Valve comprising a piezoelectric actuator

A Method for accelerating the opening/closing of a valve, said valve comprising a pressurised fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and including:

• a fixed plate wherein first fluid flow channels are arranged,
• a flap wherein second fluid flow channels are arranged, said flap being movably mounted between:
• an opening position wherein the first channels and the second channels are in a configuration allowing the flow of the fluid between the inlet and the outlet, and
• a closing position wherein the first channels and the second channels are in a configuration blocking the flow of the fluid between the inlet and the outlet,
• a piezoelectric actuator acting upon the flap to move it between the closing position and the opening position, said actuator consisting of a piezoelectric pillar formed by a piezoelectric element stack structure, said pillar lengthening when the actuator is switched on and retracting when said actuator is not switched on,
• wherein the method comprises the steps of:
• arranging the inlet in such a way that, in use, the pressurised fluid exerts a pressure force on an active face of the flap stressing said flap to the closing position, and
• axially prestressing the actuator by means of one or more prestress rods forming spring elements in which the return force acts in the piezoelectric pillar retraction direction.