Single-actuation valve arrangement for aerospace component, and aerospace component
A valve arrangement for an aerospace component includes an inlet, an outlet, and an actuator that can be actuated by a heating element. In a non-actuated state of the actuator, the valve is open to allow flow between the inlet and the outlet. The actuator is a single-use effect shape memory actuator that is compressed in the martensitic state along a longitudinal axis of the actuator and integrated into the valve arrangement. Through the activation of the heating element upon reaching a predetermined transformation temperature, the actuator undergoes a change in length, whereby it is gradually pressed against a seal seat that is embodied at the inlet or the outlet.
1. A one-time actuated valve arrangement, comprising:
an inlet;
an outlet;
an actuator actuatable by a heating element, wherein the actuator is a cylindrical housing surrounding the heating element,
wherein, in a non-actuated state of the actuator, the valve is open to allow a flow between the inlet and the outlet,
wherein the actuator is a single-use effect shape memory actuator compressed in the martensitic state along a longitudinal axis of the actuator and integrated into the valve arrangement, and which undergoes a change in length as a result of an activation of the heating element when a predetermined transformation temperature is reached so that it is gradually pressed against a seal seat arranged at the inlet or the outlet,
wherein a sealing piston is arranged on a front side of the actuator facing toward the seal seat, and
wherein the actuator has a recess extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis and the heating element is arranged in the recess within an interior of the actuator.
2. The valve arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the transformation temperature of the material of the actuator is between 80° C. and 100° C.
3. The valve arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the sealing piston has a truncated cone shape.
4. The valve arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the seal seat has a truncated-cone shape corresponding to a shape of the sealing piston.
5. The valve arrangement of claim 1 , wherein an interior space of the housing is subdivided by an elastic partition element into a working space and a free space.
6. The valve arrangement of claim 5 , wherein the inlet and the outlet lead into the working space, a first longitudinal segment of the actuator is arranged in the working space with respect to a length of the longitudinal actuator.
7. The valve arrangement of claim 6 , wherein, with respect to the length of the longitudinal actuator, a second longitudinal segment is arranged in the free space that is larger than the first longitudinal segment.
8. The valve arrangement of claim 5 , wherein the elastic partition element is a metal bellows or a diaphragm.
9. The valve arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the heating element is secured by a thermal fuse.
10. The valve arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the actuator aligns with a longitudinal axis of the inlet or of the outlet.
11. An aerospace component for an aerospace application, comprising:
at least one actuated valve arrangement, comprising
an inlet;
an outlet;
an actuator actuatable by a heating element, wherein the actuator is a cylindrical housing surrounding the heating element,
wherein, in a non-actuated state of the actuator, the valve is open to allow a flow between the inlet and the outlet,
wherein the actuator is a single-use effect shape memory actuator compressed in the martensitic state along a longitudinal axis of the actuator and integrated into the valve arrangement, and which undergoes a change in length as a result of an activation of the heating element when a predetermined transformation temperature is reached, wherein, as a result of the change in length, the actuator so that it is gradually pressed against a seal seat arranged at the inlet or the outlet,
wherein a sealing piston is arranged on a front side of the actuator facing toward the seal seat, and
wherein the actuator has a recess extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis and the heating element is arranged in the recess within an interior of the actuator.
12. The valve arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the sealing piston is made of a ductile material.
13. The valve arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the seal seat is made of a harder material compared to a material of the sealing piston.
14. The valve arrangement of claim 1 , wherein, upon being pressed against the seal seat, the sealing piston is plastically deformed.
15. The valve arrangement of claim 5 , wherein the partition element borders the actuator such that only the sealing piston lies in the working space.
16. The aerospace component of claim 11 , wherein the seal seat is made of a harder material compared to a material of the sealing piston.
17. The aerospace component of claim 11 , wherein, upon being pressed against the seal seat, the sealing piston is plastically deformed.