Vacuum Sample Container With Hermetic Seal and Gas Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vacuum sealable containers, such as those used in the Apollo missions, lack features for easy gas extraction and are not designed for manual operation by astronauts, leading to potential sample contamination and pressure issues during temperature changes.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum sealable container with a hermetic two-way seal, gas fitting for extraction, and a locking mechanism, along with a drive tube and soft dock to prevent motion, ensuring secure and contamination-free transport of extraterrestrial samples.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hermetic seal is formed between container body and lid assembly, then sample contamination is prevented, but gas extraction becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
A gas fitting is installed in the container body before sealing, positioned to allow gas extraction through the sealed container wall. This preliminary inclusion of the gas fitting enables both hermetic sealing and subsequent gas extraction without compromising seal integrity.
2Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to secure the lid assembly, then seal reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed to be automatically engaged when the lid assembly is positioned on the container body. The interlocking features self-align and lock together without requiring additional actuators or complex control systems, maintaining simplicity while ensuring reliable sealing.
3Ease of operation
If the container is designed for manual operation by astronauts, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into distinct functional components: a container body with gas fitting, a lid assembly with dust cover, and separate locking features. Each component can be independently manipulated by astronauts, simplifying manual operation while maintaining overall system functionality through modular design.
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 container effectively prevents volatile sample leakage and atmospheric intrusion, allowing for safe handling and analysis of extraterrestrial materials under varying pressures and temperatures.
Implementation Method 1
hermetic two-way seal between the container body and the lid assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A vacuum sealable container for securing and transporting extraterrestrial samples and a method of securing an extraterrestrial sample is provided. The vacuum sealable container includes a container body and a lid assembly. The lid assembly is connectable to the container body configured to selectively form a hermetic two-way seal between the container body and the lid assembly. A locking mechanism is situated on an end of the lid assembly opposite the container body, the locking mechanism configured to secure the lid assembly to the container body, forming the seal.