Methods and apparatus for regulating gas turbine engine fluid flow

Abstract

A method enables a gas turbine engine to be operated. The method includes directing fluid flow from a source into an inlet of a valve, channeling the fluid flow entering an inlet portion of the valve towards an outlet portion of the valve such that a direction of the fluid flow is changed within the inlet portion, and controlling the amount of fluid flow entering the outlet portion of the valve by selectively positioning a valve disk coupled within the inlet portion of the valve by a valve disk axle. The method also comprises channeling the fluid flow from the inlet portion of the valve through the outlet portion of the valve and into a fluid supply pipe, wherein the valve outlet portion has a substantially right cylindrical shape such that a direction of fluid entering the body outlet portion remains substantially constant therethrough.

1. A valve for use with a gas turbine engine, said valve comprising a valve body comprising an inlet portion and an outlet portion, said inlet portion extending from a valve inlet to said body outlet portion, said body outlet portion forming a substantially right cylinder extending from said inlet portion to a valve outlet such that a direction of fluid flowing within aid body outlet portion remains substantially unchanged between said body inlet portion an said outlet, said inlet portion comprising a valve disk and at least one bend formed between said body outlet portion and said valve inlet such that a direction of fluid entering said valve body through said valve inlet is changed prior to entering said body outlet portion, said valve disk pivotally coupled within said inlet portion for controlling fluid flow through said valve, said body outlet portion comprises a centerline axis of symmetry, and a piston assembly housed therein, at least a portion of said piston assembly is translatable in a direction that is substantially parallel to a direction of fluid flowing through said body outlet portion. 
     
     
       2. A valve in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said inlet portion valve disk is rotatably coupled by a valve disk axle such that said valve disk is rotatable between an open position and a closed position. 
     
     
       3. A valve in accordance with  claim 2  wherein said inlet portion valve disk is within said inlet portion at least one bend. 
     
     
       4. A valve in accordance with  claim 2  wherein said valve disk axle comprises a first end and a second end, only one of said first end and said second end extends through a sidewall defining said valve body inlet portion. 
     
     
       5. A valve in accordance with  claim 2  wherein said inlet portion valve disk axle is substantially perpendicular said body outlet centerline axis of symmetry. 
     
     
       6. A valve in accordance with  claim 2  wherein said piston assembly further comprises a biasing mechanism for biasing said valve disk in the closed position. 
     
     
       7. A valve in accordance with  claim 2  wherein said piston assembly further comprises a locking mechanism for securing said valve disk in at least one of said open position and said closed position. 
     
     
       8. A gas turbine engine valve comprising a valve body comprising an inlet portion and an outlet portion, said inlet portion extending from a valve inlet to said body outlet portion, at least one of said body outlet portion and said body inlet portion forming a substantially right cylinder, such that a direction of fluid flowing therethrough remains substantially unchanged, at least one of said inlet portion and said outlet portion comprising a valve disk pivotally coupled therein for controlling fluid flow through said valve, said remaining other portion comprising a piston assembly housed therein, at least a portion of said piston assembly is translatable in a direction that is substantially parallel to a direction of fluid flowing through said valve, said piston assembly comprises a locking mechanism for securing said valve disk in at least one of said  an open position and said  a closed position, said locking mechanism is rotatably coupled to said valve body. 
     
     
       9. A gas turbine engine valve in accordance with  claim 8  wherein said valve disk is rotatably coupled by a valve disk axle such that said valve disk is rotatable between an open position and a closed position. 
     
     
       10. A gas engine turbine valve in accordance with  claim 9  wherein said valve disk axle comprises a first end and a second end, only one of said first end and said second end extends through a sidewall extending circumferentially around said valve disk. 
     
     
       11. A gas engine turbine valve in accordance with  claim 8  wherein said piston assembly further comprises a biasing mechanism for biasing said valve disk in the closed position. 
     
     
       12. A valve for use with a gas turbine engine, said valve comprising an inlet, an outlet, an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and a valve disk coupled between said valve outlet and said valve inlet for controlling fluid flow through said valve, said inlet portion comprising at least one bend formed between said outlet portion and said inlet such that a direction of fluid entering said valve through said inlet is changed prior to entering said outlet portion, said inlet portion and said outlet portion each comprise a centerline axis extending therethrough, one of said inlet portion and said outlet portion comprises a piston assembly housed therein, said piston assembly is translatable along one of said inlet portion centerline axis and said outlet portion centerline axis. 
     
