 10, further comprising a third circuit portion, called a bypass circuit, comprising a bypass pump and extending between the third exhaust port of the valve and the third intake port of the valve.

13. The hydraulic circuit according to claim 11, further comprising a third circuit portion, called a bypass circuit, comprising a bypass pump and extending between the third exhaust port of the valve and the third intake port of the valve, wherein the valve further comprises further a piston chamber configured to receive a pressurized fluid to actuate the movable part, and wherein the hydraulic circuit further comprises a hydraulic actuating conduit extending from the bypass pump to the piston chamber of the valve.

14. The hydraulic circuit according to claim 12, further comprising a heating device on the bypass circuit.

15. An aircraft comprising at least one hydraulic circuit according to claim 10.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0104] Some specific exemplary embodiments and aspects of the invention are described in the following description in reference to the accompanying figures.

[0105] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a hydraulic circuit according to the invention.

[0106] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a hydraulic circuit according to the invention in a first configuration.

[0107] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a valve according to the invention mounted in a hydraulic circuit of the type and in the configuration of FIG. 2.

[0108] FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of is a schematic representation of a hydraulic circuit corresponding to FIG. 2 in a second configuration.

[0109] FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a valve according to FIG. 3 and mounted in a hydraulic circuit of the type and in the configuration of FIG. 4.

[0110] FIG. 6 is a perspective schematic representation of a movable part of a valve according to a first embodiment the invention.

[0111] FIG. 7 is a perspective schematic representation a fixed part of a valve according to the invention which may correspond with a movable part of FIG. 6, and connected to conduits of a hydraulic circuit according to the invention.

[0112] FIG. 8 is a perspective schematic representation of a valve with parts corresponding to FIGS. 6 and 7 in a direct position.

[0113] FIG. 9 is a perspective schematic representation of a valve corresponding to FIG. 8 in a bypass position.

[0114] FIG. 10 is a perspective schematic representation of a detail of a valve according to the invention with specific emphasis on the actuation of the movable part.

[0115] FIG. 11A is a perspective schematic representation of a movable part of a valve according to a second embodiment the invention.

[0116] FIG. 11B is a cross-section view of a valve in an embodiment of the type of FIG. 11A in a direct position.

[0117] FIG. 11C is a cross-section view of the valve embodiment of FIG. 11B in a bypass position.

[0118] FIG. 12 is a perspective schematic representation of a detail of a valve according to the invention with specific emphasis on the conduits of the movable part and the fixed part.

[0119] FIG. 13 is a perspective schematic representation of a detail of a movable part of a valve according to the invention with specific emphasis on particular conduits of the movable part.

[0120] FIG. 14 is a side view of an aircraft embodying the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0121] In FIG. 1 a specific embodiment of a hydraulic circuit 51 according to the invention is represented in its context in an aircraft.

[0122] This hydraulic circuit 51 is made to transport a heat-transfer fluid, or cooling liquid or coolant.

[0123] This hydraulic circuit may be mounted in an aircraft 50 of the type represented in FIG. 14. In this embodiment represented in FIG. 1, the aircraft 50 comprises an engine with an exhaust nozzle or exhaust pipe 45 for exhausting combusted gases out of a combustion chamber 43 of the engine. The engine is at least partially fueled by a fuel stored in a tank 44 of the aircraft. The fuel is fed to the engine from the fuel tank 44 through a hydraulic circuit for fuel or fuel line 42. The fuel line 42 may comprise multiple devices not represented here such as pumps, valves, branches, compressors, etc.

[0124] The fuel may be di-hydrogen (H.sub.2). in order to be stored in fuel tanks 44 of reasonable size for an aircraft, that is to say to reach an energy density compatible with its transport on-board an aircraft as its energy source, the H.sub.2 must be stored at very low temperatures at which it is liquid. However, to burn in an aircraft engine the fuel must be heated up.

[0125] In FIGS. 2 and 4 the same hydraulic circuit is represented, this time only with the hydraulic circuit object of the invention and in a more schematic representation.

[0126] In particular, this embodiment of a hydraulic circuit 51 according to the invention comprises a first heat exchanger 38 situated at the exhaust pipe 45 so as to be able to harvest calories from hot combusted gases flowing through the exhaust pipe 45 when the engine is running.

[0127] The hydraulic circuit 51 comprises a second heat exchanger 39 adapted to deliver calories to a fuel in a fuel line 42.

[0128] In other embodiments, the hydraulic circuit 51 may comprise more than two heat exchangers. For example, it may comprise two successive heat exchangers on the fuel line so as to warm up the fuel in two stages.

