Piezoelectric valve system

A valve system, comprising:

• a valve body;
• a fluid chamber disposed within said valve body and adapted to communicate with a fluid source for containing fluid therein;
• a fluid orifice communicating with said fluid chamber;
• a control fluid chamber disposed within said valve body and adapted to communicate with a fluid source for containing fluid therein and selectively to a drain for draining fluid from said control fluid chamber;
• a valve member mounted within said valve body and movable between a closed position for closing said fluid orifice and an open position for opening said fluid orifice, said valve member moving between said closed and open positions in response to a difference in fluid pressure in said fluid chamber and said control fluid chamber;
• a control valve member mounted within said valve body and operable to move between a closed position for containing fluid within said control fluid chamber and an open position for draining fluid from said control fluid chamber;
• and
• a pre-stressed bender actuator operatively engaging said control valve member and operable to selectively move said control valve member to at least one of said closed and open positions.

An apparatus for adjusting a preload of a piezoelectric device having first and second opposed surfaces and a peripheral edge extending therebetween, comprising:

• a housing;
• a cavity disposed in said housing and having upstanding walls defining said cavity;
• a clamping device mounted in said cavity and configured to engage the first and second opposed surfaces of the piezoelectric device proximate the peripheral edge and operable to apply a variable clamping force to the piezoelectric device;
• and
• a load device mounted in said cavity and operatively engaging said walls of said cavity, said load device operatively engaging said clamping device and being operable to vary the applied clamping force to adjust the preload of the piezoelectric device.

A method for adjusting a preload of a piezoelectric device having first and second opposed surfaces and a peripheral edge extending therebetween, comprising:

• clamping the piezoelectric device by engaging the opposed first and second surfaces of the piezoelectric device proximate the peripheral edge;
• applying a clamping force to the piezoelectric device;
• and
• varying the applied clamping force to vary the preload of the piezoelectric device.

A method for adjusting a preload of a piezoelectric device having first and second opposed surfaces and a peripheral edge extending therebetween, comprising:

• engaging the first surface of the piezoelectric device with a first clamping member;
• engaging the second surface of the piezoelectric device with a second clamping member;
• and
• moving the first and second clamping members relative to each other to apply a clamping force to the piezoelectric device that varies the preload of the piezoelectric device.

A valve system, comprising:

• a valve body having a fluid inlet adapted to communicate with a fluid source and a fluid outlet adapted to emit fluid;
• a fluid passageway extending through said valve body between said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet;
• a valve member mounted at least partially in said fluid passageway and movable between a closed position for closing said fluid orifice and an open position for opening said fluid orifice;
• and
• a pre-stressed bender actuator operatively engaging said valve member and operable to selectively move said valve member to at least one of said closed and open positions to close and open said fluid orifice.

A fluid metering valve, comprising:

• a fluid reservoir chamber adapted to communicate with a fluid source for containing fluid therein;
• a fluid outlet communicating with said fluid reservoir chamber;
• a plunger member mounted for selective movement in said fluid reservoir chamber and operable to meter a volume of fluid from said fluid orifice upon movement of said plunger member toward said fluid outlet;
• and
• a pre-stressed bender actuator operatively engaging said plunger member and operable to selective move said plunger member toward said fluid outlet to meter a volume of fluid.

A fluid metering valve, comprising:

• a fluid reservoir chamber adapted to communicate with a fluid source for containing fluid therein;
• a fluid outlet communicating with said fluid reservoir chamber;
• and
• a pre-stressed bender actuator operable to act directly on the fluid contained in said fluid reservoir chamber so that a volume of fluid is metered from said fluid outlet upon actuation of said bender actuator toward said fluid outlet.

A fluid metering valve, comprising:

• a inlet fluid passage adapted to communicate with a fluid source for carrying fluid therein;
• an outlet fluid passage communicating with said inlet fluid passage;
• a valve seat disposed at a juncture of said inlet fluid passage and said outlet fluid passage;
• a valve member mounted for selective movement relative to said valve seat between a closed position for closing fluid communication between said inlet fluid passage and said outlet fluid passage and an open position for opening fluid communication between said inlet fluid passage and said outlet fluid passage to meter a volume of fluid through the outlet fluid passage;
• and
• a pre-stressed bender actuator operatively engaging said valve member and operable to selective move said valve member to at least one of said open and closed positions.

A fluid metering valve, comprising:

• an inlet fluid passage adapted to communicate with a pressurized fluid source for carrying pressurized fluid therein;
• a pressure sensor operable to detect a fluid pressure in said inlet fluid passage;
• an outlet fluid passage communicating with said inlet fluid passage;
• a valve seat disposed at a juncture of said inlet fluid passage and said outlet fluid passage;
• a valve member mounted for selective movement relative to said valve seat between a closed position for closing fluid communication between said inlet fluid passage and said outlet fluid passage and an open position for opening fluid communication between said inlet fluid passage and said outlet fluid passage to regulate a fluid pressure in said inlet fluid passage;
• and
• a pre-stressed bender actuator operatively engaging said valve member and operable to selective move said valve member to at least one of said open and closed positions in response a detected fluid pressure in said inlet fluid passage by said pressure sensor.

A valve system, comprising:

• a fluid chamber;
• a fluid passage communicating with said fluid chamber;
• a fluid aperture disposed at a juncture of said fluid chamber and said fluid passage;
• and
• a pre-stressed bender actuator operable to act directly on said fluid aperture between a closed position for closing fluid communication between said fluid chamber and said fluid passage and an open position for opening fluid communication between said fluid chamber and said fluid passage.

A method of operating a device in response to a command signal comprising:

• applying the command signal to a prestressed electroactive bender actuator;
• switching the prestressed electroactive bender actuator between first and second operating states as a function of the command signal;
• and
• switching a valve between first and second operating states as a function of the prestressed electroactive bender actuator switching between the first and the second operating states, the valve operating the device as a function of the valve switching between the first and the second operating states.

A fuel injector for initiating and terminating an injection of fuel comprising:

• a prestressed electroactive bender actuator operable to receive a first command signal and operable to move between first and second positions as a function of the command signal;
• an injector actuator having first and second states for respectively initiating and terminating an injection of fuel from the fuel injector;
• and
• an actuator drive coupled with the prestressed electroactive bender actuator and the injection actuator, the actuator drive operable switch the injector actuator between the first and second states as a function of the prestressed electroactive bender actuator moving between the first and second positions.

A method of operating a fuel injector for initiating and terminating an injection of fuel comprising:

• applying a command signal to a prestressed electroactive bender actuator;
• switching the prestressed electroactive bender actuator between first and second operating states as a function of the command signal;
• and
• switching an actuator drive between first and second operating states as a function of the prestressed electroactive bender actuator switching between the first and the second operating states,
• switching an injector actuator as a function of the actuator drive switching between the first and the second operating states, thereby initiating and terminating an injection of fuel from the fuel injector.