SMA Pneumatic Valve Sealing Collar for Leak-Free Air Chamber Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pneumatic valves with shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators are space-consuming and costly due to the need for additional seals and actuators, leading to increased installation space and costs, while also allowing air to escape into the actuator chamber, affecting the SMA actuator's state.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic 2/2-way valve with an SMA actuator features a sealing collar about the tappet between the plate and actuator opening, which is conical or double conical, sealing the air chamber from the actuator chamber, and includes an elastic element to control the tappet's movement, ensuring air flow is sealed in all states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing pneumatic valves with SMA actuators are used, then air flow control is achieved, but the valve becomes space-consuming and costly due to additional seals and actuators
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the sealing function and actuator chamber separation into a single integrated sealing collar component. This sealing collar simultaneously seals the air chamber from the actuator chamber and provides the necessary sealing surfaces, eliminating the need for separate seal elements and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliable air flow control
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing collar serves multiple functions: it separates the air chamber from the actuator chamber, provides sealing surfaces for the closing element, and prevents air leakage into the actuator chamber. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, making the valve more compact and cost-effective
2Reliability
If existing pneumatic valves with SMA actuators are used, then air flow control is achieved, but installation space and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing collar integrates multiple sealing and separation functions into a single component that fits within the existing valve body geometry. This integration eliminates the need for additional space-consuming seals and actuators, reducing the overall installation space while maintaining effective air flow control
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing collar is disposed about the tappet in a nested configuration, utilizing the existing vertical space within the valve body. This nested arrangement allows the sealing function to be added without increasing the external dimensions of the valve, thereby reducing installation space requirements
3Reliability
If existing pneumatic valves with SMA actuators are used, then air flow control is achieved, but air escapes into the actuator chamber affecting the SMA actuator's state
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing collar extracts and isolates the air chamber from the actuator chamber, creating a hermetic barrier that prevents air leakage. This separation ensures that compressed air remains confined to the air chamber and does not escape into the actuator chamber, maintaining the SMA actuator's operational state
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing collar acts as an intermediary barrier between the air chamber and actuator chamber. It provides a sealed interface that allows mechanical interaction (through the tappet) while preventing fluid (air) interaction, thus eliminating harmful air leakage while maintaining control functionality
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, cost-effective design that prevents air leakage into the actuator chamber, maintaining the SMA actuator's state and reducing overall size and cost, while allowing efficient air flow control.
Implementation Method 1
a sealing element for closing the supply opening being disposed on said plate, and being formed with an elastic element which in the activated state of the pneumatic valve presses the plate in the direction toward the actuator opening
Implementation Method 2
an activating element which is disposed in the actuator chamber and has an activating portion for acting on the tappet, and a bending portion connected to the activating portion and the circuit board
Implementation Method 3
an actuator element which is disposed in the actuator chamber and has a first end mechanically connected to the activating portion, and a second end mechanically and electrically connected to the circuit board
Data Source
AI summary
A pneumatic valve comprises an actuator with a movable closing element being disposed in a housing; the closing element with a tappet penetrating an actuator opening between an air chamber formed in the housing and an actuator chamber, and a plate, with a sealing element, for closing the supply opening, thereon, on that end of said tappet protruding into the air chamber, and an elastic element pressing the plate toward the actuator opening in an activated state; the actuator element configured to move, in a non-energized state, the activating element to press the tappet against a supply opening, and in an energized state to move the activating element so as not to exert force on the tappet so that the plate is pressed in the direction of the actuator opening by the elastic element. A sealing collar disposed about the tappet seals the air chamber from the actuator chamber.