Cryogenic Vacuum Valve Assembly Without Thread Sealants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cryogenic vacuum insulated systems require additional components for evacuation, sealing, and pressure monitoring, which increase maintenance needs, pose leak risks, and necessitate thread sealants that can ignite in oxygen systems, complicating maintenance and safety.
Innovation Solution
A multifunction cryogenic valve design that integrates a valve body with a wide cavity and a narrower cavity, a valve plug with omega-shaped o-ring grooves, a thermocouple exposure slot, and a cap system to eliminate the need for thread sealants, allowing for evacuation, sealing, vacuum monitoring, and pressure relief without external components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additional components are used for evacuation, sealing, and pressure monitoring, then the system can perform vacuum pump down and monitoring functions, but the device complexity increases and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (evacuation valve, isolation valve, and thermocouple valve) into a single integrated vacuum valve assembly. The valve body contains multiple cavities and passages that allow one component to perform functions that previously required separate components, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum valve is designed as a universal component that can perform multiple functions: evacuation, isolation, and thermocouple monitoring. The valve plug can be positioned in different configurations to achieve different functions, making a single component serve multiple purposes that previously required separate dedicated components.
2Reliability
If thread sealant is used to prevent leaks, then the threads are sealed, but the system poses ignition and fire risks in liquid oxygen environments and requires maintenance replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for thread sealant by extracting the sealing function from the thread connection. The design uses interference fits and precision-machined mating surfaces that provide leak-free connections without requiring combustible sealant materials, thereby removing the ignition and fire risk associated with thread sealant in liquid oxygen environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the maintenance-required thread sealant (which deteriorates over time) with permanent, maintenance-free mechanical sealing surfaces. The precision-machined interfaces are designed to maintain their sealing capability throughout the service life of the component without requiring replacement or reapplication of sealant.
3Adaptability or versatility
If additional components are used for evacuation and monitoring, then the system can be evacuated and monitored, but additional space and clearance are required for operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent nests multiple functional cavities within each other: the narrow body cavity is positioned within the wide body cavity, and the valve plug moves within the narrow cavity. This nested arrangement allows multiple functions (evacuation, isolation, thermocouple exposure) to be contained within a compact volume, minimizing the space and clearance requirements while maintaining full functionality.
4Reliability
If multiple separate components are used, then each component can be specialized, but the system requires more spare parts and cleaning maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple previously separate components into a single integrated vacuum valve assembly. This reduces the number of spare parts required and simplifies cleaning and maintenance procedures, as there is one fewer component to service. The integrated design maintains the functional specialization of each subsystem while eliminating the multiplicity of separate components.
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 provides a compact, low-maintenance, and safe operation by eliminating the need for thread sealants, reducing potential leak points and ignition risks, while effectively managing vacuum levels and pressure relief in cryogenic systems.
Implementation Method 1
a cryogenic vacuum valve adapted to evacuate, seal off, and monitor vacuum levels
Implementation Method 2
the go position comprises the thermocouple vacuum exposure hole being disposed downward of the remaining portion of the bottom plug o-ring groove
Data Source
AI summary
A multifunction cryogenic vacuum valve adapted to evacuate, seal off, and monitor vacuum levels and relieve cryogenic vacuum insulated systems is provided, wherein no thread sealant is necessary for the thermocouple threads.