Hand-operated plug insertion valve seals an evacuated insulation system for upper stage liquid hydrogen tanks on the launch pad. It is light in weight, demountable, and permits evacuation of the system plus sealing after evacuation

Jones, R. G.

Roney, J. A.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

iger 
November 1967	 Brief 67-10466 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
C" 
NASA Tech Briefs are issued to summarize specific innovations derived from the U.S. space program, 
to encourage their commercial application. Copies are available to the public at 15 cents each 
from the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Virginia 22151. 
Hand-Operated Plug Insertion Valve
The problem: 
An evacuated insulation system for upper stage 
liquid hydrogen tanks requires an extensive vacuum 
plumbing system for ground hold (prelaunch) condi-
tions. If the system can be sealed on the launch pad 
there is no reason to fly the bulky plumbing system. 
Conventional vacuum valves can be used to seal the 
system but these are very heavy and require support 
brackets which involve additional weight. 
The solution: 
A hand-operated plug insertion valve that is light 
in weight, demountable, and permits evacuation of the 
system plus sealing after evacuation.
How it's done: 
A port fitting is bonded to the insulation jacket 
during fabrication of the upper stage tank. The valve, 
body collar is assembled to the port fitting and has 
an internal 0-ring. A vacuum source is used to evacu-
ate the insulation jacket to the desired pressure level 
and the port is sealed by pushing on the valve plunger. 
The drive plate pins engage holes in the plug and, 
through the plug flange, holes in the collar. Twisting 
the plunger tightens the plug-to-collar interface thus 
compressing the 0-ring to make a vacuum-tight con-
nection. The drive plate is withdrawn and the valve 
body with associated vacuum plumbing is removed 
from the insulation jacket port fitting. 
-.	
(continued overleaf) 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
will be free from privately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19670000466 2020-03-11T20:54:43+00:00Z
Notes: 
1. This port fitting and plug weigh only 1/7th as 
much as a conventional vacuum valve. 
2. The plug can be fitted with a patch of insulation 
to provide a barrier to radiation heat transfer. 
3. Inquiries concerning this innovation may be di-
rected to:
Technology Utilization Officer 
Marshall Space Flight Center 
Huntsville, Alabama 38512 
Reference: B67-10466
Patent status: 
No patent action is contemplated by NASA. 
Source: Robert G. Jones 
of Marshall Space Flight Center 
and James A. Roney 
of Hayes International Corporation 
under contract to 
Marshall Space Flight Center 
(M FS- 12019) 
Brief 67-10466	 Category 05


Hand-operated plug insertion valve

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