Describing device for changing flow rate of fluid in duct in response to change in temperatur

Tomlinson, L. E.

English

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Marshall 
REPLt FO 
ATTN OF. Gp 
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION 
N 
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N?'1 -19213 
(ACCESSION NUMBER) - (THRU) I 
5 2 LL (NASA CR OR T M X d U M B E R )  (CATEGORY) 
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uSI/scientif ic 61 Teahnical ZnEormatrton DLv&u&on 
ACIkiamtXOYnr M A B ~  Wlnnis M. Morgan 
~ ~ / ~ f f i c e  of Assi96apt General.Counse1 for 
Patent Matters 
% 
SUBJECT: Announcement of NASA-Owned U. 8. Patents i n  STAR 
In  accordance with the procedures agreed upon by Code GP 
and Code USI, the attached ~AS~-owned U. 8 .' Patant Is MLng 
forwarded f o r  abstract ing and announcement i n  NASA STAR- 
. 
The following infomaClw ir provided, 
U. S. Patent No. 
Government o r  
Corporate Employee 
., . 8 3,536,103 
North American Rockwell Corporation 
Rocketdyne Division 
r Canoga Park, California 91304 
Supplementary Corporate 
Source ( i f .  applicable) t 
NASA Patent Case No. 
NOTE - If t h i s  patent  covers an invention made by a corporate 
employee of a NASA Contractor, the  following is applicable t 
yes 0 NO 
Pursuant t o  Section 305(a) of the National Aeronautics and 
Space Act, the name of the Administrator of NASA appears on 
the f i r s t  page of tihe patent3 however, the name of the actual  
inventor (author) appears a t  the heading of Column No. 1 of 
- _the Specification,  following respect to 
an i n  E F  
2'4 - 1. 
Elizabeth A, 
~ n c l o s u r e  
Copy of Patent aited above 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19710009738 2020-03-17T02:43:17+00:00Z
Patented Oct. 27, 1970 
7-- 
INVENTOR 
LLOYD E. TOMLINSON 
ATTORNEYS 
United States Patent 1111 3,536,103 
I 
1721 Inventors T. 0. Paine ' [561 References Cited 
Acting Administrator of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration with UNITED STATES PATENTS 
........................... 
respect to an invention of Lloyd E. 2,473,069 611 949 Niks 138/42X 
........................ Tomlinson, Woodland Hills, California 2,612,747 1011952 Skinner 138145X , 
. 3,016,921 111962 Tadewald ..................... 138142X , 91364: . - - -  
Lloyd E. Tomlinson, Woodland Hills, Prirrlary Exarilir~er-Edgar W.  Geoghegan 
California 91364 At~orneys-  L. D. Wofford, Jr., W. H. Riggins and G .  T. 
[21] Appl. No. 787,410 I McCoy 
[22] Filed Dec. 27,1968 I 
[45] Patented Oct. 27,1970 
, ABSTRACT: A device for changing the flow rate of a fluid in a ' 
duct in response to a change in temperature. The device per- 
mits a uniform flow through a fixed orifice in the duct and a 
variable flow through hole; in the walls of two nested metallic 
iS4] TEMPERATURE SENSITIVE ' sleeves of truncated cone structure. The device is constructed 
11 Claims, 1 Drawing Fig. of metallic materials having different thermal expansions ar- 
. .  [52] U.S. CI ...................................................... 138143 ranged to cause the sleevesjo slide and change dkimeter rela- 
[S l ]  Int. CI ...................................................... F15d 1/02 ' tive to each other in response to temperature changes. The 
............................................ [SO] Field of Search 138143, 42, relative movement of the sleeves varies the amount of flow 
114 space area through the walls of the sleeves. 
