US-12618374-B2 - Swirl valves

Abstract

A valve system includes a spin chamber having an outlet drain configured to allow flow out of the spin chamber. A main spin surface of the spin chamber is defined around the outlet drain. A directional jet system is in fluid communication with the spin chamber. The directional jet system includes a member that is configured to move between a first position for directing a tangential flow around the drain, and a second position for directing a radial flow toward the drain.

Inventors

• Jason A. Ryon
• Philip E. O. Buelow
• Andy W. Tibbs
• Brandon P. Williams

Assignees

• Collins Engine Nozzles, Inc.

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20230920

Claims (19)

1. 1 . A valve system comprising: a spin chamber having an outlet drain configured to allow flow out of the spin chamber, wherein a main spin surface of the spin chamber is defined around the outlet drain; and a directional jet system for a fuel in fluid communication with the spin chamber, wherein the directional jet system includes a jet member that is configured to move between a first position for directing a tangential flow around the drain, and a second position for directing a radial flow toward the drain; wherein the member is disposed at a periphery of the spin chamber and wherein a portion of the member directing the flow extends closer to the outlet drain with the member in the second position than with the member in the first position.
2. 2 . The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the directional jet system includes a jet orifice that feeds into the spin chamber, wherein the spin chamber includes only one inlet, namely the jet orifice, and wherein the spin chamber includes only one outlet, namely the outlet drain.
3. 3 . A valve system comprising: a spin chamber having an outlet drain configured to allow flow out of the spin chamber, wherein a main spin surface of the spin chamber is defined around the outlet drain; and a directional jet system for a fuel in fluid communication with the spin chamber, wherein the directional jet system includes a jet member that is configured to move between a first position for directing a tangential flow around the drain, and a second position for directing a radial flow toward the drain; wherein the jet member includes a jet tube, wherein a jet orifice is defined at an outlet end of the jet tube, wherein the directional jet system is configured to rotate the jet tube to direct the jet orifice more toward a periphery of the spin chamber in the first position relative to the second position, and wherein the directional jet system is configured to rotate the jet tube to direct the jet orifice more toward the drain outlet in the second position relative to the first position.
4. 4 . The system as recited in claim 3 , wherein the directional jet system includes one or more inlets configured to feed into the jet tube configured to supply fluid to the jet orifice.
5. 5 . The system as recited in claim 3 , wherein the directional jet system includes a rotational actuator operatively connected to rotate the jet tube between the first position and the second position.
6. 6 . The system as recited in claim 5 , wherein the directional jet system includes a housing with a main inlet in fluid communication with an interior of the housing, wherein the jet tube includes at least one inlet inside the housing in fluid communication to receive flow from the interior of the housing into the jet tube.
7. 7 . The system as recited in claim 6 , wherein the rotational actuator is inside the housing.
8. 8 . The system as recited in claim 6 , wherein the rotational actuator is operatively connected to rotate the jet tube between the first position and the second position around a rotation axis parallel to an axis defined by the drain outlet.
9. 9 . The system as recited in claim 5 , wherein the main spin surface is planar.
10. 10 . The system as recited in claim 5 , wherein the main spin surface is conical, converging towards the drain outlet.
11. 11 . The system as recited in claim 5 , wherein the directional jet system includes a housing with a main inlet in fluid communication with an interior of the housing, wherein the jet tube includes at least one inlet inside the housing in fluid communication to receive flow from the interior of the housing into the jet tube, wherein the rotation actuator is outside of the housing with a shaft extending into housing operatively connected to rotate jet tube inside housing.
12. 12 . The system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the main inlet extends along or parallel to an axis defined by the drain outlet, wherein the rotational actuator is operatively connected to rotate the jet tube between the first position and the second position around a rotation axis oblique to the axis defined by the drain outlet.
13. 13 . The system as recited in claim 11 , wherein the main inlet extends lateral to an axis defined by the drain outlet, wherein the rotational actuator is operatively connected to rotate the jet tube between the first position and the second position around a rotation axis oblique to the axis defined by the drain outlet.
14. 14 . The system as recited in claim 3 , wherein the directional jet system includes a seal operatively connected to the spin chamber to seal the jet orifice in a third position of the directional jet system to stop flow into the spin chamber from the directional jet system.
15. 15 . The system as recited in claim 3 , wherein the directional jet system includes a check valve operatively connected to the spin chamber to check the jet orifice in a third position of the directional jet system to stop flow into the spin chamber from the directional jet system below a predetermined pressure.
16. 16 . The system as recited in claim 2 , wherein the drain outlet feeds into a hydromechanical piston valve assembly.
17. 17 . The system as recited in claim 16 , wherein the drain outlet feeds into the hydromechanical piston valve assembly in series with a main flow passage through the hydromechanical piston valve assembly.
18. 18 . The system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising: a feed arm connected in fluid communication with the drain outlet; and a spray nozzle connected in fluid communication with the feed arm downstream of the drain outlet for issuing a spray.
19. 19 . A valve system comprising: a spin chamber having an outlet drain configured to allow flow out of the spin chamber, wherein a main spin surface of the spin chamber is defined around the outlet drain, wherein the spin chamber is circular; and a directional jet system for a fuel in fluid communication with the spin chamber, wherein the directional jet system includes a member that is configured to move between a first position for directing a tangential flow around the drain, and a second position for directing a radial flow toward the drain; wherein the member is at least partially within and at a periphery of the spin chamber.