[0129] The hydraulic circuit 51 comprises multiple conduits forming multiple hydraulic circuit portions 31, 32, 33, 34. The hydraulic circuit portions 31, 32, 33, 34 are all connected to and extend between intake ports 11, 13, 15, 17 and exhaust ports 12, 14, 16, 18 of a valve 10 according to the invention.

[0130] A first hydraulic circuit portion, called a hot-side circuit 32, comprises the first heat exchanger 38 and a pump 36 adapted to circulate the coolant in the hydraulic circuit 51. One side of the hot-side circuit 32 is connected to a first exhaust port 12 of the valve 10, and another side of the hot-side circuit 32 is connected to a second intake port 13 of the valve 10.

[0131] A second hydraulic circuit portion, called a cold-side circuit 31, comprises the second heat exchanger 39. One side of the cold-side circuit 31 is connected to a first intake port 11 of the valve 10, and another side of the cold-side circuit 31 is connected to a second exhaust port 14 of the valve 10.

[0132] In a direct position, the valve is adapted to hydraulically connect:

[0133] its first intake port 11 to its first exhaust port 12, and

[0134] its second intake port 13 to its second exhaust port 14.

[0135] Therefore, when the valve 10 is in a direct position, the hot-side circuit 32 and the cold-side circuit 31 are connected to each other in such a way that they form a bigger hydraulic circuit 51 together.

[0136] More particularly, the valve comprises a movable part 20 mounted movable in a fixed part 21. The intake ports 11, 13, 15, 17 and exhaust ports 12, 14, 16, 18 of the valve 10 are all mounted on the fixed part 21 of the valve 10. The movable part 20 may be displaced between at least two positions with respect to the fixed part 21.

[0137] The movable part 20 may be in a first position, called a direct position, represented in FIGS. 2 and 3 with respect to the fixed part 21, or in a second position, called a bypass position, represented in FIGS. 4 and 5, with respect to the fixed part 21.

[0138] The movable part 20 may be displaced by any type of actuator such as electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, etc.

[0139] In the direct position of the valve:

[0140] the first intake port 11 is hydraulically connected to the first exhaust port 12 by a first passageway 22, and

[0141] the second intake port 13 is hydraulically connected to the second exhaust port 14 by a second passageway 24,

[0142] This configuration corresponds to a functioning mode in which the aircraft engine is hot and running and the coolant transports calories from the first heat exchanger 38 to the second heat exchanger 39, such that the fuel in the fuel line 42 is adequately heated up before being injected into the engine.

[0143] The hydraulic circuit 51 further comprises a third hydraulic circuit portion, called a bypass circuit 33 and a fourth hydraulic circuit portion, called a loop circuit 34.

[0144] One side of the bypass circuit 33 is connected to third exhaust port 18 of the valve 10, and another side of the bypass circuit 33 is connected to a third intake port 17 of the valve 10.

[0145] The bypass circuit 33 comprises a bypass pump 35 adapted to circulate the coolant in at least some portions of the hydraulic circuit 51. More specifically, the bypass pump is adapted to circulate the coolant in the cold-side circuit 31 and the bypass circuit 33 when they are connected together by the valve 10 in the bypass position through the third passageway and fourth passageway, and the two hydraulic circuit portions form a single hydraulic circuit (see FIGS. 4 and 5).

[0146] The bypass circuit 33 also comprises a heating device 37 such as a heat exchanger or an electrical heater adapted to heat the coolant up. This heating device 37 is used in phases of starting the engine of the aircraft. Indeed, the engine is cold at start and therefore no calories may be extracted by the first heat exchanger 38 to heat up the coolant and thus heat up the fuel at the second heat exchanger 39. Thereby, when starting the engine, the valve 10 is placed in the bypass position such that the coolant may circulate between the heating device 37 and the second heat exchanger 39 so as to heat the fuel up upon starting the engine.

[0147] The loop circuit 34 comprises a conduit connected to a fourth exhaust port 16 and a fourth intake port 15 of the valve 10 so as to close the hot-side circuit 32 on itself when the valve 10 in a bypass position (see FIGS. 4 and 5).

[0148] In other embodiments not represented, the valve may comprise an internal passageway connecting directly the second intake port 13 to the first exhaust port 12. This may be beneficial when no additional device is sought to the installed on the loop circuit 34.

[0149] In the bypass position of the valve, as represented on FIG. 5: [0150] the first intake port 11 is hydraulically connected to a third exhaust port 18 by a third passageway 27, [0151] a third intake port 17 is hydraulically connected to the second exhaust port 14 by a fourth passageway 29, [0152] the second intake port 13 is hydraulically connected to a fourth exhaust port 16 by a fifth passageway 25, [0153] a fourth intake port 15 is hydraulically connected to the first exhaust port 12 by a sixth passageway 23.