3,536,103 
1 2 
TEMPERATURE SENSITIVE FLOW REGULATOR of the duct produced, for example, by a change in the teni- 
perature of the fluid flowing through the duct. The flow 
ORIGIN OF INVENTION through the duct is from left to right as indicated in the draw- 
The invention described herein was made in the per- ing. 
formance of work under a NASA contract and is subject to the The flow regulator 13 comprises an outer tubular segment 
provisions of section 305 of the ~ ~ ~ i ~ ~ ~ l  ~~~~~ ~~i~~ and 15 and an inner tubular segment 17 such that these two seg- 
space of 1958, public L~~ 35-568 (72 stat, 435; 42 ments form a continuation of the duct wall in the vicinity of 
U.S.C. 2457). the flow regulator. The upstream end of the inner tubular seg- 
ment 17 is at 19 welded end-to-end to the wall of the duct 11, 
1 .  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION and the upstream cnd of the outer tubular segment 15 has a 
This invention relates generally to flow control deviccs and thickened portion 21 that is welded at 22 to the inner tubular 
segment 17. The thickened portion 21 produces a slight space 
more particularly to a device for changing the flow rate of a 23 between the tubular segments and 17. fluid through a duct in response to changes in tcmperature. 
Temperature responsive valves and flow regulating deviccs 15 The downstream end of the outer tubular segment 15 has an 
annular flange 25 that is directed inwardly and welded at 26 to 
are known in the prior art and arc used in various facilities as- 
sociated with industries such as the petroleum, gas and the end portion of a first sleeve 27. The downstream end of the 
refrigeration industries. However, prior devices of this nature inner tubular segment 17 is welded at 29 to a second sleeve 
are rather elaborate and complex in that they require special 31. 
temperature sensing elements and special actuators to effect 20 . 'Ieeves 27 and 31 are Of a truncated 'One shape taper- 
the increase or decrease in flow space. Thus, there is a general lng in the upstream direction' 
need for a simplified, self contained temperature responsive The sleeves are nested together with the sleeve 27 being 
flow regulating device; that is, one that does not require the in- f~tted within the sleeve 31. The downstream end of the sleeve 
corporation of special sensing elemcnts and power sources. A 27 is at 32 welded end-to-end with the duct Near the 
particular application for a self contained, temperature 25 downstream end of the 27 the duct has a 'Orru- 
responsive flow regulator is in the field of rocket engines gated or bellows-like section 33 formed in the duct wall for the 
wherein certain instances it is desirable to vary the flow rate of pUrPoSe of for and 
gases in an engine ducting system in to variations in produced by the flow control regulator 13 as will hc described 
the temperature of the gases. hereinafter. The slecvcs 27 and 31 are open at both ends with 30 the smaller end of the inner sleeve 27 bcing turned in slightly 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION at 35 to define an orifice 37 
The wall of the inner slecve 27 has a scrics of longitudinally 
The invention comprises a pair of conical slcevcs that pro- spqccd annu la r  grooves 39 In outer surface thereof, ject into a flow duct, tapering inwardly from the wall of the Spaced circumferentially around thc wall of the sleeve 27 are duct in the upstream direction. The sidewalls of the tapcrcd 35 groups of holes 41 that coincide with the grooves 39 in 
sleeves are ~rovided with groups of holes, and grooves extend gitudinal spacing, forming rows of holes long~tudinally of thc between and communicate with pairs holes. The sleeve. The dianlctcr of the holes 41 1s somewhat less than the 
grooves and holes in one sleeve are offset but in near ovcr- width of the grooves 39, l n  embodiment illustrated the lapping relatiionship with respective groovcs and holes in the groups of holes 41 comprise three holes located at each 
adjacent sleeve. The sleeves and associated elcments are niade 40 groove and with the groups being circumferentially 
of metallic materials having different thermal expansion pro- on 
perties, and the materials are selected and arranged so that a 
~ h ,  outer sleebc 31 has longitudinally spaced grooves 43 
change in temperature causes the sleeves to slidc and change formed in the inner wall surface and has holes 45 in the wal l  diameter relative to each other. This relative movemcnt of the arranged in the sanle manner as the holes i n  the inner sleeve 
sleeves due to a change in temperature causcs the grooves in 45 27. ~h~ centers of holes and grooves in the 27 are 
the walls Of the 'Ieeves between a position of offsct, respectively, with the centers of the holes and grooves 
minimum overlap and a position of niaximum overlap with in the sleeve 31 areas of the holes and 
each and causes a change in  the Of space grooves are in near-overlapping relationship. The offset of the 
between the adjacent Of the two sleeves. Overlapping holes 41 and 45 is in the direction transversly of the sleeves 27 
the holes will also occur if the movement of the sleeves is suffi- 50 and 31. The holes in each of the sleeves arc aligned in the 
ciently large. Thus, the fluid flow through thc walls of the direction longitudinally of the sleeves. 