Description

BACKGROUND 1. Field The present disclosure relates to flow control, and more particularly to flow control such as for controlling flow of fuel in aircraft fuel injection and the like. 2. Description of Related Art Certain valves require only adjustment of the flow over a given range and not complete control, e.g. they do not have to completely close off flow. Some valves have springs with a balanced pressure force to control the open area of the valve. Some valves have integral check valves. Certain valves can be electronically controlled through a solenoid, stepper motor, or the like. Spool valves are currently used in fuel injectors for gas turbine engines to control the flow to a circuit for a given inlet pressure. They can be costly to make because of multiple factors such as the following. They are often made using a carefully toleranced port opening to allow a certain amount of flow for a given pressure. The spool valve is typically match ground with the sleeve to reduce the amount of leakage which bypasses the metering port. On the other hand, electronic solenoid type valves typically need large power forces to overcome flow pressure to adjust the spool window. The conventional techniques have been considered satisfactory for their intended purpose. However, there is an ever present need for improved systems and methods for reliable and cost effective valving, such as for valves used in fuel injectors for gas turbine engines and the like. This disclosure provides a solution for this need. SUMMARY A valve system includes a spin chamber having an outlet drain configured to allow flow out of the spin chamber. A main spin surface of the spin chamber is defined around the outlet drain. A directional jet system is in fluid communication with the spin chamber. The directional jet system includes a member that is configured to move between a first position for directing a tangential flow around the drain, and a second position for directing a radial flow toward the drain. The directional jet system can include a jet orifice that feeds into the spin chamber. The spin chamber may include only one inlet, namely the jet orifice. The spin chamber may include only one outlet, namely the outlet drain. The jet member can include a jet tube. The jet orifice can be defined at an outlet end of the jet tube. The directional jet system can be configured to rotate the jet tube to direct the jet orifice more toward a periphery of the spin chamber in the first position relative to the second position. The directional jet system can be configured to rotate the jet tube to direct the jet orifice more toward the drain outlet in the second position relative to the first position. The directional jet system can include one or more inlets configured to feed into the jet tube configured to supply fluid to the jet orifice. The directional jet system can include a rotational actuator operatively connected to rotate the jet tube between the first position and the second position. The directional jet system can include a housing with a main inlet in fluid communication with an interior of the housing. The jet tube can include at least one inlet inside the housing in fluid communication to receive flow from the interior of the housing into the jet tube. The rotational actuator can be inside the housing. The rotational actuator can be operatively connected to rotate the jet tube between the first position and the second position around a rotation axis parallel to an axis defined by the drain outlet. The main spin surface can be planar. The main spin surface can be conical, converging towards the drain outlet. The directional jet system can include a housing with a main inlet in fluid communication with an interior of the housing. The jet tube can include at least one inlet inside the housing in fluid communication to receive flow from the interior of the housing into the jet tube. The rotation actuator can be outside of the housing with a shaft extending into housing operatively connected to rotate jet tube inside housing. The main inlet can extend along or parallel to an axis defined by the drain outlet. The rotational actuator can be operatively connected to rotate the jet tube between the first position and the second position around a rotation axis oblique to the axis defined by the drain outlet. The main inlet can extend lateral to an axis defined by the drain outlet. The rotational actuator can be operatively connected to rotate the jet tube between the first position and the second position around a rotation axis oblique to the axis defined by the drain outlet. The directional jet system can include a seal operatively connected to the spin chamber to seal the jet orifice in a third position of the directional jet system to stop flow into the spin chamber from the directional jet system. The directional jet system can include a check valve operatively connected to the spin chamber to check the jet orifice in a third position of th