Air Gate Seal Assembly for Leak-Tight Aircraft ECS Isolation Valves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing environmental control systems in aircraft lack an efficient valve configuration to coordinate air flow effectively between compressors, leading to potential air leakage and inefficiencies in air cycle machines.
Innovation Solution
An isolation valve with a movable air gate and a seal assembly that conforms to the housing internal surface, allowing selective blocking of air flow to specific outlets and preventing leakage, is introduced. The valve is actuated to control air flow between tandem air cycle machines, ensuring sealed connections and efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional valve configuration is used in environmental control systems, then the system structure is simple, but air leakage occurs and air flow coordination efficiency is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is divided into a first valve body and a second valve body, with each having independent outlets (first outlet and second outlet). This segmentation allows independent control of air flow to different compressors while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. The air gate is also segmented to correspond with each outlet, enabling precise flow coordination without requiring a completely complex valve design.
Solution Approach 2:
A seal assembly is introduced as an intermediary component between the air gate and the housing internal surface. This seal assembly includes a seal that contacts the internal surface to prevent air leakage, while the actuator operates the air gate independently. The intermediary seal allows the system to achieve high sealing efficiency without requiring the entire valve structure to be overly complex.
2Reliability
If no seal assembly is used, then the valve structure is simpler, but air leakage occurs around the air gate
Solution Approach 1:
A seal assembly is introduced as an intermediary component between the air gate and the housing internal surface. This seal assembly includes a seal that contacts the internal surface to prevent air leakage, while the actuator operates the air gate independently. The intermediary seal allows the system to achieve high sealing efficiency without requiring the entire valve structure to be overly complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal is configured to conform to the shape of the housing internal surface, suggesting a flexible sealing element that can adapt to the housing geometry. This flexible seal effectively prevents air leakage around the moving air gate without requiring a complex rigid sealing structure.
3Productivity
If air flow coordination between compressors is not optimized, then the valve operation is simpler, but air flow efficiency and system performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is divided into a first valve body and a second valve body, with each having independent outlets (first outlet and second outlet). This segmentation allows independent control of air flow to different compressors while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. The air gate is also segmented to correspond with each outlet, enabling precise flow coordination without requiring a completely complex valve design.
Solution Approach 2:
The air gate is configured to be movable between different positions (first position, second position, and neutral position) to dynamically control air flow distribution. This dynamic capability allows the valve to efficiently coordinate air flow to one or more compressors based on system requirements, achieving high productivity without excessive structural complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
An isolation valve comprising: a housing (202) having an internal surface (204) within the housing, the internal surface having a first outlet (221) and second outlet (222); an air gate (250) having an outward face opposite the internal surface, the air gate located within the housing and configured to move to at least one of a first position blocking flow to the first outlet, a neutral position blocking flow to neither the first outlet nor second outlet, and a second position blocking flow to the second outlet; a seal groove (254) located on the outward face of the air gate; a seal (410) located within seal groove, the seal configured to form a sealed connection with the internal surface around at least one of the first outlet when in the first position and the second outlet when in the second position; and a retainer (420) configured to secure the seal within the seal groove using a fastening mechanism.