sleeves changes as the temperature changes. As may be understood from the description thus far, when 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to pro- fluid is flowing in the duct l l  from left to right a uniform flow 
vide an improved temperature responsive flow control device rate is permitted through the fixed orifice 37 in  the end of the 
that is self contained and free of external sensing elements or 55 inner sleeve 27. It is also apparent that additional flow would 
power sources. be permitted through the walls of the sleeves 27 and 31 if Another object of the invention is to provide a flow control these sleeves were shifted relative to each other longitudinally device for installation in a duct that permits a fixed minimum to broduce a degree of overlapping of the grooves 39 and 43. 
flow plus an additional 'Ow that changes in to 60 Flow through the sleeves 27 and 31 would also be increased if 
changes in temperature. 
These and other objects and advantages of the invention the amount of separation between the surfaces of the sleeves 27 and 31 is increased. The drawing illustrates the condition 
will beocme apparent upon reference to the following specifi- 1 cation, attendant claims and drawing. of minimum flow through the duct 1 1  since there is no over- lapping of the grooves and there is a minimum space between BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 65 the surfaces of the sleeves 27 and 31. In the disclosed embodi- ment the holes 41 and 45 are of less diameter than the width of The drawing shows a view through a duct the grooves 39 and 43, so that the grooves will overlap before 
having the temperature sensitive flow regulator of the present any overlapping of the holes occurs, permitting fluid flow 
invention installed therein. through the holes 45, within the grooves, and then through the 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMEN.r 70 holes 41. However, if the sleeves shift enough to produce 
overlapping of the holes 41 and 45 fluid flow will also occur 
Referring to the drawing, a fluid conducting duct 1 1  has directly through the overlapping area of the holes. 
temperature sensitive flow regulator 13 installed therein. The The variation in the amount of overlapping of the grooves 
purpose of the flow regulator 13 is to change the flow rate of 39 and 43, and the holes 41 and 45, as well as the variation in 
fluid through the duct in response to a change in temperature 75 the amount of space between the surfaces of the sleeves 27 
3,536,103 
3 4 
and 31, is effected by the difference in the thermal expansion thereby varying the fluid flow permitted through said ele- 
of the metallic materials used to construct the respective ele- ments; and 
ments of the flow control regulator. The outer tubular seg- h. said means for producing sliding movement including 
ment 15 is made of a corrosive resistant steel having a coeffi- thermal expansion characteristics of selected parts of said 
cient of thermal expansion of 10 X 10" in/in OF. The inner 5 flow control regulator 
sleeve 27 is constructed of a metallic material, such as invar, 2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said means 
having a relatively low coefficient of thermal expansion of 1 x for producing sliding movement further includes means for ef- 
lo-" inlin "F (the material having a relatively high thermal ex- fecting a minimum space between said surfaces when said 
pansion is illustrated with widely spaced cross hatching while grOOVCS are in a position of minimum overlap and a maximum 
the material having a relativelv low thermal exoansion is illus- 10 space between said surfaces when said grooves are in a posi- 
trated with close cross hatching). The inner thbular segnicnt tion of maximum overlap. 3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said wall ele- 17 is made of the same material as the inner sleeve 27, i.r. in- 
ments comprise inner and outer nested conical sleeves 
var, and the outcr sleeve 31 to which the inner tubular scg- disposed longitudinally of said duct, the diverging ends of said 
ment 17 is welded is made of the same material as the outcr tu- being joined to the wall of said duct, bular segment 15, i.e. a corrosive resistance steel having a 4, The invention as defined in claim wherein the converg- 
coefficient of thermal expansion ten times greater than the in- ing ends of said conical sleeves define a truncated conical 
var. plane, said converging ends forming an opening, said holes 
When the temperature in the the flow regu1ator being arranged in longitudinal rows in the walls of said sleeves, increases, the outer tubular segment 15 will increase in lcngth 20 said grooves extending annularly around the walls of said 
substantially more than will the inner tubular segment 17 and sleeves, 
the inner sleeve 27. This will result in thc inner sleeve 27 bcing 5 .  ~h~ invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said duct 
shifted to the right or toward the compensating bcllows-like a closed tube, inner and outer tubular segments 
section 33, and overlapping of the grooves 39 and 43 in the forming a portion of said tube in the vicinity of said conical 
respective sleeves 27 and 31 will occur. O v e r l a ~ ~ i n g  of the 25 sleeves, said outer segment being joined to said inner sleeve. 
