Space Pen Refill Pressure Balancing Valves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Space pen refills used in extravehicular activities face issues with ink being squeezed out due to pressure imbalances between internal and external environments, affecting writing quality and safety.
Innovation Solution
A space pen refill design incorporating a ball, a refill body, a fiber rod, and a fiber ink-storage tube, with one-way valves to balance internal and external pressures, preventing ink from being squeezed out and enhancing writing stability, while also reducing ink evaporation and ensuring safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional space refill is used in extravehicular activity, then the pen can write in gravity-free environment, but the internal pressure of the refill is much greater than external pressure causing ink to be squeezed out and affecting writing quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a pressure-balancing mechanism consisting of a flexible membrane and gas permeable material that acts as an intermediary between the internal ink reservoir and external environment. This intermediary allows pressure equalization while preventing direct contact between high internal pressure and ink, thus maintaining writing quality during extravehicular activities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the pressure parameter inside the refill by introducing a pressure-balancing system that dynamically adjusts internal pressure to match external pressure variations. This parameter change prevents ink from being squeezed out due to pressure differential, ensuring reliable writing performance in varying pressure environments
2Reliability
If the refill body is sealed to prevent ink leakage, then writing quality is maintained, but ink evaporation increases and may pollute the capsule environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible membrane as a selective barrier that physically separates the ink reservoir from the external environment. This flexible shell allows controlled gas exchange to prevent pressure buildup while blocking ink evaporation, thus eliminating pollution risks without compromising writing quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a gas permeable material as an intermediary layer between the ink and external environment. This intermediary allows vapor transmission to balance pressure while preventing liquid ink evaporation, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining writing quality and preventing ink pollution
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 effectively maintains pressure balance, prevents ink from being squeezed out, improves writing quality, reduces ink evaporation, and ensures safety by controlling gas flow through one-way valves, enhancing the usability of space pens in varying pressure environments.
Implementation Method 1
the first one-way valve and the second one-way valve control the balance of the internal pressure and the external pressure
Implementation Method 2
an end face of an other end of the refill body is connected with a first one-way valve and a second one-way valve, the first one-way valve and the second one-way valve are unidirectionally communicated with the inside of the refill body and an outside of the refill body
Implementation Method 3
a space refill, which uses a capillary material refill to discharge ink in a balanced way
Data Source
AI summary
A space pen refill for an extravehicular activity, including a ball, a refill body, a fiber rod and a fiber ink-storage tube; the ball is rotatably connected in one end of the refill body, a segment of the ball is exposed outside the refill body, the fiber ink-storage tube is connected to an inside of the refill body, one end of the fiber rod is inserted into the fiber ink-storage tube, an other end of the fiber rod close to the ball is used to supply ink for the ball, an end face of an other end of the refill body is connected with first and second one-way valves, the first and second one-way valves are unidirectionally communicated with the inside and the outside of the refill body, and gas flow directions in the first and second one-way valves are opposite.