     
       13. A valve in accordance with  claim 12  wherein a center of gravity of said piston assembly is located along one of said inlet portion centerline axis and said outlet portion centerline axis. 
     
     
       14. A valve in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said piston assembly center of gravity remains substantially along said centerline axis during operation of said piston assembly. 
     
     
       15. A valve in accordance with  claim 12  wherein said piston assembly is translatable in a direction that is substantially parallel to a direction of fluid flowing through said outlet portion. 
     
     
       16. A valve in accordance with  claim 12  wherein said piston assembly facilitates reducing bending stresses induced to said valve body. 
     
     
       17. A valve in accordance with  claim 12  wherein said piston assembly comprises an actuator system coupled to said valve disk for controlling fluid flow through said valve, said valve disk is pivotally coupled within one of said inlet portion and said outlet portion. 
     
     
       18. A valve in accordance with  claim 17  further comprising a valve disk axle extending from said valve disk through a sidewall defining one of said inlet portion and said outlet portion to said actuator system, said axle is substantially perpendicular to said outlet portion centerline. 
     
     
       19. A valve in accordance with  claim 12  wherein said outlet portion forms a substantially right cylinder extending from said inlet portion to said valve outlet, said outlet portion sized to receive an inner cylinder therein such that said inner cylinder is substantially concentrically aligned with respect to said outlet portion. 
     
     
       20. A valve in accordance with  claim 19  wherein said piston assembly further comprises a biasing mechanism for biasing said valve disk in an open position. 
     
     
       21. A valve in accordance with  claim 19  wherein said piston assembly further comprises a biasing mechanism for biasing said valve disk in a closed position. 
     
     
       22. A valve in accordance with  claim 19  wherein said piston assembly further comprises a biasing mechanism for biasing said valve disk in one of an open position and a closed position, said biasing mechanism extends substantially circumferentially between said valve inner cylinder and said piston assembly. 
     
     
       23. A valve in accordance with  claim 12  wherein said piston assembly further comprises a locking mechanism for securing said valve disk in at least one of an open position and a closed position. 
     
     
       24. A valve for use with a turbine engine, said valve comprising an inlet, an outlet, and a valve body comprising an inlet portion and an outlet portion, said inlet portion extending from said valve inlet to said body outlet portion and comprising a centerline axis extending therethrough, said body outlet portion extending from said body inlet portion to said valve outlet and comprising a centerline axis extending therethrough, one of said inlet portion and said outlet portion comprises a valve disk pivotally coupled therein for controlling fluid flow through said valve, said inlet portion comprising at least one bend formed between said outlet portion and said inlet such that a direction of fluid entering said valve through said inlet is changed prior to entering said outlet portion, one of said body inlet portion and said body outlet portion comprises a piston assembly housed therein and oriented such that a center of gravity of said piston assembly is located along one of said inlet portion centerline axis and said outlet portion centerline axis. 
     
     
       25. A valve in accordance with  claim 24  wherein said piston assembly is translatable in a direction that is substantially parallel to a direction of fluid flowing through said body outlet portion. 
     
     
       26. A valve in accordance with  claim 25  wherein said piston assembly center of gravity remains substantially along one of said inlet portion centerline axis and said outlet portion centerline axis during translation of said piston assembly. 
     
     
       27. A valve in accordance with  claim 24  wherein said piston assembly comprises an actuator system coupled to said valve disk via an axle, said actuator system for controlling rotation of said valve disk from an open position to a closed position. 
     
     
       28. A valve in accordance with  claim 27  wherein said axle remains substantially perpendicular to said outlet portion centerline axis during rotation of said valve disk. 
     
     
       29. A valve in accordance with  claim 24  wherein one of said outlet portion and said inlet portion forms a substantially right cylinder that is sized to receive an inner cylinder therein such that said inner cylinder is substantially concentrically aligned within said right cylinder. 
     
     
       30. A valve in accordance with  claim 29  wherein said piston assembly further comprises a biasing mechanism for biasing said valve disk in a open position, said biasing mechanism extends substantially circumferentially between said valve inner cylinder and said piston assembly. 
     
     
       31. A valve in accordance with  claim 29  wherein said piston assembly further comprises a biasing mechanism for biasing said valve disk in a closed position, said biasing mechanism extends substantially circumferentially between said valve inner cylinder and said piston assembly.