holes 41 and 45 will also occur if the temperature incrcascs is said inner segment being joined to said outer sleeve, 
sufficiently large. An increase in temperature will also cause a 6.  The invention as defined in 5 outcr 
greater increase in the length of thc outer sleeve 31 than in the segment has a coefficient of thermal expansion greater than 
length of the inner sleeve 27 resulting in additional relative the coefficient of thermal expansion of said inner segment, 
sliding in opposite directions of the sleeves 27 and 31. In addi- 30 7. The invention as defined in claim 6 wrherein said outcr 
tion to this relative sliding of the sleeves 27 and 31 in opposite slcevc has a greater coefficient of thermal expansion than said 
direction to effect overlapping of the grooves and holes in the inner slceve. 
walls of the respective slecves, the space bctwcen the surfaces 8, The invention as defined in claim 6 including means in- 
of the sleeves is increased by an increase in temperature since cotporated in said duct for compensating for cxpansion and 
the outer sleeve 31 expands more than the inner slecve 27. 3s contraction of said outcr tubular scgment. 
This expansion increases the diameter of the outer sleeve 31 9. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein the cocffi- 
relative to the inner sleeve 24 and increases the space betlvcen cient of thermal expansion of said outer tubular segment is at 
the surfaces of the sleeves permitting more flow between these least ten times greater than the coefficient of thermal expan- 
surfaces including the surfaces of the grooves 39 and 43. sion of said inner tubular segment. 
I claim: 40 10. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said inner 
' 1. A temperature sensitive flow regulator for controlling the and outer segments comprise thc wall of said duct from thc 
flow rate of a fluid through a duct comprising: diverging end of said sleeves to a point beyond the converging 
a. a first flow control wall elemcnt having a portion thercof ends of said sleeves. 
disposed in the fluid flow path of said duct; 11. A temperature sensitive flow regulator for controlling 
b. a second flow control wall element having a portion 45 the flow rate of a fluid through a duct comprising: 
thereof disposed in the fluid flow path of said duct; a. a first flow control wall element having a portion thereof 
c. said portions of said wall elements being substantially disposed in the fluid flow path of said duct; 
parallel, a surface of one of said portions being opposite b. a second flow control wall element having a portion 
and contiguous with a surface of the other of said ele- thereof disposed in the fluid flow path of said duct; 
ments; 50 C. said portions of said wall elements bcing substantailly 
d. each of said portions having a plurality of holes parallel, a surfacc of one of said portions being opposite 
therethrough; and contiguous with a surface of the other said elements; d. each of said portions having a hole therethrough; 
e. grooves being formed in said opposite surfaces of said ele- e,  the centers of said holes in said elements being offset 
ments and extending between and communicating with 55 transversely of said wall elements with peripheral areas of 
said holes; said holes being at least in near-overlapping relationship; 
f. the centers of said holes and grooves in one of said ele- f. temperature responsive means for producing sliding 
ments being offset, respectively, with said holes and movement between said contiguous portions of said ele- 
grooves in the other of said elements with peripheral ments to move said offset holes between a position of 
areas of said grooves being in near-overlapping relation- 60 minimum overlap and a position of maximum overlap 
ship; thereby varying the fluid flow permitted through said ele- 
g. temperature responsive means for producing sliding ments; and 
movement between said contiguous portions of said ele- g. said means for producing sliding movement including 
ments to move said offset grooves between a position of thermal expansion characteristics of selected parts of said 
minimum overlap and a position of maximum overlap 65 flow control regulator. 


Temperature sensitive flow regulator Patent

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