METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A SMART VALVE
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A smart drain valve comprising:
- a support plate;
a bolt passing through 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 located over the support plate; and
a spring positioned between the inner plate and the support plate, wherein the spring is made of a shape memory alloy.
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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.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A smart drain valve comprising:
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a support plate; a bolt passing through 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 located over the support plate; and a spring positioned between the inner plate and the support plate, wherein the spring is made of a shape memory alloy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An aircraft having a drain valve, and wherein the drain valve comprises:
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an inner plate; a support plate, wherein the support plate is located below the inner plate; and a biasing member located between the inner plate and the support plate, wherein the biasing member is made of a shape memory alloy that changes configuration in response to a trigger event to push the inner plate away from the support plate to form an opening, wherein fluid drains through the opening. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for draining fluid from an enclosure, the method comprising:
responsive to an accumulation of fluid in an enclosure, sending an electric current to a smart drain valve associated with the enclosure, wherein the smart drain valve comprises a set of springs, wherein at least one spring in the set of springs is made of a shape memory material, wherein the shape memory material changes from a first configuration to a second configuration in a presence of the electric current to actuate the smart drain valve to an open position. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
Specification