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Issued patent

Debris-Tolerant Valve

An issued NASA patent from the Technology Transfer catalog.

View at technology.nasa.gov
Media from NASA Technology Transfer

About this technology

Overview

Innovators at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) have developed a Debris-Tolerant Valve designed for use in machines/environments with a large quantity of airborne dust or other contaminants. The invention was created for an atmospheric revitalization system on the International Space Station. On the ISS, the use of dried pelletized media in the system caused a problem with the collection of contaminants in the existing selector valve, requiring persistent valve maintenance and replacement. NASA's Debris-Tolerant Valve was offered as a solution and is currently being developed for use in future NASA missions. The new valve implements a novel design that has been extensively tested and offers substantial benefits including extended lifetime of internal valve parts, ease of maintenance, and low-cost manufacturability. Applications for the Debris-Tolerant Valve include use in aerospace or industrial processes.