IP Library Granted Patent US 9,903,277
Granted Patent B2
US 9,903,277 · App. 13/743,623 · Granted Feb 27, 2018

Method for monitoring a fuel circuit shut-off valve

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,903,277
App. No.
13/743,623
Granted
Feb 27, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a method for monitoring the operation of a fuel circuit shut-off valve comprising an LPSOV, a flow regulator, the shut-off valve, characterised in that it comprises: a step for ordering ( 30 ) the closure of the valves; a step for measuring ( 32 ) the fuel flow rate in the circuit qui carried out before the LPSOV is completely closed; and a diagnostic step ( 34 ) consisting of determining that said shut-off valve is defective if the fuel flow rate measured is not equal to zero and determining that said shut-off valve is operating correctly if the fuel flow rate measured is zero.

Claims (28)

1. A method for monitoring the operation of a high pressure shut-off valve (HPSOV) of an aircraft turbine engine fuel circuit, the circuit comprising, from upstream to downstream in the direction of fuel circulation, a low-pressure pump, a Low Pressure Shut-Off Valve (LPSOV), a high-pressure pump, a metering valve, said HPSOV, and a device for measuring the fuel flow rate in the circuit, wherein a LPSOV closing time is greater than a closing time of said HPSOV, and wherein a closing rate of the HPSOV is greater than a closing rate of the LPSOV, the method comprising:

ordering closure of the LPSOV, the metering valve, and the HPSOV in the fuel circuit;

ordering opening of the metering valve;

measuring fuel flow rate in the fuel circuit carried out before the LPSOV is completely closed; and

diagnosing the HPSOV including determining that said HPSOV is defective if the fuel flow rate measured is not equal to zero and determining that said HPSOV is operating correctly if the fuel flow rate measured is zero.

2. The monitoring method according to claim 1 , wherein, if said HPSOV is determined to be defective, the method further comprises ordering closure of the metering valve.

3. The monitoring method according to claim 1 , wherein the ordering the opening of the metering valve includes ordering the opening of the metering valve so as to enable the flow of a predetermined fuel flow rate.

4. The monitoring method according to claim 1 , wherein the ordering the closure of the LPSOV, the metering valve, and the HPSOV is carried out following a start-up sequence in which an electronic computer of the turbine engine is started up, and the start-up sequence includes inducing the ordering closure of each of the LPSOV, the metering valve, and the HPSOV.

5. The monitoring method according to claim 4 , wherein the diagnosing is carried out by the electronic computer and the ordering the opening of the metering valve is carried out after the start-up sequence.

6. An aircraft turbine engine fuel circuit comprising, from upstream to downstream in a direction of fuel circulation, a low-pressure pump, a low pressure shut-off valve (LPSOV), a high-pressure pump, a metering valve, a high pressure shut-off valve (HPSOV), a device for measuring the fuel flow rate in the fuel circuit, and an electronic control computer,

wherein a LPSOV closing time is greater than a closing time of said HPSOV,

wherein a closing rate of the HPSOV is greater than a closing rate of the LPSOV, and

wherein the electronic control computer is configured to

order closure of the LPSOV, the metering valve, and the HPSOV in the fuel circuit;

order opening of the metering valve;

measure fuel flow rate in the fuel circuit carried out before the LPSOV is completely closed; and

diagnose the HPSOV including deteii lining that said HPSOV is defective if the fuel flow rate measured is not equal to zero and determining that said HPSOV is operating correctly if the fuel flow rate measured is zero.

7. A fuel circuit according to claim 6 , wherein the device for measuring the flow rate includes a mass flow meter.

8. An aircraft turbine engine comprising:

a fuel circuit comprising, from upstream to downstream in a direction of fuel circulation, a low-pressure pump, a low pressure shut-off valve (LPSOV), a high-pressure pump, a metering valve, a high pressure shut-off valve (HPSOV), and a device for measuring the fuel flow rate in the fuel circuit; and

an electronic control computer,

wherein a LPSOV closing time is greater than a closing time of said HPSOV,

wherein a closing rate of the HPSOV is greater than a closing rate of the LPSOV, and

wherein the electronic control computer is configured to

order closure of the LPSOV, the metering valve, and the HPSOV in the fuel circuit;

order opening of the metering valve;

measure fuel flow rate in the fuel circuit carried out before the LPSOV is completely closed; and

diagnose the HPSOV including determining that said HPSOV is defective if the fuel flow rate measured is not equal to zero and determining that said HPSOV is operating correctly if the fuel flow rate measured is zero.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE COVER SHEET TO REMOVE APPLICATION NOS. 10250419, 10786507, 10786409, 12416418, 12531115, 12996294, 12094637 12416422 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 046479 FRAME 0807. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Aug 24, 2018
From: SNECMA
To: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
Reel/Frame 046939/0336 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 23, 2018
From: SNECMA
To: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
Reel/Frame 046479/0807 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 17, 2013
From: ANDRE, BRICE; AYRAULT, VIRGINIE; GAULLY, BRUNO ROBERT
To: SNECMA
Reel/Frame 029649/0670 →