Patent ID: 11873915
Assignee: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF NASA
Field: Mechanical elements (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 10:
11. A self-aligning poppet valve apparatus comprising
a valve body having an aperture comprising a first sealing surface,
a rigid valve stem comprising an axially oriented cup at its tip,
a spheroid having a first diameter,
a plate comprising
a perimeter which is a second sealing surface registerable with said first sealing surface,
a central cavity with a portion having an internal surface of a second diameter greater than said first diameter such that an annular clearance is created between said spheroid and said internal surface, and
a collar having a central aperture of a third diameter less than said first diameter, such that with

said valve stem passing through said central aperture of said collar,
said spheroid received both within said plate cavity and within said valve stem cup, and
with said collar attached to said plate,
said plate is pivotably coupled to said valve stem while allowing radial excursion of said plate with respect to said first spherical surface.