Telescoping Fluid Porting Tube for Compact Electro-Hydraulic Engine Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electro-hydraulic control systems for aircraft turbine engines are inefficient in controlling the movement of secondary structures like variable area fan nozzles, as they often require bulky and heavy mechanical systems, which can hinder compact and lightweight design requirements.
Innovation Solution
An electro-hydraulic control system utilizing a power actuator, a telescoping fluid porting tube, and a control valve to manage fluid flow between engine structures, allowing for precise movement of third structures like nozzle slats, using a compact and lightweight setup that avoids the need for electro-mechanical systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bulky mechanical systems are used for controlling movement of secondary structures, then reliability of control is improved, but weight and size of the system increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces bulky mechanical control systems with an electro-hydraulic control system that uses fluid pressure to actuate the power actuator. The control valve directs hydraulic fluid through the telescoping porting tube to the power actuator, eliminating the need for heavy mechanical linkages and gears while maintaining reliable control of the secondary structure movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a hydraulic control system where fluid pressure is used to drive the power actuator. The control valve regulates hydraulic fluid flow to the power actuator chamber, and the telescoping porting tube delivers the fluid under pressure. This hydraulic approach provides reliable force multiplication and control with significantly reduced weight compared to mechanical systems.
2Strength
If traditional mechanical systems are used, then structural strength is maintained, but device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes complex mechanical transmission systems with a streamlined electro-hydraulic system. The control valve and power actuator directly convert hydraulic pressure into linear motion, eliminating multiple mechanical stages such as gears, belts, or linkages. This reduction in mechanical complexity while maintaining structural strength allows for a more compact and lightweight design.
3Weight of moving object
If compact design is implemented, then weight and size are reduced, but fluid porting capability between moveable structures becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a telescoping porting tube that can dynamically extend and retract based on the relative position of the first and second structures. When the structures move apart, the tube telescopes outward to maintain fluid connection; when they move closer, the tube retracts. This dynamic adaptation allows the compact hydraulic system to maintain reliable fluid porting capability throughout the full range of motion without requiring excessive length or complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The telescoping porting tube utilizes a nested construction where one tube section is inserted within another, allowing the fluid conduit to compactly accommodate variable lengths. The inner tube can slide within the outer tube, enabling the porting tube to extend when needed for fluid connection and retract to a compact size when not in use, thus solving the space constraint issue in compact designs.
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
Enables the compact and lightweight movement of engine structures, such as variable area fan nozzles, by using a telescoping fluid porting tube and control valve to efficiently direct fluid flow, enhancing the engine's thrust control and reducing structural load.
Implementation Method 1
a control valve for controlling flow of the fluid through the telescoping fluid porting tube to the power actuator for effecting movement of the third structure
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an electro-hydraulic control system (10) for controlling the movement of a third structure (18) of an engine using a power actuator (26) mountable to the third structure (18), a telescoping fluid porting tube (24) for porting a fluid to the power actuator (26) and a control valve (22) for controlling the flow of movement to effect the movement of the third structure (18). In this way, the third structure (18), such as a nozzle slat of an engine, may be moved via a compact and lightweight electro-hydraulic system.