Balanced Poppet Valve Layout for Low-Lag Lightweight Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional valves are bulky and heavy, hindering mobility in applications like pneumatic orthotics and robotics due to their size and weight, and often have significant lag due to their distance from actuating chambers, which is undesirable for fluidic robotics and exoskeletons.
Innovation Solution
A poppet valve system with a balanced configuration, where the poppet head and diaphragm have matching cross-sectional areas to balance forces, and an actuator is placed within the valve cavity for efficient cooling and reduced size, weight, and friction, allowing for faster actuation and lower operating forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If conventional valves are used, then valve function is achieved, but size and weight increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The valve system is divided into separate functional components: a poppet assembly with poppet head and diaphragm, a valve body with integrated actuator, and external cooling system. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing overall weight while maintaining functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator is positioned within the valve cavity, nesting the actuation mechanism inside the valve body. This eliminates the need for external tubing and mounting hardware, substantially reducing the overall valve size and weight while maintaining full valve function.
2Loss of time
If valves are placed far from actuating chambers, then valve operation is simplified, but lag increases between command and pressure effect
Solution Approach 1:
The valve assembly is integrated directly into the actuating chamber by positioning the valve body within the pressure cavity. This merging of valve and actuator locations eliminates tubing connections and reduces the distance between control and execution, eliminating actuation lag while simplifying the overall device structure.
3Weight of moving object
If actuator is placed within valve cavity, then size and weight are reduced, but cooling requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
A cooling fluid serves as an intermediary medium, circulating through channels in the valve body to absorb heat from the actuator. This allows the actuator to be positioned within the valve cavity for weight reduction while the cooling fluid mediates the heat transfer, maintaining actuator temperature within acceptable limits.
4Force
If poppet head and diaphragm have matching cross-sectional areas, then operating forces are reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The design specifies that the poppet head and diaphragm have matching cross-sectional areas, which balances the forces acting on the poppet assembly. This parameter matching reduces the net force required for actuation. The precision requirement is managed through standardized manufacturing processes for common geometric parameters.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The poppet valve system achieves reduced size, weight, and cost while providing faster actuation and improved durability, with efficient cooling and reduced lag, making it suitable for applications where mobility and efficiency are critical.
Implementation Method 1
the actuator is coupled with one or more portion of the valve body via one or more cooling fins, the cooling fins configured to transfer heat generated by the actuator to the valve body and to an external portion of the valve body to cool the actuator
Implementation Method 2
an actuator is disposed in the flow path defined by the poppet valve system and configured to be cooled by fluid moving in the flow path
Implementation Method 3
the poppet head and diaphragm have matching cross-sectional areas such that a valve cavity pressure inside the valve cavity applies substantially the same force on the poppet head as on the diaphragm and balances a force on the poppet assembly due to the valve cavity pressure
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
A poppet valve system that includes a valve body having a first and second end and defining a valve cavity and a poppet assembly extending from the first end to the second end and through the valve cavity. The poppet assembly can include a movable poppet head disposed at the first end of the poppet assembly and configured generate a seal by contacting a portion of the valve body and configured to define an opening between the valve cavity and a pressure cavity. The poppet assembly can also include a movable guiding element disposed at the second end of the valve body and a shaft extending from the first end to the second end and coupled to the poppet head and guiding element.