Bleed Valve With Deflectable Metallic Panel

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bleed valves in turbine engines require regular maintenance due to moving parts that wear out from friction, which can lead to leaks and reduced functionality over time.

Innovation Solution

A bleed valve design featuring a valve body with a deflectable metallic panel and a pressure control device that varies fluid pressure differentials to selectively open or close the valve, eliminating the need for moving parts and reducing maintenance requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If moving parts are used in bleed valves to open and close the valve, then the valve can effectively regulate flow and control surge and stall characteristics, but the moving parts require regular maintenance due to wear and friction over time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalve functionalityVSAvoidmaintenance requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes all moving parts from the valve structure. The panel is directly mounted to the valve body without hinges, sliders, or other mechanical moving components. This elimination of moving parts resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliable flow regulation through pressure differential control while completely eliminating wear and friction-related maintenance issues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of moving parts with a pressure-controlled flexible panel system. Instead of using mechanical components that slide or hinge to open and close the valve, the invention uses a flexible panel that deflects under pressure differential to control flow. This substitution eliminates mechanical wear while maintaining effective valve functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If moving parts are used in bleed valves, then the valve can be controlled to open and close, but the moving parts are subject to friction and wear which reduces their integrity over time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevalve controlVSAvoidparts integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes all moving parts from the valve structure. The panel is directly mounted to the valve body without hinges, sliders, or other mechanical moving components. This elimination of moving parts resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliable flow regulation through pressure differential control while completely eliminating wear and friction-related maintenance issues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a flexible panel made of elastomeric material that deflects under pressure differential to control valve opening and closing. This flexible membrane approach replaces rigid moving parts, providing reliable operation without mechanical wear or friction, thus maintaining both ease of operation and parts integrity over time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Ease of repair

If a flexible panel is used instead of moving parts, then maintenance requirements are reduced, but the valve requires a pressure control device to vary fluid pressure differential

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaintenance requirementsVSAvoidpressure control device
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of moving parts with a pressure-controlled flexible panel system. Instead of using mechanical components that slide or hinge to open and close the valve, the invention uses a flexible panel that deflects under pressure differential to control flow. This substitution eliminates mechanical wear while maintaining effective valve functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses fluid pressure differential control to operate the flexible panel. A pressure control device varies the fluid pressure on one side of the panel to induce deflection and control valve opening and closing. This pneumatic/hydraulic control method eliminates the need for mechanical moving parts and their associated maintenance, trading mechanical complexity for fluid pressure control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution provides a reliable and low-maintenance bleed valve that effectively regulates flow and prevents surge and stall characteristics in compressor sections by using a flexible metallic panel that deflects under fluid pressure, enhancing operational integrity and reducing wear.

Implementation Method 1

a sheet of metallic material extending across the valve chamber, the sheet of metallic material deflectable under fluid pressure between a sealing position blocking the passageway

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid pressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

the sheet of metallic material deflectable under fluid pressure between a sealing position and a bleeding position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Deformation

Data Source

PatentEP4261443A1Actively controlled bleed valve
Publication Date: 2023.10.18 PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP
  • EP4261443A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4261443A1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP4261443A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A bleed valve (20) has a valve body (21) enclosing a valve chamber (23) defining a passageway (24) between an inlet port (25) and an outlet port (26). A panel (27) is mounted into the valve body (21). The panel (27) is deflectable under fluid pressure between a sealing position blocking the passageway (24) when the bleed valve (20) is in a close state, and a bleeding position allowing fluid flow communication between the inlet port (25) and the outlet port (26) when the bleed valve (20) is an open state. A pressure control device (30) is provided to vary a fluid pressure differential between opposite sides of the panel (27) within the valve chamber (23) and selectively open or close the bleed valve (20).