Vacuum Sample Container Venting with Hermetic Seal Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vacuum sealable containers lack mechanisms for extracting gases from the container after it is returned to Earth, leading to potential contamination and pressure issues due to volatilization of entrained gases from extraterrestrial samples.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum sealable container with a planetary gearbox and gas extraction device that allows selective release of gases, featuring a lid assembly with a hermetic seal and a gas fitting for venting, along with a locking mechanism to secure the seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the container is hermetically sealed to maintain vacuum, then sample integrity is preserved, but gas extraction becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The gas extraction port and valve mechanisms are pre-configured in the container structure before sealing, allowing for controlled gas removal after the container is hermetically sealed and returned to Earth, without compromising the integrity of the sealed container
Solution Approach 2:
A dedicated gas extraction port with valve mechanisms serves as an intermediary component that enables selective gas removal from the sealed container, allowing operators to extract volatiles without breaking the hermetic seal of the main container
2Device complexity
If manual sealing mechanisms are used, then device complexity is reduced, but sealing reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The manual threading and sealing operations are replaced with a torque-controlled mechanical system featuring a planetary gearbox that automatically applies precise sealing force through a gas-key-operated mechanism, eliminating the need for complex manual threading while ensuring reliable hermetic sealing
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing mechanism transforms rotational torque input into controlled linear sealing force through the planetary gearbox, allowing precise control of sealing pressure and ensuring consistent hermetic seals without requiring complex manual adjustment mechanisms
3Reliability
If high torque is applied for sealing, then seal integrity is improved, but input force requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The planetary gearbox utilizes circular gear geometry to provide mechanical advantage, transforming small rotational input torque into large sealing force through the gear ratio, eliminating the need for high direct input force while maintaining reliable seal integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The direct mechanical connection between operator input and sealing force is replaced with a planetary gearbox system that provides torque multiplication, allowing operators to apply minimal rotational force while achieving the high sealing forces necessary for reliable hermetic sealing
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
Prevents contamination by releasing volatiles and maintaining a vacuum, ensuring the integrity of the sample by preventing gas escape and atmospheric infiltration during environmental changes.
Implementation Method 1
a planetary gearbox connected between the input shaft and the output shaft, the planetary gearbox configured to transfer an input torque from the input shaft to the output shaft
Implementation Method 2
a lid assembly selectively attached to the container body to hermetically seal the receiving space
Implementation Method 3
a gas fitting positioned at the second end, the gas fitting configured to selectively release gas from the receiving space of the container body
Data Source
AI summary
A vacuum sealable container for securing and transporting extraterrestrial samples includes a container body and a lid assembly detachably coupled to the container body, the lid assembly selectively hermetically sealing the container body. The lid assembly includes an input shaft configured to receive a rotational input; a planetary gearbox including a sun gear fixed to the input shaft and at least one planetary gear configured to receive a torque input via the sun gear; an output shaft coupled to the at least one planetary gear; and a locking assembly coupled with the output shaft.