Pivotable Poppet Valve Seal for Self-Aligning Leak Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Poppet valves in spacecraft experience leaks due to misalignment of the seat seal and poppet, leading to significant propellant loss over long-duration missions, which increases mission costs and requires additional propellant storage.

Innovation Solution

A self-aligning poppet valve system with a pivotable valve plate and radial excursion capability, utilizing a ball bearing and compression spring mechanism to ensure proper registration of sealing surfaces, even with coaxial or angular misalignment, thereby reducing leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If tight tolerances are used across mechanical interfaces and machined surfaces to control seal alignment, then sealing precision is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseal alignment precisionVSAvoidvalve structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The valve plate is designed to self-align with the valve seat through its own deformation under compression, eliminating the need for complex external alignment mechanisms. The flexible valve plate automatically adjusts its position to ensure proper sealing contact between the seal and seat.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The valve plate transitions from a rigid state during normal operation to a flexible state under compression, changing its physical properties to enable self-alignment. This parameter change allows the plate to deform and adapt to misalignments automatically.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If traditional rigid valve plates are used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but leakage occurs due to misalignment between seal and poppet

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidvalve plate structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The valve plate is designed as a flexible thin structure that can deform under compression forces. This flexibility allows the plate to bend and adjust its position, ensuring that the seal maintains proper contact with the valve seat even when misalignment is present.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The valve plate transitions from a static rigid component to a dynamic flexible component that can adapt its shape in response to operational forces. This dynamic behavior enables the sealing surface to self-correct alignment issues during valve operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Quantity of substance

If extra propellant tanks are launched to compensate for leakage, then mission propellant requirements are met, but launch cost increases by billions of dollars

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepropellant quantityVSAvoidmission cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible valve plate design converts the potential harm of misalignment-induced leakage into a beneficial self-aligning mechanism. By allowing controlled deformation, the system automatically corrects alignment issues that would otherwise cause leaks, eliminating the need for expensive corrective measures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

4Temperature

If the valve operates in the vacuum of space with extreme temperatures, then mission requirements are met, but leakage risk increases due to thermal expansion and contraction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature toleranceVSAvoidsealing reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible valve plate is designed to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction by deforming in response to temperature changes. This flexibility allows the sealing surfaces to maintain proper contact despite dimensional changes caused by extreme temperature variations in the space environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #37Thermal expansion

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 self-aligning mechanism effectively minimizes fluid loss, reduces the need for additional propellant, and enhances the valve's ability to withstand extreme temperatures and vibrations, thereby lowering mission costs and ensuring successful long-duration space missions.

Implementation Method 1

The valve plate is radially movable relative to the valve stem and pivotable about a ball bearing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBall bearing: Ball Bearing

Implementation Method 2

with the rim of the cup and its internal spring located to bear down upon it when the valve stem is depressed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompression spring: Spring

Data Source

PatentUS11873915B1Poppet valve with pivotable seal

Publication Date: 2024.01.16 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR NAT AERONAUTICS & SPACE ADMINISTRATION

AI summary

A poppet valve apparatus has a valve body with an aperture rimmed by a first sealing surface, and a valve stem with an axially oriented cup at its tip with a spring disposed within the cup. The valve plate includes a sealing surface at its perimeter and also has a central pocket which receives a spheroid. The valve stem passes through a collar which is affixed to the valve plate to trap the spheroid beneath the spring so that the plate is pivotably coupled to the valve stem and also tolerates radial and lateral excursion to allow the valve plate to self-align and seal within the valve seat.