[0154] In the bypass position, while a first portion of the coolant circulates in the cold-side circuit 31 and is heated up by the heating device 37, another portion of the coolant circulates independently in the hot-side circuit 32 with the pump 36. Thereby as soon as the temperature of the engine is sufficient, the cold-side circuit 31 and the hot-side circuit 32 may be reconnected to each other by placing the valve in the direct position and all the coolant is at the required temperature in each side of the hydraulic circuit 51.

[0155] In some embodiments the loop circuit 34 may comprise a temperature sensor in order to trigger the change of position of the valve from a bypass position to a direct position. The sensor may be connected to a controller controlling an actuator of the movable part 20.

[0156] The coolant circulates in the cold-side circuit in the same direction whether the valve is in the direct position or in the bypass position. Similarly, the coolant circulates in the hot-side circuit in the same direction whether the valve is in the direct position or in the bypass position.

[0157] In FIG. 6 a detail of an embodiment of a movable part 20 of a valve 10 of the invention is represented.

[0158] It comprises: [0159] a first conduct 22 forming part of the first passageway in the direct position, [0160] a second conduct 24 forming part of the second passageway in the direct position, [0161] a third conduct 27 forming part of the third passageway in the bypass position, [0162] a fourth conduct 29 forming part of the fourth passageway in the bypass position, [0163] a fifth conduct 25 forming part of the fifth passageway in the bypass position, [0164] a sixth conduct 23 forming part of the sixth passageway in the bypass position.

[0165] In FIG. 7 a detail of an embodiment of a fixed part 21 of a valve 10 of the invention is represented connected to hydraulic circuit portions 31, 32, 33, 34.

[0166] The fixed part 21 comprises: [0167] a first intake port 11 and a second exhaust port 14 connected to the cold-side circuit 31, [0168] a second intake port 13 and a first exhaust port 12 connected to the hot-side circuit 32, [0169] a third intake port 17 and a third exhaust port 18 connected to the bypass circuit 33, [0170] a fourth intake port 15 and a fourth exhaust port 16 connected to the loop circuit 34.

[0171] Moreover, the fixed part 21 comprises a recess 47 for the movable part 20. The movable part may slide in translation in this recess 47. In the representations of FIGS. 8 and 9, the movable part 20 may slide vertically with respect to the fixed part 21 between the direct position represented in FIG. 8 and the bypass position represented in FIG. 9.

[0172] As represented in FIG. 8, the fixed part 21 comprises conduit portions between the intake ports and exhaust ports and the recess 47 so as to connect the intake ports and exhaust ports to respective conduits 22, 24, 27, 29, 25, 23 of the movable part 20. In FIG. 8, the valve 10 is represented in a direct position in which the coolant is circulating from the cold-side circuit 31 to the hot-side circuit 32 through the first passageway 22 and from the hot-side circuit 32 to the cold-side circuit 31 through the second passageway 24, where the arrows represent the flow direction of the coolant in the hydraulic circuit 51.

[0173] In FIG. 9 on the contrary, the valve 10 is represented in a bypass position in which the coolant is circulating independently in two hydraulic circuits, where the arrows represent the flow direction of the coolant in the two hydraulic circuits: [0174] in a first circuit from the cold-side circuit 31 to the bypass circuit 33 through the third passageway 27 and back to the cold-side circuit 31 through the fourth passageway 29 ; [0175] in a second circuit from the hot-side circuit 32 to the loop circuit 34 through the fifth passageway 25, and back to the hot-side circuit 32 through the sixth passageway 23.

[0176] In FIG. 10, an example of a valve according to the invention is schematically represented with a focus on the actuation of the movable part 20. In this embodiment the movable part is movable in translation with respect to the fixed part 21. In particular a specific embodiment of actuation of the movable part 20 is represented.

[0177] In this embodiment, the valve 10 comprises a piston chamber 28 and a hydraulic actuating conduit 30. The piston chamber 28 is adapted to receive a fluid with a low compressibility. The piston chamber 28 is formed within the fixed part 21 of the valve, with one face closed by the movable part 20. Upon injection of a low-compressibility fluid in the piston chamber 28, the movable part is displaced with respect to the fixed part.

[0178] Moreover, the valve 10 may comprise a device to maintain the movable part in the direct position by default. In this example the valve comprises a pair of springs 26 which may rest against a portion of the fixed part 21 on one side (not shown), and on a face of the movable part 20 on another side such that in the absence of a pressurized fluid in the piston chamber 28, the movable part 20 is maintained in the direct position.

[0179] When such valve 10 is mounted in a hydraulic circuit 51 of the type presented in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the injection of pressurized fluid in the piston chamber 28 through the hydraulic actuating conduit 30 is beneficially controlled simultaneously or slightly in advance to the actuation of the bypass pump 35.

