Method of draining an enclosure using a smart valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9488291-B2
Application number	US-201414298891-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 7, 2014
Priority date	Feb 5, 2008
Publication date	Nov 8, 2016
Grant date	Nov 8, 2016

Abstract

A smart drain valve comprises a support plate, a bolt passing through a center of the support plate, an outer plate connected to a first end of the bolt, an inner plate connected to a second end of the bolt, and a spring positioned between the inner plate and the support plate. The spring is made of a shape memory material.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of draining an enclosure using a smart valve comprising an inner plate fastened to an inside surface of the enclosure, the inside surface facing an interior of the enclosure, wherein an outer plate is disposed against the inner plate such that when the outer plate is in a first position in which an outer surface of the outer plate is flush with an outside surface of the enclosure, fluid is prevented from draining from the enclosure, and such that when the outer plate is in a second position in which the outer surface of the outer plate is pushed away from the outside surface of the enclosure, fluid is enabled to drain from the enclosure, wherein a slider is connected to the outer plate and also extends through the inner plate, wherein the outer plate is substantially planar, wherein the inner plate is substantially planar at a location in which the outer plate rests against the inner plate, wherein a shape memory alloy spring is connected to a first inner surface of the inner plate and to a second inner surface of the outer plate, the first inner surface and the second inner surface facing the interior, wherein the shape memory alloy spring bridges the inner plate and the outer plate at the location, and wherein a second shape memory alloy spring is attached to the inner plate and also to the outer plate, opposite the shape memory alloy spring, and wherein the method comprises:
responsive to a trigger event, actuating the shape memory alloy spring, wherein actuating the shape memory alloy spring forces the outer plate away from the inner plate into the second position; and
responsive to the trigger event, actuating the second shape memory alloy spring, wherein actuating the second shape memory alloy spring forces the outer plate away from the inner plate.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
causing the trigger event.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the trigger event comprises providing an electrical current to the shape memory alloy spring.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the trigger event comprises a change in pressure.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the trigger event comprises a change in temperature.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the trigger event comprises a combination of at least two events selected from the group consisting of: a change in electrical current, a change in pressure, and a change in temperature.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein a stop is connected to a first end of the slider opposite the outer plate, and wherein the method further comprises:
preventing the outer plate from extending away from the outer surface by more than a predetermined distance when the stop touches the inner plate.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the predetermined distance is determined by a length of a tube extending from the inner plate into the enclosure, wherein the slider extends through the tube, and wherein the stop comprises a disc having a first diameter greater than a second diameter of the tube.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the shape memory alloy spring is composed of a substance selected from the group consisting of: nickel-titanium, copper-aluminum-nickel, and copper-zinc-aluminum-nickel.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
responsive to the trigger event ending, allowing the shape memory alloy spring to return to a previous shape, thereby forcing the outer plate into the first position.

11. A method of draining an enclosure using a smart valve comprising a support plate having a planar shape and fastened to an inside surface of the enclosure, the support plate including a tube extending inwardly into the enclosure at about a center of the support plate, wherein a slider is disposed through the tube, wherein a first plate is connected to a first end of the slider, wherein in a first position the first plate is flush with an outside surface of the enclosure and forms a seal with the support plate and wherein in a second position the first plate extends outwardly from the outside surface and allows fluid to flow out of the enclosure, wherein a second plate is connected to a second end of the slider opposite the first end, wherein a shape memory alloy spring is disposed around the tube and is in contact with the second plate and the support plate, and wherein a second shape memory alloy spring is attached to the first plate and also to the second plate, opposite the shape memory alloy spring, and wherein the method comprises:
responsive to a trigger event, actuating the shape memory alloy spring, wherein actuating the shape memory alloy spring urges the second plate towards the support plate, thereby forcing the first plate to extend away from the support plate into the second position; and
responsive to the trigger event, actuating the second shape memory alloy spring, wherein actuating the second shape memory alloy spring forces the second plate away from the first plate.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:
causing the trigger event.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the trigger event comprises providing an electrical current to the shape memory alloy spring.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the trigger event comprises a change in pressure.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the trigger event comprises a change in temperature.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the trigger event comprises a change in electrical current.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the tube has a first diameter smaller than a second diameter of the second plate, whereby the second plate acts as a stop during actuation of the shape memory alloy spring.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the shape memory alloy spring is composed of a substance selected from the group consisting of: nickel-titanium, copper-aluminum-nickel, and copper-zinc-aluminum-nickel.

19. The method of claim 11 further comprising:
responsive to the trigger event ending, allowing the shape memory alloy spring to return to a previous shape, thereby forcing the outer plate into the first position.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Kulesha Richard L

Classifications

• Y10T137/7931

  Spring in inlet · CPC title

• F16K31/025 Primary

  actuated by thermo-electric means · CPC title

• Y10T137/7876

  With external means for opposing bias · CPC title

• Y10T137/6906

  Aerial or water-supported [e.g., airplane or ship, etc.] · CPC title

• F16K31/002 Primary

  actuated by temperature variation (thermo-electric F16K31/025) · CPC title