Active combustion flow modulation valve

US8540209B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• University of Pittsburgh—Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education · US

Inventors

• John Peter Hensel · Morgantown, US
• Nathaniel Black · Vancouver, US
• Jimmy Dean Thorton · Morgantown, US
• Jeffrey S. Vipperman · Pittsburgh, US
• David Lambeth · Pittsburgh, US
• William W. Clark · Wexford, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 15, 2011
• Grant date: Sep 24, 2013
• Expiry date: Mar 21, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F16K31/0679
• WIPO field: Mechanical elements
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A flow modulation valve has a slidably translating hollow armature with at least one energizable coil wound around and fixably attached to the hollow armature. The energizable coil or coils are influenced by at least one permanent magnet surrounding the hollow armature and supported by an outer casing. Lorentz forces on the energizable coils which are translated to the hollow armature, increase or decrease the flow area to provide flow throttling action. The extent of hollow armature translation depends on the value of current supplied and the direction of translation depends on the direction of current flow. The compact nature of the flow modulation valve combined with the high forces afforded by the actuator design provide a flow modulation valve which is highly responsive to high-rate input control signals.