[0180] In some embodiments, the bypass pump 35 may be used to both circulate the coolant in the bypass circuit 33 and be connected to the hydraulic actuating conduit 30 to inject/pressurize a fluid in the piston chamber 28 of the valve 10. Thereby the valve is actuated from a direct position to a bypass position simultaneously to the circulation of coolant in the bypass circuit 33; this latter being connected to the cold-side circuit 31 as soon as the movable part 20 is in the bypass position.

[0181] In FIG. 11A an alternative embodiment of a movable part 20 according to the invention is represented. In this embodiment, the movable part 20 is cylindrical and may be mounted in a rotatable manner around an axis 49 within a cylindrical recess of the fixed part. In such embodiment, the movable part 20 would rotate between its direct position and its bypass position.

[0182] Similarly to previous embodiments, the movable part 20 comprises multiple conduits 22, 24, 23, 25, 27, 29 for connecting intake ports to exhaust ports in at least two different configurations corresponding to the direct position and the bypass position.

[0183] In FIGS. 11B and 11C a cross section by a horizontal plane of this movable part 20 as mounted in a fixed part 21 is represented. The cross-section is represented at the height of a plane comprising multiple conduits 22, 23, 27.

[0184] In FIG. 11B, the movable part 20 is in a direct position in which it connects a cold-side circuit 31 with a hot-side circuit 32 through a first intake port 11, a first passageway comprising a first conduit 22, and through a first exhaust port 12. A bypass circuit 33 and a loop circuit 34 are cut and not used in this direct position.

[0185] By a clock-wise rotation of the movable part 20 in the fixed part 21 around an axis 49, the valve 10 is switched from a direct position to a bypass position.

[0186] In the bypass position represented in FIG. 11C, the valve 10 is in a bypass position in which it connects: [0187] the cold-side circuit 31 with the bypass circuit 33 through the first intake port 11, a third passageway comprising a third conduit 27, and through a third exhaust port 18, [0188] the loop circuit 34 with the hot-side circuit 32 through a fourth intake port 15, a sixth passageway comprising a sixth conduit 23, and through the first exhaust port 12.

[0189] In FIG. 12, a detail of a valve according to the invention is shown. The valve comprises a conduit 40 extending within the fixed part 21 from the first intake port 11 to an opening 48 on the recess in which the movable part 20 is mounted. The movable part 20 comprises multiple conduits comprising at least a first conduit 22 for forming the first passageway in the direct position between the first intake port 11 and the first exhaust port, and a third conduit 27 for forming the third passageway in the bypass position between the first intake port 11 and the third exhaust port.

[0190] In this FIG. 12, the movable part 20 is between the direct position and the bypass position. The diameters of the conduit 40, the first conduit 22 and the third conduit 27, and the distances between the first conduit 22 and the third conduit 27 are such that the opening 48 of the conduit 40 overlaps the first conduit 22 and the third conduit 27. Thereby, by applying the same feature to all hydraulic connections within the valve between conduits of the fixed part and conduits of the movable part, when the movable part 20 is displaced between the direct position and the bypass position, the fluid in the hydraulic circuits is never stopped. Any hammer effect in the hydraulic circuit(s) or any other unstable system performance during or after the position change of the valve are thus avoided.

[0191] In FIG. 13, a detail of a valve according to the invention is shown. The valve comprises a conduit 41 to connect an intake port to an exhaust port. The conduit 41 comprises a restriction which allows to control the speed and debit of the fluid in the hydraulic circuit, in the corresponding position of the valve.

[0192] This conduit 41 and other ones may comprise any other functionality that one may want to add to the hydraulic circuit in a given position of the valve.

[0193] This conduit 41 may connect an intake port to an exhaust port in a third position of the movable part 20 with respect to the fixed part 21, the third position being different from the direct position and the bypass position.

[0194] A valve according to the invention thereby allows to add or remove functionalities from one or more hydraulic circuits and to easily reconfigure a hydraulic circuit with a simple displacement of a single valve.

[0195] The invention is not limited to the specific embodiments herein disclosed as examples. The invention also encompasses other embodiments within the scope of the claims but not herein explicitly described, which may comprise various combinations of the features herein described.

[0196] While at least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention(s) is disclosed herein, it should be understood that modifications, substitutions and alternatives may be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and can be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. This disclosure is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the exemplary embodiment(s). In addition, in this disclosure, the terms “comprise” or “comprising” do not exclude other elements or steps, the terms “a” or “one” do not exclude a plural number, and the term “or” means either or both. Furthermore, characteristics or steps which have been described may also be used in combination with other characteristics or steps and in any order unless the disclosure or context suggests otherwise. This disclosure hereby incorporates by reference the complete disclosure of any patent or application from which it claims benefit or priority.