Hexagonal Containment Housing for Fuel Control LVDT Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
In fuel flow control systems, such as those in gas turbines, maintaining consistent valve operation is crucial for predictable fuel system performance, but existing technologies face challenges in ensuring accurate and consistent feedback for active control valves, leading to potential unpredictability without proper valve control.
Innovation Solution
A containment housing with a hexagonal portion and housing contact flange, featuring an external threaded portion and a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT), is designed to engage with the fuel control housing, providing precise feedback and positioning control through a metering valve assembly, ensuring consistent valve operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a displacement pump is sized to ensure excess flow capacity at all operating conditions, then the fuel system can handle all possible operating conditions, but the pump size and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic fuel flow control through a metering valve assembly with a metering valve spool that can adjust the fuel flow rate in real-time. The LVDT provides continuous feedback on spool position, enabling precise dynamic regulation of fuel flow to match actual engine needs rather than providing excess capacity through a larger pump
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the flow rate parameter dynamically through the metering valve assembly. By adjusting the spool position within the metering valve sleeve, the system can vary the fuel flow rate to match operating conditions, replacing the need for a oversized pump with fixed excess capacity
2Reliability
If accurate and consistent feedback is provided for active control valves, then valve operation becomes consistent and predictable, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates an LVDT (linear variable differential transformer) that provides continuous feedback on the metering valve spool position. This feedback signal is used to accurately control the valve position and ensure consistent, predictable fuel flow regulation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical feedback linkages with an electrical sensing system using an LVDT. This electromagnetic transducer converts mechanical displacement into an electrical signal, providing accurate feedback with simpler mechanics compared to traditional mechanical feedback systems
3Measurement precision
If the containment housing provides precise positioning and engagement for the LVDT and fuel control housing, then feedback accuracy improves, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The containment housing includes pre-formed external threaded portions and hexagonal portions that are manufactured with precise dimensions and thread specifications. These features are prepared in advance during manufacturing to ensure proper engagement and positioning when the housing is assembled with the fuel control housing and LVDT
Solution Approach 2:
The containment housing is designed as a separate, modular component with distinct features (hexagonal portion for tool engagement, external threaded portions for mounting, internal threaded portion for LVDT reception). This segmentation allows each feature to be optimized and manufactured independently, then assembled as a complete unit, distributing the precision requirements across multiple discrete features rather than requiring all surfaces to be perfectly precise
Data Source
AI summary
A containment housing includes a hexagonal portion configured to receive a linear variable differential transformer. The containment housing also includes a housing contact flange adjacent to the hexagonal portion. The housing contact flange has a flange face. The containment housing further includes an external threaded portion formed between the flange face and a containment housing end. The external threaded portion is configured to engage a fuel control housing portion of a fuel control. A length is defined between the flange face and the containment housing end, and a ratio of the length to a width of the housing contact flange is between 8.22 and 8.94.