Conformal Airlock with Flexible Membrane and Ribs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing airlock designs for space operations are inefficient in terms of time, energy consumption, and space usage, particularly in small spacecraft where storage and living space is limited, and they often result in significant air loss during cycles.
Innovation Solution
A conformal airlock assembly with a distal-most rigid rib structure and a flexible, gas-impermeable membrane that forms an interior pocket, along with an actuator system to create a pressure differential, allowing for safe ingress and egress by displacing the membrane and rib structures to create a low-pressure space, reducing the airlock's footprint and improving efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid wall structure airlock is used, then structural integrity is maintained, but the airlock consumes excessive space and time for ingress and egress operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible membrane that can dynamically change shape and volume during airlock operations. The membrane transitions from a compressed state during storage to an expanded state during operations, allowing the airlock volume to adapt to operational requirements rather than maintaining a fixed large volume throughout. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction by providing structural integrity only when and where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The core of the invention is a flexible membrane assembly that replaces traditional rigid wall structures. This flexible membrane can conform to various shapes and sizes, reducing the overall airlock volume while maintaining the necessary barrier function. The membrane's flexibility allows it to be compressed to minimal volume when not in use, directly addressing the space consumption issue while maintaining structural integrity through material properties and support mechanisms.
2Loss of energy
If a rigid chamber airlock is shaped to match the payload, then air loss and energy consumption are reduced, but the airlock is only effective with items of matching size and shape
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane assembly can dynamically reshape itself to match different payloads during airlock operations. Unlike rigid chambers that are fixed in shape, the membrane can conform to various sizes and shapes of items or astronauts, providing both energy efficiency through minimal volume and universal adaptability to different payloads.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible membrane design provides universal compatibility with different payloads (astronauts, equipment, supplies) while maintaining the energy efficiency benefits of shaped airlocks. The membrane can be configured to match any payload shape or size, making the airlock system multi-functional and versatile rather than specialized for a single payload type.
3Loss of substance
If plastic material is used to flood the chamber for air displacement, then air loss is reduced, but excess weight is added and control of the plastic material is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane assembly acts as a lightweight barrier that displaces air without requiring heavy plastic materials. The membrane creates a sealed volume that can be pressurized or evacuated, achieving air loss reduction through controlled pressure differentials rather than physical flooding with heavy materials. This approach dramatically reduces weight while maintaining air loss prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses pneumatic pressure control to manage air displacement and membrane positioning. By controlling pressure differentials across the membrane, the system achieves precise control over the airlock volume and sealing without requiring heavy mechanical control systems or large amounts of plastic material, thus reducing weight while preventing air loss.
4Volume of stationary object
If a conformal airlock assembly is implemented, then space efficiency is improved, but the volumetric space required is still not suitable for extremely small interior spacecraft
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane assembly can be compressed to an extremely small volume when not in use, making it compatible with extremely small interior spacecraft. During operations, the membrane expands to provide the necessary airlock volume. This dynamic volume adjustment allows the same system to work in both extremely compact spacecraft and larger vehicles, providing universal spacecraft size compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible membrane assembly can be nested or folded into a compact configuration that fits within the limited space of extremely small spacecraft. When deployment is required, the membrane unfolds or expands to form the functional airlock volume, providing a nested storage solution that maximizes space utilization in compact spacecraft designs.
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 solution enables rapid and energy-efficient ingress and egress with reduced air loss, accommodating smaller spacecraft volumes and allowing for flexible configuration to fit various shapes, while maintaining structural integrity under severe pressure changes.
Implementation Method 1
A gas displacement system is in flow communication with the interior pocket and is selectively operable to flow air into the interior pocket toward an inflated collapsed condition for the membrane assembly and to flow air out of the interior pocket toward a deflated condition for the membrane assembly
Implementation Method 2
An actuator apparatus is coupled to the distal-most rib structure and is operable to displace the flexible membrane and the plurality of rib structures, in the deflated condition, away from the one side of the support wall toward a displaced condition, creating a low pressure space, until the pressure differential between the low pressure created in the low pressure space and that on the other side of the support wall are sufficiently low so as to enable safe and free opening of the door
Data Source
AI summary
A conformal airlock assembly for ingress and egress through a door from a high pressure environment to a low pressure environment. The airlock assembly includes a flexible, gas impermeable membrane that cooperates with a support wall in an airtight manner to form an interior pocket over the door on one side of the wall, and a distal-most rigid, rib structure generally disposed in said interior pocket. A gas displacement system, in flow communication with the interior pocket, is selectively operable to flow air out of the interior pocket, collapsing the membrane toward a deflated condition. An actuation system coupled to the distal-most rib structure is operable to displace the rib structure and the flexible membrane, in the deflated condition, away from the one side of the support wall, to a displaced condition. Such displacement of the airtight membrane creates a low pressure space in the pocket that is selected to be sufficiently proximate that of the low pressure environment. Hence, the door may be opened to permit ingress and egress therethrough without a large pressure differential.